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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

'Co-use' of U.S. Yokota Air Base will increase danger
Akahata editorial (excerpts)

Believe it or not, there are eight U.S. military bases in the Japanese capital of Tokyo, including the U.S. Yokota Air Base. What's more, the Japanese and U.S. governments in talks on U.S. military realignment are directed to pushing ahead with a military-civil "co-use" of U.S. bases in Japan by integrating the U.S. forces, including Yokota.

Yokota-based U.S. Fifth Air Force HQ commands Misawa-based anti-ground fighter/attacker units and Kadena-based fighter units, and both have been sent to Iraq as air expeditionary units.

The Air Self-Defense Force's Air Defense Command, now situated in Fuchu City, Tokyo, commands a national network to collect air defense information. Its shift to Yokota will allow the U.S. Fifth Air Force HQ to simultaneously catch news from the ASDF toward benefiting U.S. air operations. Another plan to remove the ASDF transport unit to Yokota, if enacted, will further increase U.S. air transport capabilities.

Increased operational capabilities of the U.S. Fifth Air Force as a result of "co-use" of Yokota base will encourage the U.S. to launch preemptive strikes abroad.

Also, Yokota's increased war function will pose greater risks to citizens. In 2004, the number of flights of U.S. military aircraft, most of them to and from Yokota, reached 56,000. It means 80 take offs and landings each day.

Residents in Akishima City, Mizuho Town, as well as in Tachikawa City near Yokota base have been suffering from the noise of heavily loaded flights.

Therefore, the "co-use" plan will help perpetuate the air base because the plan calls for the base to be reinforced. Adding civil aircraft to the base will increase the noise pollution.

While some local governments support the "co-use" plan, the local governments of Akishima, Tachikawa, and Mizuho have been opposed to this. All of these local governments are unanimous in calling for the base site to be returned.

The plan to make Yokota base stronger contradicts the demands of local governments and residents. The task for the Japanese government in the bilateral talks on the U.S. military transformation issue is to call for the early return of the base site to Japan. -Akahata, June 25, 2005