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Defense official says only Tokyo governor accepted U.S. military realignment plan

Despite Defense Facilities Administrative Agency (DFAA) efforts, 12 prefectures and 43 cities, towns, and villages concerned have responded negatively to the plan to realign U.S. military bases in Japan as agreed upon by the U.S. and Japan.

The agency's Facilities Department director, Toda Kazuhiro, stated this in answer to Kami Tomoko, Japanese Communist Party lawmaker, on December 6. at the House of Councilors Okinawa and Northern Problems Special Committee meeting.

The DFAA official said, "Wherever we've visited, we heard severe criticisms of this plan. Only Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro in the Metropolitan Assembly said there is no choice but to accept it."

Kami stated, "In Hokkaido's municipalities that have Self-Defense Force bases, local governments are opposing the plan to relocate U.S. aircraft units from the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa to Hokkaido for combat training."

Kami asked, "The DFAA argues that U.S. forces' relocation will reduce noise pollution in Okinawa. How can you guarantee it, and to what extent?" Parliamentary deputy foreign minister answered that there is no guarantee of that."

Quoting the Kadena Town Assembly resolution as saying, "The interim report fails to show any details on how much the noise level will be reduced, and yet it is urging Okinawa to accept the co-use of U.S. bases by U.S. forces and SDF units. Any attempts to increase burdens on Okinawa are unacceptable."

Kami pointed out that the USFJ has not been in compliance with agreements with local governments on banning early morning and late night flights. "Relocating some of their units outside of Okinawa will just mean spreading damages caused by U.S. bases and training to across the nation," she said.

"Now that it has become clearer that the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan is also aimed at allowing the SDF to move globally under the U.S. first strike strategy, U.S. forces in Japan must go back to the U.S.," Kami insisted.
- Akahata, December 7, 2005