Shii calls for struggle to block ratification of agreement on relocation of U.S. Marines to Guam

Japan Press Weekly

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

Shii calls for struggle to block ratification of agreement on relocation of U.S. Marines to Guam

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo called for a struggle to block the ratification by the Diet of the Japan-U.S. agreement on the details of the planned relocation of part of the U.S Marines from Okinawa to Guam.

At the press conference on February 19, Shii said that the agreement signed on February 17 by Japanese Foreign Minister Nakasone Hirofumi and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will force Japanese citizens to shoulder enormous additional burdens.

Shii pointed out that the United States is moving some Marines out of Okinawa on condition that Japan will build a new base off the Henoko district of Nago City for the U.S. Marines as the substitute for the USMC Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City. He criticized the government for accepting the strengthening and perpetuation of U.S. bases in Okinawa in disregard of residents' opposition.

He also condemned the government for agreeing to pay 600 billion yen for the relocation of U.S. Marines to Guam as another condition for the relocation, stating, "It is extraordinary that the Japanese government uses tax money to construct a military base in a foreign country."

"It does not seem that the U.S. Obama administration wants to 'change' the basic policy on Japan-U.S. relations, as it is sticking to maintaining the military alliance with Japan and forcing the Japanese people to pay the cost," Shii added.

- Akahata, February 20, 2009