Political party leaders answer questions on relations with U.S. at Japan National Press Club

Japan Press Weekly

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

Political party leaders answer questions on relations with U.S. at Japan National Press Club

Japan-U.S. secret nuclear agreement

Asked about the secret agreement that Japan and the United States concluded to allow U.S. vessels carrying nuclear weapons into Japan, Liberal Democratic Party President Aso Taro repeated his party's view that no such agreement exists, saying, "That's what the government has stated in the Diet. There can't be a turnaround."

Democratic Party of Japan President Hatoyama Yukio expressed an intention to make the secret agreement public if his party takes power. He said, "It is necessary to not only look into the Foreign Ministry but also visit the United States to establish the fact. We will make it public."

Relocation of U.S. Futenma base

Regarding the planned construction of a new U.S. military base to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City in Okinawa, Hatoyama answered, "To relocate the base abroad is basically the best thing. The minimum need would be to remove it from Okinawa." However, he added, "Even if the DPJ negotiates the issue with the United State after taking power, it won't be able to solve the problem quickly. We will carry out a comprehensive review before reaching a final conclusion."

Overseas dispatches of SDF

Asked if the Social Democratic Party would join a DPJ-led coalition government even though the DPJ supports the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Somalia and the continuation of the SDF refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, SDP Leader Fukushima Mizuho stated that her party is in opposition to both. She gave an evasive answer, saying, "We will negotiate the issue with the DPJ at an appropriate stage to explain our view."

Iraq War

To the question whether or not Japan's support of the Iraq War was a mistake, Aso avoided giving a clear answer. He said, "I cannot give an answer" to that question because "it will be only possible after the war to decide if it was right or wrong."

- Akahata, August 18, 2009