|
Japan Press Weekly
|
|
|
| home | about us | JCP | books | special issues | past issues | links | mail to editor | fact box |
|
|
| Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan | |
|
Iwakuni citizens confront defense minister over U.S. military relocation The Democratic Party of Japan on February 20 organized a dialogue forum between residents of Iwakuni City of Yamaguchi Prefecture and Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi in the city, with the attendance of about 900 citizens. The forum entitled “U.S. military relocation and Iwakuni” was held to soothe the ill feelings among the citizens at the turnabout of the DPJ from promising in its manifesto to review the U.S. military relocation plan to declaring to promote the plan according to the roadmap agreed upon by Japan and the United States. Arguing that “Japan’s security should be guaranteed by all costs”, the defense minister called for citizens’ understanding about the need to promote the U.S. military relocation plan under the Japan-U.S. military alliance. Ex-Iwakuni Mayor Ihara Katsusuke asked the minister how he feels about residents objecting to the government plan to purchase land to build U.S. military housing in the city’s Atagoyama area. Kitazawa gave an evasive answer, saying, “The Defense Ministry has never stated that it wants new U.S. military housing units built.” A head of a neighborhood association asked the minister about the possibility of the U.S. military relocation plan being reviewed. Kitazawa stressed the government intention to proceed with the plan, saying “A review of the plan would negate all the assumptions of the Japan-U.S. agreement.” The government has allocated a budget for the FY2010 to fund the transfer of U.S. aircraft carrier-based aircraft units from Atsugi Base (Kanagawa) to U.S. Marines Iwakuni Base (Yamaguchi). This goes against the Hatoyama Cabinet’s agreement when forming the coalition with the Social Democratic Party and the People’s New Party that a review should be made on the U.S. relocation plan including the transfer of carrier-based aircraft units. However, the government in its written parliamentary reply to the Japanese Communist Party revealed its policy of transferring the aircraft units as planned. |
|
|
Copyright (c) Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. All right reserved info@japan-press.co.jp |