DPJ government's first defense white paper stresses importance of US Marines

Japan Press Weekly

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

DPJ government's first defense white paper stresses importance of US Marines

The annual defense white paper released by the Defense Ministry on September 10 emphasizes the need for the continued stationing of the U.S. forces, including the U.S. Marine Corps, in Japan.

Regarding the issue of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, the 2010 Defense of Japan, the first white paper released under the Democratic Party of Japan government, states that the U.S. Marines are necessary for Japan as a deterrence force, and completely refuses to consider relocating the Futenma base outside Okinawa or outside Japan.

This challenges Okinawans to increase their resistance. Several opinion polls show that 70 percent of them oppose the government plan to construct a new U.S. base in the Henoko district in Nago City as an alternative to the Futenma base. In order to persuade Okinawans to accept a new U.S. base, the government is using deterrence as an excuse for keeping the U.S. forces in Japan. The government should give up the plan and achieve the unconditional removal of the Futenma base from Japan.

Before taking power, the DPJ criticized the former Liberal Democratic-Komei government for sending the Self-Defense Forces to the Indian Ocean and Iraq to join in U.S. forces-led missions. However, the white paper offers a favorable assessment of the SDF dispatch.

The white paper in particular stresses the need of a sense of vigilance against China.

The white paper was initially scheduled for release at the end of July. However, because the white paper was to refer to the issue of Takeshima Island (which Japan disputes the sovereignty with Korea), the Defense Ministry decided to postpone publishing the white paper until after the announcement of Prime Minister Kan Naoto's remarks regarding the 100th anniversary of annexation of Korea by Japan.

- Akahata, September 11, 2010