Japan Press Weekly

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2014 January 15 - 21 [US FORCES]

JCP in Fukuoka opposes use of Ospreys in Japan-US joint disaster drill

Following the announcement of a plan to use Ospreys in a Japan-U.S. joint disaster drill in Fukuoka Prefecture next month, a local branch of the Japanese Communist Party on January 16 called on six nearby municipalities to raise voices in opposition to the plan.

The written request submitted by the JCP argues that the two governments seek to push forward flight training exercises of the crash-prone Ospreys on mainland Japan by making use of the aircraft in the emergency drill.

“The true aim of the planned drill is to involve local municipalities in military activities in defiance of the pacifist Constitution. We can never approve a plan to have local private medical facilities take part in the drill under the pretext of a patients transport drill,” the request statement points out.

An official of one of the municipalities in response said, “We want details of the emergency drill plan, but all we have obtained so far are several sheets of documents faxed from Tokyo. I will convey your message to the mayor.”

Another municipality’s official said, “The central government seems to think that we will accept anything if it is designated as a ‘disaster drill’.”