Gov't, ruling parties attack Ozawa's call to reduce U.S. forces

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TOKYO, Feb. 26 Kyodo -
The government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Thursday criticized
calls by the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan leader to downsize the
U.S. military forces in Japan in the future, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo
Kawamura saying it is ''unrealistic.''
''We think it is most realistic and appropriate to secure Japan's security
through deterrence (provided by the U.S. forces),'' Kawamura said at a news
conference, referring to DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa's remarks Tuesday that the
U.S. 7th Fleet in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, would be enough to secure the
U.S. presence in the ''Far East'' from a strategic viewpoint.
''The Japanese government thinks it's unrealistic to limit the U.S. military
presence in Japan only to the 7th Fleet,'' Kawamura said.
Prime Minister Taro Aso told reporters separately, ''Generally speaking, a
person who has a fair knowledge of defense would not make such comments'' as
there is a neighboring country which sees Japan as ''like an enemy'' and has
conducted nuclear experiments, apparently referring to North Korea.
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told a meeting of his LDP
faction, ''It's nothing but a wild view. The DPJ's biggest weakness lies in
such things.''
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also attacked Ozawa, saying, ''The DPJ is
saying whatever they want as if they took the reins of government. We cannot
have such a person to run Japan.''
Ozawa's remarks also stirred criticism from opposition parties.
Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima told reporters, ''Though I
don't know what he really meant, it will be a major problem if he meant that
Japan will become 'a normal country' and expand armaments.''
==Kyodo
2009-02-26 22:30:33