ID :
85372
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 09:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/85372
The shortlink copeid
Gates calls for Japan to implement U.S. forces realignment plan+
TOKYO, Oct. 20 Kyodo - Visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates pressed Japan on Tuesday to implement a 2006 bilateral accord on the relocation of a U.S. military airfield in Okinawa Prefecture as the only feasible plan, casting a shadow over Japan's hopes to review the planned realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
During talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada following his arrival
in Tokyo, Gates called for Japan to reach an early conclusion on the issue
related to U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station, but Okada suggested it may
take Japan time to do so, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.
On issues related to Afghanistan, Gates showed understanding of Japan's plan to
end its refueling mission in support of U.S-led antiterrorism operations in and
around the country, while Okada conveyed his government's idea of focusing more
on support that would help Afghan people's livelihoods, the official said.
Gates is the first U.S. Cabinet member to visit Japan since the September
launch of the new Japanese government, which hopes to review the planned
realignment of U.S. forces in Japan as part of its policy to seek more
''equal'' Japan-U.S. ties.
During the 35-minute meeting, Gates told Okada that the current plan to
relocate Futemma within Okinawa Prefecture is the only feasible plan and
stressed the need to steadily implement the realignment of the U.S. forces in
Japan based on a 2006 Japan-U.S. accord, the official said.
Okada, for his part, said he is ''fully aware of the existence of the
Japan-U.S. accord'' and wants to reach a conclusion at the earliest possible
date, but he also sought understanding of the ''difficult political situation''
following a change of government, according to the official.
In the Aug. 30 general election, candidates who were negative about the current
Futemma relocation plan won all four single-seat constituencies in Okinawa.
Under the accord that took years to reach, the Futemma Air Station is to be
relocated from downtown Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to a less densely
populated area in Nago, also in Okinawa, by 2014.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who is also the Democratic Party of Japan
leader, earlier said his government will seek to move the heliport functions of
the Futemma facility outside Okinawa, or even outside Japan.
But the government has recently become noncommittal on how it will review or
possibly even alter the 2006 Japan-U.S. accord.
On Afghanistan, Okada told Gates that Japan is ''not in a situation to submit a
bill'' during the upcoming extraordinary Diet session to extend its refueling
mission in the Indian Ocean beyond the January expiration of existing
legislation authorizing the mission, the official said.
Okada also said Japan is working to map out measures to support Afghanistan and
Pakistan in the hope of making use of ''areas that Japan is good at'' and cited
some examples, but the official did not elaborate because the issue is still
being considered.
Gates said it is up to Japan what kind of assistance it decides to offer and
expressed hope toward powerful support, the official said.
Meanwhile, Okada also touched on the idea of a no-first-use doctrine for
nuclear weapons, which he advocates, and proposed that Japan and the United
States also discuss the issue, according to the official.
Gates' two-day visit to Japan is also aimed at laying the groundwork for U.S.
President Barack Obama's scheduled visit to Japan in mid-November.
On Wednesday, Gates will hold talks separately with Hatoyama and Japanese
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa. Gates and Kitazawa are to hold a joint press
conference after their meeting.
Before Gates' arrival, the Japanese government's top spokesman, Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, said at a regular press conference, ''There is no
change in our stance to deal flexibly with the (Futemma) issue.''
But he also said he would like to keep in mind the government's pledge of
seeking to ease the burden on local residents in the southernmost prefecture,
which hosts the majority of the U.S. forces stationed in Japan.
The DPJ did not specifically mention the Futemma relocation in its election
manifesto, but it agreed with two minor parties in forming a coalition
government to ''work in the direction of reviewing the nature of the
realignment of U.S. forces...from the viewpoint of reducing burdens on the
people of Okinawa.''
A senior U.S. Defense Department official recently signaled Washington's
readiness to accept minor adjustments to the Futemma relocation plan, but a
plan about moving the envisaged military airfield further offshore was not
touched on during the talks between Okada and Gates, the Japanese official
said.
Okada and Gates also affirmed the importance of their bilateral alliance, with
Gates saying at the outset of the meeting, ''The alliance between our countries
remains the cornerstone of U.S. security policy.''
==Kyodo
2009-10-20 23:43:58
During talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada following his arrival
in Tokyo, Gates called for Japan to reach an early conclusion on the issue
related to U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station, but Okada suggested it may
take Japan time to do so, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.
On issues related to Afghanistan, Gates showed understanding of Japan's plan to
end its refueling mission in support of U.S-led antiterrorism operations in and
around the country, while Okada conveyed his government's idea of focusing more
on support that would help Afghan people's livelihoods, the official said.
Gates is the first U.S. Cabinet member to visit Japan since the September
launch of the new Japanese government, which hopes to review the planned
realignment of U.S. forces in Japan as part of its policy to seek more
''equal'' Japan-U.S. ties.
During the 35-minute meeting, Gates told Okada that the current plan to
relocate Futemma within Okinawa Prefecture is the only feasible plan and
stressed the need to steadily implement the realignment of the U.S. forces in
Japan based on a 2006 Japan-U.S. accord, the official said.
Okada, for his part, said he is ''fully aware of the existence of the
Japan-U.S. accord'' and wants to reach a conclusion at the earliest possible
date, but he also sought understanding of the ''difficult political situation''
following a change of government, according to the official.
In the Aug. 30 general election, candidates who were negative about the current
Futemma relocation plan won all four single-seat constituencies in Okinawa.
Under the accord that took years to reach, the Futemma Air Station is to be
relocated from downtown Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to a less densely
populated area in Nago, also in Okinawa, by 2014.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who is also the Democratic Party of Japan
leader, earlier said his government will seek to move the heliport functions of
the Futemma facility outside Okinawa, or even outside Japan.
But the government has recently become noncommittal on how it will review or
possibly even alter the 2006 Japan-U.S. accord.
On Afghanistan, Okada told Gates that Japan is ''not in a situation to submit a
bill'' during the upcoming extraordinary Diet session to extend its refueling
mission in the Indian Ocean beyond the January expiration of existing
legislation authorizing the mission, the official said.
Okada also said Japan is working to map out measures to support Afghanistan and
Pakistan in the hope of making use of ''areas that Japan is good at'' and cited
some examples, but the official did not elaborate because the issue is still
being considered.
Gates said it is up to Japan what kind of assistance it decides to offer and
expressed hope toward powerful support, the official said.
Meanwhile, Okada also touched on the idea of a no-first-use doctrine for
nuclear weapons, which he advocates, and proposed that Japan and the United
States also discuss the issue, according to the official.
Gates' two-day visit to Japan is also aimed at laying the groundwork for U.S.
President Barack Obama's scheduled visit to Japan in mid-November.
On Wednesday, Gates will hold talks separately with Hatoyama and Japanese
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa. Gates and Kitazawa are to hold a joint press
conference after their meeting.
Before Gates' arrival, the Japanese government's top spokesman, Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, said at a regular press conference, ''There is no
change in our stance to deal flexibly with the (Futemma) issue.''
But he also said he would like to keep in mind the government's pledge of
seeking to ease the burden on local residents in the southernmost prefecture,
which hosts the majority of the U.S. forces stationed in Japan.
The DPJ did not specifically mention the Futemma relocation in its election
manifesto, but it agreed with two minor parties in forming a coalition
government to ''work in the direction of reviewing the nature of the
realignment of U.S. forces...from the viewpoint of reducing burdens on the
people of Okinawa.''
A senior U.S. Defense Department official recently signaled Washington's
readiness to accept minor adjustments to the Futemma relocation plan, but a
plan about moving the envisaged military airfield further offshore was not
touched on during the talks between Okada and Gates, the Japanese official
said.
Okada and Gates also affirmed the importance of their bilateral alliance, with
Gates saying at the outset of the meeting, ''The alliance between our countries
remains the cornerstone of U.S. security policy.''
==Kyodo
2009-10-20 23:43:58
