JCP lawmaker urges government to oppose U.S. Forces' use of Okinawa's civil airports: JCP Dietmember

In its recent report containing policy recommendations concerning what strategy the U.S. should adopt toward Asia, a U.S. think-tank, the RAND Corporation, proposed using Okinawa's civil airports as stepping stones for U.S. military action.

In the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on May 23, Seiken Akamine, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives, urged the government to oppose any such request from the U.S.

The report which Akamine cited is entitled, "The United States and Asia: Toward a New U.S. Strategy and Force Structure." It was directed by Zalmay Khalilzad, RAND's chair who has recently joined the White House staff as U.S. National Security Council senior director.

The report refers to "an expanded or at least southward-shifted USAF base posture in Japan" based on the island's position "only 250 nautical miles from Taipei with a commercial airport with a 10,000-foot runway and a sizable port," and, "basing on one or more of the southern Ryukyus would clearly be advantageous for the defense of Taiwan."

JCP Akamine pointed out that what the RAND report recommends is a manifestation of the assertion of U.S. hegemony in relation to a possible China-Taiwan crisis .

Asked by Akamine whether the government will say no when the U.S. government asks Japan to implement what the report recommends, Foreign Minister Tanaka Makiko said she cannot answer such a hypothetical question.

Akamine referred to the U.S. military aircraft from the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa landing at Hateruma Airport and Shimochi-shima Airport, both at Southern Ryukyus, in April and May. These aircraft were on their way to and from exercises in the Philippines.

Pointing out that the U.S. Forces carried out those landings ignoring the Okinawa prefectural government call for opposition, Akamine again urged the government to make its opposition clear concerning the new U.S. base plan.

In response, the foreign minister said that Article V of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) allows U.S. Forces aircraft to use Japan's civil airports.

Akamine refuted the foreign minister, saying, "SOFA's Article V only approves their landing in an emergency. If Japan's government approves the use by U.S. Forces of civil airports based on their operational requirements, the whole of Okinawa's islands would be used as U.S. bases."

SOFA's Article V only states that U.S. vessels and "aircraft ... shall be accorded access to any port or airport of Japan free from toll or landing charges." (end)