Peace groups protest against deployment of U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Yokosuka Port

Peace organizations in Kanagawa Prefecture have expressed strong opposition to the U.S. plan to deploy a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Yokosuka Port in Kanagawa, a plan unveiled by the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command in the U.S. Congress on March 31.

At the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee hearing on March 31, Commander Thomas Boulton Fargo of the U.S. Pacific Command strongly indicated that the Kitty Hawk, a conventionally powered aircraft carrier deployed at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base, will be replaced by a state-of-the-art nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in 2008.

Nagasawa Takeo, the secretary of the Kanagawa Prefectural Council against A & H Bombs (Kanagawa Gensuikyo), said, "Deployment of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will pave the way for bringing nuclear weapons into Japan, and we must prevent such a vessel from entering our port."

"The U.S. commander was outspoken in his remarks, presumably because Japan and the U.S. government have already agreed on the deployment," said Usami Ippei, the secretary of the Kanagawa United Promotion Committee against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.

On March 16, Defense Agency Director General Ishiba Shigeru flatly denied that the planned construction of additional housing units in the U.S. Navy Ikego residential area located near the Yokosuka base is connected with the proposed deployment of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier deployment in the Yokosuka base.

Yokosuka Port has served as the only homeport outside of the United States for U.S. aircraft carriers since 1973. However, Japanese citizens' strong opposition has prevented nuclear-powered aircraft carrier from being deployed at the port. (end)