usforce

Foreign Ministry official hints at accepting U.S. nuclear-powered carrier

A Foreign Ministry official has approved of the planned deployment of a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture.

In reply to Japanese Communist Party representative Hatano Kimie's question at a House of Councilors committee meeting on April 21, North American Affairs Bureau Director-General Ebihara Shin stated that the government will deal with the matter if the U.S. asks Japan to offer the port as a home base of the state-of-the-art aircraft carrier.

Concerning Commander in Chief U.S. Pacific Command (CINCPAC) Thomas B. Fargo's congressional testimony that a nuclear-powered carrier will be deployed to Yokosuka in 2008, Ebihara said, "Now that the U.S. forces are essential to the defense of Japan, such a request should be accepted."

Hatano warned that the deployment of the nuclear-armed carrier will perpetuate the existence of U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base.

Showing reports on serious noise damage arising from U.S. carrier-based aircraft in areas around the U.S. Atsugi Naval Air Station in Kanagawa Prefecture and the growing public anxiety about possible radioactive leakage from the carrier, she demanded that the government reject any such U.S. request. (end)