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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Base site return not foreseen after U.S. Marine Corps command transfer to Guam

The Japanese government is unable to say whether the site for U.S. Camp Courtney in Okinawa's Uruma City will be returned after the departure of a U.S. Marine Corps command for Guam as part of the U.S. Forces realignment, a senior Defense Agency official admitted at the March 29 House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee meeting.

He made the remarks in answer to a question by Japanese Communist Party representative Akamine Seiken.

The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force command currently situated in Camp Courtney is to move to Guam under the U.S. military realignment scheme.

Defense Policy Bureau chief Ofuru Kazuo stated that with the return of the sites for U.S. bases located to the south of the U.S. Kadena Air Base, the U.S. Forces will reorganize their units, indicating the possibility of the future use of Camp Courtney by other U.S. military units. He added, "The Japanese government has not been informed of the removal of Camp Courtney since the U.S. side is still considering the specifics of reorganizing its military units."

Asked by Akamine if the Marines may come back to Okinawa from Guam for training, the Foreign Ministry's North American Affairs Bureau Director-General Kawai Chikao said, "Depending on their necessity, chances of visits will not be discarded."

Akamine criticized, "Building a base using Japan's tax money and still keeping their facilities in Okinawa, the U.S. Marines will have free access to two strongholds."
- Akahata, March 30, 2006