U.S. shows intention to use V-shape runways in all directions reneging on government assurances

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U.S. shows intention to use V-shape runways in all directions reneging on government assurances

Defense Agency Director General Kyuma Fumio at the November 7 House of Representatives Security Committee meeting admitted that U.S. warplanes will land in both directions on the two runways set out in a V-shape that the government plans to construct on the shoreline of the U.S. Marine Corps Camp Schwab in Nago City in Okinawa as part of the realignment plan of the U.S. forces in Japan.

In reply to Japanese Communist Party representative Akamine Seiken, Kyuma said, "In the event of an emergency, U.S. aircraft may use any direction to make a landing."

The government has publicly explained that the U.S. forces will use the runway closer to the land for landing and the other runway for taking off in order to avoid flying over residential areas. This was stated in the basic agreement that the government made in April with Nago City and Ginoza Village located next to Nago.

The U.S. aircraft's use of both sides of the V-shaped runways for landing means that they will fly over residential areas, posing a serious danger of accidents.

Defense Facilities Administration Agency Director Kitahara Iwao said, "What the government explained to heads of local municipalities was about the normal use of the runways. We have not said anything about emergency cases."

Referring to the situation of Okinawa in which the U.S. forces are violating everyday the Japan-U.S. agreement that they do not fly late at night and early in the morning, Akamine criticized the government saying, "For the U.S. forces 'in case of emergency' means 'in any case'."

The U.S. government has requested the Japanese government to install approach lights at both ends of the two runways to enable U.S. aircraft to land.
- Akahata, November 8, 2006