JCP demands removal of PAC-3 from Yokosuka

   PAC-3 interceptor missiles were installed on January 30 at the Air Self-Defense Force Takeyama Base in Yokosuka City (Kanagawa Pref.).

   The Japanese Communist Party Kanagawa Prefectural Committee and peace organizations later in the day submitted to the base statements of protest demanding the removal of the missiles.

   The JCP statement pointed out that Japan’s PAC-3s do not serve the self-defense needs of Japan but constitute a part of the U.S. missile defense program to build up U.S. preemptive attack capability.

   At a protest rally held in front of the base gate, Hatano Kimie, a JCP candidate for the Lower House election, said, “The SDF sneakily installed PAC-3s without informing residents of the plan beforehand. The deployment of PAC-3s goes against the Constitution and is absolutely unacceptable.”

   The Defense Ministry plans to deploy PAC-3s to 11 ASDF bases across the country by the end of FY 2010.

   The Takeyama Base is the third base with PAC-3s installed after the Iruma Base (Saitama Pref.) and Narashino Base (Chiba Pref.).
- Akahata, January 31, 2008