Japan Press Weekly

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2021 September 1 - 7 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Local peace activists protest against UK aircraft carrier's call at Yokosuka Port

Local civic organizations working against nuclear weapons and opposing the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty took to the streets near Yokosuka Chuo train station in Yokosuka City in Kanagawa Prefecture on September 5, protesting against the port call by the British navy aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth" at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base on the previous day.

A Japanese Communist Party candidate for the House of Representatives proportional representation election and a JCP Yokosuka City Assembyperson also participated in this protest action.

Antinuke activist and lawyer Goto Masahiko criticized the Japanese government for allowing the QE to call at the port despite knowing that more than 100 QE crewmembers are reportedly infected with COVID-19. Goto pointed out that port calls of U.K. warships at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base is a violation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces in August conducted joint military training exercises with the U.K. carrier strike group, the U.S. military, and the Dutch troops with the QE as a flagship. The SDF will again carry out joint exercises with the QE for two weeks.

Local protesters said, "The Japanese government is attempting to allow the SDF to fight abroad along with allied forces. We will prevent our city of Yokosuka from becoming a stronghold for the unconstitutional use of the right to collective self-defense."