December 3, 2008
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2008 December 3 - 9 [SDF]
Residents foil ASDF Tsuiki base expansion plan |
The ministry reportedly informed the local municipalities concerned that it would not request a budget for the base expansion project because local support was not forthcoming.
Asked by Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Akamine Seiken on December 2 if this explanation to local governments meant that the Defense Ministry withdrew the base expansion plan, a ministry official answered, “That is correct.”
A year ago, the ASDF and U.S. Air Force conducted a joint training exercise with F-15 fighter jets. Soon after this, the plan to expand the ASDF base came to the fore. Then, the local peace movement launched a campaign denouncing the base expansion plan as a move linked to the ongoing realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
The Defense Ministry had explained that the base would be used for U.S. drills in case of emergencies as well as for Japan-U.S. joint exercises.
This raised concerns among local peace groups and residents that the expansion project might pave the way for further increasing Japan-U.S. military cooperation. Residents started a movement against the project, and landowners who would be asked to surrender their land also opposed the project. In concert with the opposition movement, the JCP demanded that the ministry call off the project.
Commenting on the ministry’s decision to give up on the plan, Akamine said, “This is an important achievement by the united effort of the JCP and local residents.”
Chikujo Town Mayor Arakawa Hisami said, “From the beginning, the base has been troublesome to the town. We agree to some extend to maintain the current level of the base, but we don’t want it expanded.”
The JCP has called for a halt to the U.S. military realignment in Japan, demanding that both the Japanese and U.S. governments accept the fact that opposition to the plan is increasing throughout Japan.
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