Japan Press Weekly

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2013 January 9 - 15 [US FORCES]

US nuclear ships last year berthed in Yokosuka for total of 298 days

U.S. nuclear-powered warships last year anchored in the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture for a total of 298 days, showing that the United States is using Yokosuka as a major naval port under the Asia-centered U.S. military strategy.

According to the Yokosuka City government, the nuclear carrier George Washington spent 212 days there, and 10 atomic submarines which include ones operating in the western Pacific made a total of 14 calls, staying 86 days at the Yokosuka Port. The number of visits by atomic-powered vessels amounted to 18. The total of 298 days of US Naval vessels in port is the third highest number since an A-sub entered the port for the first time in 1966.

Deployed at Yokosuka in September 2008, the GW has annually docked at the port between late November and early May for regular maintenance and repair work, accounting for 70% of the total length of stay of all US Naval vessels.

Hatano Kimie, a Japanese Communist Party candidate for the House of Councilors representing Kanagawa, said, “As a person of the only atomic-bombed country, I can’t stand watching Yokosuka being used for operations by U.S. nuclear ships. Kanawaga citizens have been concerned about the danger of nuclear accidents in the event of major earthquakes or tsunamis.”

Hatano said that she wants to participate more in movements to stop the U.S. military from making Yokosuka its homeport.

The U.S. Navy currently deploys 40 out of its 75 A-subs in the Pacific theater.