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Japan to put off decision on US base row-media
Source: Agencies |
December 15, 2009, Tuesday
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JAPANESE Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will put off a decision on a row with Washington over a US airbase, media reported today, a delay that risks fanning US mistrust and voters' doubts about his leadership.
Tokyo is under US pressure to implement a 2006 plan to relocate the Marines' Futenma airbase on Okinawa to a less crowded part of the southern island as a pre-requisite for shifting up to 8,000 Marines to the US island of Guam.
The Asahi and Mainichi newspapers reported that Hatoyama, who had originally intended to decide by year-end what Japan would do, would now make a decision on relocating Futenma by May 2010.
Japan, Asahi said, would go ahead with preparations to move the airbase but explore alternative relocation sites before making a decision among the three parties making up the ruling coalition.
"New relocation options will be considered, but by setting a deadline for May next year, (the government) hopes to win the understanding of the United States," Asahi said.
"The aim could also be to reach a decision before an upper house election next summer and to avoid making it an issue."
Hatoyama has vowed to steer a diplomatic stance less dependent on Washington, Tokyo's longstanding security ally, and said during the election campaign that swept him to office that he wanted to move the base off Okinawa.
Two small coalition partners buttressing his Democratic Party and needed to pass laws smoothly, oppose any compromise.
Japanese media had reported that Washington wanted a decision on relocation by the end of the year. Any delay could breed mistrust in Washington, stall the shift of the Marines to Guam and raise questions about Hatoyama's leadership.
The plan to move Futenma is part of a broader realignment of US troops in Japan against a background of China's rising role and an unpredictable North Korea.
Tokyo is under US pressure to implement a 2006 plan to relocate the Marines' Futenma airbase on Okinawa to a less crowded part of the southern island as a pre-requisite for shifting up to 8,000 Marines to the US island of Guam.
The Asahi and Mainichi newspapers reported that Hatoyama, who had originally intended to decide by year-end what Japan would do, would now make a decision on relocating Futenma by May 2010.
Japan, Asahi said, would go ahead with preparations to move the airbase but explore alternative relocation sites before making a decision among the three parties making up the ruling coalition.
"New relocation options will be considered, but by setting a deadline for May next year, (the government) hopes to win the understanding of the United States," Asahi said.
"The aim could also be to reach a decision before an upper house election next summer and to avoid making it an issue."
Hatoyama has vowed to steer a diplomatic stance less dependent on Washington, Tokyo's longstanding security ally, and said during the election campaign that swept him to office that he wanted to move the base off Okinawa.
Two small coalition partners buttressing his Democratic Party and needed to pass laws smoothly, oppose any compromise.
Japanese media had reported that Washington wanted a decision on relocation by the end of the year. Any delay could breed mistrust in Washington, stall the shift of the Marines to Guam and raise questions about Hatoyama's leadership.
The plan to move Futenma is part of a broader realignment of US troops in Japan against a background of China's rising role and an unpredictable North Korea.
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