Although Japan has heard of the three U.S. senators’ proposal, officials there said they don’t consider it the official word of the U.S. government.
The announcement by the chief cabinet secretary seemingly tossed aside recommendations made more than a week ago by U.S. Sens. Carl Levin, John McCain and Jim Webb, two of whom visited Okinawa last month. Yukio Edano made the announcement in the wake of a joint statement made by the U.S. senators that the Futenma relocation to Nago City’s Henoko district and Camp Schwab should be abandoned as “totally unrealistic,” according to reports from Japan news agencies.
The senators recommended relocating Futenma’s functions to nearby Kadena Air Base, a U.S. Air Force installation, with other assets going to Andersen Air Base in Guam or two mainland Japan locations.
Japan’s Defense Minister didn’t reject the senators’ proposal outright, but noted that their comments were not the official stance of the U.S. government. Toshimi Kitazawa said the senators have something to say, though, because they help determine how U.S. taxes are spent. “For us, we have to closely watch the views of the U.S. government, which has received the proposal,” Kitazawa said.
Pentagon spokesman David Lapan said the Obama administration’s commitment to the current Henoko relocation plan remains unchanged.
The Air Force, which uses Kadena for jet aircraft, doesn’t think integrating the slower helicopters and propeller-driven aircraft would be a good idea.
The Marines are equally opposed, noting air traffic control difficulties that would arise because of the different types of aircraft that would complicate coordinating takeoffs and landings. Residents of Kadena town, adjacent to the sprawling airbase, are already at odds with Kadena base officials and the Japanese government over noise issues. They say things would be worse with the addition of Marine air assets.
Guam Speaker Judi Won Pat said with the way the discussions are happening, she would not be surprised if the U.S. Congress and Obama’s administration went head to head with the issue.
