Controversy Over U.S. Base in Okinawa

 

Warren Mass
New American
May 21,2010

The British Guardian newspaper on May 21 quoted from a statement made by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to reporters in Tokyo that a dispute between the United States and Japan over the future of a U.S. airbase in Okinawa would not affect the countries’ “rock solid” 50-year-old alliance.

“We both seek an arrangement that is operationally viable and politically sustainable,” said Clinton, at the start of a three-nation tour of Asia that will include visits to China and South Korea. “The goal of our governments remains unchanged: we want to maintain the security of Japan and the stability of the region.”

To read the full story at the New American, click here.

————————————————————————

For additional information on this issue, please refer to the following reports:

Clinton Kicks Off Asia Tour  PressTV,  May 21,2010

Japan Prime Minister Accepts Relocation Plan  KUAM News, May 21, 2010

US and Japan Strive to Meet Deadline for Okinawa Airbase Decision   The Guardian Weekly, May 21, 2010

 

Hillary Clinton Begins Key Week-Long East Asia Visit

 

 

BBC News
May 21, 2010

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in Japan at the start of a week-long trip to Asia.

Her visit will be dominated by discussions over North Korea after investigators blamed it for the sinking of a South Korean warship.

She will meet the Japanese prime minister to discuss Japan-US ties and the future of the US military base on the island of Okinawa.

To read the full story on the BBC News web site, click here.

————————————————————————-

For additional information on this issue, please refer to the following reports: 

Q+A – U.S. Airbase row in focus as Clinton visits Japan  Reuters India,  May 21, 2010

Deal on Futenma expected May 28   Asahi Shimbun, May 21, 2010

Deal Seems Near on U.S. Base in Japan  The New York Times, May 20, 2010

 

Japan Not Ready for Base Deal

Photo: AFP

Japan Not Ready for Base Deal

 

The Straits Times (AFP)
May 18, 2010

Japan won’t be ready to resolve a row over a controversial US airbase when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits Japan later this week, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said on Tuesday.

Mrs Clinton will visit Japan on Friday, mainly to discuss a sunken South Korean navy ship now suspected to have been caused by a North Korean attack, as well as Iran’s nuclear programme, Mr Okada said in a news conference.

Tokyo and Washington have quarrelled for months over where to relocate the locally unpopular US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station now located in a city area of the southern island of Okinawa.

To read the full story in The Straits Times, click here.

 

Reports: Hatoyama, Clinton to Discuss US Base

 

Eric Talmadge
Forbes.com (AP)
May 17, 2010

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who will reportedly meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton this week, vowed Monday to do all he can to resolve an impasse over the future of a major American Marine base by the end of the month.

Hatoyama is under increasing pressure to come up with a plan to move operations off the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa in keeping with a pledge he made before becoming Japan’s leader last September.

To read the full story at the Forbes.com, click here.