Asia-Pacific

Japan to move some US F-15 fighter drills to Guam

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-20 16:31

TOKYO - Japan's Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa told Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima on Thursday that the US-held island of Guam will play host to some of the US military drills, including those by F-15 fighter jets currently based in Japan's southernmost prefecture.

In an effort to reduce the base-holding burden of the people of Okinawa, Kitazawa explained to Nakaima that moving some of the drills out of Okinawa would reduce the noise caused by such exercises.

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He also implored local officials and citizens to understand that the central government remained committed to its efforts to lessen Okinawa's US base-hosting obligations, local media reported.

But the Okinawan governor, a staunch advocate for the removal of all US military operations from Okinawa, was wary of the move, saying, "Let me first take a look at the details of the agreement to see if the noise could be considerably reduced."

In addition, local media in Okinawa's capital Naha City also said that Nakaima once again reiterated to Kitazawa his view that the central government should review a Japan-US accord reached in May, which states that the controversial US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station would be relocated within the island.

"We hope you will help us achieve the relocation of the military base outside of the prefecture," Nakaima was quoted as saying.

Sources with knowledge of the matter said that Japan will foot the bill for relocating the F-15 drills under a joint accord to partially move them from the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. This will mean that around 20 F-15 fighter jets can take part in each training session in Guam, with each session lasting up to 20-days.

Kitazawa, on a two-day visit to Okinawa, also told Nakaima that he was committed to starting preparations for a full return of the US Marine Corps' Gimbaru training area in the Okinawa town of Kin.

He pledged to the governor that he would do everything to ensure this bilateral accord would be seen through to its fruition.

On January 13 US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Kitazawa first discussed the possibility of transferring drills involving F- 15 fighters from Okinawa to Guam, to lighten the base-hosting burden of the local people.

Local opposition to US military personnel in Okinawa has grown steadily since a local high school girl was raped by three US military personnel in September 1995 and a Marine CH-53D Sea Stallion heavy assault transport helicopter crashed into the Okinawa International University in Ginowan in August 2004.

With regard to the relocating of the US Marine Corps's Futenma Air Station within Okinawa Prefecture, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan reiterated his stance at a recent press conference, stating that he was committed to the original accord struck with Washington to relocate the base within the island.