U.S. nuclear sub calls unannounced at Okinawa, prompting Tokyo protest

Tuesday 11th November, 06:43 AM JST

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nigelboy at 10:50 AM JST - 11th November

According to Mainichi

"米原潜の日本寄港について米政府が１９６４年８月、「入港の少なくとも２４時間前に日本政府に通報する」と声明を出して以来、事前通報なしの寄港は２度目。外務省の抗議に、在日米大使館側は「米海軍内部の連絡ミスが原因」と謝罪した。"

The declaration which was established in August of 1964 calls for U.S. officials to notify Japanese government at least 24 hours prior to entering the port.

The U.S. embassy apologized for the incident.

http://mainichi.jp/select/wadai/news/20081111ddm001040019000c.html

So in other words, you'll notice that there was indeed an "agreement" as well as the official statement from the U.S.
soldave at 11:53 AM JST - 11th November

Yes, and "agreement" but not necessarily a signed treaty.
kyuzo at 12:23 PM JST - 11th November

soldave, Face it, the submarine boys messed up. Simple as that.
yosun at 01:44 PM JST - 11th November

Don't play "words" game any more! It's just an issue of respect.
nandakandamanda at 04:09 PM JST - 11th November

Yosun. Agreed. Respect is very important in Japan, and lack of it is taken as an insult, whether deliberate or otherwise. It makes the J govt look bad in the eyes of her neighbors/neighbours. Surface appearances need to be kept. The US Embassy recognizes this, thus the apology.

Celebration over the Obama election result, and a fine stitch got dropped?
Damax6 at 04:38 PM JST - 11th November

i guess no one is talking about the russian sub incident in japanese waters. but do you really think this was done on purpose????. also, do you really think the japanese authorities was not given prior notice?.

someone had a "brainfart", which side?. none of us here knows the TRUTH. for them to "break cover" like that is highly unusual.
noborito at 06:17 PM JST - 11th November

kyuzo too funny. Without the US here you would be speaking Chinese by years end. thanks by the way, you actually made me laugh out-loud.
noborito at 06:19 PM JST - 11th November

And... for you who wrote "agreement" Japanese people play this card all the time. I love it with other countries play the same game. Agreement and Treaty are completely different and "Agreement" can be agreed upon one day and not the next. Finally the US has learned something about Japanese culture.
scoday at 10:14 PM JST - 11th November

Having been on a Submarine I love reading all the speculation here, you can bet your sweet Japanese behinds that someone in your government knew this boat was pulling in... None of you have any clue as to why that boat pulled in 'unexpectedly...' I will just say in advance from my people to the Emporer and his people, you are welcome...
frankthedm at 03:19 AM JST - 12th November

Yeah, something tells me this may be very related to the Russian nuclear sub "accident".
Antonios_M at 09:59 AM JST - 12th November

There are many Americans who claim "We are here to protect you", but after all, who put you in charge of this "protection system"? The capitalist system or maybe the result of the Second World War?

We all know that USA used Japan in a way to control the Communist expansionism in Asia. However, the Cold War is over! US politicians and citizens must understand that nowadays there is no Stalin! There is Putin now and USA is not the only World Power anymore. There is Iran, Russia, China and it must be balance between them and the western countries. Stop playing the "leader's role" and start thinking more like a part of the global society.
soldave at 12:13 PM JST - 12th November

noborito - regarding your last comment, how true. Agreements and signed treaties are 2 very different things that quite a few people with not so big an understanding of issues like that understand.

Antonios M - DO you believe the Japanese would allow the US military to just up and walk away from Japan and Okinawa with its military? The consequences of that would mean Japan would need to finance and resource an adequate defence force for the country and which they simply don't have the means to do at the moment. And that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
nigelboy at 12:35 PM JST - 12th November

And... for you who wrote "agreement" Japanese people play this card all the time. I love it with other countries play the same game. Agreement and Treaty are completely different and "Agreement" can be agreed upon one day and not the next.

1 a: the act or fact of agreeing b: harmony of opinion, action, or character : concord 2 a: an arrangement as to a course of action b: compact , treaty 3 a: a contract duly executed and legally binding b: the language or instrument embodying such a contract
nigelboy at 02:51 PM JST - 12th November

Fact Sheet on U.S. Nuclear Powered Warship Safety

Regarding the safety of NPWs visiting Japanese ports, the U.S. Government has made firm commitments including those in the Aide-Memoire of 1964; the Statement by the U.S. Government on Operation of Nuclear Powered Warships in Foreign Ports of 1964; the Aide-Memoire of 1967; and the Memorandum of Conversation of 1968. ......

http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/p/tp-20060417-72.html

Yeah, I know. Commitments are not "treaty". sigh..
wanderlust at 07:04 PM JST - 13th November

Surface appearances need to be kept. The US Embassy recognizes this, thus the apology

. Yes, it should have stayed below the surface, and no-one would have been the wiser; an appearance above the surface....