Ozawa wants smaller role for U.S. forces in Japan

Wednesday 25th February, 06:39 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 20 Total Comments Show All

tkoind2 at 10:04 AM JST - 25th February

The US may as well leave. Japan's significance on the world stage is diminishing. But I think they will live to regret this decision.
medievaltimes at 10:26 AM JST - 25th February

Japan needs to grow up and take care of itself. America should move things to Guam.
Seiharinokaze at 03:25 PM JST - 25th February

Ozawa first declined to meet Hillary when she visited here. It's interesting that someone who is expected to become prime minister when his party ousts LDP likely enough by this fall was not willing to meet President Obama's chief envoy. Perhaps it's a tacit or less impolite message he could give during the envoy's stay in Tokyo that Americans' role should indeed become smaller and that the $2.8 billion and what's more for the Marines transfer costs and others Japan agreed or will have to agree to give to Washington is actually a sort of predation.
zurcronium at 03:59 PM JST - 25th February

The US military serves no useful purpose here in Japan and has not for years and years. Like everywhere else they just terrorize the local population. Obama is as usual right on the button, the US troops should have been removed 20 years ago. The cold war is over. The troops here should go to Afganistan, were they are really needed.
zurcronium at 04:00 PM JST - 25th February

Make that Ozawa . . .
Sarge at 04:23 PM JST - 25th February

"The US military serves no useful purpose here in Japan"

Except to provide a deterrent against agression by some of Japan's neighbors who still harbor resentment from WW2, and a stable environment so zurcronium can live here.
apecNetworks at 05:52 PM JST - 25th February

DPJ Pres. Ozawa is historically correct. If the topic is SDF's role in Japan, it was/is to first, protect Japan and the outlying areas. Once that priority is increasing, the US Forces should be re-deployed to other priority regions. The missions far away from Japan can only be seriously committed after the SDF can reach adequate control of his/her immediate national interests. UN PKOs would be a separate development. This can be achieved w/out any significant changes to the Constitution - that change is up to the voters.

The LDP and the US Govt. has cut some sort of deal that develops outside of the above statement, but what the deal is, is unknown.
apecNetworks at 06:17 PM JST - 25th February

The Deal - for those in International Politics, I have one clue for you....look south.
okapake at 06:26 PM JST - 25th February

So, will Ozawa build up the SDF?
bobbafett at 08:44 PM JST - 25th February

So, will Ozawa build up the SDF?

gotta do something with all the unemployed people that will be suffering by the time elections come around.
sharky1 at 10:12 PM JST - 25th February

uh oh...looks like the war drums are starting to beat in Japan. I say no to Ozawa, Japan lost the war, and must remain within the boundaries of current treaties.
Faderkinta at 11:00 PM JST - 25th February

Every time Japan sneezes China and Korea say they are worried. I don't know how the SDF will take up a greater role without heating up this area. Still I am all for them taking up there own defense. I am tired of hearing how much trouble our bases are for people here.
PepinGalarga at 04:31 AM JST - 26th February

Japan has proven itself to refuse to take responsibility in world events. "checkbook diplomacy" won't cut it anymore. nothwithstanding, i feel that things should stay the way they are. right now North Korea and Taiwan are "stable", but who knows 6 months out, or 5 years out.
TokyoHustla at 04:35 AM JST - 26th February

"checkbook diplomacy" won't cut it anymore.

You might not be aware of it, but Japan is sending warships off the coast of Africa to help put down the terrorists and pirates. Japan is stepping up, big time. The rest of Asia better do more than chew fingernails, since they're either going to get on board, or be in the cross-hairs.
NeoJamal at 05:47 AM JST - 26th February

Except to provide a deterrent against agression by some of Japan's neighbors who still harbor resentment from WW2, and a stable environment so zurcronium can live here.

Deterrant against neighbours that have no bluewater navy to send their troops across the ditch and also can be effectively repelled by the JMSDF in its current state? BUT WAIT! we never know if Asians can fly. It's best that Uncle Sam stays in Japan with ONE carrier battle group and concentrate 40,000 marines (yes marines) to defend the small island of Okinawa. In order to be best prepared, these US bases will be used as a transport base for C-47s to ferry men and supplies to Vietnam and Iraq. The numerous movements of US transport aircraft in and out of Japan will surely make Japan's neighbours from attacking.