U.S. won't renegotiate Futenma relocation plan with Japan

Tuesday 01st September, 07:00 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 26 Total Comments Show All

Sarge at 09:55 AM JST - 1st September

"America, get out of Japan!"

People who post stuff like this are either unaware of, or refuse to admit, that America has kept Japan out of trouble for over 60 years.
timorborder at 10:02 AM JST - 1st September

So the dancing begins. Don't know if it is a good tactic to stonewall the new Japanese government from the get-go, but on the other hand the incoming government has a duty to observe and implement those treaties and agreements that are already in place with other nations.

Furthermore, I agree with Sarge. "Go home Yankee!" as a catchphrase is little more that populist garbage. The US (and its military) have done much over the last 60 old years to stabilize the NE Asian region, and protect Japan's interests. Such actions have often been carried out while Japan's own politicians dithered and prevaricated to the point of inaction. One example of this would be the SLOC issue of the early 1980s, with Japanese policy basically extending to the horizon and not beyond. Indeed, it could be argued that the simple presence of the US (both military and otherwise) has been a stabilizing factor within the country as well.
palisadez54 at 10:18 AM JST - 1st September

YuriOtani: Two words: Pearl Harbor!
AK619 at 10:43 AM JST - 1st September

America's military should never leave Japan and relocate back to Guam, wether Japan's govt. wants them to or not. I still have family sunk at the bottom of the Ocean in Hawaii from WWII, but I have tried to get along with Japan. Let Japan open full business with Asia, will see how long that relationship will last.

What America should do is make sure that nuclear bombs won't be produced in Japan or Asia with out checks, so that when they start war with each other, they won't blow each other off the map.

These Asian countries will never get along, based on Japan's post war and sadistic history with its surrounding neighbors. There is still to much deep seated hatred against Japan by other Asian countries, and history shows that some countries such as Germany, will only result back to a violent nature, if they don't have some constant check and balance.

If Japan wants less independants upon America, then bring all your business to Asia and shut down your buisnesses in America. Dose Japan really want to do business with China? China has become rich from doing business with Africa, so that might mean Japan has to do business with blacks. Or perhaps Japan wants less business with America, because the President is black? The point I'm trying to make is you gotta get along with other nationalities despite there color.

Furthermore, Obama wasn't responsible for the world wide bad economy, it was passed on to him by Bush. What Japan will do is just isolate from the national community, I already know if the US. military leaves Japan, there will be an uproar from all the surrounding Asian countries, war will begin.
SEPTIMUS at 11:34 AM JST - 1st September

I do not particular care who occupies or owns Okinawa, but one only needs to have a pair of eyes, common sense, and a map to realize that where Okinawa is situated is too important a location to be thought of as insignificant.

Regardless whether a military is present in Okinawa Prefecture or not, I think that to leave such an important island alone would be a tactical mistake for anyone looking to have a strategic foothold in Asia and the claim to power that goes with it.

Things change, things always change and as much as I wish otherwise, I truly believe Okinawa has not seen the last of war. A shame for such a beautiful place.
Hurtado at 01:05 PM JST - 1st September

This is good Japan needs to get rid of US influence and seek to defend its own interests.
fairyprince at 01:34 PM JST - 1st September

I do not see what China gains by invading Japan.

Revenge?
fishy at 01:59 PM JST - 1st September

Yuri-- I think you have some personal feelings towards the U.S. military (Marines) in Japan?? As much as you might want to think all/most Japanese want them gone, it is actually not true.. As much as Japanese people probably don't feel "protected", we also have lots of local people working FOR the U.S. military. Especially in Okinawa, if you remove the military bases from there, the only thing that's left there is tourism.. U.S.military bases actually provide lots of jobs for the local people and even though there have been some crimes and etc, the U.S. military in Okinawa actually put some "flavor" to Okinawa from the Honshu people's view point.
AK619 at 02:42 PM JST - 1st September

@Hurtado:

America has to stay in Japan, in order to defend peace and its own interest. Anway, once the US. military is out, we ain't gonna be able to stop North Korea, China, and perhaps Russia from steam rolling over Japan. Who knows what langauge Japan will have to study, I fiqure perhaps Chinese. I guess Japan wants a drastic change! :)

No one in this area is gonna allow Japan enough time to build an Army. Its only logical for China to attack you full force. At that point, America better not send our troops to rescue you!
javnation at 03:25 PM JST - 1st September

YuriOtani at 09:20 AM JST - 1st September

Perhaps worrying about American bases in Japan is a wasted effort. >America is spending itself broke, China is not the bogeyman the Americans make them out to be. I do not see what China gains by invading >Japan.

And Japan is not spending itself broke? I though the Democrats were about to spend 180billion that they do not have................... ha ha

Better yet, how about a North Korean base? The only thing stopping missiles landing in you back yard is the American deterrent.

China is a bogeyman. By invading Japan they would have Japan and its industry and structure & land. Of course they would not want all those Japanese people about, so they would probably do what the Japanese tried to do to them in WW II.
SEPTIMUS at 09:14 PM JST - 1st September

fairyprince at 01:34 PM JST - 1st September I do not see what China gains by invading Japan. Revenge?

Don't misunderstand, I am not defending America; however, revenge would be a starting point for an incentive. Japan was not always the pacifist child it is now, Nanking won't be forgotten anytime soon.

Don't know if you're a history buff, but China has invaded before for a lot less than atrocities perpetrated against it. May I remind those that China invaded North Vietnam after the Vietnam War with the U.S. for its actions taken against Cambodia.

Now, What did China gain from invading Vietnam?

Not as much as it would if it takes Japan. 'The Rape of Tokyo' would definitely be an issue of karma for Japan. The location of Japan to project power into the Pacific and to act as a shield for the Chinese mainland from other powers in the Pacific.

Of course, this is just mere speculation. China might just be content with the land it already has, and just sitting idly by letting its citizen live out their lives in peace. I doubt those are thoughts that go through the minds that consider the world stage.

Humanity has a good track record of being bored with peace and taking actions to remedy that.

Moderator: Back on topic please.
YuriOtani at 01:29 AM JST - 3rd September

hakujinsensei, a new party is going to take power and the agreement with the LDP is no longer in order. America has to change with the times or the occupation of Japan will continue. Japan is fair warning to other countries to what happens after you allow their bases to get established.
fishy at 11:20 AM JST - 3rd September

yuri.. Japan cannot just tell them to leave while not being prepared for the worst. It's easy to tell them to leave, but what is Japan going to do then? Upgrade the Self Defense Forces into real military?? Is that what most Japanese people want? I doubt it.
Equestrian at 02:23 PM JST - 22nd September

""Sarge: "America, get out of Japan!"

People who post stuff like this are either unaware of, or refuse to admit, that America has kept Japan out of trouble for over 60 years.""

Read up newly uncovered evidence on the book "Day Of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor" all documented proof and cited sources uncovered from the US now prove that AMERICA PROVOKED JAPAN into attacking Pearl Harbor! and FDR knew it and allowed it to happen! Get your facts straight, your own country betrayed your own people and all who fought alongside it. (Britain, Australia etc)

"AK619: America's military should never leave Japan and relocate back to Guam, wether Japan's govt. wants them to or not. I still have family sunk at the bottom of the Ocean in Hawaii from WWII, but I have tried to get along with Japan. Let Japan open full business with Asia, will see how long that relationship will last. " Your family is sunk because your own country betrayed you thats right America caused it. (See book above) Additionally to what you said about Japan attacking other countries Japan will not attack other countries what use would that be? Their economy benefits from others, they need the natural resources to innovate and create technology and jobs etc. and mostly they bring in a good amount of capital into the country.

"palisadez54: YuriOtani: Two words: Pearl Harbor!" YEA yuri remember Pearl Harbor the day that America provoked japan into attacking America! (Hmm... i wouldn't be surprised if their provoking North Korea into attacking them as well...)

@ Fishy: Not at the cost of the increasing crime and rapes because of the American Troops, the government will have no trouble creating jobs for these people.

""AK619 @Hurtado: America has to stay in Japan, in order to defend peace and its own interest. Anway, once the US. military is out, we ain't gonna be able to stop North Korea, China, and perhaps Russia from steam rolling over Japan. Who knows what langauge Japan will have to study, I fiqure perhaps Chinese. I guess Japan wants a drastic change! :)

No one in this area is gonna allow Japan enough time to build an Army. Its only logical for China to attack you full force. At that point, America better not send our troops to rescue you!""

Maybe if the US stayed out of Japan in the first place it would allowed them to keep and build upon their own military to fend for themselves.(That is a large military - See Article 9 of its constitution) China needs Japan for its mineral resources to fuel its massive and constantly growing demand for energy and raw materials in the same way that Japan (And the World) need china. Truth is each country needs each other as they benefit themselves and their people and Japan and China have no intention of attacking.
goddifist at 12:39 PM JST - 9th October

hmmmmmmmmmm "america get out of japan" well all i can say is as an american DO SOMETHING ABOUT US BEING IN JAPAN u screwed yourself over in 1941 and if we leave N. Korea will screw u over in 2000 somethin