Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

U.S. bases in Japan have repeatedly deployed F-22A fighter

newspaper freelance writer Duke

October 20, according to the Associated Press reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived the same day visit to Japan. This is Japan’s new administration took office, the first visit to Tokyo, the U.S. cabinet officials. In the United States and Japan because of U.S. bases in Okinawa adjustment to disputes in the context of strengthening the alliance between the two countries become the focus of Gates’ visit.

“ Base Realignment no alternative”

arrived on the day, Gates with Japanese foreign minister also held talks. 21, Bill Gates has the same Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio Kitazawa handsome and defense minister to meet. During the meeting, Gates continued to put pressure on the Japanese side, which required both the 2005 US-Japan agreement, the implementation of the U.S. military adjustment program, and to persuade Tokyo to continue to provide assistance for the war in Afghanistan.

Hatoyama government came to power, the implementation of different government and Liberal Democratic Party’s foreign policy, US-Japan alliance to seek “equal” status. Particularly on the issue of adjustment of U.S. bases in Okinawa, Hatoyama local government has been urging the U.S. to consider public opinion, the Futenma Marine Corps bases to the outside of Okinawa. However, in accordance with U.S. and Japanese governments reached in October 2005, “US-Japan Alliance: Transformation and adjustment for the future” document on Okinawa, part of the agreement, the U.S. military to return the Futenma base, while retaining the right to transform red Shengming City of Camp Schwab as an alternative. The U.S. government insists that the two sides should abide by the agreement has been reached, no longer engaged in any negotiations.

in the talks, the adjustment for the Okinawa bases, Gates tough stance, demanding that the Japanese Government to earnestly fulfill the previous agreement. Plane in flights to Japan, he told reporters the statement is more direct, “We need to promote the agreement has been reached, the negotiations lasted for 15 years, there is no alternative solution.” Gates also pointed out that all alternative solutions have been discussed, these abandoned programs are not politically feasible and which would affect U.S. military operations.

Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force on the implementation of supply mission in the Indian Ocean on the issue, Gates said that Japan’s actions not only benefit the U.S. military, but also make it easier for Japan to play with the world’s second largest economy status suited to the role.

US-Japan military alliance should be no fear

troops stationed in Okinawa, the U.S. government insist on a tough stance on the issue, and the important role of Okinawa are inseparable. Okinawa, an area of ??1185 square kilometers, accounting for only 0.6% of Japan’s land area. But it is in this small island, the U.S. built 37 independent use of military facilities, troops up to 2.7 million people (U.S. troops stationed throughout Japan 4.4 million people), Okinawa the U.S. military base in the eyes of position is obvious.

more importantly, Okinawa from Taipei 640 km, 700 km from the coast of mainland China, more than 1400 km away from Manila, 1,300 km away from Hong Kong, strategic location, it has been subject to U.S. attention. After years of accumulation, as a group of U.S. military bases in Okinawa to connect Hawaii and Guam, the U.S. Pacific base in this interactive “strategic triangle framework,” the starting point, and gradually built up the U.S. military offensive strategies for moving forward in the “Pacific fortress”, as Asia-Pacific countries and the U.S. intervention in regional affairs, “bridgehead.”

in Japan after World War II the United States to maintain a large troop levels, there are two main considerations: First, prevent the revival of militarism in Japan; the second is as a “breakwater”, to avoid the spread of socialism. The beginning of the Cold War, the U.S. military status and role was in doubt, centrifugal tendencies have appeared in Japan, but after several years of coordination between the two countries, according to the strategic situation in Northeast Asia, changes in the development of a new “US-Japan security Treaty “, and the role of U.S. forces in Japan have been adjusted to transform the U.S. military in Okinawa,” promoting global strategic positions “and military intervention in the western Pacific forward bases.

Therefore, Hatoyama government policies tend to be sufficient to make the U.S. government “scared into a cold sweat.” However, it is certain that the new Japanese government will not give up the future US-Japan military alliance, the U.S. will not sit by and watch Japan military alliance to get rid of the restrictions, to “independent defense” which triggered the big bang security situation in East Asia. This is from Bill Gates talks with Hatoyama can also be seen, Hatoyama stressed that “Needless to say, the new coalition government will attach great importance to the relationship, especially in the current security situation in Northeast Asia, in the case of uncertainty, I think must maintain and develop the US-Japan alliance. “Thus, while the future of US-Japan alliance may be more disagreements, but the two sides will still be on the basis of coordination to make up.