Posted on 01/03/2010 8:29:36 PM PST by dit_xi
By JAY ALABASTER, Associated Press Writer Jay Alabaster, Associated Press Writer – 31 mins ago
TOKYO – Japan's prime minister said Monday he will press for more equal ties with Washington this year, the 50th anniversary of a joint security treaty that grants many special privileges to U.S. troops stationed in the country.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, in a New Year's speech shown live on national television, said he hopes the alliance will evolve to become more open and candid.
It is important "for both sides to be able to firmly say what needs to be said, and to increase the relationship of trust," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
More than half those troops are stationed in the southern island of Okinawa, where many residents complain about noise, pollution and crime linked to the bases.
U.S.-Japan ties have become strained since Hatoyama took office in September over the relocation of Futenma U.S. Marine airfield on Okinawa, as part of a broader reorganization agreed in 2006. The plan calls for 8,000 Marines to be transferred to the U.S. territory of Guam and for Futenma's facilities to be moved to a northern part of Okinawa.
But residents oppose the move and simply want Futenma shut down. Hatoyama has delayed making a final decision and said he's willing to consider other options for the base. The leader of a junior coalition partner has said she wants the base moved off Japanese territory altogether.
In Monday's speech, the prime minister said the Japan-U.S. partnership also needs to tackle broader issues such as global warming.
"It doesn't even need to be said that the core of the Japan-U.S. alliance is military security. But it is important to show that at various levels, Japan and America are in a crucial relationship," he said.
Domestically, Hatoyama said his main priority was passing a new budget and fiscal measures to keep Japan's nascent economic recovery on track.
He said it was too soon to elaborate on his party's strategy for elections for the less powerful upper house of parliament coming up this summer. Recent polls have shown his popularity has fallen sharply since his party swept to power last year.
Just send Obozo over there to bow down to them again. That’ll prove they’re superior to us.
This time Obowma will be on all 4’s.
Japan is the second largest foreign holder of our debt. They are just exerting their growing influence similar to what China is doing. We had better get used to being treated as the world’s largest debtor nation. Someone has to fill our begging bowl or we will go hungry. America is a nation in decline.
Demobilize the troops and cut our defense budget. Think of the welfare and education programs that could fund. (rolls eyes /s)
Oh, and hope like he11 the Chinese don't get feisty.
North Korea is a near term threat than China. Although, China may use North Korea as a proxy to show its fiestiness.
Reading this report a day after the LA Times report on how LATAM leaders are dictating terms to the US, I can’t feel anything but utter depression at the decline of this great nation.
I hope there will be enough left after Obama to reverse the decline. Not going to be easy....!
LOL. Yeah right. If the debt is cancelled, the US economy goes down the tubes. It is like cutting your nose off to spite your face. If the US were to pull out entirely, Japan can make a nuclear weapon within months. As the world’s second largest economy, they can cope.
If Japan wants better relations with Obama all they need to do is start a nuke weapon program and give funding to terrorists.
The United States has pressed Japan to increase its share of the costs of American troops and bases. According to Pentagon reports, Japan has over the years provided up to $4 billion annually in direct and indirect Host Nation Support (HNS), which constitutes about 75% of the total cost of maintaining troops in Japan. Japan pays for most of the salaries of about 25,000 Japanese employees at U.S. military installations.
In recent years, Japanese officials have reportedly suggested that HNS be reduced on grounds that Japan is now making a greater direct contribution to the alliance. Political divisions between the LDP-controlled Lower House and the DPJ controlled Upper House in spring 2008 led to a delay in the implementation of a new agreement, which pledges to pay directly about 140 billion yen annually (about $1.4 billion) through FY2010 to defray the costs of stationing troops in Japan. The Upper House rejected the bill, citing opposition to paying for “recreational” activities by the U.S. military, but the approval by the more powerful Lower House went into effect after a month’s delay.
I’m pretty sure what he means is if CONUS is attacked then we’ll have the JGSDF rushing over here....? Oh sure, I’m sure that’s what he means...
10 years after we pull all the way out of Japan (Leaving was a given) China and Japan would be trading nukes, and I am not talking about baseball card trading.
The PDRNK lacks the mobility to do more than
1) Invade South Korea, where they will have their ass handed to them.
2) Attack China - see results from #1.
PDRNK can cause untold mischief by selling nukes, nuke technology or expertise. Like they are doing now.
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