PanOrient News

Kitazawa Tries to Stamp Out Futenma Debate

Friday, September 3, 2010

Tokyo -- Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa expressed the opinion today that the Futenma question is outside the allowable scope of debate as the DPJ chooses its next leader.

"If the US-Japan Agreement becomes a major topic in our party leadership elections, it may sow outside suspicions. If it were a debate between two different parties, then perhaps such a debate would be fine, but it's not good to have this debate in the context of our leadership elections."

While Kitazawa makes a broa...

The Futenma Factor in Ozawa vs. Kan

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Tokyo -- Several substantial policy issues separate Ichiro Ozawa and Naoto Kan as they vie for the presidency of the DPJ, and one of the most consequential is the difficult question of the relocation of the US Marine base at Futenma.

On Tuesday, American and Japanese officials released an "Experts Study Group" report which examined two options, the existing plan for a V-shaped runway design and a single runway plan.

Many of the younger DPJ lawmakers - perhaps a substantial majority - opp...

Second Cheonan Report Expected Soon

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

By John McGlynn

Tokyo - South Korea's defense ministry is reportedly set to release a book-length report, possibly as early as this week, on the results of its investigation into the sinking of a South Korean warship Cheonan, which resulted in the deaths of forty-six sailors.

A five-page report issued by the same ministry in May, which concluded that a North Korea torpedo sank the 1,200-ton Cheonan on March 26, has met with skepticism from both China and Russia. Additionally, opinion polls...

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