U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta speaks to sailors assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge in Yokosuka, Japan.
Panetta visited the Pacific region to reinforce the U.S. commitment in Asia. While in Tokyo, Panetta held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Foreign Minister Koichiro Genba as well as Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa on Oct. 25.
Japan-U.S. defense ministerial talks in Tokyo on Tuesday discussed the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture. Panetta and Ichikawa agreed to move it within Okinawa Prefecture “as soon as possible,” according to Japanese officials. To this end, the Japanese government will submit to the southernmost prefecture by the year-end an environment assessment report on replacement facilities for the base, now located in Ginowan, that the two countries aim to build in the Henoko coastal district of another Okinawa city of Nago, Ichikawa said.
Panetta appreciated Tokyo's move and told Ichikawa that Washington will go ahead with the transfer of some Marine Corps troops in Okinawa to Guam along with the Futenma relocation.
At a news conference following the talks, Panetta said the submission of the environmental assessment report to Okinawa will enable Tokyo and Washington to make progress on the relocation. He also said the relocation would not only allow the U.S. to maintain its forward deployment of powerful forces but also help reduce the burden on Okinawa.
Ichikawa underscored the importance of steadily going through procedures for the relocation, and pledged to sincerely work to implement the bilateral, and to strengthen the cooperative ties between the two nations by jointly overcoming tough challenges.
On other issues, Panetta said he hopes Japan will take into account interoperability when choosing the next-generation fighter jet to replace the Air Self-Defense Force's aging F-4 fleet, noting that two U.S. planes are listed in the bid. Ichikawa said his ministry will evaluate options in a fair and rigorous manner.
Among other agreements at the first Ichikawa-Panetta talks was enhancing cooperation between defense officials of the two countries in fighting cyber attacks, Japanese defense officials said.
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