Okada opposes shipping Marines out

THE ASAHI SHIMBUN

2009/12/21

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada indicated his opposition over the weekend to removing all U.S. Marines from Japan.

"The Marines are a necessary presence for Japan," Okada said. "If we are to expect the Marines to have a deterrent effect, it would not be possible to say they should leave Japan."

As part of the agreement to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, the United States is planning to transfer 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam.

However, the junior coalition partner Social Democratic Party has proposed moving all the Futenma functions to Guam.(IHT/Asahi: December 21,2009)