ID :
157156
Thu, 01/13/2011 - 20:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/157156
The shortlink copeid
Kitazawa, Gates to look into exporting jointly developed interceptor
TOKYO, Jan. 13 Kyodo -
Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert
Gates agreed Thursday to pursue talks on possibly providing a jointly developed
sea-based missile shield system to other countries and to stick to a bilateral
accord reached last year on relocating a key U.S. Marine base in Okinawa
Prefecture.
The two also reaffirmed their cooperation in dealing with regional issues such
as tensions on the Korean Peninsula, which was a major topic of their 50-minute
meeting.
Gates told a joint news conference after the talks with Kitazawa, ''It makes
economic sense to make it available to others,'' referring to the provision to
third countries of the Standard Missile-3 ballistic missile interceptor, which
Tokyo and Washington have been working on.
''We will be working toward that end with the Japanese government because it's
a joint development program,'' Gates said, while acknowledging the need for
Japan to undergo the process to make such exports possible.
''This is a matter that needs to be agreed between us...but I think it's fair
to say that the minister acknowledges the economic benefit of being able to
make it available,'' he said.
Kitazawa said he had told the visiting Pentagon chief that the matter needs to
be discussed and that a decision on it will be made ''within this year.''
A bilateral accord forbids export of the interceptor to third countries unless
Japan consents in advance. Whether to export it is a politically sensitive
issue given Tokyo's longstanding arms embargo policy, which bans the country
from exporting weapons or arms technology, except to the United States with
which the country is tied through a bilateral security pact.
Kitazawa and Gates also agreed on the importance of boosting cooperation
between Japan, the United States and South Korea in ensuring stability on the
Korean Peninsula amid lingering tensions sparked by North Korea's provocative
actions, including its fatal artillery attack on South Korea's Yeonpyeong
Island in November.
Gates, who arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday after visiting China, said peace and
stability on the peninsula is a ''common interest'' shared by China, and while
all four countries want a peaceful outcome, there is a need for ''a concrete
manifestation of North Korea's seriousness'' and efforts on its part to
''prevent provocation.''
''We need to do more planning together not just for the defense of Japan but
for regional contingencies,'' Gates said, adding that the planning must be
''realistic'' and ''effective.''
On the controversial issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air
Station from Ginowan to Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture, the two reaffirmed
the bilateral deal reached in May, with Gates showing understanding in regard
to resolving the ''politically complex matter'' of the relocation amid strong
local opposition.
''We hope to move forward with the relocation of U.S. forces in Okinawa in ways
that are more appropriate to our strategic posture while reducing the impact on
the communities nearby,'' the U.S. defense chief said, adding that the United
States intends ''to follow the lead of the Japanese government in working with
the people of Okinawa to take their interests and their concerns into
account.''
As part of easing the burden on Okinawa from hosting the bulk of U.S. forces in
Japan, Kitazawa said talks with the United States are currently being pursued
to partially move drills involving F-15 fighters at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in
Okinawa to Guam. Gates, according to a Japanese official, appeared positive on
the matter.
Gates also met with Prime Minister Naoto Kan, with whom he agreed to continue
working to alleviate the burden on Okinawa.
During an afternoon press conference, Kan ruled out a deadline for settling the
relocation issue, saying, ''It will be hard to gain the understanding of
Okinawa if we set a deadline.''
The U.S. defense secretary, who also met Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara the
same day, will fly to South Korea on Friday.
==Kyodo
Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert
Gates agreed Thursday to pursue talks on possibly providing a jointly developed
sea-based missile shield system to other countries and to stick to a bilateral
accord reached last year on relocating a key U.S. Marine base in Okinawa
Prefecture.
The two also reaffirmed their cooperation in dealing with regional issues such
as tensions on the Korean Peninsula, which was a major topic of their 50-minute
meeting.
Gates told a joint news conference after the talks with Kitazawa, ''It makes
economic sense to make it available to others,'' referring to the provision to
third countries of the Standard Missile-3 ballistic missile interceptor, which
Tokyo and Washington have been working on.
''We will be working toward that end with the Japanese government because it's
a joint development program,'' Gates said, while acknowledging the need for
Japan to undergo the process to make such exports possible.
''This is a matter that needs to be agreed between us...but I think it's fair
to say that the minister acknowledges the economic benefit of being able to
make it available,'' he said.
Kitazawa said he had told the visiting Pentagon chief that the matter needs to
be discussed and that a decision on it will be made ''within this year.''
A bilateral accord forbids export of the interceptor to third countries unless
Japan consents in advance. Whether to export it is a politically sensitive
issue given Tokyo's longstanding arms embargo policy, which bans the country
from exporting weapons or arms technology, except to the United States with
which the country is tied through a bilateral security pact.
Kitazawa and Gates also agreed on the importance of boosting cooperation
between Japan, the United States and South Korea in ensuring stability on the
Korean Peninsula amid lingering tensions sparked by North Korea's provocative
actions, including its fatal artillery attack on South Korea's Yeonpyeong
Island in November.
Gates, who arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday after visiting China, said peace and
stability on the peninsula is a ''common interest'' shared by China, and while
all four countries want a peaceful outcome, there is a need for ''a concrete
manifestation of North Korea's seriousness'' and efforts on its part to
''prevent provocation.''
''We need to do more planning together not just for the defense of Japan but
for regional contingencies,'' Gates said, adding that the planning must be
''realistic'' and ''effective.''
On the controversial issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air
Station from Ginowan to Nago, both in Okinawa Prefecture, the two reaffirmed
the bilateral deal reached in May, with Gates showing understanding in regard
to resolving the ''politically complex matter'' of the relocation amid strong
local opposition.
''We hope to move forward with the relocation of U.S. forces in Okinawa in ways
that are more appropriate to our strategic posture while reducing the impact on
the communities nearby,'' the U.S. defense chief said, adding that the United
States intends ''to follow the lead of the Japanese government in working with
the people of Okinawa to take their interests and their concerns into
account.''
As part of easing the burden on Okinawa from hosting the bulk of U.S. forces in
Japan, Kitazawa said talks with the United States are currently being pursued
to partially move drills involving F-15 fighters at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in
Okinawa to Guam. Gates, according to a Japanese official, appeared positive on
the matter.
Gates also met with Prime Minister Naoto Kan, with whom he agreed to continue
working to alleviate the burden on Okinawa.
During an afternoon press conference, Kan ruled out a deadline for settling the
relocation issue, saying, ''It will be hard to gain the understanding of
Okinawa if we set a deadline.''
The U.S. defense secretary, who also met Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara the
same day, will fly to South Korea on Friday.
==Kyodo
