Japan undecided on relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma; Japan willing to help countries in creating a free trade area in the region; Government welcomes the new US Afghan strategy;
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    • Japan is facing a major foreign policy dilemma on the unresolved issue of relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. As Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has not taken a decision yet, the issue could further derail Japan-US ties.1 Meanwhile the United States has been reiterating that Japan should relocate a key U.S. military base within Okinawa Prefecture as was agreed under a bilateral deal.2 In a change of stance, Hatoyama admitted that he fully understands that US desires that Japan should adhere to the 2006 bilateral deal in this regard. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apparently expressed such hopes in talks with a Japanese official as reports noted.3

    In other developments Japan expressed willingness to help Pacific Rim economies in accelerating their efforts to create a free trade area in the region at a series of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meetings to be held next year. In this regard, Japan stressed the importance of sharing of views among the 21 members.4

    Japan has reportedly welcomed the new U.S. strategy on Afghanistan announced by President Barack Obama recently. Speaking on this the spokesman of the government added that Japan has no intention of increasing the amount of aid amidst speculation that Washington may demand Tokyo to do so.5

    On the domestic front, Japan's three-month-old government is fast losing its popularity and the support base reportedly has dipped below 50 percent for the first time. The conclusions are based on a poll conducted which registered complains against Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of lacking leadership qualities.6 Meanwhile, the new government plans to include in its fiscal 2010 defense budget, allocations for acquiring new tanks and building a new helicopter-carrying destroyer to maintain the Self-Defense Forces' deterrence and response capabilities.7 On the other hand, the prime ministers of Japan and Australia supported a report calling for a cut in the world's nuclear arsenals by more than 90 percent.8

    There have also been reports that a top secret document related to an agreement between Japan and U.S. regarding Japan availing nuclear weapons if needed, lies with the family of the late Prime Minister Eisaku Sato. Sato signed the accord with U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1969.9

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