Military

Kitazawa Tries to Stamp Out Futenma Debate

Friday, September 3, 2010

Kitazawa

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 broadly valid point, it has always been the case that many, if not most, DPJ lawmakers outside the cabinet disagree with the terms of the May 28 US-Japan Agreement, which Kitazawa himself was instrumental in advancing.

Additionally, it's hard to see how the Futenma issue could possibly be overlooked by DPJ lawmakers representing Okinawa, such as Denny Tamaki or Chobin Zukeran.


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