Wolfowitz reassures Japan on Okinawa

[thedrifter]

June 11, 2003

Wolfowitz reassures Japan on Okinawa

Associated Press


(Kyodo) ? The United States has assured Japan that it will not make a unilateral decision on a possible realignment of its troops stationed in Okinawa, Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Ryozo Kato said Tuesday.
?The United States has made it clear that it will not make a policy decision on a possible transfer of U.S. forces in Japan without fully discussing the issue with the Japanese government,? Kato told a news conference.

The Los Angeles Times, quoting senior U.S. administration officials, reported in late May that the Defense Department is planning a broad realignment of troops in Asia that may include moving Marines out of Japan.

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz has said U.S. forces in Okinawa may undergo some changes as part of a worldwide review on troop realignment but denied the Los Angeles Times report that the Pentagon is planning to withdraw most of its troops in Okinawa possibly to Australia.






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Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.


Sempers,

Roger