W-OLF
03-28-2006, 01:20 PM
Japan, U.S. Delay Base Realignment Talks
Published: 3/28/06, 6:11 AM EDT
Tokyo and Washington have postponed talks on realigning American troops in Japan, an official said Tuesday.
The two sides have not yet decided when to resume the talks, which had been scheduled to start Thursday in Washington, said Yu Kameoka, spokesman for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. He did not elaborate on the reason for the delay.
The two sides are reportedly split over how to divide the $10 billion cost of redeploying some 7,000 Marines from Japan to Guam.
Japanese news reports say the United States asked Japan to pay 75 percent of the cost, more than twice what Tokyo offered to contribute.
Foreign Minister Taro Aso warned earlier Tuesday it was unlikely the issue would be settled by the end of the month.
"As to a possibility of finalizing discussion on the proportion of the cost-sharing, we still have to add up various costs along the way, and I doubt if we can reach that stage," Aso told reporters.
The United States has proposed adjusting the deployment of some 50,000 troops based in Japan, part of a worldwide realignment of U.S. forces.
The proposal has stirred strong opposition in areas that will see an increase in the American military presence, particularly in Okinawa where a new coastal military landing strip would be built.
Washington has reportedly told Tokyo that the relocation to Guam, which would reduce some of Okinawa's burden in hosting American forces, would take decades unless Japan chips in a significant amount.
American troops have been stationed in Japan since the end of World War II in 1945.Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
credit BellSouth
Published: 3/28/06, 6:11 AM EDT
Tokyo and Washington have postponed talks on realigning American troops in Japan, an official said Tuesday.
The two sides have not yet decided when to resume the talks, which had been scheduled to start Thursday in Washington, said Yu Kameoka, spokesman for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. He did not elaborate on the reason for the delay.
The two sides are reportedly split over how to divide the $10 billion cost of redeploying some 7,000 Marines from Japan to Guam.
Japanese news reports say the United States asked Japan to pay 75 percent of the cost, more than twice what Tokyo offered to contribute.
Foreign Minister Taro Aso warned earlier Tuesday it was unlikely the issue would be settled by the end of the month.
"As to a possibility of finalizing discussion on the proportion of the cost-sharing, we still have to add up various costs along the way, and I doubt if we can reach that stage," Aso told reporters.
The United States has proposed adjusting the deployment of some 50,000 troops based in Japan, part of a worldwide realignment of U.S. forces.
The proposal has stirred strong opposition in areas that will see an increase in the American military presence, particularly in Okinawa where a new coastal military landing strip would be built.
Washington has reportedly told Tokyo that the relocation to Guam, which would reduce some of Okinawa's burden in hosting American forces, would take decades unless Japan chips in a significant amount.
American troops have been stationed in Japan since the end of World War II in 1945.Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
credit BellSouth