Japan Mayor Seeks U.S. Military Drill Cancellation
(MENAFN) The mayor of Iwakuni in western Japan has called for the cancellation of an upcoming U.S. military drill, according to media.
Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda made the request during a meeting with Japan's Defense Minister Gen. Nakatani at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Tuesday, urging Japan to encourage the U.S. military to cancel the planned field carrier landing practice (FCLP) in the city.
"Conducting a drill that causes deafening noise will never win the understanding of local residents," Fukuda stated.
The FCLP is a training exercise where carrier-based aircraft practice landing on a land runway that simulates a carrier deck. Traditionally, the U.S. military conducts this exercise on Iwoto, a remote island near Tokyo, also known as Iwo Jima.
However, following a volcanic eruption on Iwoto on Sept. 1, the U.S. informed Tokyo that the drill would instead take place at the U.S. military’s Iwakuni base from Wednesday through Sept. 26.
In response to Fukuda’s request, Nakatani emphasized the significance of the drill, stating: "The drill is important in strengthening U.S. deterrence and response capabilities."
As a key ally of the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region since World War II, Japan hosts thousands of American troops, as well as U.S. military bases and weaponry.
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