Abrogate the Japan-U.S. Military Alliance
Remove U.S. Bases from Japan

2010 Japan Peace Conferencein Sasebo
December 2 - 5, 2010

For a Peaceful Japan and Asia without Nuclear Weapons,
Bases and Military Alliance
Now is the Time to Unite with Okinawa

Organizing Committee of Japan Peace Committee

Table of Contents
International Symposium..«««««««. 1

2...........................«. 4

Profiles of Panelists, Guest & Coordinator««««««««

Introductory Reports of the Panelists
Joseph Gerson (USA)American Friends Service Committee
Lee Junkyu (Republic of Korea)««««««««... 9
Lecturer, Laborers¶ Academy for Alternative Society
Corazon Valdez Fabros (Phillippines)................................ 12
Stop the War Coalition Philippines
International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases
Ryuichi Ozawa (Japan).................................. 21
Professor, Jikei University School of Medicine««««««««.....«. 25

Special Report
Mohammed Ibrahim Alkozai (Afghanistan), journalist2010 Japan Peace Conference
Opening Plenary Session
Keynote Report
Report of the International Symposium
Keisuke Fuse, symposium coordinator
Addresses by Oversea Delegates
Joseph Gerson, Lee Junkyu, Corazon Fabros«««««««««...28....................................... 35

Closing Plenary ± Rally & Demonstration
Addresses by Oversea Delegates«««««««««««.39
Joseph Gerson, Lee Junkyu, Corazon Fabros, Mohammed Ibrahim Alkozai
Conference Summary and Action Proposals............................................... 42

Hideo Higashimori2010 Japan Peace Conference Organizing Committee

Messages from Governments««««««««««43

Program of the 2010 Japan Peace Conference
December 2
December 3
December 4
December 5International Symposium
Opening Plenary
Symposia, Workshops & Field Trips
Closing Plenary
Rally & Demonstration ± Peace Parade Sasebo

International Symposium
December 2, 2010

Theme of the Symposium
For a Peaceful Asia without U.S. Military Bases and Military Alliances

Panelists-Mr. Joseph Gerson, USA
Director of Programs, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) ² New England-Mr. Jun-Kyu Lee, Republic of Korea/HFWXUHU/DERUHU·V$FDGHP\IRU$OWHUQDWLYH6RFLHW\-Ms. Corazon Valdez Fabros, the Philippines
Stop the War Coalition Philippines
International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases-Mr. Ryuichi OZAWA, Japan
Professor, Jikei University School of Medicines
Coordinator-Mr. Keisuke Fuse, Japan
International Bureau Director, National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren)

Special Report-Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Alkozai, Afghanistan, journalist

1Profiles of Panelists, Guest & Coordinator in the 2010 Japan Peace Conference
Panelists
Joseph Gerson (United States)
Director of Programs, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) ± New England
Dr. Gerson also serves as Coordinator of disarmament program of the AFSC, a pacifist Christianorganization. He has taken part in the World Conference against A & H Bombs almost every year since1984. He has also been a panelist in the Japan Peace Conference several times. As the Co-chair of theInternational Planning Committee for peace movement mobilization toward the 2010 NPT Review
Conference, Dr. Gerson worked for convening the International Peace Conference, rally, march andfestival in New York, as well as for the submission of anti-nuclear signatures to the NPT Review
Conference. In his activities, he has constantly focused on the prevention of nuclear war, abolition of
nuclear weapons, U.S. hegemony in Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Central Asia, and U.S. military bases
in foreign countries. Dr. Gerson also played a key role in organizing a rally against the war on Iraq in New
York on February 15, 2003.
+LVODWHVWERRNLV³(PSLUHDQGthe %RPE´ (published in Japanese by Shin-Nihon Shuppansha).

Lee Jun-Kyu (Republic of Korea)
Lecturer at Laborer's Academy for Alternative Society
Starting his career as a policy-PDNLQJ PHPEHU RI WKH 'HPRFUDWLF /DERU 3DUW\¶s peace anddisarmament campaign headquarters, Mr. Lee worked as the Policy Office Head of the Civil Network fora Peaceful Korea since 2003. As he visited Hiroshima in 2003 and has participated in the World
Conference against A & H Bombs as well as the Bikini Day conference since 2005, Mr. Lee has worked
for the development of the anti-nuclear-weapons movement in Korea and for deepening solidarity
between Korean and Japanese peace movements. He LV IOXHQW LQ -DSDQHVH DQG IDPLOLDU ZLWK -DSDQ¶V
politics, social issues, history, culture, and people¶s movements. He has taken part in the Japan Peace
Conference in the past. Mr. Lee served as the South Korean coordinator of the Japan-South Korea joint
publication committee of the ³1RUWKHDVW $VLD 1XFOear-Weapon-)UHH =RQH´ LQ . He was a visiting
researcher at Meiji Gakuin University in 2008 and 2009.
His recent work includes ³Can we abolish nuclear weapons? Yes, we can!!´ (Joint authorship,
published in Japanese by Kamogawa Shoten).

Corazon Valdez Fabros (The Philippines)
International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases
Stop the War Coalition Philippines
Being a lawyer, Ms. Fabros has taken part in the World Conference against A & H Bombs and Japan
Peace Conference many times. She is a coordinating committee member in charge of Asia of theInternational Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases, which was founded in 2007 in Ecuador
and has been joined also by the Japan Peace Committee. She works for international solidarity between
local and grass-roots movements in Okinawa and Yokosuka and other parts of the world, against
militarism and for protection of human rights of women. Ms. Fabros is the Secretary General of the
Nuclear-Free Philippines Coalition, which was a core force in the movement to refuse the RP-US Military
Bases Agreement and to remove U.S. bases from the Philippines. She is also a co-director of the Stop the
War Coalition Philippines, the largest anti-war network in the Philippines established to oppose the Iraq
2

War and the Arroyo government, the supporter of the war. This coalition has a broad membership working
for peace and social justice, including labor unions, womeQ¶V RUJDQL]DWLRQV 1*2V SROLWLFDO SDUWLHVVWXGHQWV¶JURXSVDQGLQGLYLGXDOVOZAWA Ryuichi (Japan)
Professor of Law, Jikei University
Born in 1959 and graduated from Hitotsubashi University Faculty of Law, Prof. Ozawa was an
assistant professor and professor at Shizuoka University until 2006. His specialty is constitutional law.
He has been active in giving lectures throughout Japan as a secretariat member RI WKH ³$UWLFOH 
Association´ +H KDV DOVR made statements in the Diet on the questions of ³deployment of the
Self-'HIHQVH)RUFHVWR,UDT´, ³WKHQDWLRQDOUHIHUHQGXPODZRQthe FRQVWLWXWLRQDOUHYLVLRQ´ and others.
His works include ³Study on the power to pass budgets´ (Kobundo), ³Law in Modern Japan´(Horitsu-Bunkasha),³Should we really allow the Constitution to be µrevised¶?´ (Gakushu-no-Tomosha);³Beginner¶s guide to the Constitution of Japan´ (Otsuki Shoten), ³Defective points in the Japaneseelection system´ (joint authorship, Gakushu-no-Tomosha); ³Constitution in Closeup´ (Joint authorship;
Horitsu Bunkasha).

Coordinator
FUSE Keisuke (Japan)
Executive Committee member and Director of International Bureau, National Confederation ofTrade Unions (ZENROREN)
Mr. Fuse has worked in the Secretariat of Zenroren since 1998 and taken an active role in the effort
to develop peace movement among young people as the Assistant Secretary of =HQURUHQ¶s Youth
Department, as well as the head of the Secretariat of the preparatory committee (2005-2006) of the³,QWHUQDWLRQDO<RXWK5DOO\ -- Let Us Get Rid of Nuclear WeDSRQV´Since he assumed his present positionin July 2006, he has also served as a Steering Committee member of the Organizing Committee of theWorld Conference against A & H Bombs.
In addition to his work of developing international solidarity among workers and unions as well as
their struggles against translational corporations, he is promoting cooperation with trade unions in othercountries to help people understand damages caused by U.S. bases in Japan and the atomic bombings.

Guest
Mohammed Ibrahim Alkozai (Afghanistan)
Journalist
Mr. Alkozai was born in 1982 in Ningahar. Although he was originally studying computer science at
D XQLYHUVLW\ LQ .DEXO KH FKDQJHGKLV PDMRU WR MRXUQDOLVP DIWHU WKH RXWEUHDN RI WKH 86 ³ war on terror´against Afghanistan, following the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2011, in order to reveal before theinternational community numerous criminal acts conducted by U.S. military forces. After working as alocal assistant for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, a nd the Kyodo News of Japan, he is now afreelance journalist to make on-the-spot coverage of the damage from the war. This is his first visit toJapan, thanks to Nishitani Fumikazu, a Japanese freelance journalist, who continues to report on thesituation in Afghanistan.
3

Introductory Reports of the Panelists
Joseph Gerson
American Friends Service Committee, USA
Compensating for Decline: Revitalizing U.S. Asia-Pacific Hegemony
I want to thank the Japan Peace Committee for

the Philippines, Guam, Indonesia, Australia,

the opportunity to join this yeĂƌ͛Ɛ WĞĂĐĞNew

Conference. It is a privilege and a necessity toƉƵƐŚŝŶŐ͞ƚŚĞƌĞƐĞƚďƵƚƚŽŶ͟ǁŝƚŚZƵƐƐŝĂ͕ŝƚŚŽƉĞƐ

work together.

ƚŽĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞŚŝŶĂ͛ƐĞŶĐŝƌĐůĞŵĞŶƚ͘/Ŷ ĂŶ ĂƌƚŝĐůĞ ĂďŽƵƚ KďĂŵĂ͛Ɛ ǁĞĞŬ ŝŶ ƐŝĂ͕ ƚŚĞThe Korean Crisis

Zealand,andAfghanistan.

And,

in

journalist-scholar Fareed Zakaria wrote that,͞KďĂŵĂ ǁĂƐ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͛Ɛ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ŵŽǀĞ ŝŶ

Let me say a few words about the Korean crisis.

Ă ŶĞǁ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƉŽǁĞƌ ŐĂŵĞ ƵŶĨŽůĚŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƐŝĂ͘͟ ,eIn the U.S., we were initially shocked by reportsĂŶĚ ŚŝƐ ĂĚǀŝƐŽƌƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƌĞŝŶĨŽƌĐŝŶŐ tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶ͛Ɛ

of an unprovoked and deadly North Korean

military alliances with Japan, South Korea,

artillery barrage on Yeonpyeong Island, theAustralia and New Zealand, building tacit

most serious such attack since the Korean War.

alliances with India and Indonesia, and putting

Only later could we read that the target was a

China on notice that it will not have a free handSouthin Asia, the South China Sea, or the Pacific andterritorial waters, that the first dead were South

Indian Oceans. The goal is to ensure that the<ŽƌĞĂŶ DĂƌŝŶĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ͞dŚĞ ĂƚƚĂĐŬ͙ŽĐĐƵƌƌĞĚh͘^͘ĐĂŶ͞ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĞŝũŝŶŐ͛ƐďĞŚĂǀŝŽƌ͘͟

1

Koreanmilitary

base

indisputedĂĨƚĞƌ ^ŽƵƚŚ <ŽƌĞĂŶ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ͙ĨŝƌĞĚ ƚĞƐƚ ƐŚŽƚƐ ŝŶƚŽǁĂƚĞƌƐŶĞĂƌƚŚĞEŽƌƚŚ<ŽƌĞĂŶĐŽĂƐƚ͘͟ 2

The Obama Administration is attempting toůĞǀĞƌĂŐĞ ŝƚƐ ĂůůŝĞƐ͛ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉŽǁĞƌ ǁŚŝůĞ

The North Korean attack must of course be

taking advantage of the insecurities resulting

condemned, but we need to address its causesfrŽŵ ŚŝŶĂ͛Ɛ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ƉŽǁĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĂŐŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞand to prevent it from escalating into an

assertions of its territorial ambitions.

extremely dangerous wider war.

The U.S.

is weaving together a system of military andpolitical alliances and relationships from Japan

Numerous reasons have been given for theto India, and across Central Asia to Europe toĂƚƚĂĐŬ͘ DŽƐƚ ĐŽŐĞŶƚ ŝƐ EŽƌƚŚ <ŽƌĞĂ͛Ɛ ŐŽĂů ŽĨNATO,͞ĚƌŝǀŝŶŐƚŚĞh͘^͘ƚŽƚŚĞŶĞŐŽƚŝĂƚŝŶŐƚĂďůĞ͟ƚŽǁŝŶ
U.S. recognition of its legitimacy, a peace treaty

Even as China devĞůŽƉƐ ŝƚƐ ͞ƐƚƌŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƉĞĂƌůƐ͟ ʹ

ending the Korean war, removal of sanctions,basing and access agreements with Myanmar,

and aid, trade and investment. 3

Sri Lanka Pakistan and possibly Bangladesh ʹ

Washington initially coordinated its responses

the U.S. is reinforcing its more powerful collar:

with South Korea and then escalated thealliances,military

cooperation,bases,

and2

access agreements with South Korea, Singapore,(GLWRULDO³$9HU\5LVN\*DPH´1HZ<RUNWLPHVNov. 24, 2010
1

3

)DUHHG=DNDULD³+HGJHGEHWVRQ&KLQD´:DVKLQJWRQPost, Nov. 15, 2010

6LPRQ7LVGDOO³7KHNH\VWR3\RQJ\DQJ´7KH

Guardian, Nov. 23, 2010.

4

East, just as NATO does in the West. 7

confrontation with military exercises, including
the aircraft carrier George Washington and its
support fleet, in the Yellow Sea. This threatens

At roughly the time Joseph Nye voiced concernŶŽƚ ŽŶůǇ EŽƌƚŚ <ŽƌĞĂ ďƵƚ ƚŚĞ WZ<͛Ɛ ŚŝŶĞƐĞĂďŽƵƚ ŚŝŶĂ͛Ɛ ƌŝƐĞ͘ ,Ğ ǁĂƌŶĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ

patron as well. And, rather than encourage

20th century the dominant powers (U.S. andresumption of the Six Party talks, the Obama

Britain)failedAdministration repeated that it will not resume(Germanyandnegotiations until the North abandons its

resulting in two catastrophic world wars. It isuranium enrichment program and demonstrates

thereforethat there is no possibility of additional NorthĐŽŶĐůƵĚĞĚ͕ ƚŽ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ŚŝŶĂ͛Ɛ ŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƚŝŽŶ ŝŶƚŽ

Korean nuclear or missile tests.

4

U.S.

of

to

integrate

Japan)
thedominated

intoutmostglobalrisingpowerstheirsystems,

importance,systemshethroughengagement and, as necessary, containment. HedŚŝƐ ƉŽůŝĐǇ ŝƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚĞĚ ĂƐ ͞ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐ ƉĂƚŝĞŶĐĞ͕͟

has since written that maintaining our allianceǁŚŽƐĞ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ ŝƐ ƚŽ ďƌĞĂŬ EŽƌƚŚ <ŽƌĞĂ͛Ɛ ĐǇcle

with Japan would shape the environment intoŽĨ ƉƌŽǀŽĐĂƚŝŽŶƐ ďǇ ŶŽƚ ƌĞǁĂƌĚŝŶŐ WǇŽŶŐǇĂŶŐ͛ƐǁŚŝĐŚ ŚŝŶĂ ΀ŝƐ΁ ĞŵĞƌŐŝŶŐ͘ tĞ ǁĂŶƚ͙ ƚŽ͞ďĂĚďĞŚĂǀŝŽƌ͘͟h͘^͘ŶĞŐŽƚŝĂƚŝŽŶƐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞWZ<

integrateĂƌĞ ŶŽƚ ƚŽ ƌĞƐƵŵĞ ͞ƵŶƚŝů ƚŚĞ EŽƌƚŚ ĐĞĂƐĞ΀Ɛ΁ƐǇƐƚĞŵ͙ďƵƚ ǁĞ ŶĞĞĚ͙ ƚŽ ŚĞĚŐĞ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ƚŚĞƉƌŽǀŽĐĂƚŝŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞ΀Ɛ΁͟ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ŝƐdanger that a future and stronger China might͞ůŝǀŝŶŐ ƵƉ ƚŽ ƉĂƐƚ ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚƐ ƚŽ ĚŝƐŵĂŶƚůĞ͕ƚƵƌŶĂŐŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ͘͟ 8

and ultimately give up, itƐ ŶƵĐůĞĂƌ ĐĂƉĂĐŝƚǇ͘͟

5

China

into

the

international

This remains the crux of U.S.

Asia-Pacific policies.

This approach, combined with provocative U.S.
The situation in East Asia is, of course, furtherŵŝůŝƚĂƌǇ ĞǆĞƌĐŝƐĞƐ ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶ ƚŽ ďƌŝŶŐ ƵƐ ƚŽ ͞ƚŚĞďƌŝŶŬŽĨǁĂƌ͘͟

6ĐŽŵƉůŝĐĂƚĞĚ ďǇ EŽƌƚŚ <ŽƌĞĂ͛Ɛ ŶƵĐůĞĂƌ ĂƌƐĞŶĂů͕ĂŶĚďǇŚŝŶĂ͛ƐƉĞƌĐĞŝǀĞĚŶĞĞĚĨŽƌĂďƵĨĨĞƌƐƚĂƚĞto secure the Manchurian, keystone of its

Geopolitical Considerations:

territorial integrity.
In the aftermath of the Cold War, Zbigniew
Brzezinski published his primer about the U.S.

Articulated Policy

Empire and how to maintain it. He explainedthat dominating the Eurasian heartland is

Washington

andessential for U.S. global hegemony and that toopportunities

do so the U.S. must have geostrategic footholds͞ĐŽŵƉĞƚŝƚŝǀĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶĐĞ͘͟ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŽƵƌŽŶ ƵƌĂƐŝĂ͛Ɛ ǁĞƐƚĞƌŶ͕ ƐŽƵƚŚĞƌŶ ĂŶĚ ĞĂƐƚĞƌŶrespective cultures, histories and domestic

peripheries. Japan, South Korea and westernpolitical considerations tend to obscure our

Pacific client states serve that function in thecommon interests. With the U.S. economic crisis,

andBeijingunderstandchallenges

of

the
our

still more resources will likely be devoted tocontainment as our 2012 presidential election
4 ³1R-party talks without halt to uranium
HQULFKPHQW´$VDKL6KLPEXQ1RY
5 'DYLG(6DQJHUDQG0DUN0F'RQDOG³6RXWK

7 Clyde Prestowitz. The Betrayal of American.RUHDQVDQG86WRVWDJHD-RLQW([HUFLVH´1HZ<RUN

Prosperity: Free Market Delusions, America's Decline,

Times, Nov. 24, 2010

and How We Must Compete in the Post-Dollar Era, New

6 Terms of a threat made by North Korea, as reported

York: Simon & Schuster, 2010

E\861DWLRQDO3XEOLF5DGLR¶V³$OO7KLQJV

8 -RVHSK1\H³$Q$OOLDQFH/DUJHU7KDQ2QH,VVXH´&RQVLGHUHG´1RYNew York Times, January 6, 2010.

5

approaches. 9tŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ W:͛Ɛ ĨĂŝůŝŶŐ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ͕ ƐĐĂŶĚĂůƐ ĂŶĚdŚĞ KďĂŵĂ ĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŝŽŶ͛Ɛ ƐŝĂ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐǇǀĂĐŝůůĂƚŝŽŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ :ĂƉĂŶ͛Ɛ ƐƚĂŐŶĂŶƚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵǇ ĂůůĞǆƉůĂŝŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ͞KƵƌ ĂůůŝĂŶĐĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ :Ăpan, SouthĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞĚƚŽƚŚĞWĂƌƚǇ͛ƐůŽƐƐůĂƐƚ:Ƶůy, the U.S.

Korea, Australia, the Philippines, and ThailandĚŝĚ ŝƚƐ ƉĂƌƚ ďǇ ƉůĂǇŝŶŐ ͞ŚĂƌĚďĂůů͟ ŽŶ &ƵƚĞŶŵĂ͕ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞĚƌŽĐŬ ŽĨ ƐĞĐƵƌŝƚǇ ŝŶ ƐŝĂ͙͘͟ /ŶŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚŝŶŐ
12

ƚŚĞ

W:͛Ɛ

ǁĞĂŬŶĞƐƐĞƐĂŶĚĂĚĚŝƚŝŽŶ ƚŽ :ĂƉĂŶ͛Ɛ ƌŽůĞ ĂƐ ͞ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌŶĞƌƐƚŽŶĞ͟ ŽĨ

vacillations.

h͘^͘ ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐ͕ ŝƚ ƐƚƌĞƐƐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ͞:ĂƉĂŶ ĂŶĚ ^ŽƵƚŚďǇŚĞŽŶĂŶŝŶĐŝĚĞŶƚĂŶĚ ďǇŚŝŶĂ͛ƐŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐůǇ

Korea are increasingly important leaders inassertive

addressing reŐŝŽŶĂůĂŶĚŐůŽďĂůŝƐƐƵĞƐ͘͟

10With Japanese fears being fanned

military

exercises,

thePentagon

refused to consider alternatives to building the
new base at Henoko. The implicit message wasǀĞŶ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ͞^ƚƌĂƚĞŐǇ͟ ƌĞŝƚĞƌĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ h͘^͘

if Japan refused to honor the Futenma-HenokoƐĞĞŬƐ ͞ƚŽ ƉƵƌƐƵĞ Ă ƉŽƐŝƚŝǀĞ͕ ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚŝǀĞ͕ ĂŶĚ

agreement, it could face North Korea and ChinaĐŽŵƉƌĞŚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƐŚŝƉ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝŶĂ͕͟ ŝƚ

alone.

ǁĂƌŶƐ ƚŚĂƚ ͞tĞ ǁŝůů ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌ ŚŝŶĂ͛Ɛ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌǇ
prepareSoon after Prime Minister Kan defeated Ozawa

accordingly to ensure that U.S. interests andin the DPJ party election, Washington͛Ɛ ŐĂŵĞ

allies,became more apparent. While in Japan, Richard

modernization

programregionallyandnegatively affected͟

andglobally,

are

not

11

ƌŵŝƚĂŐĞ ƉƌĂŝƐĞĚ <ĂŶ͛Ɛ ǀŝĐƚŽƌǇ ĂŶĚ ͞ƐƵŐŐĞƐƚĞĚhe send China a subtle reminder that Tokyo andtĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ĨŝƌŵůǇ ŝŶ ƐƚĞƉ͘͟ ƌŵŝƚĂŐĞ

Cornerstones and Confrontations:ĂĚǀŝƐĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ͚ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ǁĂǇ͟ ƚŽ ĨƵƌƚŚĞƌ ŚĞĂů ƚŚĞThe Obama Administration cannot be faulted for

Hatoyama-Ozawa

the fall of the Hatoyama-Ozawa government,ƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƐ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ͞ƚŽ ƐĞŶĚ Ă ƐŝŐŶĂů͟ ƚŽ ŚŝŶĂbut

bystander.

ďǇ ƐůŝŐŚƚůǇ ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞ :ĂƉĂŶ͛Ɛ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌǇ ďƵĚŐĞƚ͘,ĂƚŽǇĂŵĂ͛Ɛ ǀŝƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ĂŶ ĂƐƚ ƐŝĂŶ ĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ͞zŽƵ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ƐĂǇ ĂŶǇƚŚŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞCommunity,^ĞŶŬĂŬƵƐ͕ ͞ŚĞ ĂĚǀŝƐĞĚ͕ ͞ƚŚĞ͕ ŵĞƐƐĂŐĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ

it

was

not

an

which

innocentbydefinition

would

to

renegotiate

the

of

U.S.-JapaneseƚŚĞƌĞ͘͟ 13ŵĂƌŐŝŶĂůŝǌĞ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ W:͛Ɛ
commitment

ruptureFutenmathe

Kan and Maehara did more. They pledged thatwhich

the Futenma base relocation would not beallowed the U.S. to bring nuclear weapons into

permitted to disturb the alliance. During the:ĂƉĂŶ Ăůů ƵŶĚĞƌŵŝŶĞĚ tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶ͛Ɛ ĐŽŶĨŝĚĞŶĐĞAPEC summit, Prime Minister Kan committed

in its principle Asia-Pacific ally.

engagerelocationagreement

existence

of

the

and

secrettoconfirmagreement

in

the

Trans

Pacific

Partnershipnegotiations pressed by Obama and confirmed
9 'DYLG:&KHQ³,QPRUH86UDFHV&KLQDLVWKH

that Japan would continue to provide the U.S.

YLOODLQ´,QWHUQDWLRQDO+HUDOG7ULEXQH2FWREHU

ǁŝƚŚ ΨϮ͘Ϯϲ ďŝůůŝŽŶ Ă ǇĞĂƌ ĂƐ ͞ŚŽƐƚ ŶĂƚŝŽŶ

10 Kurt M. Campbell, Assistant Secretary, Bureau ofƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ͘͟ /Ŷ ǇĞƚ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ǀŝŽůĂƚŝŽŶ ŽĨ :ĂƉĂŶ͛ƐEast Asian and Pacific Affairs. Principles of U.S.

constitution, Kan signaled his willingness toEngagement in the Asia-Pacific. Testimony to thesend medical officers to join the U.S. war in

Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs Senate

Afghanistan.

More importantly, he pledged toForeign Relations Committee, Washington, DC, January
21, 2010,

12 Joseph Nye. Op. Cit.

http://www.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2010/01/134168.htm.

13 &DPHURQ0F/DXFKODQ³$UPLWDJHKDLOV.DQ¶V

11 Ibid. Emphasis added by author.

µQRUPDOF\¶´'DLO\<RPLXUL6HSW

6

work with the U.S. to deǀĞůŽƉ ŶĞǁ ͞ĐŽŵŵŽŶsoon thereafter we had the astonishing image ofƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐ ŽďũĞĐƚŝǀĞƐ͙ƚŽ ĞŶŚĂŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ :ĂƉĂŶ-U.S.

a V ietnamese general being welcomed aboardƐƚƌĂƚĞŐǇƚŽǁĂƌĚŚŝŶĂ͘͟the George Washington, joint U.S.-V ietnamese
military exercises, and U.S. warships being

Most important are the commitments Kan madewelcomed back to Cam Ranh Bay. Elsewhere infor the strategic defense review to be issued

ASEAN, President Obama returned Indonesia,

this month: It will urge new deployments ofwhich his advisers ƐĞĞ ĂƐ ͞ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌƐĞĐƚŝŽŶ ŽĨ Ă

Japanese troops onto western Okinawan islandsůŽƚ

to monitor and respond to Chinese naval

partnership that is very important to the future

activities, removing the ban on arms sales, andŽĨŵĞƌŝĐĂŶŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚŝŶƐŝĂ͘͟ 16

ŽĨ

ŬĞǇ

ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƐ͙΀ĂŶĚ΁Ăspending trillions of yen to triple the size of:ĂƉĂŶ͛Ɛ ƐƵďŵĂƌŝŶĞ ĨůĞĞƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ďƵǇ h͘^͘&-35

In terms of encircling China, the importance offighters

V ietnam and Indonesia pale in comparison to
India,thefŝƌƐƚ ƐƚŽƉ WƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚ KďĂŵĂ͛ƐAll of this makes Washington very happy. As one

November itinerary. India has difficult history

U.^͘ ŽĨĨŝĐŝĂů ƉƵƚ ŝƚ͕ ͞tĞ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŚĞĂƌ ƚŚĞwith China: border wars, and competition forteeth-ƐƵĐŬŝŶŐ ĐĂƵƚŝŽŶ ĂŶǇ ŵŽƌĞ͙ƚŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ĨŝŶĂůůǇ

influence in Central Asia, and a naval arms racetalk about what we can do together, rather thanin the Indian Ocean. Beginning with the nuclearǁŚĂƚǁĞĐĂŶ͛ƚ͘͟

14

agreement negotiated between the U.S. andIndia, New Delhi and Washington have created aƚĂĐŝƚ ĂůůŝĂŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĂƐŝƐ ŽĨ ͞ƚŚĞ ĞŶĞŵǇ ŽĨ ŵǇ

The Obama Administration and ChinaĞŶĞŵǇŝƐŵǇĨƌŝĞŶĚ͘͟dŚƵƐKďĂŵĂĐĂŵĞƚŽ/ŶĚŝĂ
During the past year China has pressed thewith promises to end export controls on

limits of the U.S.-Japanese dominated system.

sensitive technologies and of U.S. support for aKĨŐƌĞĂƚĞƐƚĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƚŽtĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶǁĂƐĞŝũŝŶŐ͛Ɛ

permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council,

declaration of its complete sovereignty over theandmineral rich South China Sea, whose sea lanesƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƐŚŝƉ ŝƐ Ă ͞ĚĞĨŝŶŝŶŐ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞĂůƐŽ ƐĞƌǀĞ ĂƐ ĂƐƚ ƐŝĂ͛Ɛ ĞŶĞƌŐǇ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĚĞϮϭƐƚĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͘͟ 17

heannounced

that

the

U.S.-IndiaůŝĨĞůŝŶĞƐ͕ ĂƐ Ă ͞ĐŽƌĞ ŶĂƚŝŽŶĂů ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ͟ ĞƋƵĂů ƚo
its claims to T ibet and Taiwan. This challenges

I should add a few words about the role of the

U.S. regional hegemony, but it also provided the

U.S. Navy in securing what Hillary Clinton calls

U.S. an opportunity to remind ASEAN nations͞ƚŚĞŶĞǁŵĞƌŝĐĂŶŵŽŵĞŶƚ͟h͘^͘ŐĞŽstrategistsƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ͞ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚŝƐ ĨƌŝĞŶĚ ĨƌŽŵ tĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶ͕

believe that, like Britain before it, U.S. is anĂŶĚŚĞ͛ƐƌĞĂůůǇďŝŐ͙͘͟15

island power, with naval power remains being
essential to its ability to influence Eurasia. For

Thus Secretaries Clinton and Gates respondingƚŚŝƐƌĞĂƐŽŶ͕͞ŵĂƌŝƚŝŵĞƌŝŵůĂŶĚƌĞŵĂŝŶƐƉŝǀŽƚĂů͘͟that the freedom of the South China Sea is a

Just as conquering Hawaii, the Philippines and͞ĐŽƌĞ͟ h͘^͘ ŶĂƚŝŽŶĂů ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ ĨŽůůŽǁĞĚ

Guam as stepping stones to Asia was essential

by a carefully orchestrated an Obama-ASEAN
heads

of

state

meeting

at

the

U.N.

16

to

5HXWHUV³2EDPDLQ-DNDUWDWRERRVWWUDGHWLHV´

Daily Yomiuri, Nov. 10, 2010ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞ ƵŶŝƚǇ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ŚŝŶĂ͛Ɛ ĐůĂŝŵƐ͘ ŶĚ͕

17

6KHU\O*D\6WROEHUJDQG-LP<DUGOH\³&RXQWHULQJ

14

Ibid.

&KLQD2EDPD%DFNV,QGLDIRU81&RXQFLO´1HZ

15

7KRPDV/)ULHGPDQ³&RQWDLQPHQW-OLWH´

York Times, Nov. 8, 2010; Japan Times. Obama backs

International Herald Tribune, Nov. 11, 2010.

India on Security CRXQFLO´1RY

7

to building the U.S. 19th century empire,
retaining and modernizing these bases of

Next is entropy. More than three generations

intervention are seen as equally important inafter they were created and imposed, thethe 21st century.

18

institutions and alliances created to serve theU.S. Post WWII Empire are outmoded, tinsel anddŚƵƐ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ͞ĚŝǀĞƌƐŝĨŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ͟ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ h͘^͘

increasingly seen as illegitimate. As a result,infrastructure of military bases across theĨĞǁĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͛Ɛ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƐĞĞ ƚŚĞ h͘^͘ ĂƐ Ă

Asia-Pacific, including U.S. plans for Okinawa,model to be emulated, with envisioning andthe transformation of Guam into a military

creating futures free of U.S. political, economic,͞ŚƵď͟ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞǆƉĞŶƐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŚĂŵŽƌƌŽ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕

military or cultural hegemony.

the U.S. courtship of Indonesia, the tacit
alliances with V ietnam and India, and the call by

Fourth is imperial over-reach. Even as powerfulĂ ĐŽŶŐƌĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůůǇ ŵĂŶĚĂƚĞĚ ƉĂŶĞů ƚŽ ͞ĞǆƉĂŶĚforces in the U.S. urge the massive military

the Navy to deal with threats from rising powers

increases, the country cannot afford it. For theŝŶ ƐŝĂ͘͟ dŚĞ ďŝ-partisan report by senior

first time in my lifetime, serious proposals foradvisors to Presidents Clinton and Bush urges

cutting the U.S. military budget are being voicedthat the U.S. Navy be expanded from 282 to 346

in Congress, and the bi-partisan commission on

warships, and they advised ƚŚĂƚ ͞dŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚdebt reduction has recommended reducing U.S.

States must be fully present in the Asia-Pacificforeign military bases by a third. 20

region to protect American lives and territory,
ensure the free flow of commerce, maintain

Finally,stability and defend our allies in the region. A

interests and our need to work together. Nonerobust U.S. force stricture, one that is largelyof us are safe and secure if others are in danger

rooted in maritime strategy and includes otheror fear for their security. Just as it makes noŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌǇĐĂƉĂďŝůŝƚŝĞƐǁŝůůďĞĞƐƐĞŶƚŝĂů͘͟

19

we

must

recognize

ourcommonsense to liberate the people of Ginowan City atthe expense of those in Henoko, we should not
attempting to solve our problems by supporting

Resistance and Common Security

Pentagon in further oppressing the people ofFriends, given the realities of history, the crisis

Guam. .A generation ago, the concept ofin Korea, and the competing ambitions of the͞ŽŵŵŽŶ ^ĞĐƵƌŝƚǇ͟ ǁĂƐ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ĞŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŽůĚƌĞŐŝŽŶ͛Ɛ ŐƌĞĂƚ ƉŽǁĞƌƐ͕ ƵƚŽƉŝĂŶ ĚƌĞams are

War in Europe. If the peoples of the United

hardly in order. There are, however, powerful

States, Japan, and other Pacific-Asia nations are

historical forces ʹ the actions of people overto win future security and prosperity, we would

time ʹ that demonstrate that a different future

do well to press for policies that replace theis not only possible, but if we work for it,

pursuit of hegemony with Common Security.

assured.

First is the resistance and inevitable
Domo arrigato.

victory of Okinawans, who will win withdrawalof all U.S. bases.
18

5REHUW'.DSODQ³2EDPDDQGWKHQHZ(XUDVLD´

International Herald Tribune, Nov. 12, 2010.
19

20(OL/DNH³'HIHQVHUHYLHZFDOOVIRU1DY\EXLOGLQJ

5HIRFXVXUJHGIRU3HQWDJRQ´:DVKLQJWRQ7LPHV-XO\-DFNLH&DOPHV³3DQHO Seeks Cuts inSocial Security

and Higher Taxes:, New York Times, Nov. 11, 2010

29, 2010.

8

Lee Junkyu
Lecturer, Laborers¶ Academy for Alternative Society
Republic of Korea
Korean Peninsula in Crisis± Testing the Will and Force for Sustainable Peace in East Asia
Thank you for inviting me to the Japan Peace

Nobody can deny the possibility of such

Conference again this year. My name is Lee

provocation escalating into a total war at someJunkyu and I come from South Korea.

moment. For example, South Korean troops,
each time they collide with their North Korean

As you know, since North Korea shelled South

counterparts, they change the war rules to more

Korea͛s Yeonpyeong Island in the Western Sea ʹaggressive ones. I think that they will further

Yellow Sea--, tension is heightening on thegive these rules an aggressive turn after the

Korean Peninsula and in North East Asia. For

recent incident.

somebody like me, who was born in 1973 anddid not experience Korean War, the artillery

I think the hidden aim of North Korean

bombing by North Korea against a island inprovocation is to impose negotiations for peace

South Korea was quite shocking.

agreement they have been asking for. It meansthat North Korea is trying to drive South Korea

There have been several military collisions

and the United States into negotiations by

between South and North, but they weredramatizing the instability on Korean Peninsula.

accidental

theHowever, the behavior of North Korea iscease-fire line or between North and Southcreating a self-contradictory situation: instead

troops in sea areas the two countries haveof setting a favorable environment for peace

territorial claims. For people of my generation,agreement, it is escalating the risk of war.

andlocalized

ones

along

it was the first time since the Korean War that
the

DPRK

The passage of time may be considered as a

attacked an area inhabited bycivilians.

natural physical phenomenon. But it is the͞privilege͟ of us human beings to give it aparticular meaning and memorize it as ͞history͟.

Reviving the Memory of ͞War without Mercy͟

And if humans are entitled to that particular
North Korea maintains that it merely exercised͞privilege͟, they need to have something thatthe right to self-defense against the military

makes them deserve it. I do believe that thatexercise South Korean troops conducted nearsomething is ͞reflexivity͟ or the capacity to

the sea border. It also asserts that South Korea

draw lessons from history and capitalize themand the U.S. forces drew the Northern Limit Linefor creating history of today and tomorrow.

(NLL) unilaterally, although it actually belongs
to North Korea. However, North Korea͛s attitude

This year marks the 60 th anniversary of theof hesitating to use force for provocation to

Korean War. Elites within the North Korean

accomplish their claims represents a reckless

regime are historically responsible for the war

act that could not find support either in Souththat caused ͞atrocious actions among the same

Koreanfamily͟ and ͞fratricides͟ on the pretext of ͞war

society

or

in

the

international

for national liberation͟ or ͞war for unification͟.

community.
9What these elites need the most is the capacity

and China, or even between South Korea andof thinking that enables them to draw lessons

China.

from history.
South Korea and Japan are reinforcing theirNostalgia of Hegemony and Revival of Alliancepartnership with the U.S. It can be said that the

PolicyU.S. is given a good opportunity to sell the
relevance of its military presence in the region.

North Korea͛s armed provocation has negatively

The U.S. can also emphasize the need for

affected the possibility for resuming the Six

forward deployment of the nuclear-powered

Party Talks, the prospects of negotiations for aaircraft carrier George Washington for Southpeace agreement to establish a peace regime on

Korea and Japan, as they seek to reassure

thethemselves by relying on the U.S. hegemony.

KoreanPeninsula,

as

well

as

the

normalization of relations with the U.S. andJapan. The Chinese proposal to hold an urgent

It cannot be denied that North Korea ismeeting of chief representatives to the Six Party

responsible for creating the current situation in

Talks continues to be turned down by South

North East Asia. However, it is more precise to

Korea, the U.S. and Japan.

say that North Korea is providing an excuse to
South Korea and Japan for strengthening their

The war of nerves between the U.S. and China

alliance policy.

over the Korea-U.S. joint military exercises in
the Yellow Sea is creating a fear of the advent ofThat said, can such persistence in alliance detera ͞new Cold War ͟ in East Asia. Even though it isNorth

unlikely to escalate into a ͞new Cold War ͟, it isexample, if North Korea conducts anotherevident that the U.S.-China conflict in economy

armed provocation, can we envisage a situation

before and after the G20 summit is extending towhere it is retaliated by mobilizing a nuclear

political and military fields. While pretending toaircraft carrier?

Koreanlocalized

provocation?

For

have accepted the demand of South Korea, theU.S. has not denied that the large-scale militaryMore fundamental is the fact that embracing

exercise involving the nuclear-powered aircraft

the ghost of U.S. hegemony and persisting in

carrier George Washington was meant to put

alliance policy might revive the Cold Warpressure on China. In other words, the U.S.

heritage. In the case of South Korea, since thesucceeded in killing two birds with one stone: it

Lee Myon-Bak came into power, frustration has

met South Korean demand by showing off its

grown among policy elites and conservative

commitment to South Korea͛s security, while

experts over China͛s reluctance to side withholding China in check.

them in taking hard line policies towards North
Korea. They think that North Korea͛s sinking of a

In addition, with Japan participating in the game,

South Korean warship ͞Cheonan͟ and ͞artillery

due to its accumulated frustration caused bybarrage of Yongpeyon Island͟ could be exploitedterritorial dispute with China, the mini ͞Coldfor enhancing the South Korea-U.S. alliance andWar͟ over the Yellow Sea is taking shape. If thisfor putting pressure on China.

confrontation emerges all the way, it will be
more difficult to resolve the problem, because

However, in international relations, just like in

the North Korean issue will become a problem

any other relations, we need to have the otherbetween the U.S. and China, or between Japan

party with whom we have interactions. And if
10

one adopts alliance policy, the other party may

thinking that have been preserved until today. I

well respond by adopting the same policy. Southam not trying to say that the division of the

Korea, the U.S. and Japan may criticize China for

Korean Peninsula is a product of the Cold War.

supporting North Korea, but for China, it is

The problem of Northern Limit Line in the West

logical that China strengthens ties with North

Sea is a legacy of the Korean War and of

Korea and Russia as part of strategy toNorth-South

counterbalanceshadow of the past is now obstructing Today ͛stheconsolidation

of

the

U.S.-Japan-South Korea alliance. China is no

Cold

War

confrontation.

The

political decision.

more what it used to be before. It often adopts
offensive posture in the event of a conflict withWe see some clues to resolving the problem of

the U.S. or with its neighbors, calling it ͞big

the NLL in the West Sea. During the former Rohpower diplomacy͟. Strengthening of an alliance

Moo-hyun administration, the heads of state ofleads to strengthening of other alliances. The

North and South Korea issued on October 4,

result will be the reproduction in larger scale of2007 a joint statement in which they agreed tohostile relations.

build a ͞West Sea Peace and Cooperation Zone͟.
It was a manifestation of the will of the two

South Korean and the U.S., while conducting

countries to make the sea areas and land along

joint military exercises in the Yellow Sea, thethe NLL in the West Sea not a zone of conflictthing China dislike most, are asking China to join

but of joint use and co-prosperity for the twothem in sanctioning North Korea. On the othercountries.

hand, they all refuse China͛s proposal to hold anurgent meeting of Six Party Talks members. I

Nevertheless, the South Korean conservative

believe however that, given the situation ofandNorth-East Asia where there is no mechanism

agreement as an inadmissible concession tofor solving conflicts peacefully, it is more

North Korea. The Lee government proposed toefficient to hold an urgent meeting rather thandrasticallyan ordinary Six Party Talks session for discussing

implemented by the previous governments, andthe issue and deciding who is responsible.

scrapped agreements concluded by the two

right

wing

reviseforcesthecondemned

North

Korea

their

policyprevious governments (under Kim Dae Jun and
Roh Moo Hyun) with North Korea. The Lee

What is to be done?

government͛s policy on North Korea is to
The main slogan of this year ͛s Japan Peace

cooperate with the U.S. and Japan relying on

Conference is ͞Realizing A Peaceful Asia andthe strong military alliance, and wait for North

Japan without U.S. Bases and Military Alliance͟.

Korea to surrender. The U.S. and South Korea

This may sound quite unrealistic when we lookcall it ͞strategic patience͟.

at the current situation on the Korean Peninsula
and North-East Asia. In South Korea in particular,This is the context in which the shelling of

the push for restoring the dialogue with North

Yeonpyeong

Korea that broke down after the inauguration of

exaggeration to say that this incident was

Lee Myon-Bak Regime is weakening.

originally caused by the Cold War thinking.

Islandoccurred.

It

is

not

However, the Lee government is responding to
Yet there is something we must squarely look at.

the incident by reviving the Cold War structure.

The recent shelling of Yeonpyeong Island wasThis will turn backward the progress of history

caused by the Cold War structure and Cold War

not only in the Korean Peninsula but in the11whole North East Asia. It is tantamount to thebe established to prevent conflict before it

refusal of recognizing its political failure andbreaks out, and to resolve it in a peacefulattempt to create an illusion by conducting

manner after it breaks out.

large-scale military exercises relying on the U.S.
The Six Party Talks started to deal with themilitary power.

North Korean nuclear issue and a consensus was
What was acutely felt in the aftermath of theonce formed with the progress of talks on

incident is the need for a peace agreement on

creating a framework for multilateral security

the Korean Peninsula. We should give up acooperation. The Six Party Talks therefore͞simplistic͟ reaction of categorically rejecting

should be promptly resumed because of theevery demand from North Korea. We shouldurgency of the problem of the ͞uranium

instead seriously consider what has to be doneenrichment facilities͟ North Korea has recently

to keep peace and make peace on the Korean

shown to a U.S. expert. They should also be

Peninsula and make effort to implement it.

used to obtain positive results and developed as
the framework for multilateral cooperation forthe sake of the future in East Asia.

Another thing is the need for a framework for
multilateral consultations in East Asia. For thesake of finding solution to the current issue and

A problem can be solved with ͞relevant action

for a future peaceful order in the region, wethat aims at solving it͟. Resorting to theneed the framework of multilateral consultation,

memory of the Cold War era and its legacy

not bilateral military alliances.

every time a conflict occurs will not solve theproblem but on the contrary aggravate it.

There are number of problems in East Asia otherthan the one regarding North Korea that could

In these circumstances, what is needed is ourtrigger extensive conflicts. To name a few, thewill for peace and the strength to realize ourconfrontation between the U.S. and China, thewill. I hope that I can share these ideas with you

territorial dispute between Japan and China

here. Thank you for your attention.

that

drew

publicattention

beforetheYeonpyeong Island Incident, and the conflict
between China and Taiwan. A framework should

Corazon Valdez Fabros
International Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases
Stop the War Coalition Philippines
The Philippines
US Global Domination and the ContLQXLQJ3HRSOHV¶6WUXJJOH
for a Peaceful, Nuclear-Free, Bases-Free Asia-Pacific 1
It feels great to be back in Sasebo after 12

and Asia without Nuclear Weapons, Military

years! During these challenging and difficult

Bases, and Military Alliance--Solidarity withtimes, I feel fortunate to be here, to be at anKŬŝŶĂǁĂEŽǁ͘͟  /ǁŽƵůĚůŝŬĞƚŽƚŚĂŶŬƚŚĞ:ĂƉĂŶŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ŐĂƚŚĞƌŝŶŐ ͞&Žƌ ƚŚĞ &ƵƚƵƌĞ of Japan

Peace
12

Committee

as

well

as

the

other

Conference

Fiji, Indonesia (where else?). It is her sixth visit

Organizing Committee for making us part of thisto the region in 20 months. The region iswork. I feel honored and grateful for theimportant to the United States. In their move toopportunity to be here.

counter Fiji's strong relationship with China, theorganizations

in

the

Peace

United States has chosen Fiji as the site for its
I bring warm greetings from the International

expansion of aid to the Pacific despite its

Network for the Abolition of Foreign Military

military

Bases here in Asia and the Pacific. Solidarity

announcement before her eight-country tour ofgreetings from the Stop the War Coalition

the Asia-Pacific area. The US abandoned its

Philippines and our campaign networks ofPacific aid post 15 years ago, leaving a gap thatgrassroots

thehas been keenly filled by China, which is

Philippine-US military relations: the SCRAP VFA

expanding its international influence throughMovement and Citizens Peace Watch.

aid.

As we set out to look at the future of Japan andIt had been considering other locations for its

Asia and the Pacific without nuclear weapons,

USAID

base,

military bases and military alliances, we feelbecauseofcompelled to know and understand the recent

between Fiji and China and the fact that Fiji is a

developments that would point to us the

hub for the Pacific, it chose Fiji. The USAID hub

direction of the United States military in thiswill begin with a budget of $27.5 million

part of the world. This new US strategy to step

specifically for climate change mitigation. The

up its military presence in the Asia-Pacificmilitary regime of Commodore Bainimarama hasregion comes after reviews of strategic policy

approved the establishment of the office, whichconcluded that the Bush government's attempts

is where the secretariat of the Pacific Islands

to project power from North America were not

Forum is also based.

movements

focusedonregime. Hillary

includingthe

ClintonthemadeSolomons.

strengthening

the

But

relationshipworking.
Mrs. Clinton visited Melbourne for the annual
The Pentagon has set out the plan for the US"Ausmin" talks between the top Defence andmilitary presence in the region that would

Foreign Ministers of Australia and the US where

becomesustainable,

it was made clear that the US intends to step up

geographicallyits engagement in the region on every front -dispersed". The US had increased its naval

development, military, bilateral relationships

presence in Singapore and engaged more withand regional organizations such as the East Asia

Thailandon

Summit and the ASEAN. As U.S comes undercounterterrorism. And they also created newpressure to leave its all important bases inparameters for military co-operation with New

Okinawa, access to Australian Defence Force

Zealand. That refers to the more streamlined

facilities will allow its military presence asprocedures for waiving the ban on exercisingconcern grows about China military expansion.

"more

operationally

with

New

politicallyresilient,

andZealand

and

the

-

PhilippinesareprisalfortheAustralia has agreed to a major escalation ofanti-nuclear legislation of 1986.

military co-operation with the US. This would
Recently, Secretary of State Hilary Clintonmean more visits by American ships, aircraft

visited the Asia and Pacific countries of New

and troops and their forces exercising more

Zealand, Australia, Vietnam, China, Cambodia,

regularly in Australia. While US forces will not

Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, American Samoa,

establish new bases on Australian soil, but they13

will be welcomed into existing facilities ʹ angovernment to sign several military-related

arrangement that is definitely beneficial to theagreements,

includinginterest of the US but a burden to Australia.

Agreement

which

There will be increased numbers of U.S.

because the use of US ports by Indians will bepersonnel in Australian facilities and military

zero while the US can or may use Indian bases

exercises more frequent and sustained. You see,frequently because of their presence in thewhen the U.S. gets its one foot in, it usually

region. So, technically speaking, if the US should

would eventually want more space. That ishave problem[s] with Iran or Pakistan they,learning from our experience of US colonialism.

under the agreement, may use bases in Indian

a

could

Logistics
prove

Support"dangerous

soil and can become a launching pad fordŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͛Ɛ ƐŽůĞ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌǇ

refuelling or servicing." India's rise, and its

superpower and it continues to extend its reachstrength and progress on the global stage, isin every corner of the globe. U.S. Unified

deeply in the strategic interest of the U.S.

Combatant Commands: Northern Command,
Southern Command, European Command, Africa

Indian troops have been engaged in joint

Command,military

exerciseswithairborne

specialist

operations

CentralCommandandPacific

Command.

theUS"involvinginsub-zerotemperatures in Alaska" of a sort that could bedŚĞ h^ ͞ďŝŐ ĨŽƵƌ͟ ;KďĂŵĂ͕ ,ŝůĂƌǇ͕ 'ĂƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ

put to use along India's Himalayan border with

Mullen) are all over Asia and the Pacific. In India,

China in the event of an armed conflict like that

US President Obama (styling himself "America's

which

first Pacific president," being born in Hawaii anddesigned to promote cooperation between the

spendinghasƚǁŽ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌŝĞƐ ͞ƚŽ ƉƌŽŵŽƚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŽƉĞƌĂďŝůŝƚǇathrough the combined military decision-making

hissuccessfully

childhoodintransformed

Indonesia)

himself

into

occurredin

1962. The

exerciseistopnotch arms salesman. In India, he announced

process,a $10 Billion in business deals with his hostmaneuvering forces, and exchange of tactics,

country which he claimed will contribute totechniques

50,000 new American jobs. In fact half of thefamiliar to me.

throughandbattletracking

procedures."

That

and
soundsƚƌĂŶƐĂĐƚŝŽŶƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨŽƌ /ŶĚŝĂ͛Ɛ ƉƵƌĐŚĂƐĞ ŽĨ h͘^͘
military equipment and half the new jobs will

The focus of U.S. military strategy has shifted

be in the defense sector. He clinched "a $5

frombillion sale for 10 of Boeing's C-17 cargo planes"

expansion, and Africa, subordinated under U.S.

which represents "the sixth biggest arms deal in

AfricaU.S. history." "This and the pending $60 billion

analogue of NATO and AFRICOM is being

deal with Saudi Arabia will certainly help to

expanded by the day.

Europe,subjugatedCommand,

to

Asia.

throughAn

NATO

Asia-Pacificjump-start the economy, as they [arms sales]
have for the past fifty years." Job creation in the

Thinking of Africa, we must unravel the hidden

U.S. is an abysmal failure except in the military

agenda behind the humanitarian aid programs

sector. "The profile of Indian military hardware

and interventions carried out by the United

is

bring

States in troubled parts of the world asdefinitive change in Indian military doctrine

insightfully exposed by Dr. Paul Roberts in his

becauseƌĞĐĞŶƚ ĂƌƚŝĐůĞ ͞dŚĞ tĂƌ ŽŶ dĞƌƌŽƌ͟ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŚĞ

becoming
it's

US-oriented.
dependent

This
on

will

[imported]

revealed

equipment."

that

US

and

UK

government

interference of South Africa to recover control
The

U.S.

is

also

pressuring

theIndianover the vast reserves of the worůĚ͛Ɛ ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐ14

minerals in that country.

personnel from US bases in Okinawa to bases inGuam. The Japanese government (read Japanese

From India. Mr. Obama headed to Indonesia

taxpayers) is forced to pay for a majority ofwhere he used his childhood history withrelocation

costs,

Michelle Obama providing the entertainment

Japanesegovernment

and then to the G-20 meeting in South Korea

resistance to agree to the unprecedented rip-off

and

but it agreed just the same. It would be the first

the

APEC

(Asia-Pacific

Economic

Cooperation) summit in Japan.

some

US$6
had

Billion.
shown

Theinitialtime ever that a foreign nation has had to pay
such costs, and apparently with no legal basis.

On November 13, Japanese Prime Minister Kan

The Environmental Impact Statement of the US͞dŚĂŶŬĞĚ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͙ĨŽƌ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚŝŶŐ

Navy has already indicated the impact on theTokyo. In a tete-a-tete ahead of APEC summit inpeople of Guam. It would increase socialzŽŬŽŚĂŵĂ͕ WƌŝŵĞ DŝƐƚĞƌ <ĂŶ ƐĂŝĚ ͞:ĂƉĂŶ ĂŶĚ

disruption,

the US, at this meeting of APEC, of pan-Pacificdegradation beyond what Guam has alreadycountries, we shall step up our cooperation. So

suffered for decades. It is an urgent work thatǁĞ ĂŐƌĞĞĚ ŽŶ ĚŽŝŶŐ ƚŚĂƚ͘ ŶĚ ŝŶ :ĂƉĂŶ͛Ɛ

we all must try to work on and support strongly.

crime,

andenvironmentalƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƐǁŝƚŚŚŝŶĂĂŶĚͬZƵƐƐŝĂ͕ƌĞĐĞŶƚůǇǁĞ͛ǀĞ
faced some problems, and the United States has

In such a short time, the Pentagon has made its

supported Japan throughout, so I expressed mymilitary presence felt through the Asia Pacificappreciation to him for that. For the peace andArea as its recent military activities and sorties

security of the countries in the region, thein the Asia Pacific would indicate. And as NATO

presence of the United States and the presence

today becoming incorporated into the US

of U.S. military I believe is becoming only

military umbrella - the Pentagon has indeed

increasingly important.

marked this as its Asia-Pacific Century.

dŽ ǁŚŝĐŚ KďĂŵĂ ͞ǀŽŝĐĞĚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ĨŽƌ :ĂƉĂŶ ƚŽ

In the homefront ʹ 18 years after the US

become a permanent member of the U.N.

military bases were closed ʹ the presence ofSecurity Council and reaffirmed the U.S.-Japan

heavily armed U.S. soldiers even in remote^ĞĐƵƌŝƚǇ ĂůůŝĂŶĐĞ͘͟ ,Ğ ƐŽ ĂƐƐƵƌĞĚ Dƌ͘ <ĂŶ ƚŚĂƚareas of the Philippine countryside is now

the U.S.-:ĂƉĂŶ ĂůůŝĂŶĐĞ ŝƐ ͞ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌŶĞƌƐƚŽŶĞ ŽĨ

becoming a normal part of the local scenery.

American strategic engagement in the Asia

The United States military is back thru theWĂĐŝĨŝĐ͟ĂŶĚ͞ƚŚĞĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚŽĨƚŚĞh͘^͘ƚŽƚŚĞ

V isiting Forces Agreement (VFA) signed in 1999.

defense of Japan is unsŚĂŬĂďůĞ͘͟ 

The VFA has transformed our countryside into afree-fire

zone

for

do-called

joint

military

Finally on Okinawa and Guam. These small

exercises using live ammunition and artillery

Pacific islands are separated by about 2000

that have killed, injured and maimed our people

kilometers of the Pacific waters. But they are

and children. These foreign troops enter our

inextricably linked by being pawns in the staging

territory without passports or visas, withoutof US military forces since World War II. Like theclearances from our customs or immigration

Philippines, both has been forcibly taken overauthorities, without quarantine clearances fromand are US territory since the war. Both islands

our health authorities, with neither licenses nor

were scenes of some of the bloodiest fighting inregistration for driving their vehicles in our

the Pacific. Today, the dominant issue uniting

country. They have gotten away with murder,

the peoples of Okinawa and Guam is theattempted murder, rape, harassment of ourplanned relocation of thousands of US military

women, maltreatment of our countrymen, and15

destruction of our environment.

ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚŝĞƐ ƐƵƐƉĞĐƚĞĚ ŽĨ ďĞŝŶŐ ͞ĐŽŶƚƌŽůůĞĚ ŽƌŝŶĨůƵĞŶĐĞĚ ďǇ ŝŶƐƵƌŐĞŶƚƐ͘͟ dŚĞŝƌ ĂĐƚŝǀŝƚŝĞƐMore than 60,000 U.S. troops have entered theprovide the fundamental elements in supporting

Philippines in more than 30 provinces this way

local counterinsurgency operations.

since the VFA was put in place in 1999. They
have come in more than 90 U.S. Naval vessels

United States Marines and Special Operations

and fleets which include nuclear-armed aircraft

Forces are actually doing battlefield intelligence

carriers. Cruise ships. Submarines, in clear

and psy-ops as they conduct infrastructure, civic

violation

constitutionalĂĐƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ͞ŚƵŵĂŶŝƚĂƌŝĂŶ ŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐ͟ ǁŝƚŚ h^/

provision on the entry of nuclear weapons inpersonnel in many parts of the country today,

any part of the Philippines.

using the VFA as a cover.

The VFA is the most anomalous aspect of our

The abrogation of the V isiting Forces Agreement

foreign relations today, 18 years after theis a key campaign to move towards stopping thehistoric dismantling of the U.S. military bases inentry of U.S. troops. That is why we organized

1992. It is a shameless document that is

the SCRAP VFA Movement, a very focused

one-sided because it is not reciprocal. It

network of organizations, institutions, networks

denigrates

constitutional

and individuals in the Philippines united in aƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶ ĂďŽƵƚ ͞ĞƋƵĂů ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ůĂǁƐ͟

common goal to abrogate the VFA and to lookby the very fact that it grants special rights andinto other related agreements being enteredprivileges to armed foreign troops on Philippine

into by the Philippines.

of

the

the

Philippine

Philippine

territory. The VFA has been an indignity to ourƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ Ă ƚƌĂǀĞƐƚǇ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͛Ɛ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ ĂŶĚ

Underrule of law. This is why Filipinos from all walks

Benignoof life all over the country continue to protest

Committee of the VFA has convened lastthis so-called treaty as long as it is in place. It

November 24 to review the VFA following

reminds us that we are still not really sovereign

renewed calls to abrogate the pact more than ain our own territory as a nation.

decade since it went into effect.

U.S. military presence in the Philippines today

The Filipino people will need to muster the will

reliesmilitaryand determination to flush out foreign troops

involvement through U.S. Special Operations

from our territory, as they mustered the will

Forces (SOFs), service intelligence organizations,and power to dismantle the U.S. military bases

the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and otherin 1991.

covertheavily

U.S.

oncovertintelligenceU.S.

agencies

like

the

new

Aquino,government
theofPresident

Legislative

Oversight

the

National Security Agency (NSA) and the Federal

Let us continue to put our energy and resources

Bureau of Investigation (FBI) playing a central

intorole. Other agencies include the United States

strengthening, forging unities, solidarity work

Agency for International Development (USAID)

especially with US peace and justice movement.

and Peace Corps, which specialize in the

Our continuing hope and work for the important͞ŚĞĂƌƚƐ-and-ŵŝŶĚƐ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ͟ ƵƐŝŶŐ ƐŽ-called

active involvement of the youth (the future ofhumanitarian or non-lethal aid. Covert action

the movement!); maximizing the current media

includes unconventional warfare, intelligencetrends, popularizing our messages and calls; andoperations

operations

creating for venues for peoples expressions(psy-ops) in target areas such as remote(including art in all its forms: theatre, music,andpsychological16

grassroots

movement

organizing,poetry, dance, etc. We need to find value in thethat real change will come someday. The

support and work of the academe, intellectuals,ƐŝƚƵĂƚŝŽŶ ŶĞǀĞƌ ƐƚĂǇƐ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ͙ĂŶĚ ŽƵƌ

professional, including those in government andstruggle for genuine change is a process andmilitary for among them are likely allies whobeing so ʹ much of it is shaped by the

could provide the information and expertise incontinuing commitment and solidarity of men

research, analysis and scholarship that are

and women whose vision for a bases freeimportant

Okinawa remains strong.

inprovidingourcampaign

thenecessary tools for effective, credible andpowerful movement that we need today. The No

A strong and united peoples movement may

Bases Network here in Asia and the Pacific hopesomeday finally push the U.S. military out of

to do its share in providing the mechanism for

Okinawa and Japan. It might not be a smooth

meaningfulandĂŶĚ ĞĂƐǇ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ďƵƚ ŝƚ ǁŝůů ŚĂƉƉĞŶ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚ

analysis, people to people solidarity and venues

going to happen anytime soon but it will happen.

for consolidating our efforts in the region.

The Kanji is on the wall. The handwriting in theexchangesofinformationwall is clear: Okinawan people want the bases
We had looked forward to a victory for former

out of Okinawa! The Japanese people want the

Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha as Governor ofbases out of Japan! And the global movement

Okinawa.

A person most of us consider as

has consistently called for the dismantling ofcommitted to seeing Futenma closed and thethese military outposts of the empire! And evenreplacement facility built somewhere else otherif the Yankees ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŬŶŽǁ ǁŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ :ĂƉĂŶĞƐĞƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ KŬŝŶĂǁĂ ƉƌĞĨĞĐƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĞ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚcharacters mean, they know that they are notwant the base in Japan at all. That must be thewanted and they could tell (even if they refuse

reasontheto see) in which direction the exit arrow is

Communists and all of you supported him. Still,pointing. They know that someday, and I hope

we

the

deep in my heart and with fingers crossed thatsolidarity movements here in Japan for the hard

it will be soon, that they will see the day whenwork that they have done to see that the recent

they have to say goodbye.

that

the

congratulate

electionclearly

Socialthe

Democrats,

Okinawan

indicate

the

will

and

of

the

Okinawan people. A reality that Gov. Nakaima

In closing, let me say that during my those

has to contend with in the coming days. His

recent informal conversations that I have been

victory is still an expression of the peoples will

fortunate (and grateful) to spend with some offor a no bases Okinawa. The fact remains thatyou and other friends here (particularly in Aichi,

the sentiments of Okinawans ʹ more than 80

Osaka and Kobe before coming to Sasebo), I

per cent - oppose the current Tokyo-Washington

have never failed to say ʹ that we might not be

relocation plan.

ƐŽ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞ ŵŽŵĞŶƚ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ƌĞŐŝŽŶ͛Ɛhistory for the eventual closure of these military

We need to work at further consolidating theoutposts will come, yet we must be prepared forbig constituency that (297,082) that clearlythat

expressed the will of a big percentage of theawareness raising, organizing and mobilizing as

Okinawan population. I wish that former Mayor

well as international solidarity work must

Iha will remain steadfast in remaining a strong

continueand powerful voice for the movement inbuilding from one step to the next, to create

Okinawa.

This is a great moment of taking

that critical mass of peace and no bases

stock of what we gained and use it to our

advocates, that is necessary to challenge thepolitical advantage.

empire.

We must remain hopeful17

moment.

Our

information,systematicallyandeducation,

consistently,

Some friends and mentors to many of us andlive long enough to see that empire dismantled.

whose memory we continue to hold close to our

But in the work we do toward the dismantling ofhearts: Boone Schirmer, Howard Zinn, Chalmers

the empire in this part of the world, we honor

Johnson, Jose Diokno and Lorenzo Tanada of thetheir name and their work. During this difficult

Philippines and many more whose names I

and challenging times, may we continue to be

would fail to mention now, have consistently

inspired, to be courageous, to be united, to be

explained the how and why of U.S. empire, andhappy, to be in solidarity, to be faithful in thisfor that we all owe them an enormous debt ofgreat work that had brought us all together ingratitude.

this conference today. We shall overcome!

It is unfortunate that they did not

1 P resented to the 2010 J a pa n P ea ce Conference,
December 2-6, 2010 in Sa sebo, J a pa n by Cora zon
Va ldez F a bros of the Interna tiona l Networ k for the
AbolitionofF oreign

Milita r y

Ba ses(NOBASES

Networ k) a nd the STOP the Wa r Coa lition P hilippines

References:
Glo b al Re searc h, No ve m b er

Clinton¶s Speech on U.S. Agenda in Asia-Pacific

6, 2010Austra lia ha s a greed to esca la tion of milita r y

Region, October 28, 2010

co-oper a tion with the US: "US forces to sha re ourRead:ba ses"http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=v

October/20101028191722su0.9814875.html&distid

a&aid=21792=ucs#ixzz1CzygiL5x

The Australian National Affairs, November 6, 2010

News & Updates|ASEAN Matters for America

US forces get nod to share our bases Brendan

aseanmattersforamerica.org/news-updates

Nicholson, Defence Editor
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national -affairs/u

ISR Issue 48, July±August 2006

s-forces-get-nod-to-share-our-bases/story-fn59niix

http://www.isreview.org/issues/48/containingchina.

-1225948576258

shtml

Global Research: Obama, Gates And Clinton in

The 'War on - Pacific Peace Working Group

Asia: U.S. Expands Military Build-up In the East

http://www.pacificpeace.net/publications/pcds_upd

by Rick Rozoff

ate60.html

http://www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?arti
cleld=21804

Asia view | The Economist
www.economist.com/blogs/asiaview?page=5 -http://www.nzherald.co.nz/pacific -islands/news/art
icle.cfm?l_id=10&objectid=10684960

www.thebangladeshtoday.com/archive/.../28 -10-20

US chooses Fiji for aid base in pacific despite

10.htmdictatorship, November 3, 2010
Human Security Gateway - Country Gateways18www.humansecuritygateway.com/countryGateways

0101105.htm.php
ids.nic.in/Indian%20Army%20Doctrine/indianarm
nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/.../text -fwd-us-ch

ydoctrine_1.doc

ooses-fiji-for-aid-base.html
http://mmc-news.net/2010/11/07/indian-soldiers-tr
csis.org/files/publication/0903q.pdf

ain-with-us-army-in-alaska/

nadinafijitruth.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.

http://world.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/8

html

0055/

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/category/topic/ja

7KH 'DUN 6LGH RI $PHULFD V ³)ULHQGVKLS´ ZLWKpanSouth Africa

October 27, 2010www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid
http://www.australia.to/2010/index.php?option=co=21889m_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=95&I
temid=233

Nov. 23, 2010www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39952596/ns/world_news-asia-pacific/

www.cpa.org.au/guardian/2010/1481/01-australia.html -November 17, 2010www.huffingtonpost.com/news/michelle -obama http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/commerce/10

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174936

1112/APEC-japan-G20

http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2010/08/Afghanist

Global Warfare: After NATO Summit, U.S. To

an: North Atlantic 0LOLWDU\%ORF¶V7HQ-Year War in

IntensifySouth Asia

www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid

Military

Drive

Into

Asia

=21977
rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2010/08/

2010 August« Stop NATO

India: Linchpin In U.S. Plans For Asia-PacificNATOmilitary expansion:DMZ Hawai'i / Aloha 'Aina

www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid

www.dmzhawaii.org/?tag=military-expansion&pag=22173

ed=2
China 'must respect intl law' / Obama answers
http://www.voltairenet.org/article167505.html#arti

Yomiuri questions on Asia security, U.S. alliance

cle167505 Timetable Abandoned: U.S. And NATOZZZ\RPLXULFRMS¾ Home ¾ WorldTo Wage Endless War In Afghanistan by Rick
Okinawa

RozoffandGuam- US

Military Pawns Since WW2
http://www.yorkagainstthewar.org.uk/stop_press/ar

www.converge.org.nz/abc/pr34-150.html

chive/2010/11/blog.html
Okinawa and Guam: In the Shadow of US ± Japan
http://www.rediff.com/news/special/obama -visit-sp

Focus

ecial-as-arrives-us-bids-for-heavy-arms-business/2

www.japanfocus.org/-Yoshida-Kensei/3378

19

Global Network - U.S. Basing Without Bases in thebulatlat.com/news/3-41/3-41-primer.html

Philippines - 4/09
www.space4peace.org/.../us%20bases%20in%20th

www.au.af.mil/au/aul/bibs/specops2010.htm

e%20philippines.htm
Visiting Forces Agreement and Balikatan - Page 2 Citizens' Peace Watch Official Statement: On US

Pinoy Progress

Military Basing In Mindanao ± by Cora Fabros &www.pinoyprogress.com/showthread.php?p=5310

Virginia Suarez Pinlac.
www.converge.org.nz/abc/prcont37.html -SONA: English translation of Pres. Benigno S.
Aquino III's State of the Nation Address

http://www.yonip.com/main/articles/environimpact

www.gmanews.tv/.../sona-english-translation-of-prs.htmles-benigno-s-aquino-iiis-state-of-the-nation-addressBases Of Empire: The Global Spread Of US
Military And Intelligence Bases

Ten Thousand Things: November 2010

http://www.converge.org.nz/abc/pr37-1721.html
tenthousandthingsfromkyoto.blogspot.com/2010_1
US

BASES

IN

OKINAWA by

Bob

1_01_archive.html

Leona rdwww.converge.org.nz/abc/pr39-188.htm

The Battle of Okinawa 2009: Obama vs Hatoyama

The U.S.

± JapanFocus

troops''unconventional' presence «www.japanfocus.org/-Gavan-McCormack/3250

Philippine Center for for Investigative Journalism
15 Jan 2007
pcij.org/stories/the-u-s-troops-unconventional-pres

The Battle of Okina wa 2009: Obama vs Hatoyama |

ence/

FPIF
www.fpif.org/.../the_battle_of_okinawa_2009_oba

Ten Years of the Visiting Forces Agreement: An

ma_vs_hatoyama

Assessment by Roland G. Simbulan
www.no-bases.org/file.../Simbulan%2010%20Year

www.zcommunications.org/the-us-japan-alliance-o

s%20of%20VFA.pdf

kinawa-and-three-looming-elections-by-gavan-mcc
ormack -

FOP

2

T he

US

Tr oo p s ¶U nco n ve nt io na l

P resence: Are U S Sp ec ial Op er atio ns Fo rce s
en ga gedinan

µo ffe ns ive

war ¶

in

www.fpif.org/blog/?q=Tag%3AOkinawa

th e

P hilip p i nes ? b y Her b ert Do cena

http://www.ips-dc.org/blog/its_a_shame_chalmers

fo c us web .o rg/p hi lip p ne s /co nte nt /v ie w/1 0 9 /6

_johnson_did_not_live_to_see_us_

air

_

base

_on_okinawa_closed
Senate VFA Panel Set to Convene Nov. 20, 2010
Pacific Pushback: Has the U.S. Empire of Bases

http://www.philstar.com/Article 631749

ReachedIts

High-Water

Mark?

http://nccur.lib.nccu.edu.tw/bitstream/140.119/374

decolonizeguam.blogspot.com/.../pacific -pushback

76/9/500809.pdf-has-us-empire-of-bases.html

www.yonip.com/archives/vfa/VFA-000046.html

20

Ozawa Ryuichi
Professor, the Jikei University School of Medicine
Japan
How to Envisage an Asia-Pacific Region without Military Alliances
Overcoming ³U.S. Military Presence is a Deterrent´ Theory
Introduction

assertion of territorial claim over the Senkaku

In my intervention, I am going to discuss

Islands (Diaoyu Islands), some Japanese tend tocritically the idea that ͞U.S. military presence

think or are led to believe, by media reports

constitutes deterrence͟, because

this logic

dealing these events, that Japan will be the one

stands as a major obstacle in our current effort

to be actually attacked. They also tend to link,

of

from

in a simplistic manner, the actual U.S. military

Okinawa and the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty

presence in Japan and the fact that there hasabrogated. In fact, I believe that it is essential tobeen no armed confrontation around Japan,

criticize or combat this idea if we want towhich lends more strength to the ͞deterrence

succeed in achieving an ͞Asia-Pacific region

logic.͟

without military alliances.͟

confrontation in the areas around Japan is thegetting

FutenmaBasewithdrawn

Althoughtheabsenceofmilitary

result of many concurring factors that are not
There is no doubt that the U.S. Marines

all military, people easily discard such factors

stationed in Okinawa are not troops for thethat are hardly visible. We therefore must

͞defense͟ of Japan. They are ͞assault͟ troops

develop and elaborate our argument well in

that, as part of U.S. expeditionary forces, havecriticizing

the mission to invade enemy ͛s territory by

efficiently.

participatinginlanding

operations.

the͞deterrence͟

logic

more

These

troops are very unlikely to be directly projected1.

specificallyJapan.

What is needed at first for overcoming the

However, to claim that they are not deterrent

͞deterrence͟ logic is to grasp correctly what thisand do not contribute in maintaining peace forlogic is all about. This means that we also haveour country just because of that is too weak an

to understand precisely why it is so widely

argument and it would be easily countered byaccepted by the public. By exploring its specificpointing out, ͞Precisely because the U.S. forces,

nature, we can identify the ͞obstacles͟ it poses

including the Marines, can be projected sothat prevent us from overcoming it and in so

rapidly, efficiently and powerfully that they candoing, we might, even unexpectedly, comedissuade other countries from attacking Japan

across some clues for overcoming it.

for

the

͞defense͟

ofWhat is the deterrence logic all about?

with weapons͟. The deterrence logic cannot beeffectively refuted merely by looking at it

What are then the characteristics of this logic of

exclusively from the perspective of ͞peace ofdeterrence? For here, let us adopt the definition

Japan.͟

of the ͞deterrence͟ as it is given in the ͞2010
Defense White Paper ͟: ͞Deterrence is the force

Given North Korea͛s nuclear testing and nuclear

͞to dissuade another country from aggressing

development program, and more recently its

Japanshelling against South Korea that occurred onunderstand that it will incur unbearable damage

November 23, as well as China͛s increasing

in exchange for any act of aggression it may
21

bymakingthatcountry

clearlycommit͟.

It needs to be noted that, of two

͞deterrence logic͟ easily discards the presence

major categories of definition of deterrenceof such various factors other than military

usuallybystrength concurring to put the brakes on the use

punishment͟ and the other ͞deterrence byof military power. In short, it is too simplistic

denial͟, the above definition weights towards

and cannot accommodate other factors andthe former.

therefore cannot withstand any verification.

used,

one

being

͞deterrence

The prevalence of such one-sided

definition is that the ongoing debate over thedeterrence in Japan gives too much emphasis on

Another characteristic, or rather an advantage,

the U.S. ͞nuclear umbrella͟, the Japan-U.S.

of the ͞deterrence͟ logic is that, even in the

security regime and the stationing of U.S. forcesabsence of armed attack, it can use any move,in Japan.

however small it is, of a foreign country thatnow

But leaving this problem aside, let us

look

at

the

characteristics

of

the

generates ͞fear͟ of potential military attack or͞deterrence͟ doctrine in general.

͞perceived fear ͟ of increasing military threat, as
the ground for its validity. The deterrence logic

First, this doctrine can invoke as its strong

does neither call into question the backgroundground the fact that there has been no invasion

and the aim of such a move, nor ask whether

or ͞no armed conflict͟. However, the absence of

the use of force, i.e., the deterrent, against suchinvasion or armed conflict is not the result ofmove is effective and appropriate or not. Asking

the presence of military forces alone.

It can bethese questions may eventually remove theattributed also to the strong peace-oriented

͞fear͟ of military attack or reduce the relevanceopinion of citizens within and outside Japan andof ͞deterrence͟ itself. Therefore, insisting on

political forces that want to avoid armed

the ͞deterrence͟ without asking these questions

conflicts as well as the intention and policy oftends to shift the debate over how to deal withthe government (including its ambition to

the vague ͞psychological insecurity ͟ of theremain in power) that reflects the will of the

population.

population. As a matter of fact, it is very
unlikely for the government of a nation of

As seen above, of existing ͞deterrence͟ logics,

parliamentarian democracy, and even for asome are built on military rationality, but others

country of military dictatorship, to use force

are put forth in expectation of ͞political orinconsiderately, disregarding the public opinion

psychologicalandgovernments and people of Japan and other

thereforetaking

the

risk

of

being

overthrown.

role͟

of

the

deterrenceforcountries. This can easily be expected because
the validity of deterrence is basically not

One

must

elaborate

more

carefully

verifiable as I pointed out earlier.

when

Apparently,

asserting, ͞Article 9 of the Constitution is thedeterrence logic is about the validity of military

biggest deterrent.͟ One should in particularpower, but it must inevitably take into accountexplain that there is a strong popular support

͞politicalandfor Article 9 and that it is not easy to amend

military

force.

constitutional provisions in the text. This works

psychological͞ role is played not only by

as strong brakes on any potential armed

weapons, but also by policies of a government

invasion of another country by Japan (by its

or its diplomacy, economic deals and exchanges

Self-Defense

turnwith other governments, or the opinion of theprevents other countries from perceiving Japan

population. In some cases, they will haveas a threat against them. But this type ofstronger effect than armament. In short, theForces),

whose

fact

in

22

psychological͟
And

relevance͞politicalofandlogic of ͞deterrence͟ is a very opportunistic

They make a great fuss of a ͞crisis of Japan-U.S.

theory, which emphasizes the ͞political andmutual security regime͟ and praise the ͞U.S.

psychological role͟ of military power, while

troopsdiscarding such role in other non-military

deterrence͟ to Japan. Intentionally or not, they

aspects.

are taking advantage of the low risk of failure of

deployedinJapan͟

that

͞providethe deterrence logic.
Thirdly, the deterrence logic is a theory whoserisk of failure is very small and therefore can be2.

set forth easily. Let us assume a case in which

As discussed above, ͞deterrence͟ theory is very

deterrence fails and an armed attack takes place.

difficult to refute. However, we should not be so

There are in general a vast variety of factors

pessimistic about the possibility of overcoming

contributing to the armed attack to occur:

it. The characteristics of this logic I pointed out

accidental factors, miscalculation, breakdown ofearlier are also its weak points we can exploit.

Deterrence logic is losing reality

diplomatic talks or failed political decisions
made by the governments concerned, debate inFirst, it should be noted that the deterrence

the parliament, public opinion in and out of thelogic is losing reality. As I mentioned earlier,country, etc. But it takes a lot of time to analyze

recent ͞deterrence͟ logic is somewhat diffuse

the facts and identify actual causes that havebecause it also includes the feeling of safety of

led to the armed attack. And this process ofthe population. However, it was originally aanalysis

inevitably

military strategy that had been developed for

influenced by ͞political considerations (as seen

specific purposes. It is based on the assumption

in the verification of the war on Iraq made bythat Japan will never attack first. It is always thethe U.S. and the Great Britain).

The conclusion

enemy side, which invades our country first.

drawn from that process tends to be ambiguous.

This assumption is very important, because it

It is to say that to determine from political

did not exist in the period where war and use of

perspective if the deterrence has actually failed

force were not considered illegal and to attack

or not is very difficult, while it is relatively easy

other country first for preventing the invasion

to conclude that deterrence has failed because

planned by that country was also legal. Theof the lack of military strength without giving

deterrence theory could emerge as a major ideamuch evidence. On the contrary, after theaccepted by the international community thanksdeterrence is failed, to question the validity ofto the United Nations Charter that declared thatmilitary power as deterrence and ask for͞the use of force͟ is in principle illegal. As areduction of armaments is a very difficult

result of the establishment of legal framework

exercise, and will require extremely strongby the adoption of the U.N. Charter and of theargument.

fact that the U.S. and the Soviet Union

andidentificationisembarkedonaseverecompetitionin

As I said, deterrence logic is a theory with adeveloping, improving and stockpiling nuclear

very little risk of failure. The current Japanese

weapons leading to the situation of ͞mutually

media abounds in critiques and commentators

assured destruction (MADͿ͟ and the ͞balance of

who speak in favor of the Japan-U.S. Security

terror ͟ continued to be believed to prevent theTreaty and U.S. military presence in Japan every

use of nuclear weapons, the deterrence logic

time when the Japanese government faces awas recognized as an important concept in the͞difficulty͟ in proceeding forcibly with thefield of international politics and military. The

relocation of Futenma Base within Okinawa.

deterrence myth was thus born out of the23

establishment of international law, i.e. the U.N.

missile defense system in outer space and using

Charter, on one hand and the Cold War between

high-tech weapons so as to be able implement

the U.S. and the Soviet Union on the other.

͞unmanned attack͟ tactics. The U.S. is notentitled to advocate ͞deterrence͟.

Looking at the international community today,
we see that the foundation that supported the

The realities of today ͛s international community

deterrence theory is deeply shaken and isthemselveschanging. The disintegration of the U.S.-Soviet

deterrence doctrine. The ͞Cold War ͟ that wasUnion Cold War structure does not need to be

the origin of that theory is now part of thementioned in detail here. More recently, it ishistory.

often pointed out that ͞deterrence hardly

in place by the United Nations Charter thatworks͟

prohibits preemptive use of force, has beenfor

͞non-state

actors

such

as

deny

the

legitimacy

of

the

The international legal framework, setinternational terrorist organizations͟ or that ͞ inseverely damaged by the war against Iraq.

terms of deterrence, it is more efficient to deal

important therefore to overcome the current

with them as criminal organizations͟. The

situation and to rebuild a collective security

concept of deterrence is different from what it

regime with the U.N. at its core. And for this, it

was in the period of the Cold War. It is stillis essential to get rid of the ͞deterrence͟ myth.

maintained as a term, but its meaning isToday, humanity is facing a double challenge ofincreasingly diffuse and ambiguous.

overcoming the nuclear deterrence logic andIt ispaving the way towards the elimination of
The end of the Cold War following the collapse

nuclear weapons and of overcoming also theof the Soviet Union and countries of Eastern

theoryEurope is not the only cause for decreased

weapons.

ofdeterrence

about

conventional

reality of the ͞deterrence͟ theory. The groundsupporting the deterrence theory was also

3.

undermined by the U.S. attack on Afghanistan in

The deterrence logic should be overcome not2001 and the war on Iraq launched andonly because it has become obsolete as aconducted by the U.S. and the Great Britain in

remnant of the Cold War Era, or it has become

2003.

In fact, these military attacks launched

incompatible with the U.S. military strategy thatin violation of the U.N. Charter that outlaws

does not exclude ͞preemptive strike͟. Morepreemptive

importantly, to cling to that theory itself is

use offorce

as well as the͞Declaration on Principles of International Law

Deterrence Logic is an Aggressive Theory

harmful.

concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation
among StatĞƐ͟ of 1970, severely damaged theIncollective security regime of the United Nations.

fundamentally aggressive theory, even thoughProhibiting aggression of others by relying on

deterrence was originally meant to work forthe concept of deterrence while at the same

defense. As seen in ͞deterrence by punishment ͟time refusing to give up its own will andaspect and in the definition that ͞ĚĞƚĞƌƌĞŶĐĞcapabilities of launching a preemptive attack

aims at making the enemy clearly understandcannotinternationalthat it would suffer unbearable damage͟, and,community. However, this was how the U.S. has

above all, because it creates the fear for

behaved all these years. In recent years, the U.S.

catastrophic destruction

has been busy trying to free its own offensive

weapons,

capabilities from deterrence, by building up

specifically ͞defensive͟ argument.

bejustified

in

the

24

my

view,

the

deterrence

theoryisacaused by nuclear

deterrence

logic

is

not

a

In the caseof ͞deterrence by denial͟, depending on theovercome, but as a means to intimidate theprogressenemy.

of

war,

it

might

accommodate

preventive strikes against enemy bases.
What we need now is to put a real end to theDeterrence logic betrays its originally defensive

͞20 th century as a period of war.͟ If so, the wars

nature by seeking the deterrent effect ofoccurred

military force.

It has an ͞aggressive nature͟

remembered not for the sake of ͞nuclearthat lies hidden in the ͞threat͟ by military force.

deterrence͟ but for the sake of creating peace.

Just like the ͞nuclear deterrence doctrine͟

Deterrence logic in general must also becreates in the mind of the enemy the fear of

defeated as an obstacle to realize peace in our

retaliatory

times.

strikesaccompaniedwithduringthat

centurymustbeindiscriminate mass destruction, the deterrence
logic cannot be a ͞defensive͟ strategic concept,

Anbecause it uses the collective memory of mass

alliances͟ should be built on these efforts. I

destruction occurred in the 20thcentury marked

tocriticallyreconsider

or

regionwithout

military

want to make my modest contribution to theseby a succession of wars of aggression not assomething͞Asia-Pacificefforts.

toMohammed Ibrahim Alkozai
Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan and Results
Konnichiwa

land routes between the Indian subcontinent,

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,Iran, and central Asia, and the country has
enticed conquerors throughout history.

Before all I am thankful from government ofJapan especially from the peace organization of

Peace will remain unreachable if the US

Japan that provided and invited me to represent

presence

my country Afghanistan in regard to peace

perceived as a design to encircle and weakenprocess.

Iran, displace Russia and contain China inCentralin

Asia

Afghanistan

orcontinues

influence

the

to

be

political

Since we all know Peace is a crucial element

configuration of Pakistan. Before Afghanistan

among

unfortunately

becomes yet again a regional battleground, aAfghanistan is extensively suffered for moreregional initiative is needed as soon as possible.

than 3 decades of war and combats.

As well as Internal Solutions

In 2001, Afghanistan basically had no state

Internal Dialog and Reconciliationallcountries

andstructures left. No national government.

Noarmy. No police. Everything we needed had to

The first step is to acknowledge the fact thatbe built it from scratch.

the Taliban, and other parts of the Taliban-led
insurgency, are an integral part of Afghanistan's

The location of Afghanistan extends over thepolitical landscape and that they cannot be25excluded from any peace process. A deal should
be worked out that would condition a NATO

Poverty

withdrawal

throughout

toreconciliation

theprocess,

Talibaninentering

accordanceainAfghanistan
rural

and

is

widespread

urban

areas.Thewithgovernment estimates that 42 percent of the

Afghan tribal traditions, that would seek toĐŽƵŶƚƌǇ͛Ɛ ƚŽƚĂů ƉŽƉƵůĂƚŝŽŶ ůŝǀĞƐ ďĞůŽǁ ƚŚĞ

create a new interim national-unity government

national poverty line. Another 20 percent of theand an assembly mandated to draft a newpeople live just above that line and are highly

Afghan Constitution.

vulnerable to the risk of falling into poverty.

As a face-saving solution, NATO could try to

The War in Afghanistan (2001ʹpresent) has

keep a limited number of troops to continuecaused the deaths of thousands of Afghan

training the national army and police, butcivilians directly from insurgent and foreign

peacekeeping operation should be transferred

military action, as well as the deaths of possibly

to a UN-sanctioned mission led by Muslim

tens of thousands of Afghan civilians indirectly

countries part of the Organization of the Islamic

as a consequence of displacement, starvation,

Conference.

disease, exposure, lack of medical treatment,
crime and lawlessness resulting from the war.

A Regional Dialog Initiative
On July 25, 2010, the release of approximately
Engaging into a dialog that includes all states of

90,000 classified documents from the Wikileaks

the region is just as important as internalorganization was made public. The documents

reconciliation.The 1992-1996 and 1996-2001

cover U.S. military incident and intelligencecivil wars were partially caused by conflicting

reports

interests

For

2009.[199] Some of these documents included

example, Pakistan ʹ with Saudi and US tacit

sanitized, and allegedly "covered up", accounts

backing ʹ supported the Taliban regime, whileof civilian casualties caused by Coalition Forces.

Iran,

countries

The reports also included many references tosupported the anti-Taliban National Islamicother incidents involving civilian casualties like

Front, or Northern Alliance.

thebetweenIndia,

Russiaregional

andcountries.

other

from

KunduzJanuary

airstrike

2004

and

to

DecemberNangarKhel

incident.[200]There are 45 countries in the NATOʹled mission,
28 NATO countries and now 17 non-NATO as

According to a November, 2009 UNICEF report,

well. That alone is a powerful political coalition,eight years after the U.S.-led invasion ousted

which has stuck together and even grown

the Taliban, Afghanistan is the most dangerous

despite the difficulty of this mission.

place in the world for a child to be born.
Afghanistan has the highest infant mortality ratedŽ ĞŶŐĂŐĞ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌŝůǇ ƐĞŶĚin the worldͶ257 deaths per 1,000 live births

troops, but that have a clear interest in theand 70 percent of the population lack access tooutcome. Let me mention Pakistan, India andclean water.

China

in

particular. Anotherstakeholder

is

Russia. Afghanistan is not an island. To me, it

There have been multiple accounts of human

only makes sense to engage in dialogue withrights violations in Afghanistan.[299] The fallout

them, on how to best work they can do togetherof the U.S. led invasion, including a resurgence

to help bring peace and security to Afghanistan.

in Taliban forces, record-high drug production,
26

and re-armed warlords, has led to a threat to
the well-being and rights of hundreds ofthousandsof

innocent

Afghancitizens,

according to Human Rights Watch.[300]As the last issue to bring peace in Afghanistan isstop or at least decrease of civilians causalities.
Also there is a need to be strong coordinationand collaboration between Government andInternational

Security

Forceson

Military

Operations. Same to be care about Afghan
Culture and Traditions.
My message to the Japanese people andgovernment is as we all know we have themilitary presence of more than 30 countries in
Afghanistan. ^ƚŝůů ǁĞ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŚĂǀĞ ƉĞĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ
stability still my people are getting killed still
my people have nothing to eat.

The useful way

is how we can find a way in order to talk and sit
in a table and find out a solution to bring peace.
What

I

want

mostlyfromtheJapaneseŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ĚŽŶ͛ƚ ŶĞĞĚ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌǇ ŚĞůƉ
but we need civilian help. We need to have aproper hospital not a military base. We need tohave something to eat not guns to kill. That is
not only my opinion but that is the opinion of
Afghan Nation.
Peace at home is peace in the world.
Thanks for your attention.
I wish one World and one peace for all Nations.

27

2010 Japan Peace Conference in Sasebo
Opening Plenary
Dec. 3 ARKAS Sasebo
Organizers¶ Report to the 2010 Japan Peace Conference
For a Peaceful Japan and Asia without Nuclear Weapons, Bases andMilitary Alliance - Now is the Time to Unite with Okinawa
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I will

damage caused by U.S. forces and to reduce andtalk about focal issues we are facing as we work

remove U.S. bases from Okinawa. They have notto achieve a ͞ƉĞĂĐĞĨƵů :ĂƉĂŶ without nuclear

allowed the Futenma base to be relocated from

weapons, bases, and military alliance,͟ so as toGinowandeepen our discussions during the Conference.

preventing another base from being constructed

City

to

Henoko

of

Nago

City,

in Henoko. In January this year, Susumu Inamine,
1. Let us strengthen our nationwide solidarity

who stood against the construction of a newwith Okinawa and further develop ourbase, was elected as mayor of Nago City. In April,movement to reduce and remove U.S.

an anti-base rally was held with all the

military bases in Japan

municipal heads in Okinawa and more than
90,000 Okinawans taking part in it, calling forFirst of all, let me take up the issue of ourthe closure and removal of the Futenma base instruggle against the construction of a new U.S.

opposition to the transfer of the base within thebase in Okinawa, as well as the struggle toprefecture. In September, opponents of the newwithdraw the Futenma base and to downsize

base won a majority in the Nago City Council

and remove U.S. military bases in Japan.

election. The demand for the Futenma baseclosure and its withdrawal as well as the

We recently made our all-out efforts to have

opposition to the moving of the base within the

Yoichi IHA elected to Okinawa governor, andprefecture has increased to form consensus ofTakeshi ASATO in the Ginowan mayoral election

the Okinawans now. However, on the eve of thein solidarity with Okinawans because these

Okinawa

contests had an important implication. As athen-incumbent Governor Hirokazu Nakaima,

result, IHA put up a good fight and ASATO

who was to run for reelection, changed his

succeeded in winning the election. On behalf of

long-held position to accept the transfer of thethe Organizer, I express our heartfelt gratitude

base to Henoko and started to advocate ato all the people of Okinawa and throughout

review of the Japan-U.S. agreement and theJapan who joined and supported this campaign.

transfer of the base ͞outside Okinawa.͟ His

The outcome of our campaign will forge theintention was to hide the real point at issue infoundation of our future struggles.

the election, pretending that there was no

gubernatorial

election

campaign,

difference in opinion over the base relocation
The people of Okinawa, since the 1995 gangbetween the two candidates. We strongly

rape of a Japanese girl by U.S. Marines, havedemand that re-elected Governor Nakaima

tenaciously continued their efforts to eradicate

commit himself to his words that ͞the transfer
28

of the base within prefecture is unacceptable; it

unlimited arms race on both sides and createsshould be moved out of Okinawa.͟

danger of war.

This struggle will approach crucial stages. We

Along with promoting theoretical debates overneed not only to block the construction of a new

deterrence, let us be united firmly with thebase or the base transfer within Okinawa, but

struggle in Okinawa, and carry on our efforts toalso to strengthen public opinion calling for thedevelop campaigns and struggles against theunconditional removal of the Futenma baserealignment and reinforcement of U.S. forces inwithout delay. To this end, it will be increasingly

Japan,

important to develop the struggle with all the

Yamaguchi Prefecture against the deployment of

Okinawawith

U.S. carrier-borne aircraft and the construction

municipalities including Nago and Ginowanof housing complex for U.S. military personnel,

cities, and to enhance nationwide awareness.

the struggle for the withdrawal of the U.S.

peopleinvolved

along

includingthestrugglein

Iwakuni,

nuclear-powered aircraft carrier homeporting in
In order to raise public awareness, we must

Yokosuka,

Kanagawa

work hard to convince the Japanese public thatstruggle

to rationalize the presence of the ͞h͘^͘ DĂƌŝŶĞ

Japan-U.S. joint war command in Yokota, Tokyo.

Corps as a deterrent to defend Japan͟ is a false

Only tŚĞ KŬŝŶĂǁĂŶƐ͛ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ĂŶĚ all thoseargument that distorts the facts. In Okinawa,

struggles against U.S. military presence in Japan

people do not easily buy this rationalization.

advance in concert with each other, we can

Okinawa people day by day suffer grave damage

make a difference and change the abnormal

caused by the presence of the U.S. militarysituation that 65 years after the end of World

including the Marine Corps, and they know that

War II, the whole of Japan continues to be used

these Marines go to wars abroad killing people

as strongpoint for U.S. forces.

againstthePrefecture,

and

the

strengthening

of

the

in other countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
From the reality they face, it is all too clear for

2. Develop grassroots movement to question

Okinawans that the presence of bases itself

the Japan-U.S. relations and the ͞security

increases the risk of war..

treaty͟, connecting the issues with people͛spressing needs

The same holds true for all other U.S. bases-- Let us show prospects for peace in Asia

located in Japan. They have been stationed inand arouse public opinion in favor of theJapan not to protect the country, but for theabrogation of the Security Treaty.

national interests of the United States, serving
as sortie bases during the lawless wars of1) DP

government͛s

absolutism

aggression such as the V ietnam War as well asJapan-U.S.

in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. militarycontradiction with the people

Military

Allianceofthedeepensbases in Japan have been used to kill people inother countries, being the major source that

Allowing the stationing of U.S. military bases inthreatens peace and stability in Asia, far fromJapan and making it obligatory for the U.S.

contributing to peace and stability in Japan andmilitary and Japan͛s Self-Defense Forces toAsia͘dŚĞŝĚĞĂŽĨ͞ĚĞƚĞƌƌĞŶĐĞ͕͟ŝŶƚŚĞĨŝƌƐƚƉůĂĐĞ͕

conduct

means facing down imaginary enemies by

Security Treaty is the root cause of the people͛sthreatening them with overwhelming military

suffering caused by the U.S. bases and of thepower.

moves to adversely revise the Constitution by

As

such,

it

inevitably

triggers

an
29

joint

operations,theJapan-U.S.

enabling Japan͛s Self-Defense Forces to deploy

The U.S. military-related budget exceeded 700

abroad in total violation of the Constitution͛sbillion yen this year. Regarded as sanctuary, theArticle 9. It has also thrust the U.S. economic

͞cordial budget͟ was exempted from cutback as

demands on Japan and destroyed the people͛s

wasteful spending, and the government decided

livelihood. The successive Liberal Democratic

to continue spending on the cordial budget.

Party governments had given top priority to

Taking advantage of these moves, the U.S. hasmeet the U.S. demands and strengthened thefurther urged the Japanese government toJapan-U.S. military alliance.

increase ͞cordial budget͟ and its share of costfor constructing military facilities in Guam.

In the midst of growing people͛s revolts andPlacing first priority to the cordial budget forcaution against such politics of putting priority

theon the military alliance, the Democratic Party of

expenses for people͛s lives, the government

Japan won the general election in 2009 and took

imposes the reinforcement of U.S. bases upon

power, pledging to ͞pursue equal relations withthe people. This is the very way of politics

the U.S.͟ and to ͞review the realignment of U.S.

giving the highest priority to the Japan-US

forces and how the U.S. bases in Japan should

Security Treaty.

U.S.

military

while

cuttingback

thebe.͟ The DP:͛s position has been, however, toregard ƚŚĞ͞Japan-U.S. alliance as axis in Japan͛s

When it was an opposition party, the DPJ

diplomacy, ͞ and after wavering under pressure

criticized the overseas dispatch of the SDFs tofrom the U.S. and the Japanese people, the DPJ

help U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. But it

government culminated in taking the samehas made a complete about-face in its position.

position as the LDP and is now promoting the

It is now beautifying the SDFs͛ activities,

reinforcement of the military alliance. By doing

pushing ahead with their dispatch abroad andso, it deepens the contractions with people ͛strying to establish a system that enables Japandemands.

to involve globally in war with the U.S. By doingso, it tries to back up the U.S., bogged down inwars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Despite its previous remarks that it would
͞review͟ the realignment of U.S. bases, the DPJ
government stands instead to give the Japan-U.S.

The review of the ͞EĂƚŝŽŶĂů ĞĨĞŶƐĞ WƌŽŐƌĂŵ

military alliance absolute priority and is pushing

Guidelines,͟ slated for the Cabinet approval

ahead

bases

within the year, aims to ͞ĚŽ ĂǁĂǇ ǁŝƚŚ͟ ƚŚĞ

trampling on all the promises it made with the͞ĂƐŝĐ ĞĨĞŶƐĞ &ŽƌĐĞ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚ͟ centered on

local people. It now faces strong criticism frompreparing for possible ͞aggression͟ against

the people, who wonder if the change ofJapan, and to make it possible for Japan togovernment had done any good to them. The

respondgovernment had opposed the construction of͞peace-creating

housing for the US military in the center ofcontingencies throughout the world. With this,Iwakuni City͛s residential areas, but it ͛s position

the government intends to enact a permanent

shifted in favor of the construction. It also

law for sending SDFs overseas, to increase theOK͛ed the maintenance of the nuclear reactors

presence of SDFs particularly in the southwest

on the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrierpart of Japan such as Okinawa and Kyushu in thestationed at Yokosuka that would take fourname of ͞defense of islands͟, to expand themonths per year, putting citizens͛ lives at risk.

joint use of bases by Japan and the U.S.,

All these are contrary to its previous promises.

intensifying joint military exercises, and even to

with

the

reinforcement

of

30

with

force,

inthenation,͟

to

name

of

diversereview the principles of banning arms exports.

diplomacy

Furthermore, the government is maneuvering to
make the first dispatch of medical service

We are at crossroads over peace in Asia; thepersonnel of the SDFs to Afghanistan with noquestion is: Whether to allow maneuvers of the

legal

the

Japan-US military alliance to increase military

government, in line with these moves, now setstension or to display peaceful diplomacy based

toon the Constitution.

basis.
start

Commission

What

is

grave

discussions
in

the

in

is

the

Diet.

that

Constitution

However,

thisdangerous direction can only and inevitablyNorth

deepen contradictions with the wide range of

Yeonpyeong Island is an impermissible outrage

the people who stand for the defense of Article

that violates the Charter of the United Nations,

9 of the Constitution.

the Korean War Armistice Agreement and all

Korea͛sindiscriminate

shellingofother agreements made between North andTaking advantage of Article 2, economic clause,

South Koreas. With all our might, we condemnof the Security Treaty, the U.S. government has

North Korea and urge her to take responsibility

imposed its big businesses͛ economic demands

for the damage and to commit itself not to

on Japan, which has brought to the Japanese

repeat such outrage. We also call on all

people the destruction of agriculture throughgovernments

trade

employment

bodies such as the U.N. to make political andthrough deregulation of temporary employment,

diplomatic efforts to resolve this issue. We

a huge sum of debt amounting to 400 to 600

categorically oppose North Korea͛s nuclear

trillion yen to finance large-scale public works,

development as threatening peace and stability

cutback in social welfare and tax hike. The

of Northeast Asia, breaking its promise to

Security Treaty has been a root cause ofdenuclearize the Korean Peninsula. We urge all

economic hardships suffered by the Japaneseparties

people. In spite of such devastating situation,

government, to make efforts for the peacefultheresolution

liberalization,

DPJ

unstablegovernmentis

considering

theconcerned

concerned,
of

the

and

includingissueinternational

the
and

Japanesefortheparticipation in TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership)

establishment of peace structure, including thein response to the U.S., which will result inresumption of six-party talks.

lifting tariffs on all products including farm
products. In this field, too, the government is

What is required now is not the reinforcement

trying to meet the U.S. demands, which willof military alliance leading to the intensified

only drive Japan͛s agriculture and small andmilitary tension, but political and diplomatic

medium-sized businesses into bankruptcy.

efforts. The reinforcement of the Japan-US
alliance only contributes to provoking North

The DPJ͛s position to place absolute weight on

Korea, deteriorating the situation and creating a

the military alliance with the U.S., identical tovicious circle of military buildup.

the LDP͛s, is threatening peace and livelihood oftheJapanese

people,andhas

invitedSame applies to the issue of Senkaku Islands

disappointment and anger from the people who

and the territorial dispute between Japan and

expected change in politics as DPJ took power.

Russia. The Japanese government must garnersupport from international society for its claim
to sovereignty over these islands and territories

2) For achieving a peaceful Asia ʹ not throughmilitarybuildupbutthoughby making clear grounds in the light of history

peace
31

and international laws. Instead, it is trying toelimination

exploit the issues to further reinforce themajority of the world, while the countries

Japan-US military alliance. This amounts toaffiliated with military alliances are in a

putting the cart before the horse, conducive tominority, representing only 16% of the world͛sheightening military tension further and making

population. Many U.S. military bases stationed

peaceful settlement more difficult.

in different parts of the world have been
downsizedofor

nuclearremoved,weapons

and

forms

a

an

increased

have

adopted

The realization of a peaceful Asia needs annumberofthecountries

effort to get out of vicious circle of military

constitutions

withprovisions

buildup and confrontation, and to establish apresence of foreign military bases is increasing.

framework of dialogue, fostering trust andIn the United States, people have started tocooperation among the countries concernedquestion the raison d͛etre of the Marine Corps,

including those in conflict. Such effort should

and even to call for reduction of U.S. military

aim for developing a regional community inbases abroad and drastic cuts in militarywhichinterest,

spending. In NATO member countries, voices

economic levels, political systems and cultures

have risen demanding the withdrawal of theircan join on an equality with each other andtroops from Afghanistan and removal of nuclear

work

weapons deployed in their territories. With thecountries

together

with

for

different

peace,

stability

andsignatories

development of the region.

to

the

Treatybanning

of

Amity

the

and

Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) growing tothroughmake up 58 percent of the global population,

abrogating the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty

the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

and the global trend(ASEAN) continues to make various efforts to3) Great

perspectives

for

peace

resolveconflict

throughdialogue.

Other

The closure of U.S. military bases in Japan andregional peace organizations aiming to promote

the abrogation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty

peaceful settlement of disputes based on thewill open up perspectives for giving impetus to

UN Charter and mutual cooperation have beensuch effort. It will pave the way for Japan toborn in different parts of the world. The world͛sestablish an equal relationship with the U.S., totrend now is to shift from nuclearization tocarry out peace diplomacy making the best use

denuclearization,of the Constitution, and to contribute todisarmament, and from military alliances toestablishing peace in Asia. It will also help Japanpeace

to walk way from the U.S. nuclear umbrella

conviction in this, let us continue working tounder the Japan-U.S. military alliance, to adhere

develop our movement.

regional

from

arms

organizations.

race
With

to
firm

to the Three Non-Nuclear Principles both inname and in reality, and to play its role as the4) Serious

effortneededtopromoteatomic bombed country for achieving a nuclear

grassroots

weapon-free world. Further, it will lead to

discussions for abrogating the Security

drastic cuts in military spending for redirecting

Treatylearning

activities

andthe resources toward investing in people͛s
The Japanese people have played a key role oflivelihood and eliminating poverty worldwide.

international significance contributing to theThis direction coincides with the current global

successful

trend toward peace. Today, a call for the

Conference for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
32

outcome

of

the

2010

Review

Treaty by bringing 7 million signatures in

May 31). The call for review of the Security

support of the appeal for a world free of nuclear

Treaty can indeed be a majority.

weapons .
The signature campaign created cooperation

This is why we need to make serious efforts to

between activists, municipalities and wide range

provide space at grassroots level for learningof people throughout the country. With moreand discussing on issues related with thethan 7,500 Article 9 associations established all

Security Treaty to help people understand theover Japan, a call for defending Article 9 of thelinkage between urgent demands of different

Constitution have become a majority of thesectors and community needs and the Security

Japanesecampaigns

Treaty. In doing so, we should give particularagainst realignment and reinforcement of theimportance to organizing experiential activities

U.S. military have been carried on jointly by

for younger generations through which they canmunicipalitiesinlearn about the damage caused by military

Okinawa, the whole island is in the struggle forbases and war in a direct way, such as ͞Support

closure and withdrawal of the Futenma Base.

and Solidarity Actions in Henoko͟ organized byThe

the Japan Federation of Democratic Medical

people.

Nationwide,andopposition

to

their

the

peoples,

TPP

and

and

trade

liberalization is now spreading with more andmoremunicipalities

andpeopleInstitutions (Min-Iren) twenty times.

voicing

objections in unison. People͛s movements for

Let us make this Conference a springboard totheir urgent demands are developing to such andevelop the movement nationwide in solidarity

extent that they are now influencing politics.

with Okinawa for the unconditional removal of

Here we can see enormous energy of the people

the Futenma Base and the reduction and closure

and potential of their movements.

of U.S. bases. Let us mobilize public opinion for
defending Article 9

in opposition tothe

At the same time, it does not mean that these

dangerous nature of the ͞EĂƚŝŽŶĂů ĞĨĞŶƐĞ

movements

publicWƌŽŐƌĂŵ 'ƵŝĚĞůŝŶĞƐ͟ review and the permanent

opinion in favor of the abrogation of thelaw for dispatching SDFs abroad. Let us talk

Security Treaty. It is essential to make known toabout the perspectives for achieving a peaceful

the public the relationship between theirAsia and carry out a large-scale movement todemands and the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty

form public opinion against bases and thesystem, to provide answers to their questions,military alliance. And let us work together toand to convince them with facts that in order tocreate a new momentum to realize a ͞peacefulachieve their demands, the Security Treaty

Japan and Asia without nuclear weapons, bases

should be abolished to change the abnormal

and military alliance.͟

automatically

represent

relationship of subservience between Japan andthe U.S. There is a possibility of those standing
for the abrogation of the Security Treaty
becoming a majority in Japan. In Okinawa, thestruggle has created a situation that 7 percentof the population is in favor of ͞maintaining͟the Security Treaty, while 55 percent think thatit should be changed to a peace and friendshiptreaty and 14 percent call for its ͞abrogation͟
(opinion poll result published in Ryukyu Shimpo,
33

to maintain its hegemony. He emphasized on

Report of the International Symposium2010 Japan Peace Conference

the importance of creating common security
framework without military alliances. Mr. Lee,coming from South Korea while the nation going

Keisuke FUSE (Symposium Coordinator)
Director, International Bureau
National Confederation of Trade Unions(Zenroren)

through tumultuous days following the attack by
North Korea, stressed that what is needed themost now was dialogue with the North Korea
instead of opting for military response, referring

The International Symposium of 2010 Japanto the historical backgrounds of negotiations

Peace Conference was held in Sasebo City,

between the two Koreas. He also emphasized on

Nagasaki Prefecture on December 2, with 87

the need to establish a multilateral framework

participants around the theme ͞For a Peacefulfor realizing a peaceful Asia. Ms. Fabros

Asia without U.S. Bases and Military Alliances͟.

introduced the struggles in the Philippines

On the panel ware Dr. Joseph Gerson from theagainst the U.S. military, which came back under

U.S., American Friends Service Committee, Mr.

the V isiting Forces Agreement after the country

Lee Junkyu from Republic of Korea, lecturer at

had removed its bases, has since conductedLaborer͛s academy for Alternative, Ms. Corazon

military exercises and operations. From the

Valdez Fabros from the Philippines representing

standpoint of achieving a n Asia without bases

the International Network for the Abolition ofandForeign Military Bases, and Professor Ozawa

courageous struggle carried out by the people

Ryuichiofof Okinawa and all over Japan in solidarity, andMedicine. Myself, Fuse Keisuke, Director of

called for further efforts to carry on the struggle

International Bureau, National Confederation ofwith hope in this difficult time of challenges.

Trade Unions, Zenroren acted as coordinator.

Being an constitutional scholar, Prof Ozawa

The symposium heard a special report from Mr.

refuted the argument that ͞military existence

Mohammed Ibrahim Alkozai from Afghanistan.

serves as deterrence,͟ and emphasized that this

of

the

Jikei

University

Schoolmilitary

alliances,shehonoredtheargument was not only unrealistic but also
The International Symposium took place in theharmful to building peace. He pointed out thewake of the Okinawa gubernatorial election, in

necessity for overcoming this deterrent theory

which the anti-base candidate fought a goodby strengthening public opinion and movement

fight gaining nationwide solidarity and support.

to create peace.

Shortly before the symposium, North Korea
made artillery attack against South Korea͛s

In his special report, Mr. Alkozai reported theYeonpyeong Island, which aroused people͛shuman sacrifices in Afghanistan due to militaryinterests and concerns over peace and security

combat, starvation, lack of medical treatment

in Japan and Asia. The symposium successfully

and poverty. He called upon the Japanese

responded to these interests and concerns.

people to provide humanitarian assistance bysending doctors, nurses and teachers instead of

Dr. Gerson reported on the dangerous nature oftroops.

U.S. empire, trying to revitalize its presence indiscussion, participants including those from

Asia to compensate its decline. He made clear

Okinawa spoke of their struggles and activities.

that the U.S., with its fiscal crisis being so

The discussion helped us to share the goal ofserious that people were becoming poorer andachieving a peaceful Asia without bases andthat it now had to depend on the allied nations

military alliances, as well as the importance of
34

After

the

floor

was

openedforresolving conflicts and disputes by peacefulƌĞŝŶĨŽƌĐĞtĂƐŚŝŶŐƚŽŶ͛ƐĐƵƌƌĞŶƚŵŝůŝƚĂƌǇĂůůŝĂŶĐĞƐ͕means not by military response.

to build tacit alliances with India and Indonesia,
and to put China on notice that it will not have

We have been witnessing moves of greata free hand in Asia or the Pacific and Indian

importance taking place in Asia. Our grassroots

Oceans.

movements are heading toward the common
goal, described in the main slogan of this year ͛s

To compensate for ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ ^ƚĂƚĞƐ͛ ƌĞůĂƚŝǀĞJapan Peace Conference: ͞For a Peaceful Asia

decline, the Obama Administration is working to

and Japan without Nuclear Weapon, MilitaryůĞǀĞƌĂŐĞ ŝƚƐ ĂůůŝĞƐ͛ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƉŽǁĞƌ ǁŚŝůĞBases and Military AůůŝĂŶĐĞ͟. Let us open a new

taking advantage of the insecurities resulting

horizon toward this goal by strengtheningĨƌŽŵ ŚŝŶĂ͛Ɛ ƌŝƐŝŶŐ ƉŽǁĞƌ ĂŶĚ ĂŐŐƌĞƐƐŝǀĞsolidarity with grass-roots movements aroundassertions of its territorial ambitions.

the world.

is weaving together a system of military and

The U.S.

political alliances and relationships from Japan
It is my sincere hope that all of you here, who

to India, and from Central Asia to Europe to

have

and

EdK ƚŽ ĐƌĞĂƚĞ ǁŚĂƚ ,ŝůůĂƌǇ ůŝŶƚŽŶ ĐĂůůƐ ͞ƚŚĞthisŶĞǁŵĞƌŝĐĂŶDŽŵĞŶƚ͟ĨŽƌƚŚĞϮϭst century.

learnedexperiences

from

of

the

different

struggles

countries

inInternational Symposium, will further deepen
your understanding of the issues throughIn the U.S., we were shocked by reports of the

discussions and exchanges during the Japan

unprovoked North Korean artillery barrage on

Peace Conference next few days, and make theYeonpyeong Island. Only later did we read thatbest use of it in your campaigns and activities.

the target was a South Korean military base in

W ith

disputed territorial waters, that the first dead

this,

I

concludemyreportoftheǁĞƌĞ ^ŽƵƚŚ <ŽƌĞĂŶ DĂƌŝŶĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ͞dŚeInternational Symposium.

ĂƚƚĂĐŬ͙ŽĐĐƵƌƌĞĚĂĨƚĞƌ

^ŽƵƚŚ

<ŽƌĞĂŶĨŽƌĐĞƐ͙ĨŝƌĞĚ ƚĞƐƚ ƐŚŽƚƐ ŝŶƚŽ ǁĂƚĞƌƐ ŶĞĂƌ ƚŚĞEŽƌƚŚ <ŽƌĞĂŶ ĐŽĂƐƚ͘͟ The North Korean attack

Addresses of Oversea Guests

must, of course, be condemned, but we need toJoseph Gerson

address its causes.

I want to thank the Japan Peace Committee forInstead, the U.S. sent the George Washington toƚŚĞ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚǇ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ǇĞĂƌ͛Ɛ WĞĂĐĞthe Yellow Sea, threatening North Korea and theConference. It is a privilege to work with you forWZ<͛Ɛa peaceful Asia, a nuclear and alliance free

Administration refuses to resume negotiations

Japan, and in solidarity with the long-suffering

until the North abandons uranium enrichment

but steadfast people of Okinawa. As a U.S.

and demonstrates that there is no possibility ofAmerican, whose government has brought so

additional North Korean nuclear or missile tests.

much pain and suffering to so many people, it isdŚŝƐ ƉŽůŝĐǇ ŽĨ ͞ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĐ ƉĂƚŝĞŶĐĞ͕͟ ĐŽŵďŝŶĞĚan honor to join you and a pleasure to bewith provocative U.S. military exercises andworking with you.

^ŽƵƚŚ <ŽƌĞĂ͛Ɛ ƉůĂŶŶĞĚ ĂƌƚŝůůĞƌǇ ĞǆĞƌĐŝƐĞƐ ŶĞǆƚŚŝŶĞƐĞƉĂƚƌŽŶ͘dŚĞKďĂŵĂ

ǁĞĞŬ͕ŵĂǇƚĂŬĞƵƐƚŽ͞ƚŚĞďƌŝŶŬŽĨǁĂƌ͘͟
Barack Obama, recently passed through Asia,ŵĂŬŝŶŐ͞ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͛ƐŽƉĞŶŝŶŐŵŽǀĞŝŶĂŶĞǁŐƌĞĂƚ

China, not North Korea, is the real focus of U.S.

power game uŶĨŽůĚŝŶŐ ŝŶ ƐŝĂ͘͟ ,Ğ ƐŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŽ

Asia
35

policies.

Washington

andBeijingƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚƚŚĞŝƌ͞ĐŽŵƉĞƚŝƚŝǀĞŝŶƚĞƌĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶĐĞ͕͟and our need to work together. Just as it makes

but using engagement and containment via

no sense to liberate the people of Ginowan City

military alliances, the U.S. hopes to integrate

at the expense of people in Henoko and Guam,

China into U.S. dominated systems. Thus the U.S.

we should work for Common Security, theƐŝĂ ͞^ƚƌĂƚĞŐǇ͟ ƐƚĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ͞KƵƌ ĂůůŝĂŶĐĞƐ ǁŝƚŚconcept used to end the Cold War in Europe aJapan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines,

generation ago.

and Thailand are the bedrock of security in

It threatens regional and global existence, andƐŝĂ͙͘͟ǁŝƚŚ:ĂƉĂŶƐĞƌǀŝŶŐĂƐ͞ƚŚĞĐŽƌŶĞƌƐƚŽŶĞ͘͟

money spent in preparation for wars is money

This explains the U.S. role in ousting thethat should be used to develop our economies,

Hatoyama-Ozawa government, with its vision of

to put people to work, and to ensure the health,anhousing, educations and environmental security

East

Asian

oppositiontoEconomictheCommunity,

FutenmaitstĞ ĐĂŶ͛ƚ ĂĨĨŽƌĚ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌŝƐŵ͘of our people.

relocationagreement, and its confirmation of the secret
nuclear agreement undermined U.S. confidencetĞ ĐĂŶ͛ƚ ĂĨĨŽƌĚ ŵŝůŝƚĂƌŝƐŵ͘ /ƚ ƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶƐ ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂůin the integrity of its cornerstone.

and global existence, and money spent in
preparation for wars is money that should be

India is the new U.S. strategic prize. Beginning

used to develop our economies, to put people

with the U.S.-Indian nuclear agreement New

to work, and to ensure the health, housing,

Delhi and Washington has created a tacit

educations and environmental security of ouralliance to contain China. Complementing thepeople. Common Security recognizes that noJapanesenation or people can be secure if other nations

cornerstone,

theU.S.-India

fear it.

ƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƐŚŝƉ ŝƐ ƚŽ ďĞ Ă ͞ĚĞĨŝŶŝŶŐ ƉĂƌƚŶĞƌƐŚŝƉ ŽĨ
the 21st ĐĞŶƚƵƌǇ͘͟

Friends, a century and a half ago Fredrick
Friends, utopian dreams are not the order ofDouglas,the day, but there are, powerful forces that tellabolitionist

us that if we work for a different future it willsurrenders without a struggle. It never has andbe ours.

it never will. So, together, we will struggle for aFirst is the inevitable victory ofthecourageous
observed

Asia

and

U.S.

that

Japan

anti-slavery

power

without

never

Okinawans, whose 300,000 votes for Inha Yoichi

peaceful

nuclearare what Fabros-ƐĂŶ ƚŚĞ ͞ŬĂŶũŝ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ǁĂůů͘͟ 

weapons and military alliances, and in solidarity

We will win withdrawal of U.S. bases. Second,with the people of Okinawa.

the institutions and alliances created to serve
Domo arrigato.

the U.S. Post WWII Empire are outmoded, tinsel
and increasingly seen as illegitimate. As the
economic crisis shows, they are on their way toƚŚĞ ͞ĚƵƐƚďŝŶ ŽĨ ŚŝƐƚŽƌǇ͟ dŚŝƌĚ͕ ƚŚĞ h͘^͘ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ

Lee JunkyuaffoƌĚ ƚŽ ĐŽŶƚŝŶƵĞ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ͛Ɛ ďƵůůǇŝŶŐpoliceman. Serious proposals for cutting the U.S.

Thank you for inviting me to the Japan Peace

military budget are being voiced in Congress,

Conference. My name is Lee Junkyu and I comeand a bi-partisan commission on debt reduction

from South Korea.

recommends reducing U.S. foreign militaryAsďĂƐĞƐďǇĂƚŚŝƌĚ͘dŚĞƌĞ͛ƐĂƐŽƵƌce of hope!

you

know,

since

North

Korea

shelledYeonpyeong Island located in South KoreanWestern

Finally, we must honor our common interests
36

Sea

ʹ

Yellow

Sea--,

tensionisheightening on Korean Peninsula and in North

Myon-Bak Regime is weakening.

East Asia. For somebody like me who was bornin 1973 and did not experience Korean War, theDespite of this, there is something we must

artillery bombing by North Korea against an

squarely look at.

island in South Korea was quite shocking.
A problem can be solved with relevant actionthat aims at solving it. Resorting to the memory

Reviving the Memory of ͞War without Mercy ͟of the Cold War era and its legacy every time a
The attitude of North Korea not to hesitate toconflict occurs will not solve the problem but on

use force for provocation to accomplish their

the contrary aggravate it.

claims is a reckless attitude that could not findsupport either in South Korean society or in the

What was acutely felt in the aftermath of theinternational community.

incident is the need for a peace agreement on
Korean Peninsula. Another thing is the need for

I think the hidden aim of North Koreana framework for multilateral consultations inprovocation is to impose negotiations for peace

East Asia. For the sake of the current issue andagreement they have been asking for. However,for a future peaceful order in the region, wethe behavior of North Korea is creating aneed the framework of multilateral consultation,

self-contradictory situation: instead of setting a

not bilateral military alliances.

favorable environment for peace agreement, it
is escalating the risk of war.

In this situation, what is needed is our will forpeace and the strength to realize our will. I

South Korea and Japan are reinforcing theirhope that I can share these ideas with you here.

partnership with the U.S. It can be said that theThank you for your attention.

U.S. is given a good opportunity to sell the
relevance of its military presence in the region.

Corazon FabrosMore fundamental is the fact that embracing
the ghost of U.S. hegemony and persisting in

Listening to the moving reports and messages

alliance policy might revive the Cold War

fromheritage.

heartwarming and inspiring experience. I see so

Okinawa

is

both

a

painfulandamuch of the images of what Okinawans (just likeSouth Korean and the U.S., while conducting

Filipinos back home) have to bear as a

joint military exercise in the Yellow Sea, theconsequence of U.S. military presence: land andthing China dislike most, are asking China to joinresources

deprivation,

them in sanctioning North Korea. On the otherdegradation,

exploitation

hand, they all refuse the holding of an urgent

children, human rights violations, economic

meeting of Six Party Talk chide negotiators.

exploitation,nation's

internaldifficulties

What is to be done?

includingandenvironmental
of

women

intervention

affairs.

Yetchallenges

and

of

our

despitetheahead,

yourunrelenting struggle and commitment to a
In South Korea in particular, the push forpeaceful, bases free Okinawa and Japan will

restoring the dialogue with North Korea that

continue to inspire us and warm our hearts. I

broke down since the inauguration of Lee

would like to commend and thank the Japan37

PeaceCommittee

as

well

as

the

Peace

creating

venuesforpeoples

expressions

Conference Organizing Committee for making(including art in all its forms: theatre, music,

the No Bases Network part of this important

poetry,gathering and for bringing us all together. It is insystematically and consistently, building fromgatherings like this that future generations are

one step to the next, to create that critical mass

given hope and assurance for a safer tomorrow.

of peace and no bases advocates, that isdance,

etc.)

must

continue

necessary to challenge the empire.
At the moment, I feel compelled to focus on
Okinawa and Guam. These islands though

We need to find value in the support and work

separated by about 2000 kilometers of theof the academe, intellectuals, professionals

Pacific waters are inextricably linked by being

including those in government and the militarypawns in the staging of US military forces sincefor among them are likely allies who could

World War II. Like the Philippines, both hasprovidebeen forcibly taken over and are US territories

research, analysis and scholarship that are

since the war. Both islands were scenes of some

importantof the bloodiest fighting in the Pacific. Today,

necessary tools for effective, credible andthe dominant issue uniting the peoples ofpowerful movement that we need today. The No

Okinawa and Guam is the planned relocation ofBases Network here in Asia and the Pacific hope

thousands of US military personnel from US

to do its share in providing the mechanism forbases in Okinawa to bases in Guam. The

meaningful

Japanese government (read Japanese taxpayers)

analysis, people to people solidarity and venues

is forced to pay for a majority of relocation

for consolidating our efforts in the region.

theinformationinprovidingexchanges

and
our

of

expertise
campaign

information

in
the

and

costs, some US$6 Billion.
We had looked forward to a victory for former
The Japanese government unfortunately has

Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha as Governor ofagreed to the unprecedented rip-off. It would be

Okinawa. A person most of us consider as

the first time ever that a foreign nation has had

committed to seeing Futenma closed and theto pay such costs, and apparently with no legal

replacement facility built somewhere else otherbasis. The Environmental Impact Statement ofƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ KŬŝŶĂǁĂ ƉƌĞĨĞĐƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĞ ĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚ

the US Navy had already indicated the impact

want the base in Japan at all. Still, weon the people of Guam. It would increase social

congratulate our Okinawan comrades and thedisruption,

environmental

solidarity movements here in Japan for theirdegradation beyond what Guam has alreadyresilience and hard work to see that the recent

suffered for decades. It is an urgent task that weelection

all must try to work on and support strongly.

Okinawan people - a reality that Gov. Nakaima

crime,

andclearly

indicate

the

will

of

the

has to contend with in the coming days. His
Let us continue to put our energies, andvictory is still an expression of the peoples will

resources into grassroots movement organizing,for a no bases Okinawa.

forging unities, strengthening solidarity work
especially with US peace and justice movements.

We need to work at further consolidating the

Our fervent hope and work for the importantbig

active involvement of the youth (the future of

expressed the will of a big percentage of the

our movement!); maximizing the current media

Okinawan population. I wish that former Mayor

trends; popularizing our messages and calls; andIha will remain steadfast in being a strong and38

constituency(297,082)

thatclearlypowerful voice for the movement in Okinawa.

The Henoko project has been prevented

This is a great moment of taking stock of whatfrom being undertaken over the past 16

we gained and use it to our political advantage.

years by the persistent protest movement of
Okinawa people and under internationaldŽĚĂǇ͕ KŬŝŶĂǁĂŶ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͛Ɛ ƌĞƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ŝƐ ĂŶpressure. It is time that Japan abandon theinspiring symbol of our dreams and hope for a͞ƌĞůŽĐĂƚŝŽŶ͟ ĨŽƌŵƵůĂ ĂŶĚ ďĞŐŝŶ ŶĞŐŽƚŝĂƚŝŽŶpeaceful and bases free Asia Pacific.

with the United States for unconditional
closure of the Futenma base!

A strong and united peoples movement may
someday finally push the U.S. military out of

During this difficult and challenging times,

Okinawa and Japan. It might not be a smooth

may we continue to be inspired, to beĂŶĚ ĞĂƐǇ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ďƵƚ ŝƚ ǁŝůů ŚĂƉƉĞŶ͘ /ƚ͛Ɛ ŶŽƚcourageous, to be united, to be happy, to be

going to happen anytime soon but it will happen.

in solidarity, to be fai thful in this great work

The Kanji is on the wall. The handwriting on thethatwall is clear: Okinawan people want the bases

friendship and solidarity over the years. We

out of Okinawa! The Japanese people want theshall overcome!

hasbroughtus

alltogetherinbases out of Japan! And the global movement
has consistently called for the dismantling ofthese military outposts of the empire!

Closing Plenary ± Rally and
Demonstration³No to Military Bases ´ Sasebo
Peace Parade
December 5, 2010
International Guests Speak Out
2010 Japan Peace Conference in Sasebo
Closing Plenary

Joseph GersonƐĞƌǀĞĚ:ĂƉĂŶ͛ƐĞŵƉŝƌĞ

Minasan Konichiwa,

Domo Arrigato for your powerful NO! toŽŵŽ ƌƌŝŐĂƚŽ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ :ĂƉĂŶ WĞĂĐĞ ŽŵŵŝƚƚĞĞ͛Ɛ

militarism and your YES! to life, to freedom andwhose members know so well how militarismƚŽƉĞŽƉůĞ͛ƐƌĞĂůƐĞĐƵƌŝƚǇ͘

has wounded your country since Sasebo first39

Domo Arrigato for your vision of a peaceful Asia

Afterand Japan without nuclear weapons and thecolonialism and neo-colonialism, I take renewed

military alliance. And, Domo Arrigato and forƵƌŐĞŶĐǇ ƚŽ ĞŶĚ ƚŚĞ ͞ǀŝƐŝƚ͟ ŽĨ h͘^͘ ͞ǀŝƐŝƚŝŶŐ͟

your commitment liberate Okinawa. The Oldforces in the Philippines.

more

than

100

years

of

conquest,

Testament says that ͞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚ ǀŝƐŝŽŶǁŝůů ƉĞƌŝƐŚ͘͟ zŽƵƌ ǀŝƐŝŽŶ ŝƐ Ă ďĞĂĐŽŶ ĨŽƌ :ĂƉĂŶ͛Ɛ

I

ĂŶĚŚƵŵĂŶŝƚǇ͛ƐƐƵƌǀŝǀĂů͘

Alkozai-ƐĂŶ͛ƐƐůŝĚĞƐĂŶĚƚĞǆƚƚŽƐŚĂŵĞĂŶĚŵŽǀĞ

take

this

computermemory

stick

with

my compatriots. I will share his anguished
What do I take from Sasebo to share with U.S.

reminder that the Afghan people are people,

peace activists? The inspiration that yournot terrorists, that a man named MohamedĚĞĚŝĐĂƚŝŽŶƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ͘DĞŵŽƌŝĞƐŽĨƉĞŽƉůĞ͛ƐĨĂĐĞƐmust be treated with the dignity he deser ves,and stories which teach better than analysis.

and that Afghans like Mohammed are saying
what we say: Stop the killing. All foreign forces

I take the memory of Onishi-ƐĂŶ͛Ɛ ŚƵŵďle

must go. A new political/social contract must be

apology for not securing Iha Yoichŝ͛Ɛ ǀŝĐƚŽƌǇ͕

created by all forces in Afghan society. That

despite all that he and others gave. I takeforeign nations must negotiate a regional peace

knowledge that a great victory was won, thatagreement that encourages their Afghan proxies

the Okinawan will has been forged: BASES OUT

to

NOW!

cease

oppression

I take knowledge that Okinawa will be

their
of

murder,women

corruption,

and

to

focus

and
on

development.

free, and a deeper commitment to help. I takeDĂǇŽƌ KŬƵďŽ ŽĨ dŽŬƵŶŽƐŚŝŵĂ /ƐůĂŶĚ͛Ɛ ǁŝƐĚŽŵto reject war and bases and to stand for what

Like you, I will return home, re-dedicated to

we believe.

solidarity with Japanese and Asian anti-bases
forces and heartened knowing that we will join

I take Taniguchi-ƐĂŶ͛Ɛ ƋƵŝĞƚ ĐŽƵƌĂŐĞ͕ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ŚŝƐ

Gensuikyo in campaigning for the nuclear free

will my own for a nuclear free future.

world we, our children and grandchildren alldeserve.

/ ƚĂŬĞ >ĞĞ :ƵŶ <ǇƵ͛Ɛ ůĂƵŐŚŝŶŐ ƐŵŝůĞ͕ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƚ ĨŽr
his knowledge and courage, and renewed andTogether, nonviolently, with love, dedication,

still more painful understanding ʹ in my bones,

imagination, memory, courage and compassion,

in my nerves and in my heart ʹ of the

I look forward to our prevailing so we andindescribable horrors, crimes and suffering ofothers may live in peace with freedom.

ǁĂƌ͘/ƚĂŬĞƌĞŶĞǁĞĚĚĞĚŝĐĂƚŝŽŶƚŽĞŶƐƵƌĞ͞EĞǀĞƌĂŐĂŝŶǁĂƌ͊͟

Lee Junkyu
I take the faces of Japanese friends, so kind andcaring.. Your patience, laughter, late night hours

There is a phrase, ͞Dynamic Korea͟, which is anof work, joyful memories of our work together

advertising copy of a Korean company. I have

now and over many years. I carry confidence

come to Japan every year since 2005 to attend

that you, Cora and other comrades will keep on

the World Conference against A&H Bombs or inŬĞĞƉŝŶ͛ ŽŶ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ǇŽƵ ŬŶŽǁ ƚŚĞ ŵĞĂning of

the Japan Peace Conference to speak about thelife is to sacrifice as necessary to leave thesituation of the Korean Peninsula. I sometimes

world a better place than we found it.

wonder if I should thank North Korea foroffering me new stories to tell you every year. I
40

am Lee Junkyu from much talked-about South
Korea.

Just as the sun shines brightly on us thismorning (or Despite the rain and cloudy

I arrived in Japan on December 1st. It was when

weather), my heart is filled with joy andSouth Korea and the U.S. were wrapping up

gratitude for being with you here in Sasebo

their joint naval drills, to be followed by joint

where I truly feel your friendship and yourmilitary exercises between Japan and the U.S. To

unwavering determination to continue

tell you the truth, in Korea, I had not really felt

struggle.

oururgency in the recent development of thesituation. But coming to Japan, here in Sasebo, I

I congratulate & salute you all for the hard work

did realize how tense the situation on the& unities you were able to forge during the

Korean Peninsula, and in the East Asia is. In the

Okinawa election and for making sure that the

wake

at

opposition to the U.S. bases is a major issue ofLee

life, survival and security for us all.

of

North

Yeongpyeong

Korea͛s

Island,firing

ROK

artillery

President

Myung-bak intends to amend the code of
conduct, or rules of engagement. It would allow

Let us move forward & continue to build &the ROK military to launch a retaliatory strikenurturewith bombardment aircraft or missiles in case ofbroadest united front possible (from Wakkanai

North Korea carrying out shelling attacks against

to Okinawa, in Asia & the Pacific, and right at

it. I began this speech with a joke, but thethecurrent situation may be much more tense thanstrengthen our movement, make Gov. Nakaima

we think it is.

keep his promise, and for the Japanese and U.S.

a strong, comprehensive

heartlandoftheEmpire!)and the

that

will

governments to abandon the relocation formula
Yesterday, the Korean and the U.S. governments

and begin the process of unconditional closure

announcedof Futenma base!

that

they

completedtherenegotiations on the Korea-U.S. Free Trade
Agreement. In the press conference, President

It is a great victory for the Okinawan andLee boasted that the conclusion of FTA would

Japanese no-bases movement and international

remarkably reinforce the alliance with the U.S.

solidarity for stopping the Henoko Project for

We should not overlook what is going behindthe past 16 years.

the scenes, but should continue doing our

twenty two days (2,422) today - that you haveutmostbearing

wehave

kept vigil in the shores of your beloved island

the

Peace

should be proof enough that you are not willing

Conference here in Sasebo as we go back to ourto give an inch more of your land and sea to thedaily life.

continuing invader!

Thank you for your attention.

We must continue to assert that the Japan-US

experienced

this

in

mind

time

what

Two thousand four hundred

duringSecurity

Treatyisillegal,unconstitutional,

unjust and at the heart of the reason for the

Corazon Fabros

military conflict in Asia Pacific today.

Friends ʹ Peace and solidarity in our continuingMaystrugglecourageous, to be happy, to be in solidarity, toforapeaceful,

nuclear-fee

andbases-free Japan and Okinawa.

we continue

to beinspired, to be

be faithful in this great work that has brought us
41

all together here in Sasebo, deeply believing

my country. And the history shows, if you wantthat we shall win in our struggle.

to colonize a country, you have to makeproblems inside the tribes.

of the Futenma Base within Okinawa and toachieveits

unconditionalremovalmadeBeing the united is the best policy to remove

progress. Right after the election, candidate Iha

the US bases from Japan. Thank you very muchaggressively expressed his determination by

and good luck.

saying, ͞We will continue our challenge toresolve this issue. We will prevail someday.͟ Let
us further increase our voice urging theJapanese government to withdraw the plan toSummary of the Discussions
and Action Planbuild a new U.S. base in Henoko, Okinawa, andto negotiate with the U.S. government for aclosure and removal of the Futenma base. Let us
expand the public voice refusing U.S. bases
struggles throughout the nation.

HIGASHIMORI Hideo
2010
Japan
Peace
Organizing Committee

NO to the relocation to Guam! NO to the Six

I thank all of you for your contribution to theBillion Dollar relocation cost!

four-dayNO to US Bases in Sasebo! NO to US Bases inInternational Symposium, field trips, plenaries,

Okinawa and Japan!

symposiums and workshops. By sharing ourNO to US Bases anywhere!

struggles with friends throughout Japan andWe shall overcome!

exchanging opinions with overseas delegates,

anywhere in Japan and promote anti-baseConference,

which

Conference

includedthewe have not only deepened our understandingofanddiscussions

ondomestic

andinternational situations but also shared theMohammed Ibrahim Alkozai

direction for our future struggle to take.
Ladies and gentlemen
We regret our defeat in a close race for
I am very happy to be here with you today. Let

Okinawa͛s governor. Throughout the election,

me be honest what I got and what I learned

however, the movement to block the relocation

here in Sasebo were very important for me.
It is important to condemn North Korea͛s the
I got the idea that we are not the only one who

artillery attack on the Yeongpyeong Island,

is

U.S.

demand its apology, and hold it accountable foradministration. I came to know there is also a

its outrage. We also confirmed the significancecountry suffering from the problems caused byof making utmost effort to heighten public

the U.S. My message to Japanese people is to beopinion inside and outside Japan calling for an

united and to give hand in hand, so there will be

end to joint massive military exercises by Japan

nobodyand the U.S. and other form of military

mentioning

stop

the

them

penalties

removing

of

bases

from

Okinawa and other parts of Japan.

provocation as well as for promoting dialogue
and diplomatic efforts to establish a peaceful

I have the experience of three decades of war in

Asia.
42

Messages of Governments
The Democratic Party of Japan-led governmentis trying to adopt new

Egypt

National Defense

Program Guidelines, which include proposals forstrengthening

theJapan-U.S.

joint

H.E. Dr. Walid Mahmoud Abdelnasser
Ambassador of the Arab Republic of
Egypt

military

operations, sending the Self-Defense Forces
overseas more often, and lifting the ban onarms exports. Let us urgently develop our

Excellencies,

struggles against this significant move contrary

Distinguished Guests,

to the Japanese constitutional principles.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our discussions during the Conference have

It gives me pleasure to address this year ͛srevealed that the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty isconference marking the 60th anniversary of the

not only the most dangerous military alliance inestablishment of the Japan Peace Committee.

the

the

The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt

deteriorating livelihoods of citizens and workers.

remains keen to participate in any event aiming

Let us develop our movement to abrogate theat ridding the world from nuclear weapons due

50-year-old security treaty jointly with theto its firm belief in supporting all efforts to

global trend for eliminating military alliances

create a world free of weapons of mass

toward creating a community for peace.

destruction.

Let us join our forces with the movements for2010 is a year that has witnessed several

the abolition of nuclear weapons and in defense

important events, which gave momentum to theof Article 9 of the Constitution in order toissue of nuclear disarmament, prominent among

improve our nationwide efforts and expand

were: the signing of the START agreement

international solidarity.

between the United States and Russia a d the

world

but

also

the

cause

of

successful outcome of the 2010 NPT Review
Conference.

Thanks to the efforts made by our friends in
Sasebo, Nagasaki, the 2010 Japan Peace Thanks
Thanks to the efforts made by our friends in

As you all aware, the Government of Egypt

Sasebo,Peaceexerted extensive efforts to ensure the success

Conference has made a great success. Let usof the 2010 NPT Review Conference, whether onshare with many more people what we haveits own or in its capacity as the Chair of thelearned and the perspective we have confirmed

Non-Aligned

here, make concrete action plans in each region,

Coalition of the New Agenda. Egypt is content

further develop the movement to abrogate thethat the final document came to reflect its

Japan-U.S. military alliance and remove theposition, as well as those of NAM and the New

bases, and meet again in the 2011 Japan Peace

Agenda Coalition to achieve concrete progress

Conference.

on the road towards the complete elimination

Nagasaki,

the

2010

Japan

Movement

(NAM)

and

the

of a nuclear weapons.
However, we would have liked to see the Review
Conference adopt a clear commitment to an
irreversible time-bound elimination of nuclear
weapons. In spite of this we shall redouble our43relentless efforts to pursue the goal of ridding

peace and a high humanitarian and social

the whole world of nuclear weapons.

sensitivity, and is determined to work for therealization of a world free of nuclear weapons.

One of the key issues for Egypt and NAM is theestablishment of a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone

We have been promoting the construction of ain the Middle East. Egypt has been presenting a

world

resolution on this issue since 1974. In the 1995

international

NPT Review Conference there was consensus

strengthening multilateralism and the peacefuladoption of a resolution to this effect. The 2010

coexistence

NTP Review Conference outcome document

accordance with the United Nations Charter.

thatembracesthecooperation,
among

sovereignprinciples

ofaimingatStates,inmandated the UN Secretary General and theco-sponsors of the 1995 resolution to convene a

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, as State

conference in 2012 o n the establishment of a

Party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

zone free of nuclear weapons and all otherand to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

weapons of mass destruction and is currently

Treaty, reaffirms the need to universalize thoseundertaking steps to achieve that goal. We aretreaties, empathizing that all the members ofcalling for the support of all State and Non-Statethe international community should strictly

actors to this upcoming conference and its goal

adhere to their norms so as to guarantee aof establishing a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone inlastingly peaceful world.

the Middle EAST and ensuring the success of the

Venezuela believes in the total, absolute andupcoming 2012 conference.

unconditional elimination of all weapons ofmass destruction in the world, starting from the

The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt

abolition of nuclear weapons. For Venezuelans,

pledges to exert its utmost effort to ensure thatthe

we reach the goal of creating a world free of

constitutes a threat to humanity.

existenceofnuclearweapons

itselfnuclear weapons and looks forward to workin gcollectively and supports all initiatives aimed atAsachieving this end.

International Atomic Energy Agency, Venezuelaafounding

Member

State

of

the

maintains a principled position, adhering to its
I wish you all the best of success.

pacifist vocation.
Research and peaceful use of nuclear energy

Venezuela

must be preserved, encouraged and aimed at

Message from Mr. Seiko Ishikawa,
Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republicof Venezuela, to the Japan Peace
Committee on its 60th Anniversary

exclusively for the sovereign benefit of thepeoples, and for their economic and social
well-being.
On this very special occasion, we reiterate ourI am honored to convey a message on this very

determination to promote and support multiple

special occasion for the Japan Peace Committee,

initiatives

on the occasion of its 60th anniversary, on

Nagasaki for a durable peace. Many cities in mybehalf of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

country are taking an active part in the ͞Mayors

and its President Hugo Chavez Frias.

for Peace͟ program.

Venezuela has solid and deep convictions for
44

that

startedin

HiroshimaandWe reiterate once again our firm determination

UNASUR under Ecuadorian Presidency, havefor world peace.

declared that the region itself is too a territoryof peace (Presidential Declaration by Bariloche,
August 28 th 2009).

Ecuador
The Ecuadorian Constitution condemns the

Dr. Javier Ponce Leiva, Ambassador of
Ecuador to Japandevelopment and use of nuclear weapons andweapons of mass destruction and forbid military

Dear participants of the 2010 Peace Conference:

bases

on

its

territoryandopposestheimposition of those facilities from one State in
Thanks to the kind invitation of the Secretaryanother

General of the Organizing Committee, Mr. Jun

Constitution and the guidelines imparted by the

Chisaka, I have the privilege of addressing all of

President of the Republic, Mr. Rafael Correa

you today with the purpose of wishing success

Delgado, the immediate closure and withdrawal

to this Conference of Peace.

of the United States Manta military base was
decided.

State.

Their

In

the

US

air

framework

station

of

had

our

been

I would like to share with you some aspects ofestablished for over 10 years. Never again will

Ecuadorian foreign policy, which among others

we host foreign military bases in our territory.

supports and promotes world peace, disarming,

The last military personal left Ecuador on

and abolition of nuclear weapons and all other

October 2008.

arms ofmass destruction. Additionally, it

encourages cooperation and solidarity among

Ecuador, whose pacifist tradition dates back to

people.

its role in the negotiation and signing of the1967 Treaty of Tlatelolco, Mexico, which bans

In September 2008, and with 64 % of the votes,

the use of nuclear weapons in Latin America,

the new Ecuadorian Constitution was approved,has

which contains the Principles that guide thedesignation of an Ecuadorian diplomat as theInternational affairs of Ecuador, under the

first Secretary General of OPANAL.

conceptofcitizendiplomacy

for

its

underlying

recognition

with

the

human

development and good living. Among others:

Until November 26 th of the present year, and forthat of legal independence and equality of the

15 months, Ecuador held the Presidency Pro

States, peaceful existence and determination,

Tempore of UNASUR, and as such, among others,

peaceful resolution of international conflicts

promoted the creation of a South Americanand controversies, no State interference inDefenseinternal affairs and promotion of peace andimportant progress in the process of adoption ofuniversal disarmament.

measures that foment mutual trust and security,which

Councilincludesandcontributed

concretetowards

toolsofMany of the principles and rights of theimplementation and guarantees. This is the first

Ecuadorian

contributed

step to build a South American Defense System

towards the transformation of the politicalautonomous from any hegemonic extra regional

relations that exist between the States of Latin

power.

ConstitutionhaveŵĞƌŝĐĂ͘/ŶƚŚŝƐŵĂŶŶĞƌ͕ĐƵĂĚŽƌ͛ƐƉƌŽĐůĂŵĂƚŝŽŶas a peace territory and a promoter of universal

I conclude by casting my vote to the successful

disarmamentdevelopment of the deliberations that will be

has

been

emulatedbythemembers of the Union of South American States,
45

initiated today in this beautiful city, and to their

Cuba sostiene que la no proliferación de armas

condition towards peace and an equitable,

nucleares no debe limitarse a su dimensión

inclusive, fair, supportive, and peaceful world.

horizontal, es esencial avanzar en la cuestión dela no proliferación vertical, ámbito en el cual las

Thank you.

actualespotencias

nucleares

continúan

perfeccionando sus arsenales nucleares y sus
sistemas vectores.

Cuba
En

Mensaje a 2010 Japan Peace Conference
Preparation Committee

ese

sentido,Cuba

observacon

granpreocupación cómo el gobierno de Estados
Unidos de Noreteamérica delcara que, junto a laJosé Fernández de Cossío
Embajador de la República de Cuba en
Japón(original in Spanish)ĂƉƌŽďĂĐŝſŶĚĞůƚƌĂƚĂĚŽ͞EĞǁ^ƚĂƌƚ͕͟ĚĞĚŝĐĂƌĄϴϬmilmilonesdedólares

perfeccionarsuamodernizararmamentoynuclear,desconociendo así sus obligaciones bajo elTratado de No Proliferación, particularmente su

La política exterior del Gobierno cubano se

artículo VI.

ajusta a los propósitos y prinicipios de la Cartade Naciones Unidas.

Consecuente con su política exterior en materia
de paz y dearme, Cuba se identifica con losCuba, como estado miembro, despliega dentro

nobles propósitos de Japan Peace Conferencedel Sistema de Naciones Unidas una incesantede luchar por la abolición en el Asia dellabor a favor de la Paz y por el Desarme Generalarmamentoy Completo, incluyendo el nuclear. En su

nuclear,

las

bases

militares

extranjeras y las alianzas militares.

condición de fudador del Movieminto de Países
No Alineados, Cuba suscribe las posiciones

Deseo a la Conferencia todo el éxito que merece

sobre el Desarme Nuclear y el uso pacífico de lala noble y justa causa que defiende.

energía atómica recogidas en las delcaraciones
de las Conferencias Cumbres del Movimiento.

<English translation>
José Fernández de Cossío
Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba toJapan

En la recién conclouida Conferencia de Examen
del Tratado sobre la No Proliferación de Armas
Nucleares 2010, el representante cubano señaló
la necesidad de que el éxito de la Conferencia
dependería de su capacidad para abordar, de

The Foreign Policy of the Cuban government ismanera equilibrada y sin discriminaciones, elconsistent with the purposes and principles ofcumplimiento de todos los compromisos de

the Charter of the United Nations.

conformidad con los tres pilares del Tratado de
No Proliferación: el Desarme, la no proliferación

Cuba, as its member state, is making strenuous

y el uso pacífico de la energía nuclear. Asimismo

effort within the United Nations system in form

significó la necesidad de rechazar cualquierofintento en dicha Conferencia de reinterpretar odisarmament, including nuclear disarmament.

negar

Being a founding member of the Non-Aligned

lasobligaciones

ycompromisosyaexistentes en el marco del TNP.

peace

and

for

generalandcomplete

Movement, Cuba subscribes to the positions on
nuclear disarmament and the pacific use of46

atomic energy recognized in the declarations ofIn that sense, Cuba observes with great concern

the summit meetings of NAM.

how the government of the United States ofNorth America declares, along with the approval

In the 2010 Review Conference of the Nuclearof the ͞New Start͟ Treaty, that it will dedicate

Non-Proliferation

80,000Treaty,which

concluded

milliondollars

tomodernize

andrecently, the Cuban representative pointed to

upgrade its nuclear armament, ignoring its

the need that the success of the Conference

obligations under the NPT, particularly its article

should depend on its capacity to work, in aVI.

balanced way and without discrimination, forthefulfillment

of

all

commitments

inConsistent with its foreign policy on peace andaccordance with the three pillars of the NPT:

disarmament, Cuba identifies itself with thedisarmament, non-proliferation and peacefulnoble purposes of the Japan Peace Conference,use of nuclear energy. He also underscored thewhich fights for the abolition of nuclear

need for refusing any attempt at the Conference

weapons, foreign military bases and military

to reinterpret or to deny the obligations andalliances in Asia.

commitments that exist in the framework of the
NPT.

I wish every success of the Conference thatdeserves the noble and just cause it upholds.

Cuba maintains that non-proliferation of nuclear
weapons should not be limited to its horizontal
dimension, and that it is essential to makeprogressinrelationtothevertical

non-proliferation, the area in which the existing
nuclear powers continue to upgrade their
nuclear arsenals and their delivery systems.

47

Organizing Committee of Japan Peace Conference
C/o Japan Peace Committee
1-4-9, Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3451-6377 Fax 03-3451-6277
E-mail: info@j-peace.org