U.S. to Build a Naval Base in Western Pacific

Asahi Shimbun reported on July 21, quoting an insider of the U.S. Navy, about the U.S.’ plan to commence building a naval base in the western Pacific in 2007 if they fail to secure a base on land near the areas of conflict.

This naval base will be built to enhance the mobility of dispatched troops and will house aircraft carriers and battleships that can load about 10 fighter planes. Also, combat units including marines will be stationed at the base and will be ready to be sent to areas of conflict, and the base will serve as a refueling point to provide needed equipments after a raid.

The Navy insider reported Guam in the western Pacific to be most likely candidate to be the host of this base, but it can be any other area in the Pacific.

The paper says that the Pentagon has decided to build a naval base as a part of the realignment of U.S. forces after encountering difficulties in carrying out its attack plans for Iraq last year when Turkey refused to have a U.S. military base on its territory.

Meanwhile, Japan Business News reported that the United States will conclude consultation with the Japanese government about the realignment plans for U.S. Forces in Japan (USFJ) by October, before the presidential election in the U.S. The U.S. proposed a plan to raise the status of USFJ as the commanding headquarter of the Asia-Pacific region by endowing independent commanding power to USFJ headquarters at the working meeting for the U.S.-Japan Security that was hosted from July 15 to July 17.

Won-Jae Park parkwj@donga.com