Page 11 - atoday
P. 11
WORLD NEWS A11
Friday 2 October 2015
1,500 Philippine, USS Ronald Reagan arrives in Japan naval port
US marines hold
KOJI UEDA government has pushed overseas. Abe says Japan broiled in U.S.-led wars.
annual exercises Associated Press to enhance the role of Ja- needs the laws to increase The Ronald Reagan, car-
YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP) pan’s military in national its capabilities amid China’s rying about 5,000 crew-
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The American nucle- defense and in global growing military assertive- members, replaces the USS
— More than 1,500 U.S. ar-powered aircraft car-
and Filipino marines on rier USS Ronald Reagan Family members of the crews of U.S. navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan
Thursday began annual docked at its new home wave upon arrival at the U.S. Navy’s Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo Thursday, Oct. 1,
exercises to improve com- in Japan’s Yokosuka naval 2015. The USS Ronald Reagan has entered its new home in Japan’s Yokosuka naval port, replac-
bat readiness and better port Thursday just as Tokyo ing its predecessor USS George Washington. The arrival Thursday comes as Tokyo tries to deepen
respond to humanitarian tries to deepen defense defense ties with the U.S. under new security law that expand the role of Japan’s military.
crises in the Philippines, ties with the U.S. under new
which is frequently hit by security laws that expand (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
powerful typhoons and is the role of Japan’s military.
locked in a territorial dis- The warship received a peacekeeping. It passed ness, NorthKorea’s missile George Washington, which
pute with China. Field train- warm welcome from Japa- new laws during a chaotic and nuclear ambitions, and was the first U.S. nuclear-
ing drills during the nine- nese officials because of its parliamentary session last other security concerns. But powered warship based
day Philippine Amphibious role in disaster relief follow- month that allow the coun- many Japanese worry the in Japan, where atomic
Landing Exercise will be ing the March 2011 earth- try’s troops to also defend new laws increase the risk weapons are a sensitive is-
held at five military camps quake and tsunami disaster their allies, mainly the U.S., of Japan becoming em- sue. q
in the northern Philippines, in northern Japan.
said Col. Nathaniel Casem, At a ceremony, U.S. Secre-
the Philippines’ director of tary of the Navy Ray Mabus
the exercises. Command said the vessel’s arrival and
post exercises involving its welcome are “visible
computer simulations and symbols of our shared com-
humanitarian projects will mitment to one another
take place in western Pal- and regional stability.”
awan, the province closest “Together we provide the
to disputed areas of the most critical pillar of inter-
South China Sea. national security, one that
At least 860 U.S. Marines only maritime services can
from Okinawa, Japan, and deliver,” he said.
749 Filipino counterparts Outside the port, however,
are taking part in the drills. a small group of citizens
U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. Paul protested the aircraft carri-
Kennedy, the U.S. exer- er’s deployment as a move
cise director, said the two to step up Japan’s military
countries’ security alliance cooperation with the U.S.
has been upheld over the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s
years through their close
working relationship. China holding 2 Japanese on spying allegations
Noting the territorial dis-
putes, Kennedy told the MARI YAMAGUCHI due to safety reasons. the two detainees were in penalty of execution in
opening ceremony of the Associated Press He said the two are not gov- good health, but that any China.
drills that if anyone chal- TOKYO (AP) — China has ernment employees, but prospect for their release Japanese newspapers and
lenged the Philippines’ sov- arrested two Japanese citi- refused to give other de- was not known. television stations reported
ereignty, the U.S. “would zens on spying allegations, tails on the arrests, includ- China’s government said that the two were both
respond within a matter of officials said Wednesday. ing the specific allegations authorities arrested the two men. One was apprehend-
hours, and generally, I as- Japanese Chief Cabinet they face. Suga said that on suspicion of spying. ed near military facilities in
sure you that that is not a Spokesman Yoshihide Suga the Japanese government “The legal basis of the ar- coastal Zhejiang, and the
hallow promise.” told reporters that the two “absolutely (does) no such rests is that these two peo- other near the border with
Kennedy left after the were detained in May, one thing,” referring to sending ple engaged in spying in North Korea at about the
ceremony without taking in Zhejiang province and spies to other countries. China,” Chinese Foreign same time, according to
questions. the other in Liaoning. China The government has pro- Ministry spokesman Hong the reports, which cited
Washington has said many said the two are suspected vided support for the two Lei said at a regular brief- unnamed sources familiar
times that it does not take of spying. through Japanese diplo- ing Wednesday in Beijing. with Japan-China affairs.
sides in the territorial dis- Suga said that the Japa- matic establishments, Suga “If there’s anything in com- Kyodo News agency re-
putes in the South Chi- nese government knew said, without elaborating. mon for these two people, ported that a third Japa-
na Sea, which involve the about the arrests soon after A Foreign Ministry official it’s that both of them en- nese man was also in cus-
Philippines, China and four the two were detained, but in charge of the safety of gaged in spying in China.” tody over an unknown
other governments. q withheld the information overseas Japanese said Spying carries a maximum allegation.q
