Japan seeks to use US air base during 2020 Olympics

By Riyaz ul Khaliq </p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Japan is in talks with Washington to use a U.S. airbase during 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the capital Tokyo, local media reported on Friday.</p> <p>“The [Japanese] government has asked Washington to open the U.S. Air Force base's runway to commercial flights, at least temporarily turning the facility into a civilian-military dual-use airport to increase the capital's air traffic capacity for the 2020 Games,” according to daily Mainichi.</p> <p>“The U.S. is considering the request,” the daily said. </p> <p>It was during 2003 Japan-U.S. summit when Washington had agreed to then Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s request to examine the Yokota runway for “possible dual civilian-military use”, according to Mainichi.</p> <p>“A feasibility study outline was set out in the May 2006 United States-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation, but was not advanced further,” the daily added. </p> <p>Located in western Tokyo, Yokota Air Base is home to 14,000 personnel and is a United States Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force base in the city of Fussa, one of 26 cities in the Tama area of the Japanese capital. </p> <p>When Tokyo first proposed turning Yokota into a dual-use airport permanently, the daily said: “Washington's response was cautious because the measure would limit U.S. military flights”.