Guest Author - Wendy Amato

YOKOSUKA, JAPAN--The U.S. Navy has announced that it will be replacing the aging Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier in Japan with a nuclear-powered carrier, to be homeported at Yokosuka Naval Base. Many Japanese are angry about this decision, citing possible radiation leaks. However, citizens seem more concerned about the symbolism of U.S. forces bringing a large nuclear-powered warship to a country bombed with atomic warheads in WWII. Japan is the only country in the world to have endured such an attack, and so their opposition to nuclear power is understandable, except that there are already nuclear power plants operating in this country. So…they apparently aren’t opposed to all nuclear technology, just the U.S. imposition of it. That’s understandable.

A press release from the U.S. Navy states that the nuclear-reactor will only be in operation while at-sea, not in port. Diplomats point out that nuclear-powered warships have made hundreds of successful and uneventful visits to ports in Japan. Monitors are planned to test the water quality in the port for safety. Still, protestors have started gathering outside of the base to demonstrate their displeasure with the impending arrival of the as-yet-unnamed aircraft carrier.

The controversial move appears to be an attempt to increase military strength in the region, since China and North Korea are seen as growing threats to security.