WORLD> Asia-Pacific
Hundreds protest US carrier arrival in Japan
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-25 14:31

A statement by Japan's new Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone also welcomed the carrier, but noted the Japanese concerns over a nuclear accident.

USS George Washington is pictured from a helicopter off Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture Thursday morning, Sept. 25, 2008 as it heads to Yokosuka Naval Base, south of Tokyo. The George Washington will replace the USS Kitty Hawk as the US Navy's only carrier with a home port outside of the United States. [Agencies]

"We will continue to do all we can to assure that it is safe," Nakasone said.

The Navy says that upgrading to the George Washington will give the 7th Fleet greater range and better striking capabilities.

Along with the 7th Fleet, the largest in the Navy with about 60 ships and 20,000 sailors, there are about 50,000 US troops deployed throughout Japan under a mutual security pact.

The Kitty Hawk was conventionally powered and the deployment of the George Washington has raised concerns among anti-nuclear groups, who say it should not be located so close Tokyo, which lies about 30 miles (45 kilometers) to the north.

Such concerns were heightened when the US Navy disclosed in early August that the USS Houston, a submarine, had leaked water containing radiation during several calls to Sasebo and Okinawa, in southern Japan, and Yokosuka between July 2006 and April 2008.

A Navy investigation found the leak posed no danger to Japan.

Concerns over safety were also raised after a fire broke out aboard the carrier in May. The fire, which is believed to have been caused by smoking in an unauthorized area, resulted in dozens of injuries and an estimated US$70 million in damage.

The ship's commanding officer and executive officer were relieved of duty.

Its new executive officer, Capt. Karl O. Thomas, said he was aware of the demonstrations.

"People can speak what they want to speak," he said. "If people want to protest, it is their right to do so."

He added, however, that the US nuclear fleet has an "unblemished record" and said the safety concerns were unnecessary.

Sailors aboard the ship, which has been at sea for a month after completing repairs in San Diego, said they were simply glad to be back on solid ground.

"The first thing I want to do is go out and see Tokyo," said Seaman Darnell Bledsloe, 20, of Stuttgart, Arkansas. "I want to see if it looks like it does in the movies."