U.S. Military Aircraft Training Event Ruddenly Under Scrutiny by Iwakuni's Mayor Calls for Immediate Cancellation
In a surprising turn of events, the upcoming Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) drill, scheduled to take place in the western Japan city of Iwakuni, will now be held at the U.S. military's base in the same city. This change was announced following a meeting between the Mayor of Iwakuni, Yoshihiko Fukuda, and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, which took place at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Tuesday, September 16.
The decision to host the FCLP at the U.S. military's Iwakuni base was likely made as a result of the volcanic eruption that occurred on Iwo Jima on Sept 1. This eruption made it impossible to conduct the drill on the remote Tokyo island, which is usually the location for the FCLP.
The FCLP is a crucial exercise for strengthening U.S. deterrence and response capabilities, according to Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. It involves carrier-based aircraft practicing landing on a land runway, simulating that of a flattop. However, the drill is not supported by the local residents of Iwakuni due to the noise it causes.
In a request made during the meeting, Mayor Fukuda expressed his concerns about the deafening noise the drill would produce, which has been a source of discontent among the local community. The U.S. side has since notified Tokyo about the change in location of the FCLP.
The FCLP is now scheduled to take place between Wednesday and Sept 26 at the U.S. military's Iwakuni base. The exercise, conducted by the US forces, is set to take place in October 2025. Despite the change in location, the concerns of the local residents regarding the noise remain a significant issue.
