U.S. nuclear sub arrives in Japan without notice

Unannounced

An American nuclear submarine made a port call in Okinawa yesterday without having provided prior notification to Japan:

The USS Providence arrived in the White Beach Naval Facility on the southern island of Okinawa on Monday without prior notice, a requirement under a bilateral agreement, and stayed there for two hours, the ministry said.

“It is extremely regrettable that a U.S. submarine visited one of our ports without proper advance notice,” the ministry said in a statement. “The United States must notify our government at least 24 hours before its nuclear submarines visit our ports.”

The American embassy has since apologized for the incident and explained that Japan was not notified due to a communications error.

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http://www.hormel.com VonSkippy

Wow, an American sub goes to an American Navel Base – QUICK EVERYONE PANIC.

I’d worry more when a Chinese or Russian or N Korean sub arrives unexpected.

helical

If there wasn’t an agreement in the first place, I’d agree making an issue out of this is pretty ridiculous.
But there is one (not debating the legitimacy of it for now), so America is the one that broke the rules concerning giving a heads up on moving strategic weapons into another country’s domain, even if the naval base itself is technically America’s little haven.
Level3

And it wouldn’t be an issue at all if America hadn’t given Okinawa back to Japan in 1972. (or thereabouts)

Someone forgot to send a message, or maybe the sub’s comm gear was out of whack and thus they couldn’t call ahead anyway. But they couldn’t really go ahead and tell the papers “Our subs sometimes lose communications” that would be a little fireball of news and outrage. “OMFG! Your NUCLEAR subs sometimes have comm trouble?! What if…. failsafe scenario…armageddon…someone pushing buttons by mistake…etc.etc.”

dogtato

This is about as serious as Emporer Akihito’s wartime crimes against Korea.
tzvete

I wonder what the American reaction would be if it were the opposite way.

http://www.hormel.com VonSkippy

I’d think all of the construction equipment building the Japanese Naval base on American soil would give them a hint.
inverse

I don’t think the US would allow a foreign country to set its military bases on US soil.

Therefore, the opposite you mention is not bound to happen.

On the other hand why would the US need to respect bilateral agreements? They are here to export their democracy, don’t bother them with futile, useless agreements. heh.

ponta

Does that remind you of 1852, when Commodore Perry “visited” Japan without having provided prior notification to Japan?
Trufax

The guy who went to Japan to open trade routes? Yeah that is COMPLETELY analagous to Pearl Harbor because he “could” have used violence when he was rebuffed. That is exactly the same thing as an unprovoked attack. You sure showed me!
leitmotiv

“Does that remind you of 1852, when Commodore Perry “visited” Japan without having provided prior notification to Japan?”

You are kidding, right?
Eddie

The difference is that officials within the US government had prior knowledge of the Pearl Harbor attack.
kaito

Not saying too much about the sub, just you bringing up Pearl Harbor and Ponta bringing up Perry.

I’m glad you guys aren’t our leaders.

U.S. nuclear sub arrives in Japan without notice

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