Dual Use of Yokota Air Base Possible Says Hudson Institute Study

6/23/2004

From: Jennifer Butsch of Hudson Institute, 317-549-4115

News Advisory:

Hudson Institute will release its recommendations for the use of the U.S. Air Force's Yokota Air Base in Tokyo to the U.S. press on Friday, June 25, at 10 a.m. The report, "Dual Use and the Future of Yokota Air Base," was released to the Japanese press on June 16 in Tokyo.

The report finds that dual civilian/military use of the air base is possible-and describes a tiered process for getting there-but calls first for joint usage of the base between the U.S. Air Force and Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces. After the integration of air self-defense forces at the air base, the report suggests that private and charter jets could begin using the facility. The final step would include the construction of terminal buildings, improvement of infrastructure in and around the airport, and introduction of domestic carrier routes; the timing of its realization would depend in large part on the security situation in Northeast Asia. The report recommends against international flights at Yokota.

In the spring 2003, the Nippon Foundation asked Hudson Institute to conduct a survey of Yokota Air Base to assess whether the base could be used for commercial flights as well as military ones. In light of President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's agreement to undertake a feasibility study of such dual use of Yokota, Hudson Institute agreed to conduct its own study to add the perspective of a nongovernmental organization to the public debate.

Read the full report on Hudson's website: http://www.hudson.org

WHEN: Friday, June 25, 10 a.m.

WHO:

-- Kenneth Weinstein, Hudson Institute chief operating officer

-- Charles Horner, Hudson Institute senior fellow

-- Maria Farkas, Hudson Institute research associate

WHERE: Hudson Institute, 1015 18th Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, D.C.

RSVP: To RSVP for this event email rsvp@hudsondc.org or call 202-223-7770.

As a public policy think tank, Hudson Institute forecasts long-term trends and designs near-term solutions for government, business, and the non-profit world. We share optimism about the future and a willingness to question conventional wisdom. We believe in free markets, individual responsibility, the power of technology, and a determination to preserve America's national security. For more information about Hudson Institute, visit our website at http://www.hudson.org or call 800-HUDSON-0.