Port Call by Nuclear-Powered Submarine USS Providence at White Beach, Okinawa without Prior Notification

November 10, 2008
Japanese

The U.S. nuclear-powered submarine USS Providence made a port call at White Beach, Okinawa, from 10:00 a.m. to till before noon on November 10 without prior notification to Japanese government authorities.
The Government of Japan deeply regrets that a US nuclear-powered submarine entered a Japanese port without prior notification, given that the United States is supposed to notify Japanese government authorities at least 24 hours before a US nuclear-powered submarine calls at a port in Japan. On the morning of November 10, Mr. Shinichi Nishimiya, Director-General for North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conveyed the Japanese government’s protest to Mr. James P. Zumwalt, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the United States of America in Japan, calling on him to provide a detailed explanation, to investigate the cause, and to prevent any recurrence of similar incidents. Subsequently, on the afternoon of November 10, Mr. Zumwalt replied that while the incident occurred due to an error in communication within the U.S. Navy, the U.S. also sees it as highly regrettable that USS Province called at the port without prior notification and intends to prevent any reoccurrence of the incident.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs finds the incident highly regrettable and intends to pursue discussions with the U.S. to prevent a recurrence of this type of incident.

(END)