Charles E. Morrison: SUBMARINE COLLISION UNLIKELY TO BECOME LONG-TERM ISSUE BETWEEN U.S. AND JAPAN

Date: 02-12-2001

HONOLULU-- A U.S. Navy submarine's collision with a Japanese fishing vessel off Hawaii should not become a long-term issue in U.S.-Japan security relations unless the U.S. government mishandles it, the president of the East-West Center said today.

Charles E. Morrison, an international-relations specialist, said the Japanese people need to feel that "the search efforts and investigation are being handled just as thoroughly as if Americans had been the victims of this tragic accident."

He added that Americans, particularly those living in Hawaii, also demand a thorough investigation and assurances that such an incident will not happen again. The fishing vessel was only nine miles off Honolulu in a heavily used area. Nine Japanese remain missing, including four teen-agers.

Morrison pointed out that he believes the U.S. government and defense department are making their best efforts to search for the missing and accept responsibility for the accident. President George Bush called for a moment of silent for the victims.

Morrison added that "there are many serious questions still to be answered and the investigation will be a long one.

"It must be painstaking and thorough even when the immediate anger has subsided. The United States cannot appear callous to the fate of the victims simply because they were not Americans."

Charles E. Morrison can be reached at 808-944-7103 or morrisoc@eastwestcenter.org

This is an East-West Wire, copyright East-West Center