Political Quotes

“I am not going to push this to the point of a vote, but I want to express my disagreement with the resolution. I am sorry to spoil the good cheer, and I admire the people of Okinawa, but I think we should make it very clear that there is considerable unhappiness in the United States and here in the Congress with the one-sidedness of this relationship, particularly financially. Mr. Speaker, I insert into the Record an article, from which I want to read briefly. The article referred to is as follows: [From the New York Times, Feb. 15, 1997] Japan Hesitant About U.S. Antimissile Project (By Clifford Krauss) Washington, Feb. 14--After three years of exploratory talks, Administration officials say Japan has all but decided against taking part in an antimissile defense project with the United States for fear of offending China and overspending scarce military resources. Tokyo's hesitation stems from reluctance to spend billions of dollars when its own economy is weak, and concerns that developing a missile system would anger Japan's deeply pacifist electorate and frighten Asian neighbors wary of any signs of a Japanese military buildup. A decision not to join the project would be a setback to American military contractors that hope to supply Japan with hardware. And it could swell United States military budgets for Asia because the United States would have to bear the cost of such a system alone.”