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Japan may cancel naval exercise due to high fuel costs

Japan's military may cancel its largest annual naval exercise for the first time in half a century because of soaring energy prices, an official said yesterday.

The Maritime Self-Defense Force's maneuvers — with 90 warships and 170 jets — has not been called off since it started in 1954, even during the oil crisis of the 1970s.

This year’s drill was planned for November, although official dates had not been announced.

“In order to secure enough fuel for emergency relief activities, we’ve cut down on the scope of our exercises, but there is a limit,” a Maritime Self-Defense Force official said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

“Now we are considering canceling the upcoming large-scale naval drill, which would consume large amounts of fuel,” the official said.

In a bid to offset the impact of the rise on the economy, the Japanese government announced on Tuesday it would provide ¥74.5 billion (US$690 million) in emergency aid to the ailing fishing industry, after Japanese fishermen staged their largest-ever national strike this month.

Higher fuel prices have also affected the emperor’s official duties, and summer holiday plans for many Japanese.

When Emperor Akihito attends an annual sea convention in northern Niigata in September, there will be no sea parade, Niigata spokesman Minoru Natsukawa said.

Many Japanese are planning to stay home to minimize gasoline use, a survey released yesterday by the private think tank Dentsu Research Inc showed.
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