Washington, March 10: A senior U.S. official supervising Japan affairs has been replaced for disparaging comments that angered many on a southern Japan island where many U.S. troops are based.
The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said Thursday that Keven Maher has been replaced as director of the State Department’s Office of Japan Affairs. He is being replaced by Rust Deming, the deputy chief of mission in Tokyo.
Maher caused an uproar by reportedly saying that the Okinawans were lazy and used their hosting of U.S. bases to extort benefits from Tokyo.
The embassy statement said visiting Assistant Secretary Kurt Campbell has conveyed to the Japanese government his deep regrets over the comments made in December. Campbell said the U.S. has the utmost respect for the Okinawan people.
——–Agencies