{"id":2040760,"date":"2023-09-21T21:05:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T01:05:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ccp-backed-company-constructs-mega-solar-power-plant-near-us-japan-military-bases-japanese-councillor-raises-security-concerns\/"},"modified":"2023-09-21T21:12:14","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T01:12:14","slug":"ccp-backed-company-constructs-mega-solar-power-plant-near-us-japan-military-bases-japanese-councillor-raises-security-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ccp-backed-company-constructs-mega-solar-power-plant-near-us-japan-military-bases-japanese-councillor-raises-security-concerns\/","title":{"rendered":"CCP-backed firm builds huge solar plant near US, Japan bases; security concerns raised."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fccp-backed-company-constructs-mega-solar-power-plant-near-us-japan-military-bases-japanese-councillor-raises-security-concerns%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2040760&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<p>A Shanghai company with a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) background\u2062 is constructing massive solar power plants near Japan\u2019s most important U.S. military base in Iwakuni. The city\u2019s \u200dcouncil member has raised\u200c concerns about\u200b the \u200cCCP&#8217;s potential threat to national security.<\/p>\n<p>Takashi Ishimoto,\u2064 a member of the Iwakuni city council, has revealed that the Chinese firm is involved in\u200d major <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-climate-push-prompts-concerns-about-investments-in-china\/\" title=\"Biden Climate Push Prompts Concerns About Investments in China\">solar power plant<\/a> projects located in Yamaguchi Prefecture. These plants are strategically positioned on both the northern \u2063and southern sides of the Marine Corps \u200cAir\u200d Station Iwakuni.<\/p>\n<p>The Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is a crucial military facility in the Far East, jointly operated by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h2>Related Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/us-must-be-vigilant-of-chinese-investors-buying-farmland-businesses-commerce-secretary-5485989?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>US Must Be \u2018Vigilant\u2019 of Chinese Investors\u200b Buying Farmland, Businesses: Commerce Secretary<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; \u20629\/4\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/states-considering-bans-while-china-linked-farmland-buyers-look-for-clarity-on-federal-regulations-5468519?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>States Seek Federal Clarity\u2064 in Banning\u2062 Chinese Purchases \u2062of US Farmland<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 8\/16\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>According to Mr. Ishimoto, the involvement of CCP capital in the construction of\u200c these mega solar power\u200d plants has raised regional \u2064and national security concerns. He expressed his\u2064 worries about Shanghai Electric Power&#8217;s activities within Yamaguchi Prefecture,\u2062 which \u200dis \u2063home to multiple Japanese military bases and a U.S. military base in\u200d Iwakuni.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">Mr. Ishimoto has called for political attention in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ishimoto4\/status\/1643356821384749057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an\u200b April 4 post on X<\/a>, formerly known as Twitter, urging action to\u200c address the questionable behavior of Shanghai Electric Power. He \u200chighlighted the need to stop the construction of power stations in \u200cthe region.<\/div>\n<p>Shanghai Electric Power is affiliated with the state-owned China Power\u2064 Investment Corporation, which was established by the State Council\u2019s assets supervisor body.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">Shanghai Electric Power&#8217;s official webpage\u2063 states that its \u2062overseas business extends to various countries, including Malta, Japan, Montenegro, and\u200d Turkey, along the\u200c &#8220;Belt and Road&#8221; routes. The company&#8217;s total\u2063 overseas assets exceed \u200c12.5 billion yuan ($1.71 billion). The &#8220;Belt and Road&#8221; initiative\u2062 is the CCP&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-censorship-group-center-for-countering-digital-hate-funded-by-pro-china-investment-org\/\" title=\"Pro-Censorship Group Center for Countering Digital Hate Funded by Pro-China Investment Org\">global infrastructure project aimed<\/a> at expanding its influence.<\/div>\n<h2>CCP-Funded Power \u200dPlants \u200bin Japan<\/h2>\n<p>In September 2021, the Japan Branch of Shanghai Electric Power acquired the entire equity of the Yamaguchi Iwakuni photovoltaic project. This project, managed by RS Asset Management, plans to install\u200b 300,000 solar panels on 117 hectares \u200cof\u200c land, generating 75 megawatts of \u2063power, equivalent to the energy \u200cconsumption \u2063of about\u200b 22,500 households.<\/p>\n<p>Shanghai Electric Power announced that\u200d construction began in \u200cNovember 2019 \u200cand was scheduled to \u200dbe connected to the grid by June 2023.<\/p>\n<p>The \u200bconstruction \u2063of these mega solar power plants has faced\u2063 opposition \u2064from Iwakuni residents due to concerns about landslides, soil \u200bcontamination, water well depletion, and environmental damage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:658px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Ishimoto Takashi, Iwakuni City Council member. (Courtesy of\u200c Mr. Ishimoto)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mr. Ishimoto, \u2063representing the local residents, \u2062has made \u2062efforts \u2063to communicate with\u2064 Shanghai Electric Power&#8217;s Japan\u200d office regarding the power plant construction project. However, the company&#8217;s chief\u200c has refused to discuss the\u200b matter.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Ishimoto also revealed that Shanghai Electric\u2062 Power is linked to another mega-solar power station \u200bin Yanai City, owned by Yamaguchi Yanai Mega Solar LLC.<\/p>\n<p>According to Hideki Hirano, a professor at Himeji University, Chinese buyers often utilize Japanese limited liability \u200dcompanies (LLCs) as a front to acquire land outside\u200c of China. \u200bThis allows them to operate the company without directly revealing their involvement.<\/p>\n<p>During his investigation, Mr. Ishimoto discovered that Shanghai \u200bElectric Power is likely involved in the construction of solar power plants throughout Japan, including Hokkaido and Tokushima. These \u200dplants are strategically located near Japanese \u200dmilitary installations, nuclear plants, telecommunication transmission towers, and transit stations.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Yamaguchi Prefecture has another solar power plant in Hofu City, where the plant&#8217;s leadership consists entirely of Chinese individuals, according\u2064 to Mr. Ishimoto.<\/p>\n<p>The \u200cHofu solar power\u200b plant is situated only one kilometer away from a Japan Self-Defense Forces airbase, which is home to Japan&#8217;s first military\u2064 unit dedicated \u2064to outer space safety.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">Mr.\u2063 Ishimoto has raised serious questions about why the Chinese are targeting Japanese power plants and stations. He believes that their motives go beyond mere financial gain.<\/div>\n<h2>Chinese-Acquired Island Land Near Military Base<\/h2>\n<p>Adjacent to the Yanai solar power station is a small island called Kasashima in Iwakuni. In \u20642017, a Chinese buyer purchased a portion of Kasashima Island and is\u2063 currently constructing villas or condominiums on the island, according \u2063to Mr. Ishimoto&#8217;s sources.<\/p>\n<p>It is worth noting that the\u200c construction site is located along a significant sea route known as the &#8220;Throat\u200b Road,&#8221; \u2064frequently used by \u200dthe Japanese Self-Defense Forces and other warships.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Map provided by Takashi Ishimoto.\u2063 (Edited by \u2062The Epoch Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Together with the two giant solar power plants, this isolated island forms a\u200b strategic encirclement around the Iwakuni U.S. Air Force Base from the north and south.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">Mr. Ishimoto believes that these \u2062actions are\u200c not mere coincidences but part\u2064 of a strategic plan. He suggests that the Chinese acquisitions could facilitate the\u2062 CCP&#8217;s \u200daccess to \u200bU.S. and Japanese military intelligence and activities.<\/div>\n<h2>Suspected Exposed Aircraft Flight Zone<\/h2>\n<p>According to Mr. Ishimoto, a contact in the U.S. Army \u2062informed\u2064 him that the solar power plants are\u200c directly beneath the flight\u200c path of fighter jets in \u200dIwakuni. Their \u2063locations provide an\u2062 opportunity to track and potentially disrupt the flight patterns of the\u2064 U.S. Air Force and its aircraft. For example, U.S. fighter jets \u200dmay take off from the \u2064Iwakuni \u200cbase \u2062and fly towards Okinawa or move northward.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:640px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>U.S. marine aircraft personnel\u2064 walk \u200dpast F-18 hornets from the \u2062U.S. \u2062Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 after they landed at Clark Air Base, a former U.S. base, from Iwakuni, Japan, to join \u2062a\u200d two<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ccp-backed-company-constructs-mega-solar-power-plant-near-us-japan-military-bases-japanese-councillor-raises-security-concerns\/\" title=\"CCP-backed firm builds huge solar plant near US, Japan bases; security concerns raised.\">-week joint military training exercise<\/a> with Filipino counterparts\u200b dubbed Talon Vision 2007, on Oct. 12, 2006. (Jay Directo \/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Iwakuni\u200d base is \u200cfrequently used for military training,\u200b housing around 120 to 130 aircraft,\u200c including those from other areas.<\/p>\n<p>Iwakuni \u200bis the largest U.S. military air \u200dbase\u200b in the Far East and serves as a crucial hub for the U.S. military presence in Japan. Its strategic location and carrier force make\u2063 it a central base for military operations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">Considering that one of the \u200cmissions of this U.S.-Japanese military base is to\u200b counter the CCP, Mr. Ishimoto believes\u2062 that the CCP&#8217;s control \u2062over power generation\u2062 facilities and \u200bsurrounding land\u2064 through Chinese buyers could have significant strategic implications. This control could potentially aid the CCP in espionage, intelligence gathering, and interference in the military activities of the \u2063United States\u200c and Japan.<\/div>\n<h2>US, Japan Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni<\/h2>\n<p>The U.S.\u2064 Navy has two overseas bases in Japan, one in Okinawa and one in Iwakuni (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.city.iwakuni.lg.jp\/uploaded\/attachment\/30077.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pdf<\/a>).\u2062 The\u2064 Iwakuni base has a permanent population\u200b of approximately \u200c13,000, according to Mr. Ishimoto.<\/p>\n<p>Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is located in the delta of Iwakuni city, facing the Seto\u2063 Inland Sea and surrounded by Shikoku Island to the southeast and Kyushu Island to the\u2062 west.<\/p>\n<p>The 31st Air Force of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is also stationed at Iwakuni Base.<\/p>\n<p>Japan is the only country where the U.S. military deploys aircraft carriers overseas\u200d and the only country where the U.S. Marine Corps has\u2062 air bases outside of the\u2064 United States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What measures should be taken by policymakers, stakeholders, and the\u200d public to address the \u2064involvement\u2064 of a company with CCP\u2062 background in critical \u200binfrastructure projects near military\u200c facilities<\/h2>\n<p><span>  About national\u2062 security and the involvement of \u200ba company \u2063with CCP background. The construction of these\u200b power\u200c plants near a crucial U.S. \u200dmilitary base has raised eyebrows and calls for attention.<\/p>\n<p>The city council member, Mr.\u200c Ishimoto, has been vocal about his concerns regarding the\u200c potential threat to national security. He has pointed out the strategic positioning\u2064 of\u2062 these \u200dpower plants \u2062on both sides of the Marine \u2064Corps Air Station Iwakuni.\u200b As\u2062 a joint military facility operated by the U.S.\u200b Marine\u2062 Corps and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, any potential risks to its security are taken seriously.<\/p>\n<p>Mr.\u200c Ishimoto has raised these concerns, calling for political attention and \u2062action to address the\u2064 involvement \u200cof Shanghai\u2064 Electric Power, a company with CCP affiliation, in\u2062 the construction of these power \u200dplants. His \u200bplea for\u200b intervention highlights the\u200c need \u2064to re-evaluate\u200c the construction projects and \u200bensure the safety and security of the region.<\/p>\n<p>Shanghai Electric Power is affiliated with China Power Investment Corporation, a state-owned entity established \u200dby the State Council. This \u2063connection raises \u200dfurther questions about the involvement\u200d of CCP capital in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-manchin-says-no-price-limit-should-be-set-for-infrastructure-plan\/\" title=\"Sen. Manchin says no price limit should be set for infrastructure plan\">critical infrastructure projects<\/a> near military facilities.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Shanghai \u200dElectric Power&#8217;s overseas business activities extend to \u200dvarious countries as part \u200bof \u2062the CCP&#8217;s &#8220;Belt and Road&#8221; initiative. This\u2064 global infrastructure project aims to expand China&#8217;s influence and has \u2062been\u2063 met with both support\u2062 and concern worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200d acquisition of\u2064 the Yamaguchi Iwakuni photovoltaic project by Shanghai Electric Power&#8217;s Japan Branch demonstrates \u200dtheir presence in Japan&#8217;s energy \u200dsector. With\u2064 plans to install\u2062 300,000 solar panels and generate 75 megawatts\u200b of power, this\u2064 project is significant in\u200d terms of\u2063 energy production. However, given the concerns raised by the city council \u2064member and residents,\u2064 further investigation and analysis of the company&#8217;s involvement is\u2062 necessary.<\/p>\n<p>It is crucial to address any potential threats to national security and ensure transparency and accountability in the\u2062 construction of critical infrastructure projects. The involvement of a company with CCP background near a major U.S. military \u200bbase demands careful \u2064consideration and proactive \u2064measures to safeguard the interests of all parties involved.<\/p>\n<p>As this issue unfolds, it is essential for\u200d policymakers, stakeholders,\u2064 and the \u200bpublic to remain informed and \u200cactively engage \u200cin discussions \u200cconcerning national security, foreign investments, and the potential impacts on vital military installations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>being built by a Shanghai company linked to the Chinese Communist Party near Japan&#8217;s crucial U.S. military base in Iwakuni have raised concerns about national security. Takashi Ishimoto, an Iwakuni council member, sounded the alarm, highlighting the potential threat posed by the CCP&#8217;s involvement in these mega-solar projects.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2432,"featured_media":2040761,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2040760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2040760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2432"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2040760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2040760\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2040761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2040760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2040760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2040760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}