Regarding the March 25 Kyodo article "Japan asked to shell out extra $1 billion over [U.S. Marines'] transfer to Guam": As a long-term resident of Japan, it is painful to see Japan taken to the cleaners. Japan signed a peace treaty a long time ago, meaning that Japan has full sovereignty over its own territory.

It is in Japan's power to tell the United States to go home and to stop these payments once and for all. If Japan does not have the courage to do this, Japan will pay for eternity!

Is Japan afraid of China? Why doesn't Japan get on good terms with China? Does Japan seriously believe that the U.S. will fight for it in case of a conflict with China? The U.S. will take advantage of Japan and let the Japanese fight for it. Sorry for Japan.

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.

klaus herrle