美国最先进的航空母舰之一停靠在其在日本的新基地。这是深化华盛顿与东京之间军事关系的最新迹象。
美国海军核动力的尼米兹级罗纳德·里根号周四比原计划提前一天抵达日本横须贺港，受到日本官员的欢迎。
在欢迎仪式上，美国海军部长麦伯斯说，这艘航母存在的实质和象征意义“不会被言过其实。”
罗纳德·里根号航空母舰是现有的10艘尼米兹级航母中的一艘。它取代了乔治·华盛顿号航空母舰，后者正在返回美国进行维修和升级。
日本外务省在一份声明中表示欢迎这艘航母到来，并称这将“有助于日本的安全和维护本地区的和平与安全。”
当地一些团体表示反对这艘航母的到达。周四，一群示威者乘坐一条小船驶到这艘巨大军舰的旁边，上面插着一个牌子写着：“你们在这里不受欢迎。”
当地长期以来一直有一些针对美日防卫同盟的抗议。根据这个同盟近5万名美军士兵随同一些华盛顿最昂贵的军事装备被派驻日本。
One of the most advanced U.S. aircraft carriers has docked at its new home in Japan - the latest sign of deepening military ties between Washington and Tokyo.
The nuclear-powered, Nimitz-class USS Ronald Reagan was welcomed by Japanese officials as it arrived in the port of Yokosuka on Thursday, one day ahead of schedule.
At a ceremony, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said the substance and symbolism of the carrier's presence "cannot be overstated."
The USS Ronald Reagan is one of only 10 Nimitz-class U.S. aircraft carriers in existence. It replaces the USS George Washington, which is headed back to the U.S. for maintenance work and upgrades.
In a statement, Japan's foreign ministry welcomed the arrival of the carrier, saying it will "contribute to the security of Japan and the maintenance of peace and security of the region."
Some local groups have expressed opposition to the carrier's presence. On Thursday, a group of protesters in a small boat sailed next to the massive warship with a sign that read, "You are not welcome here."
There has long been some local resistance to the U.S.-Japan defense alliance, which has placed nearly 50,000 American troops and some of Washington's most expensive military hardware in the country.
