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U.S. holds parachuting drill at Okinawa base despite opposition

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Throw the invaders out ! The US military has no respect for anyone. We have over 190 bases in other people's countries. They are not "protecting " anyone but the interests of big business. WW2 was over 80 years ago...get the foreign mercenaries out !

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Sure get them to leave and leave Japan to become an annex of North Korea. Perhaps that will. Make some people happier?

The word of the invader. We're here to keep you safe, etc.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

trump is about to start a nuclear war with the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea

So Trump just woke up one day and decided to start a nuclear war with NK? I highly doubt this. Are we still on the same topic? the concern here is the training/ exercise of the US troops which the Okinawan people  are complaining about.

I do not see any harm on those exercise and it's about time to be prepared with all this threats coming...

I would rather not torture my brain thinking about the US-JAPAN agreement on the base of Okinawa. Our comments would not matter anyway unless we are in a position of government.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Americans get their feeling hurt too easily. 

Huh? This is pot-kettle-black mentality. Who's the one doing the complaining and whining here? It surely isn't the American's.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

For argument's sake let's say the U.S. is willing to withdraw all bases from Japan. What will happen to Japanese national security and diplomacy? I think the withdrawal of U.S. military would make it necessary (or at least, be a good political excuse) to either a) modify b) widely interpret or c) blatantly ignore the Japanese constitution article 9. However, it seems the kinds of people who say "go home America!" are also opposed to changing the constitution and to the idea of Japanese forces involved in a war. I can never figure out what exactly their vision is for the future of Japan since it seems to be a case of having cake and eating it too.

So it surprises me not at all, the Americans do not honor the desires of the Japanese government and Okinawa people!

True in many spheres where the U.S. has influence, it's good to accept this fact if you want to understand U.S. policies and maneuverings: win-win situations may sometimes develop but in principle on a national level the U.S. only does what's advantageous for them.

The bottom line is, regardless of whatever you think of the political motivation, if a conflict did break out involving Japan, these soldiers would be willing to give their lives defending it.

Speaking as a U.S. military family member, this is also true.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The DPRK knows any agrement with trump is not worth the paper it is written upon.

I think it’s more the other way around.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Giveme_abreak, trump is about to start a nuclear war with the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. A chain of American bases in Okinawa would mean a string of nuclear explosions the length of Okinawa. It would kill off the majority of the Okinawa people. The DPRK knows any agrement with trump is not worth the paper it is written upon.

The people of Okinawa do not hate the American military but want their land back! Okinawa has a growing population and America has gone against so many agrements with the Okinawa government. It it is not parachuting on to Kadena, it is going back on its agrements to return bases in a timely fashion. Oh add the Marine Ospreys hover over populated Okinawa breaking yet another agrement.

So it surprises me not at all, the Americans do not honor the desires of the Japanese government and Okinawa people!

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Can't you just people open your eyes? are you blinded by your hate towards the US military force? the NK is seriously threatening this country and the nearby country. So who do you think will defend or support this country? Does other country raising their hands and pledging to support Japan other than US and South? For goodness sake let them do their job. Those people will not hesitate in a heartbeat to give their lives when push comes to shove. Give them a break!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Big OkinawanToday  09:18 am JST

Shigure Tatsushige I said something about China taking other countries islands not building their own. Do you think that the US should have gone to war over a small island that China built? Do you think such a war would fare well for Japan? I think not. You have to pick your battles, and that one is not worth it.

The small reefs and islands were claimed by several US Allie countries and the US still did nothing, the US claimed it would not let the area become militarized and it has become militarized. Its like Obama and the red line in Syria, the US is all talk. The US starts wars now days for minerals and oil, nothing more, and all the wars it has started not one has it won, all it has done is made power vacuums that have been filled by groups like ISIS, and the death of million of innocent civilians. If you worship the US so much, then please fill feel to move there. ... Seems to me there are a lot of Anti-Japan/Anti-Japanese who are living in Japan or on JT for some unknown reason, maybe running and hiding from something.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

YuriOtani it has nothing to do with anybody getting their feelings hurt. It is so sad how blind you are. Americans should not keep the world safe. They should leave Japan and let us be ruled by China. Wouldn't that be fun!

Shigure Tatsushige I said something about China taking other countries islands not building their own. Do you think that the US should have gone to war over a small island that China built? Do you think such a war would fare well for Japan? I think not. You have to pick your battles, and that one is not worth it.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

If the U.S. military ever left Japan it wouldn't take long before China swooped in and made a claim that all Okinawa prefecture islands were theirs. They have attempted this with many countries in the past few years.

Yeah and we can see how the US has stopped China from building man made islands in the South China Sea and then placing military equipment on them, OH wait... China has done it and the US did NOTHING. .. Sorry move along nothing to see here!

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Why are all of you complaining about the U.S. military here in Okinawa? In order to get ready for war the U.S. military needs to practice. If you think the JSDF can handle a war or protect Japan in general I feel you may be delusional and you may want to go see a doctor about that. If the U.S. military ever left Japan it wouldn't take long before China swooped in and made a claim that all Okinawa prefecture islands were theirs. They have attempted this with many countries in the past few years. The U.S. military is the lesser evil here. How would Japan defend themselves against a nuclear attack from North Korea? Kim Jong is crazy and everyone knows this. Right now the U.S. government is the only one stepping up to try to stop their nuclear advances. Do you think Abe would of ever stepped up to try to stop them or would he just verbally condemn them for what they have done. Abe would not try to stop them because the JSDF isn't able to handle such a conflict. Get your mind right.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

With North Korea launching missiles over Japan, and the odds of an armed conflict higher than they have been in decades, military drills are of course going to be increased.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

OssanAmericaToday  06:52 am JST

The JSDF is enough to defend Japan. But when confronted by a large nuclear power it is necessary to have an even larger nuclear power watch your back to ensure the adversary does not stoop to using it's advantage. There are many Japanese who think that without the US military presence in Okinawa, China would already have made an effort to claim them. Of course the anti-US protesters in Okinawa don't see things that way.

Is this why every cluster **** since the end of WWII the US has dragged in it allies? Before the invasion of Iraq, Bush and the Pentagon requested Aussie and British SAS go in before any US forces, us Aussie and Brits were in Iraq months before a single US boot was on the ground. Japan has the 2nd most advance military in the world according to a BBC report in 2013, so this idea that Japan needs the US is a load of garbage. Come to think about it the US has not won a single war it has started since the end of WWII, even Somalian Warlord beat the living daylights out of US SF.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

tomusnr,

Tell your brother in law about how the closings of bases bring about a boon to local economy. Take Naha's Shintoshin district, for example. The area used to be a sprawling housing compound for the families of U.S. Army personnel, employing a modicum number of house maids and gardeners. Now, it's transformed into a major commercial district in Okinawa, employing far more people as office workers..    

Schopenhauer,

In fact, there’s some sector in Okinawan society that is penchant for independence. If Okinawa is offered by the Japanese government to the U.S. as a sacrifice in return for Japan's make-shift independence, it's very natural for people to think they must go independent like it was as an independent kingdom and rid themselves of the occlusion feelings.

In my view, Okinawa’s independence is a mere pipe dream as far as Japan itself is not independent from the suzerain United States.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

The JSDF is enough to defend Japan. But when confronted by a large nuclear power it is necessary to have an even larger nuclear power watch your back to ensure the adversary does not stoop to using it's advantage. There are many Japanese who think that without the US military presence in Okinawa, China would already have made an effort to claim them. Of course the anti-US protesters in Okinawa don't see things that way.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

When China claims The Ryukyu chain as historically theirs...well what are you going to do? The only reason it has not happened yet is because of the alliance.

You really think the JSDF isn't enough?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

" if a conflict did break out involving Japan, these soldiers would be willing to give their lives defending it."

Really? Japan's fundamental problem is we depend our defense on a foreign military. I wish someday we will not have to pay a big price for that.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The bottom line is, regardless of whatever you think of the political motivation, if a conflict did break out involving Japan, these soldiers would be willing to give their lives defending it. Think about that when you're typing your 'Pack up and leave US!' rhetoric.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The American bases will stay.My brother in law doesn't agree with all that happens he says if the bases close a lot of okinawan people Wil be out of work Okinawa does have the highest unemployment rate in Japan also the JSDFwil take over the U.S. bases and bring their won people to work there by the way my brother in law is Okinawan

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I say again to Okinawans. You have to go independent from Japan to be free from the feeling that you are under American rulings. No mainland prefecture will accept them. They know the feelings of humiliation of Okinawans. America moves for their interest not for Japan. We cannot get rid of them. We lost the war. That is the fact.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

O.K. all you US Forces in ALL of Japan: Pack up your Troubles and your old Tin Cup.

Oh...and all you arm chair generals, living in Japan, you better brush up on your chinese, your favorite dialect of north korean, and whoever ELSE wants revenge on Japan, say...even South Korea.

Let me know how that all works out for you...I'll be on the beach at Chatan.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Hawkish Abe and his gov't. are now hating the men from sky. watch out commander, they might be mistaken as N Korean missile debris

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Cont: posture. US Armed Forces are present in other countries worldwide at the "request" of that government and function as a quick reactionary force to augment that countries forced should the need arise. The governing bodies of mainland Japan and Okinawa do not aways see eye to eye. Bottom line a chance of an accident during these training exercise are about the same as one of N. Korea's missles accidentally failing and coming down on them. As for China their building a "bridge" consisting of Island "stepping stones" to the garden spots of Asia.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I don't know weather to cry or laugh at some of the comments I've read here. The Japanese constution forbids the JSDFs from anything but a Self Defense posyute

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Onion, what if they would of landed on the busy Hwy 58? or perhaps in a power line? Then there might be a traffic accident from people watching them. It is illresponsible of the Americans to do these stunts!

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

YuriOtaniToday 11:15 pm The Americans give lame excuses for why they have to drop paratroopers into the heart of a Japanese city.

OnionToday 11:17 pm JST16 service members parachuted at 7:30 in the morning

16 men landing on the airstrip at Kadena is "the heart of a Japanese city"???? Give me a break.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

16 service members parachuted at 7:30 in the morning? I'm sure they landed quickly?

What's all this fuss about?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

This shows the Americans do not respect the Government of Japan and the Japanese people. The Americans give lame excuses for why they have to drop paratroopers into the heart of a Japanese city. The Americans use China as a boogy man to scare people when in truth they are the problem. DaDude, it is Japanese fighting spirt! Perhaps your invitation to conduct a demostration will happen.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

Sure get them to leave and leave Japan to become an annex of North Korea. Perhaps that will. Make some people happier?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

BTW : Im English/Sicilian born in Australia, and moved to Japan in 2003, now a Japanese citizen. Im also ex-Aussie military thanks very much!

Good on you mate! Now use your Japanese samurai spirit and get down to the gates of Kadena and make a stink there. Your complaints are only being read by a few people on this little website.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Maybe US military top in Okinawa thinks Trump will make Japan as US territory?

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

Japanese Gov't realize it is gimme to evict US forces in Japan?

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Kadena airbase should be closed and transferred to Guam or Clark where the Philippinos treat Americans like Hollywood stars.

Washington should stop making Okinawa the Crimea of Asia to be credible again.

China? Well they are busy with their One Belt One Road business and can't afford to have any conflict with anybody cause any war will be counterproductive pure and simple.

Stop hyping the China threat and just end the Amerikano colonization of the Ryukyus.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

Shigure TatsushigeToday 08:02 pm JSTWhen China claims The Ryukyu chain as historically theirs...well what are you going to do? The only reason it has not happened yet is because of the alliance.

Again rubbish, look if China wanted to take over the Ryukyu chain and be sure the US would not attack, they would stop buying US debt treasury bonds, with out China buying the US debt treasury bonds the US economy would fail and with in a few months the US would not be able to even pay their police forces, let alone start a war. Stop big noting the US as some savior

No that's not true. China is just one buyer of US securities, Japan is nearly on the same level. There is a global market for them and nobody "needs" China to be a buyer. Furthermore if China ever acts up they will be frozen as the US has done to other nations in the past. You are parroting the standard "we have America by the cojones" CCP propaganda.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Safety concerns remain over the parachuting drill as local residents remember a 1965 incident in the Okinawa village of Yomitan, in which an elementary school girl was fatally crushed by a trailer that had been parachuted down there during a U.S. military exercise.

Please...pulling at straws to an incident that occurred over 50 years ago, and when the island was under US military control is sad on so many levels!

It's the same as my wife complaining about me forgetting to put my socks in the hamper over 30 years ago when we were first married! "Oh you forgot once! So you are damned for eternity!"

Better they use Kadena as a landing zone then Ie Island, it's larger by far, better prepared for any incidents, and let's not forget that training is what keeps them ready to assist if and anything occurs!

ANYONE who uses this argument as a reason to complain against the training is a HYPOCRITE!

5 ( +11 / -6 )

Always the same, no matter what is done training wise, there will always be the “No: We said not to do it “, regardless. Doesn’t matter what the training is.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Rubbish, the US forces are only here for their convenience, not Japan's.

When China claims The Ryukyu chain as historically theirs...well what are you going to do? The only reason it has not happened yet is because of the alliance.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Good on the US. The Okinawans really need to be more appreciative and respectful.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Yeah, what a great idea! Then, we can all sit back and wait for North Korea to 'bring the rain'. You Japanese all complain about the continued presence of the US military in japan, but without it you all would be speaking Russian by now.

Rubbish, the US forces are only here for their convenience, not Japan's. The US force have bases in 150 countries around the world, how many of them countries have bases in the US?

BTW : Im English/Sicilian born in Australia, and moved to Japan in 2003, now a Japanese citizen. Im also ex-Aussie military thanks very much!

-9 ( +10 / -19 )

Yep, they should withdraw.  and leave Japan to fend for itself.  One less target for KJU to aim at.

Midway is close enough.  Or Guam.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Oh, give it a rest you bunch of double standard whiners! The JSDF holds parachute drills every other week over densely populated areas close to Chiba city, but nobody complains about that, do they?

Shigure Tatsushige - Close the base down and kick them out! Problem fixed!

Yeah, what a great idea! Then, we can all sit back and wait for North Korea to 'bring the rain'. You Japanese all complain about the continued presence of the US military in japan, but without it you all would be speaking Russian by now.

12 ( +21 / -9 )

Send them all back home. No valid reason for them to be here.

-5 ( +10 / -15 )

"We can never tolerate it.",.......HUH?

1 ( +6 / -5 )

I understand what they're trying to do. Their plan is to nag about everything done by the US military in Okinawa, until the US gets sick of it and leaves.

1 ( +12 / -11 )

Close the base down and kick them out! Problem fixed!

-11 ( +12 / -23 )

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