The partial transfer of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam began on Saturday, 12 years after Japan and the United States agreed on their realignment to reduce the heavy burden of American troop presence on the southern Japanese island, officials said.
The relocation started with 100 members of III Marine Expeditionary Force stationed on Okinawa moving to the Pacific island for the initial logistical work, the U.S. Marine Corps and Japan’s Defense Ministry said in a joint statement.
Under the plan agreed between Tokyo and Washington in April 2012, about 9,000 of the 19,000 Marines currently stationed on Okinawa are to be moved out of Okinawa, including about 4,000 of them to be moved to Guam in phases. Details, including the size and timing of the next transfer, were not immediately released.
The Marine Corps is committed to the defense of Japan and meeting operational requirements to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific, and it will maintain presence in the region “through a combination of stationing and rotating Marines in Japan, Guam and Hawaii,” the joint statement said.
Japan has paid up to $2.8 billion for the building of infrastructure at the U.S. bases on Guam, and the U.S. government will fund the remaining costs. The two governments will continue to cooperate on the development of Camp Blaz, which will serve as the main installation for Marines stationed in Guam.
The Marines and Japan Self Defense Forces will conduct joint training in Guam, the statement said.
Okinawa, which was under U.S. postwar occupation until 1972, is still home to a majority of the more than 50,000 American troops based in Japan under a bilateral security pact, while 70% of U.S. military facilities are on Okinawa, which accounts for only 0.6% of Japanese land.
Many Okinawans have long complained about the heavy U.S. military presence on the island, and say Okinawa faces noise, pollution, aircraft accidents and crime related to American troops.
The relocation is likely to be welcomed by local residents, but how much improvement they will feel is uncertain because of the rapid Japanese military buildup on Okinawan islands as a deterrence to threats from China.
The start of the Marines relocation comes at a time of growing anti-U.S. military sentiment following a series of sexual assault cases involving American servicemembers.
On Thursday, a senior Air Force servicemember belonging to the Kadena Air Base was convicted of the kidnapping and sexual assault of a teenage girl last year, a case that triggered outrage on the island. The Naha District Court sentenced him to five years in prison.
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15 Comments
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Yubaru
Trade one for another. I have always stated that once the MC starts relocating personnel the JSDF will come in to replace them, and it's happening, and not on existing facilities either, as they are also being stationed on islands that previously had no military or JSDF presence.
Yubaru
"Outrage?" Please, yes there were the "regular" protests, but compared to the true outrage back in 96 this is nothing by comparison.
Oh and this issue certainly deserves it's own article. It's going to get messy here having these topics together!
Would really love some 3rd part, unbiased, reporting, on where this information is being gleaned from. Local media screams bloody murder when paint gets chipped off a bridge, so it's going to obviously go ape when an assault happens.
Sad thing though, is none of the press express their outrage when an Okinawan or Japanese female is a victim of DV or worse, that was committed by a Japanese citizen.
sakurasuki
Is there anyway to make it faster? Sooner is better right?
deanzaZZR
This is a very welcome move.
This is bonkers. What is the rationale for Japanese tax dollars/yen building a Marine base in Guam?
Matt
I'm just waiting for our taxes to increase, and for us to start rearming....The end is nigh for Japanese pacifism.
BertieWooster
deanzaZZR, the "rationale" is probably something like, "China and NK are poised, waiting to invade your country. The only defence is to support our troops. We make the world safe for democracy."
Complete bovine excrement, but the Japanese politicians believe it.
JJE
So, moving the burden of sexual assaults upon civilians (and children) to Guam too...
Mentions the latest disgrace in the final paragraph.
elephant200
These guys were the real time bomb of Japan 's security. But you know due to political correct of Japan m, this is an unspoken common sense !
HopeSpringsEternal
Smart to diversify troop deployments, especially in the age of hypersonic missiles. Any area housing so many young military men will encounter problems on occasion, law of numbers, as accidents happen while driving too!
YeahRight
Great news for the CCP and NK. Kind of sucks for Japan, though.
Kurisu
The real outrage should be that child rape nets just a five years prison sentence.
Mocheake
I often ask myself what the rationale is of America sending its troops into harm's way to possibly get killed in a conflict for the protection of people who care very little about them. That's bonkers too. I am all for Japan rearming and fielding its own military. Maybe toughening up some of the young men here will lead to the birthrate getting higher.
Nibek32
It will definitely have an impact on local businesses.
Peter Neil
well, there is the school of thought that the u.s. is not in japan for the japanese. it’s in japan for its own purposes. what is it, 180 bases worldwide?
deanzaZZR
@Mocheake Agreed. Some self-strengthening is needed. The old IJA is gone forever.