U.S. Marines start transfer from Okinawa in Japan to Guam under plan agreed 12 years ago

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.

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.

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.

"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!

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.

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.

 start transfer from Okinawa in Japan to Guam

Is there anyway to make it faster? Sooner is better right?

This is a very welcome move.

Japan has paid up to $2.8 billion for the building of infrastructure at the U.S. bases on Guam

This is bonkers. What is the rationale for Japanese tax dollars/yen building a Marine base in Guam?

I'm just waiting for our taxes to increase, and for us to start rearming....The end is nigh for Japanese pacifism.

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.

So, moving the burden of sexual assaults upon civilians (and children) to Guam too...

Mentions the latest disgrace in the final paragraph.

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 !

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!

Great news for the CCP and NK. Kind of sucks for Japan, though.

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 real outrage should be that child rape nets just a five years prison sentence.

deanzaZZRToday 07:34 am JST

This is a very welcome move.

Japan has paid up to $2.8 billion for the building of infrastructure at the U.S. bases on Guam

This is bonkers. What is the rationale for Japanese tax dollars/yen building a Marine base in Guam?

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.

It will definitely have an impact on local businesses.

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?

@Mocheake Agreed. Some self-strengthening is needed. The old IJA is gone forever.

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.

You are deluding yourself if you think China dont want to go to war with japan if they think they can win decisively. It would be hugely popular with the population. It would single handily give the government the mandate to rule for many decades

blahblah222

You are deluding yourself if you think China dont want to go to war with japan

Ah ah ah.... that is the favorite narrative of the big US military industrial complex to promote their huge billions dollars orders of weapons all over the globe.

And here we are again, just in time for Christmas and Wall Street on all time high with the American investors very happy. People never learn...

Good riddance. Now get shot of the rest of them.

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?

Officially the White House controls between 750 and 800 military bases around the world, as opposed to less than 5 belonging to China. In Asia, amongst the big Okinawa camps, US have basis in Guam, Diego Garcia, ROK and all over the Japanese arcipelago that ring China. The US fleet, with Japan support, regularly patrols off the China coast. And yet the media narrative (and the usual suspects) is that China is a threat.

Complete bovine excrement, but the Japanese politicians believe it.

Because it is 110% true whether you want to accept that or not.

The US fleet, with Japan support, regularly patrols off the China coast. And yet the media narrative (and the usual suspects) is that China is a threat.

Because they are.

Good riddance. Now get shot of the rest of them.

What does that nonsense even mean?

You are deluding yourself if you think China dont want to go to war with japan if they think they can win decisively. It would be hugely popular with the population. It would single handily give the government the mandate to rule for many decades

Exactly, spot on.

It will definitely have an impact on local businesses.

Very, very much so, an island heavily dependent on US patrons, hard times ahead.

JJEToday 08:14 am JST

So, moving the burden of sexual assaults upon civilians (and children) to Guam too...

Just as well as that is UN recognized US territory.

FosToday 11:34 am JST

And here we are again, just in time for Christmas and Wall Street on all time high with the American investors very happy. People never learn...

Still 1% gdp and your line was supposed to be how much more money is made off of Japan.

Officially the White House controls between 750 and 800 military bases around the world, as opposed to less than 5 belonging to China.

And that's a good thing as the US will have to throw China back from Taiwan from across the world.

In Asia, amongst the big Okinawa camps, US have basis in Guam, Diego Garcia, ROK and all over the Japanese arcipelago that ring China.

All legal. The ROK and Japan don't want to be located next to China but unfortunately they are.

The US fleet, with Japan support, regularly patrols off the China coast. And yet the media narrative (and the usual suspects) is that China is a threat.

And that's a good thing as China regularly threatens Free Taiwan.

Peter NeilToday 01:08 pm JST

Every country's history is made up of wars or it is a snoozer.

When all Marines have left Okinawa. Which will never happen.

China would lay claim to Okinawa like they do the Senkaku isle.

On average, the Okinawans were found to share 80.8% (±11.2 SD) admixture with Japanese and 19.2% (±11.2 SD) admixture with Chinese suggesting that the Okinawans and the Japanese share substantial common ancestry.

China would lay claim on that 19% and demand some realestate or resourcses. If we just left Oki.

Thats how China likes to operate.

Ah ah ah.... that is the favorite narrative of the big US military industrial complex to promote their huge billions dollars orders of weapons all over the globe.

not all threat is made up, China's threat to Japan is very real. Outside of a few urban elites, pretty much all of the mainland chinese population wants to go to war with Japan, and many want an extermination war too.

Good riddance!

This is one of the three reasons why I think the Henoko new base now under construction, a relocation site for Futenma, is nonsense and a white elephant budget-/strategy-wise.

The other two reasons why I think it is a white elephant are; secondly, that Tokyo and Washington have agreed that JSDF has primary responsibility for defending Japan's outlying islands; and thirdly, that a future war will certainly be centering around missile and drone attacks.

For starters, the U.S. decided to relocate Okinawa-based Marines to Guam because China had developed missiles that could target U.S. bases in Okinawa quite easily.

What then is the meaning of building an Osprey base in Henoko by destroying so much of pristine mother nature that endangered dugong make it here a habitat?

The usual suspects trying to advance their "Indo-Pacific" strategy to contain China, fanning the flames in the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan Straits and South China Sea.

That America holding war games in those waters halfway around the world from it is miraculously not threatening, but China holding war games practically in sight of Chinese territory is seems rather an illogical proposition.

Like we said, time and time again, the only military risk that we face from China is if we continue as a proxy for the US in its endless war.

Greed (Wall Street all time high) and Guns (the top 5 weapons manufacturers in the world are all Americans).

blahblah222

Outside of a few urban elites, pretty much all of the mainland chinese population wants to go to war with Japan, and many want an extermination war too.

I am not much into SciFi titles, but I have a friend who is looking for alternative science books for Christmas. Where did you get the sentence you just mentioned? Or is it just US military dispatches?

The sure thing here is that the Japanese ( Okinawa) economy will take a big hit. Less consumption by US soldiers and their families, reduced real estate prices..

The crime numbers by US soldiers were low( zero is of course the only acceptable number but sadly unrealistic) actually.

Chinese army is in no condition to take Japan by force so that should not be the reason for a US presence. As a deterrence for China to take Taiwan if made more sense. The Okinawa business owners will be sorry to see the Americans go.

FosToday 02:47 pm JST

greed&guns

The usual suspects trying to advance their "Indo-Pacific" strategy to contain China, fanning the flames in the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan Straits and South China Sea.

NK and the PRC are perfectly capable of acting like responsible countries but they don't.

That America holding war games in those waters halfway around the world from it is miraculously not threatening, but China holding war games practically in sight of Chinese territory is seems rather an illogical proposition.

It's threatening to the 24 million people in Taiwan.

Greed (Wall Street all time high) and Guns (the top 5 weapons manufacturers in the world are all Americans).

1% of gdp and the next 5 are all Chinese.

CPowell

1% of gdp and the next 5 are all Chinese.

Imagine what you can with the so called “1% of US GDP”: send $20 billions to the State of Israel in 2024 for the mass killing of over 45.000 people in Gaza (Lebanon is another story). The rest (double figure), you can support the over 750 US military bases worldwide, send billions o of arms to Ukraine (as long as they are American made and create jobs in the US), and supply more weapons to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan,too destabilize Asia, while bombing Syria and develop more deals with local ISIS rebels. And let’s not forget to tell the world that China is a “global threat”, so more weapons are needed. Welcome to USA

Moving troops to Guam will modestly help to de-escalate tensions with China = SMART, Why?

Trump and Xi are set to focus together on promoting global economic growth = Stabilize the World

HopeSpringsEternal

> Trump & Xi Together will Stabilize the World, Era of Biden's Globalist Destabilization is OVER

That is what any reasonable person should expect, not only diplomacy conducive to peace between Beijing and Washington in any regionali contest, but also economic and transparent economic activity with China and Japan guiding the much needed increase of commerce in the continent. 

But the big US industrial military complex would not have it, since they won’t get any financial return. And that is why through the “usual suspects”, the US administration is instigating more tensions, alluding at ideological enemies and threats, menaces and sci-fi scenarios.  

With the continuous sales of weapons Wall Street and the Nasdaq are updating records after records, making US lobbies very happy, just in time for Christmas.

Less troops to deter those #poohxi CCP terrorist.

What then is the meaning of building an Osprey base in Henoko by destroying so much of pristine mother nature that endangered dugong make it here a habitat?

And where is the outrage at all the destruction committed by Japanese/Okinawan construction all around the island, that has destroyed at least 1000 times more than the drop in the bucket at Camp Schwab?

Trying to gaslight people here into thinking that Okinawan's are saints with regards to the environment.

Despite the #poohxi CCP lovers infinite love for their terrorism. It doesn’t change the fact that #poohxi CCP can never be trusted. In this day and age killing and imprisoning their own people for brain washing. Really can they be trusted?

Full of SomethingDec. 15 05:33 pm JST

1% of gdp and the next 5 are all Chinese.

Imagine what you can with the so called “1% of US GDP”: send $20 billions to the State of Israel in 2024 for the mass killing of over 45.000 people in Gaza (Lebanon is another story). The rest (double figure), you can support the over 750 US military bases worldwide, send billions o of arms to Ukraine (as long as they are American made and create jobs in the US), and supply more weapons to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan,too destabilize Asia, while bombing Syria and develop more deals with local ISIS rebels. And let’s not forget to tell the world that China is a “global threat”, so more weapons are needed. Welcome to USA

All great things, except maybe the support of Israel. Sorry you have to promote China with the largest navy in the world.

But the big US industrial military complex would not have it, since they won’t get any financial return. And that is why through the “usual suspects”, the US administration is instigating more tensions, alluding at ideological enemies and threats, menaces and sci-fi scenarios.

China threat to Taiwan and the Philippines is real.  

With the continuous sales of weapons Wall Street and the Nasdaq are updating records after records, making US lobbies very happy, just in time for Christmas.

Still 1% of gdp.

I served in Okinawa in both the USMC, USAF and as DOD Civ.

i realize the burden Okinawans have borne for almost 100 years.

Though I am glad I learned about Okinawan and mainland Japan cultures and language.

Hercolobus

i realize the burden Okinawans have borne for almost 100 years.

The needs of Okinawan people don't matter, first the economic interest of the US big military industrial complex and second the residents aspirations, which are routinely scrapped in favor of the US lobbies since the American occupation. It is unfortunate, but that's the way it is. American manufacturing of weapons on a global scale create jobs in the US and huge earning in the stock markets. No wonder Wall Street and Nasdaq are updating records after record. What matters now is the usual suspects want Asia to become the next Okinawa. That is why we are here to stop this narrative through the usual suspects of "threats and menaces" for the sake of greed&guns spread by the US administration

@Bertie, you are right on target. I used to believe the scripted narrative until I found the truth by distancing from the MSM.

Yubaru,

The late Ichiro Inamine, an erstwhile economic tycoon in Okinawa and the father of former Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine, circulated around 1960 a draft design in which he said that so much of the prime land on Okinawa is being occupied by the U.S. forces, Okinawa must/can expand its area twice as much by filling land of the lagoons that ubiquitously surround the island from the south to the north.

At the time, I thought it was an excellent idea, but my thought has changed drastically ever since. Environment preservation is more important than man's economic activities.

If you are an environmentalist, let's work together for the return of U.S. base land one by one

Good bye and Good Riddance! There are more U.S. Marine Dependents on Okinawa than actual fighting troops! The U.S. Marine's take up a lot of valuable land space but actually contribute very little to the defense of Okinawa. It is better to replace the Marines with JSDF forces because JSDF forces don't need Massive Housing Areas, Dependent Schools, Teen Centers, Soccer, Baseball, Football fields and Swimming Pools! JSDF personnel utilize local facilities and pay local taxes and actually contribute to the local Economy!

japan4lifeToday 02:04 am JST

Yes, service memebers with a spouse and kid do contribute more than just the service member to the population. They also contribute to you not having to learn Chinese.

Regrettably, there seem many U.S. service members who wrongly believe that they are contributing a great deal to Okinawa's economy in one way or the other.

To those people, I want to direct their attention to the very fact of how thriving a returned U.S. base land will become:

E.g. Mihama New Town in Chatan and Naha's New business district known as Shin Toshin, both of which used to be a U.S. base and a sprawling housing area for dependents.

E.g. Mihama New Town in Chatan and Naha's New business district known as Shin Toshin, both of which used to be a U.S. base and a sprawling housing area for dependents.

Mihama is a landfill not a previous base. Get your facts straight. The land returned was Hanby which originally thrived, UNTIL the Mihama landfill was completed and American Village took over everything.

Hanby is now just a bed town by definition, and nearly all the businesses that first start there are long gone. Few shop there anymore, besides the flea market and tiny businesses.

Shintoshin, once the Machiminato housing area is fully developed, and thriving, but to extrapolate that success to mean all returned bases will have the same effect is plain ludicrous.

If you are an environmentalist, let's work together for the return of U.S. base land one by one

And while you are at it, let's return the land "confiscated" for the building of the runway landfill at Naha AP that destroyed the pristine coral and destroyed the sea there. Let's return all the landfills for that matter, as they all destroyed the environment, at least a million times more than the landfill at Camp Schwab.

Folks have to stop being hypocrites when it comes to making claims that everything wrong with the environment is the blame of the US military. That is just plain choosing to be ignorant.

Look, Okinawa is not a U.S. territory. If it were, your argument could establish itself.  But Okinawa is not a U.S. territory, and so your argument is preposterous at the best.

The U.S. Marines are using Futenma like illegal squatters. The land where Futenma sits was confiscated in blatant violation of international law while area residents were herded in camps like POWs.  

The illegal squatters have no right to demand for a replacement outside of it. NEVER ever.

Look, Okinawa is not a U.S. territory. If it were, your argument could establish itself. But Okinawa is not a U.S. territory, and so your argument is preposterous at the best.

And you must accept the fact that Okinawa is not a sovereign country either. If it was, it would be up to the "Okinawan" government to decide, but that kind of discussion is just ludicrous.

Okinawa is a part of Japan, and more importantly the people want to be a part of Japan.

he illegal squatters have no right to demand for a replacement outside of it. NEVER ever.

Beating a dead horse once again. The US has never "demanded" anything. You again try to gaslight people into believing a lie.

The U.S. Marines are using Futenma like illegal squatters. The land where Futenma sits was confiscated in blatant violation of international law while area residents were herded in camps like POWs.

Any and all claims against the US military were forgiven by the reversion treaty between Japan and the US.

This is a settled law and fact. Anyone who knows anything about the issue knows this.

You must accept it to move forward, you also must accept that ANY and ALL complaints or problems you have with it, MUST be directed to the Japanese government.

Take your complaints up with the Japanese government!

Yubaru,

The issue is not dead. It's not a dead horse. It will keep reviving like a monster and impeding the bilateral relations as long as the U.S. military presence, a.k.a. military occupation, keeps going.

The issue is not dead. It's not a dead horse. It will keep reviving like a monster and impeding the bilateral relations as long as the U.S. military presence, a.k.a. military occupation, keeps going.

Lol! Tell that to all the construction workers busting their butts to get the job finished!

No "bilateral" relations are being impeded, far from it and you KNOW it too.

Yubaru,

Once people knew about the real meaning of the U.S. military presence, their anger will know no bounds.

The current bilateral relations are fake and only superficial as far as the U.S. policy toward Japan is concerned.

voiceofokinawaToday 07:30 am JST

Once people knew about the real meaning of the U.S. military presence, their anger will know no bounds.

Japan voluntarily holds itself back militarily and until that changes, anger is kind of meaningless.

Once people knew about the real meaning of the U.S. military presence, their anger will know no bounds.

Funny isnt it? How one person thinks they can speak for an entire population of a country and yet be so wrong.

There is no deep secret as to why the US military is still stationed in Japan, no matter how many conspiracy theories you wish to entertain. The US has been in Japan for nearly 80 years....

The primary purpose of the U.S. military presence in Japan is to deter aggression and maintain regional security in the Indo-Pacific by acting as a visible force alongside the Japan Self-Defense Forces, based on the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, which is considered a cornerstone of stability in the region; this includes supporting Japan's defense capabilities and contributing to overall peace and security through joint training and operations. 

Strategic location: Japan's geographical position allows the U.S. military to monitor and respond to activities in the East China Sea and Korean Peninsula. 

Joint operations: U.S. forces in Japan regularly train and exercise with the Japan Self-Defense Forces to enhance interoperability. 

Deterrence against threats: The presence of U.S. military personnel and equipment serves as a deterrent against potential adversaries like North Korea and China. 

Okinawa's importance: A significant portion of U.S. military bases in Japan are located on Okinawa, which is considered strategically important due to its proximity to potential hotspots.

Yubaru,

In 1970 when Okinawa’s reversion to Japan loomed realistic, a high-ranking U.S. government official toured South East Asian countries, probably to palliate their concerns over the issue. At a meeting, one head of state opined that he feared over the revival of pre-war day Japan's imperialism if U.S. bases were all withdrawn from Okinawa. 

The U.S. official responded to it in no time: "No worry. We've taken necessary measures for it already."  In other words, he absent-mindedly revealed the U.S. government's real intentions to keep U.S. bases in Okinawa forever.

Thus, ultimately, the U.S. military presence in Okinawa is for not letting the genie out of the bottle.

The U.S. official responded to it in no time: "No worry. We've taken necessary measures for it already."  In other words, he absent-mindedly revealed the U.S. government's real intentions to keep U.S. bases in Okinawa forever.

Thus, ultimately, the U.S. military presence in Okinawa is for not letting the genie out of the bottle.

One must have a very simplified understanding of the world to come to a conclusion like this based upon comments made over 50 years ago.

In 1970 when Okinawa’s reversion to Japan loomed realistic, a high-ranking U.S. government official toured South East Asian countries, probably to palliate their concerns over the issue. At a meeting, one head of state opined that he feared over the revival of pre-war day Japan's imperialism if U.S. bases were all withdrawn from Okinawa. 

The times have changed, and with it the actually reasons for the bases staying in JAPAN, not just Okinawa, you keep on forgetting this point.

Once enemies are now the best of allies, and we are all lucky it is so, including the descendants of the "head-of-state" who feared, again over 50 years ago, about the rebirth of Japanese imperialism. That head of state is obviously long dead, and with it, his fears as well.

We live in a different era.

Yubaru,

Commodore Matthiew Perry, who pried open the closed doors of reclusive Japan in the mid -19th century., recommended then U.S. President Fillmore to. take Okinawa by force and make it a bastion for the U.S. to advance to Asia. That recommendation was dismissed thanks to a political turmoil in Washington. But the imperialistic ambition of Perry's was realized 60 years later, i.e. in 1945, when Japan was defeated in World War II.

The insistence by the U.S. for Japan to provide a replacement for Futenma illustrates the situation very well. As I have argued elsewhere, the Henoko new base, the so-called Futenma's replacement, is a money-gulping white elephant budget-/strategy-wise.

There are three reasons why I think so.

First: Japan and the U.S. have agreed that JSDF have primary responsibility for defending outlying islands and Japan itself

Second: the most active elements of Okinawa-based U.S. Marines have been bilaterally agreed to relocate to Guam. Infrastructure to house them or for them to train in must be completed by now.

Third: A future war will be centering around missile and drone attacks, making the transportation of troops by accident-prone Ospreys completely obsolete.

How do you respond?

The insistence by the U.S. for Japan to provide a replacement for Futenma 

Everything after this statement, is based upon a 100% faulty premise that the US is insisting on a replacement facility for Futenma.

You know fully well that the US is insisting on nothing other than Japan keep it's promises made in the treaty.

Once again, you attempt to place the blame on the US, but it's the Japanese government that agreed to it, and Japan could just as easily demand a change to the treaty, but it hasnt. Japan could also just as easily demand the US leave all it's bases, and leave Japan, but it hasnt, and has not intention to do so either.

So once again, blame your Japanese government

Yubaru,

Don't obfuscate. Answer my question succinctly. Why does the U.S. need to maintain Futenma and its function on Okinawa forever despite the fact that Futenma or its replacement is a white elephant in terms of the budget and military strategy? Futenma is an illegal property. That is, the U.S. Marines are using it like illegal squatters. Mind you, they are illegal squatters.

 our answer to that is because the Japanese government agreed with the U.S. government. Go to Tokyo if I had a complaint? You know how sycophantic Japanese government behaves before the domineering U.S. government. Lol.

Your answer to that is because the Japanese government agreed with the U.S. government. Go to Tokyo if I had a complaint? You know how the sycophantic Japanese government behaves before the domineering U.S. government. Lol.

Futenma is an illegal property. That is, the U.S. Marines are using it like illegal squatters. Mind you, they are illegal squatters.

Ahh, here we go again. You know for a fact that this is blatantly wrong.

Just because you dont like the results, you can't change the facts that there is nothing illegal about Futenma, as it is all, 100% settled by the reversion treaty.

Don't obfuscate. Answer my question succinctly.

Obfuscate? You should look up the meaning of the word. Again, I wrote facts, and you just cant accept it. The US demands nothing.

Yubaru,

The U.S. occupation forces confiscated private property to build an airfield while area residents were herded in camps like POWs. That was a blatant violation of international law. Do you think the violation of international law is pardoned by a mere agreement between the parties concerned? Do you think the dealing of stolen goods legal if two parties agreed?

The U.S. occupation forces confiscated private property to build an airfield while area residents were herded in camps like POWs. That was a blatant violation of international law. Do you think the violation of international law is pardoned by a mere agreement between the parties concerned? Do you think the dealing of stolen goods legal if two parties agreed?

You are so predictable. When a discussion doesnt go your way, you revert to old rhetoric that has been legally and officially been put to bed. It was an issue prior to the treaty, but it's settled law.

Just because you dont like the moral issues related to it, I would strongly recommend coming down off your high horse, as Japan as a host of historically morally reprehensible issues it never too responsibility for. Two wrongs dont make a right, but at least Japan and the US settled the land issues in the treaty, and you know it too.

It's all a moral issue. Take your case to a court that might hear you, but you know there are none, so you try to get your lies past the court of public opinion. You should let it rest.

Yubaru:

Answer my question straight.

"Do you think the violation of international law is pardoned by a mere agreement between the parties concerned? Do you think the dealing of stolen goods legal if two parties agreed?"

Discuss it not as a moral issue but a legal one.

Discuss it not as a moral issue but a legal one.

It's not a "legal" issue as the treaty settled any and all claims, It's purely an academic moral issue now. Japan is far from blameless and only cherry picking one teeny tiny speck of "land" is meaningless.

Do you think the violation of international law is pardoned by a mere agreement between the parties concerned?

Read the treaty again, read the part where it clearly states "all claims" and you will have your answer. It's plain to see in black and white.

Moral issue.

Yubaru,

the treaty settled any and all claims,

Is this your answer to my question: "Do you think the violation of international law is pardoned by a mere agreement between the parties concerned? Do you think the dealing of stolen goods legal if two parties agreed?"

In other words, selling of stolen goods is not illegal if parties involved agreed. Lol.

In other words, selling of stolen goods is not illegal if parties involved agreed. Lol.

And as noted countless times, ALL claims, not some, not "yours", ALL claims were settled by the treaty.

Land wasnt "stolen", it's still there, and it is still Japanese land, granted for use to the US military, by the Japanese government.

Yubaru, 

If you don't like the word "steal", let me use the word "usurp" or "confiscate" instead. Satisfied?

If you don't like the word "steal", let me use the word "usurp" or "confiscate" instead. Satisfied?

Land was confiscated, and with the treaty, all claims satisfied. It's Japanese land, and the Japanese government agreed to the treaty, and dont forget that for what, 2 generations now, the "owners" of the land have been handsomely paid rent money for said land.

And btw, no matter how many ways to attempt to twist it around, it's a purely moral issue today, and one no one cares about, well besides you, because everyone else obviously knows it's a settled, thus "dead issue"