Gov't pledges economic support for Okinawan city accepting U.S. base

The Kadena encircling demonstrations, especially one held in 2007, were not necessarily to demand for its immediate closure but they were protests against it as a source of serious noise pollution and countless other damages.

Halwick

The question of the hour is Futenma Air Station, not Kadena Air Base nor White Beach Naval Base. Of course, if the U.S. could return not only Futenma but also Kadena ;and White Beach, nothing would be better than that as far as we are concerned 

Okinawa people have encircled Kadena Air Base forming human chains and demanded for its immediate closure and return, not once but four times. 

We know the hurdle for Kadena's and White Beach's return would be very high compared with the Marine base because, as I've argued many times, there's no strategic reason why the Marines must be stationed in Okinawa. Besides, there's no legitimacy for them to be stationed here and maintain training bases.

What's your opinion as to why the function of the Marine base must be maintained intact in Okinawa?

Gov't pledges economic support for Okinawan city accepting U.S. base

That's good. And the U.S should also pledge economic support (if not already doing so). 

I wonder why the US has a military presence in Okinawa (LandofExcusesDec. 31, 2018 10:05 am JST)

Why the US has a military presence in Okinawa? Look at a map and you'll see the proximity of Okinawa to Taiwan. The U.S. military bases in Okinawa are an intregral part of the security defense agreements with the countries in those regions, including Japan, to protect the region, against hostile threats.

It is too far from Korea to help in a renewal of the Korean civil war. (YuriOtaniDec. 31, 2018 10:51 am JST)

But the military bases in Okinawa are not too far away from Taiwan, which is were the next Asian-Pacific crisis will be in Taiwan.   http://www.todayonline.com/chinaindia/china/china-set-invade-retake-taiwan-2020-Taipei

Taiwan is taking this threat very seriously as should the U.S. and Japan. The reason China has not done this earlier is because of the presence of U.S. military on Okinawa and Japan. 

While the world is focused on Korea, and U.S. distracted with increased protests in Okinawa to remove the U.S. military forces, China sees this as opportunity to "quietly and rapidly" invade and take Taiwan. 

Well, with more than 80% of Okinawans against the US military...(Luis David YanezDec. 31, 2018 12:25 pm JST)

@Luis, Where do you get that "80% of Okinawans against the U.S military? Cite your sources.

And tell me WHO is backing, organizing and funding these anti-US "rent-a-crowd" protesters? These protests are professionally organized and orchestrated by some organization. Or maybe you (and other like minded anti-US people) don't want to admit that it is really the many leftist anti-U.S. organizations such as the Japan/Okinawa Communist Party or China PRC?

Also, funny fact, it is not just in Japan, In Korea, the ones who were the victims, Turkey, have also protested against US Military bases in their country, and their "Expansions".

And of course you don't consider Soviet (now Russia) and China activities, especially the China's "One Belt, One Road" program in other countries to be "Expansionism"?  

I've been arguing the Marines are stationed here on no legitimate basis guaranteed by the Security Treaty. it's the Marine base that should be closed and returned right then and there. (voiceofokinawaDec. 31, 2018 04:52 pm JST)

@voiceofokinawa: How come you aren't saying the same about Kadena AFB or for all U.S. Air Force and Navy bases in Okinawa?  Since you are so anti-US , why don't you call for the removal of ALL U.S. and Japanese military presence and support Okinawa seceding as a Japanese prefecture. Or maybe you do.

So long as Okinawa is a Japanese prefecture, pursuant to the Security Treaty and other defense agreements between Japan and U.S., Okinawa will have to agree to host the military bases, if that's what Japan central government wants.

If the Okinawans, particularly Gov Onaga & comrades, wants the U.S. military presence out of Okinawa AND no longer being subservient to Japan government mandates, then Okinawa needs to hold a referendum and vote to be an independent sovereign nation. After it becomes an independent nation, Onaga (or whoever his successor is) can claim independence of Japan and that there are NO legitimate treaty or agreement between the U.S. and the "People's Republic of Okinawa" (or whatever it wants to call itself) and all previous treaties, particularly defense treaties between Japan and U.S. that allows U.S. military presence on Okinawa are null and void. Therefor U.S. military presence and military bases on Okinawa are illegal and must be removed.

If this is what Okinawa truly wants, then it should understand the ramifications of such a declaration, i.e, Okinawa will no longer enjoy economic and defense benefits from Japan....and protection under the U.S. defense umbrella.

Of course, many will say that Okinawa has no enemies and needs no protection.  And that's what they thought prior to being annexed by Japan in 1879. 

China will be more than happy to help Okinawa become an independent country, help to oust U.S. military and Japanese military and invest under its "One Belt, One Road" initiative. While China is "generously" investing in Okinawa infrastructure and financially supporting the country, don't be surprised when they begin moving in its military forces near Okinawa, if not on the vacated U.S. military bases like Kadena AFB to protect its assets like they are in the South China Seas. And don't be surprised when China reopens its old claim that the Ryukyu Islands belong to China. Okinawa, no longer under the jurisdiction or protection of Japan or under the U.S. military protection will have no choice other than to capitulate and become a Chinese "colony".

Of course you don't consider the PRC China a imperialist threat and would probably welcome the Chinese as "guests" rather than "occupiers".   Fine, if that's what the leftists and the supporters of a future "People's Republic of Okinawa" wants,  then so be it.

because the Okinawans are not actually Japanese in the first place. From my understanding the Japanese only want the base because the Okinawans pay for it. well have a referendum , I think youll be surprised just how many people want to stay as Japanese, since the majority of the population were born Japanese, if by the slim chance they do manage to have a referendum and vote to leave , then leave it will be all financial military support should be removed and Okinawa can fend for itself...goodluck.

Goodlucktoyou：

The U.S. Military has 4 golf courses on Okinawa, 2 are 18 hole courses and 2 are 9 hole courses. They also have 5 private beaches, a boat marina and more tennis courts than you can count. If you do an internet search for MWR and MCCS Okinawa you will see a list of all of the leisure facilities that they operate.

protect the country from barbarous neighbors.

i think only the axis of evil, are barbarous. occupiers, although this is not true about Saudi.

makes its own nuclear weapons

maybe...we have already

4 golf courses

usually i don't care about the trump stuff, but is this a fact. interesting if true.

@voiceokinawa. if you want some hints, try researching toxic contaminiation of occupied land sited as suitable to return to owners.

Trump does not know the difference between Climate change and cold snaps.

banking and money laundering, Collusion and treason etc.......................................

Suga coming to Okinawa with a suitcase full of bribe money to interfere in a local Okinawa election.

While you are in Okinawa Suga, why don't you explain to the people why there are 13 U.S. Military Bases on the small island of Okinawa and only 8 U.S. Bases in all of Mainland Japan and why don't you explain to the people why the U.S. Military needs 4 golf courses and a boat marina on Okinawa.

If, on the basis that the Marines are under the administrative jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy, someone claimed that the Marines were Navy, I would counter: OK, then the U.S. cannot deploy combat elements here except desk personnel nor can they be provided with bases and facilities to train troops for combat and assault purposes except office buildings.

I've been arguing the Marines are stationed here on no legitimate basis guaranteed by the Security Treaty.  it's the Marine base that should be closed and returned right then and there. As for the elementary school, I posted  on another thread the following piece :

The school was founded in 1969 at the current site because the city could not find any other land plots except here purchasable with their own revenue sources. The central government rejected the city's request to assist them to buy land, saying there's no legal basis to aid a local government for such a purpose.

In the 1980's Ginowan City asked for the partial return of nearby West Futenma Housing Area for the school to be relocated to. To which the U.S. side replied favorably but with four conditions attached.

Condition 1: the area of the land to be returned will be 1 ha.

Condition 2: The hill side adjacent to West Futenma Housing Area should be developed  maximally.

Condition 3. Houses for U.S. personnel should be built in Camp Zukeran.

Condition 4. The land where the school is currently situated, together with the buildings, must be given to  the U.S. for an amalgamation with Futenma Air Station.

It is mostly because of this last condition that aborted the inceptive relocation plan in which the city was thinking of turning the school site into a public park.

N.B.: West Futenma Housing Area (51 ha) was thankfully returned on March 31 this year, but probably in return for the Japanese government's forcing ahead with the Henoko relocation.

wtfjapan- I am sick and tired of my country disrespecting other cultures if the Okinawans want us to leave then it is time to leave. WW2 was 7 decades ago, so get over it, because the Okinawans are not actually Japanese in the first place. From my understanding the Japanese only want the base because the Okinawans pay for it.

The kanji on that sign is startlingly beautifully written. Whatever one thinks of the sentiment, hats off to the calligrapher.

But it is the Marines themselves who are here without any legal basis and guarantee. wrong, they're here both legally & at the invitation of the J government the courts are clearly have proven that over the years.

They have to change the peace constitution and will have to build full fledged military to protect the country from barbarous neighbors. I welcome if it happens so. yeah right, unless japan makes its own nuclear weapons then there will never be a deterrent from NK or China, which is one reason why the US military presence will stay on Japan and Okinawa for many years to come. barbarous neighbors. very few countries have been more barbarous than Japan in the last 100yrs

Luis David Yanez,

Good post. I'm British and I well remember the anti-US riots in the UK and the "Yanks go home!" graffiti everywhere. US military expansion is not popular anywhere. Least of all Okinawa where the last thing they want is yet another new base and to be told, a few years hence, "Yes I know we had the idea of handing back Futenma, but it's too useful and it's such a dangerous environment - in spite of our peacemaking efforts. Sorry guys. We suggest you move your schools."

For starters, the government is very insincere and dishonest whatever they say about their manner of explaining efforts to eliminate people's safety concerns about the Futenma base. First, they won't look at the reality of Okinawa's decades-long struggles and appeal that Futenma had better be relocated outside Okinawa (personally speaking, preferably to a Californian desert). There's no strategic reason why the Marine base must be planted in Okinawa.

The Marines stationed in Okinawa maintain 13 facilities, including Futenma, Camp Hansen, Camp Schwab and the Jungle Warfare Training Center among them. Most of the land Futenma Air Station sits on is privately owned land which was requisitioned from area residents in violation of international law. But it is the Marines themselves who are here without any legal basis and guarantee.

Article 6 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty mentions only the Army, Navy and Air Force are allowed to use bases and areas in Japan. There's no mention of the Marines.

Some people may counter that the Marines are Navy because the Marines are put under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy. On the face of it, maybe so. But that's done so only for convenience's sake – for administrative reasons. The Marines must depend on the Navy's ships when they invade enemy soil and establish beachheads there. Amphibious assault ships such as the Bonhomme Richards are Navy ships. Historically, yes,, the Marines were created as an arm of the Navy.

Even so, the Marines and the Navy are different military organizations each with the independent chain of command. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are composed of 7 generals from four armed forces: the Army (one general), the Navy (two admirals), the Air Force (two generals) and the Marine Corps (two generals). This composition clearly shows the Marines are not a subordinate organ of the Navy but on a par with the Navy and other armed forces.

The central government must accepts these facts and respond to Okinawa's voice sincerely and honestly.

Well, with more than 80% of Okinawans against the US military, even if you try to paint it as "it must be the Russians, I mean Chinese, I mean North Korean", with the US military playing the victim, unless the central government "disuades them" (read "force them"), I don't see any place in Okinawa were they would like yet another US Military base.

Also, funny fact, it is not just in Japan, In Korea, the ones who were the victims, Turkey, have also protested against US Military bases in their country, and their "Expansions".

Funny thing is, In Germany, you remember, were the Nazis were from, the US military is actually getting out of the country, after anti US sentiment peaked because of these bases.

It's basically the same history in all the world. The US gets bases in some random country for whatever reason, gets heated by the locals, and then the US plays victim of "anti-US sentiment"

Considering that small kids got no business to be at a political, etc protest it is good.

Lol...why is it every time I see a photo of protesters in Japan 99.9% seem to be retirees! There doesn’t seem to be a single mother or father with children young enough to be attending a school in that picture! Are these the grannies and grandads protesting on behalf of their grand kids or is it another rent-a-crowd.

To all Americans, anti base Okinawa people are "pro Chinese Communists". It has been like this since before my birth. Many Okinawa people are pro American but anti base. This new American airfield will not shift the balance of power in favor of the USA. It is great for training and shifting the burden of the cost of American training to Japan. However the new airfields life expectancy is in the matter of minutes in case of an American Chinese war. It is too far from Korea to help in a renewal of the Korean civil war.

How do spell “bribe”?

They have to change the peace constitution and will have to build full fledged military to protect the country from barbarous neighbors. I welcome if it happens so.

I wonder why the US has a military presence in Okinawa...Oh, thats right - because the Japanese were a primary instigator of a horrific war of aggression and were forced to unconditionally surrender. Now then, what were you saying about barbarous neighbours...?

Yubaru, except that life around the new base will be difficult. There will be a lot of noise from the American F 18 fighters. They will have to take off on full afterburner to use the short airfield. These aircraft and the F 35 aircraft will lead to wholesale complaints. Who would want to go on vacation under the flight path of a new American airbase? Then add in Helicopter operations and any local will deeply regret not fighting harder to stop the American plan. Oh add in a berth for a Helicopter carrier. The last of the coral reef will perish from the American produced pollution. Nothing like an oil slick on a beach to improve quality of life.

On Friday, hundreds gathered near the city hall of Ginowan hosting the Futenma base and demanded a ban on U.S. military aircraft's flight over schools in Okinawa.

Please explain why did the city of Ginowan choose to build a school at the end of a military airfield runway, when there was plenty of other land available at the time.

I wish the people here could see just where the city of Nago is in relation to the base being extended at Schwab in Heneoko. There is a large line of small mountains between the two, and it's a good 30 minute drive, depending upon traffic, to the main section of Nago and Heneoko.

Define economic support, what does that means to these people?

There already have been major improvements in the infrastructure in many of these areas, and community services, access to hospitals and clinics, a new joint, elementary and junior high school, social services have improved and employment opportunities are increasing yearly.

WIth the boom in tourism here, many people travel to many of these small villages and having places to stop and eat, or "michi-no-eki" as they are called, has an influence in the entire area, as more money goes into the hands of the people living there.

It's only going to keep improving!

Define economic support, what does that means to these people?

looking forward to Toguchi taking the election and as mayor utilizing that economic support effectively to improve the quality of life in Nago. It’s about time they get a Mayor who isn’t a one issue guy and will work to make things better for the people.

My scenario is U.S. Forces on Okinawa will become unable to stay there due to oppositions of Okinawans against U.S. Forces and against the Japanese government. While no other prefecture in mainland Japan accept the U.S. Forces from Okinawa. The security treaty becomes defunct. Then, Japan for the first time has to think about defending their own country. They have to change the peace constitution and will have to build full fledged military to protect the country from barbarous neighbors. I welcome if it happens so.