Court orders Okinawa to approve modified plan to build runways for U.S. Marine Corps

Oh, a court sided with national government. No surprise there. The article does not even give the grounds for such a decision, though other sources say it was deemed "in the public interest", which may not be a matter of law.

"In the public interest" or rather in the interest of the vassal states master.

If completed, the new site will serve a key Marine Corps facility for the region and will be also home to MV-22 Ospreys

When it finishes, it will have bonus. "Safest" aircraft money can get.

Who didn't see this coming?

I hear Guam is nice this time of year ... US military, you are not wanted here.

in the face of growing tensions with China

And building this new base is going to improve it?

Twenty-seven long years since it was announced that the USMC Air Station Futenma would be returned, making us elated like hell. Soon, the rape incident was forgotten among people. The U.S. military authorities must have felt relieved because along with it the island-wide anti-U.S. base sentiments subsided.

But it turned out that the high-profile "return" was actually the relocation of Futenma's facilities to Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa. I would say the relocation was simply a pre-determined plan, for the Marines had already designed a masterplan to concentrate their bases in the Henoko area.                                                      

The Marines are using the current site of Futenma like illegal squatters and so they have no right per se to demand a replacement be provided in exchange for its return. The court ruling is in the wrong in this point. Period.

@BertieWooster First Taiwan, next Saga! Saga produces great nori and surprisingly good sake. Xi can't resist.

This all must fall back onto the incredibly bungled job by the govt in choosing such an unfit location in the first place.

Who would have believed that they missed the "mayo" when they did preliminary geo-testing and surveys.

Mindboggling!

And A$Billions upon Billions over budget.

They had other choices for re-locating areas, but as said above, probably had already decided on Henoko because the pictures looked nice.

No shame in the govt.

BertieWoosterToday  08:23 am JST

in the face of growing tensions with China

And building this new base is going to improve it?

Well you never know: if China is convinced it can't take Taiwan militarily that is an improvement.

Here's what's going to happen. Tamaki won't sign. The Central Government will sign for him. Tamaki will appeal to the Supreme Court. Work will begin again right after the New Year's holidays. Tamaki will spend all his time telling everyone that the forces of evil are against him. China will annex Taiwan while the US and Japan watch with outrage. Suddenly, Japan will realize that they may be next to become Chinese. The base expansion will be completed.

Japan is truly a vassal state of the US.

China doesn't want to take OKINAWA anyway so what are you talking about ?

Who knows when they might find a map in some peasant's attic or something that says otherwise. When it comes to China, evidence shows we cannot be complacent. Anything else is wishful thinking.

If the Governor steps down, will that delay the enforcement? Will the next guy have a few weeks to refuse, then need another lawsuit? If he steps down, will that delay another few weeks? Keep doing this until a new election is held.

Like Obiwan Kenobi said: “Democracy!”

Prefectures have no authority in SOFA or in national defense agreements. Does any other country have states, provinces or regions with higher authority than the national government in this?

LDP regime intends to waste trillions yen from taxpayers money to unrealistic construction that doubtful even it will be completed or not and US force will use or not.

Their politics' goal seems to benefit large corporations with taxes and plausible pretext as same as nuclear policy or Expo2025 or Olympic2020.

And they continue to destroy or contaminate the nature.

Well, America did win.

There is no “Runway” this is a helipad.

The thing will drop in the ocean before it lands on anyone’s house.

The main point here is closing Futenma and making that extremely populated area more safe.

The fish will survive a crash, people won’t.

The US military will go away as soon as the Japanese government says so, and that isn’t going to happen with all the unfriendly neighbors in the region / AOR.

This was a foregone conclusion. Denny is facing harsher and harsher criticism from all over the island as being another "one" issue Governor. Municipalities all over the island are now run by people who oppose Denny and his policies regarding the base (not bases mind you!) and it's time he learn to negotiate to get the best deal he can for ALL the people of Okinawa.

Contrary to whatever anyone writes here about "legal issues" regarding Futenma and the bases, there is no issue there and people should ignore the comments.

Well, America did win.

This is one of the most ludicrous reasons or opinions I have ever seen about the current issue being discussed.

This is as far off topic as one can get, and is 100% MEANINGLESS in 2023! (Oh it was meaningless in 1996 too!)

The central government says the Henoko relocation is the only option for the solution of the Futenma issue. By relocating Futenma to Henoko, they say, the danger posed by Futenma-based aircraft to Ginowan citizens is eliminated. Is that really so? Lol. If what the government says is correct, then why don't they close or relocate Yokota Air Base in Metropolitan Tokyo and Kadena Air Base on Okinawa somewhere else immediately, for both bases have seen more serious aircraft accidents involving civilian sectors than Futenma.

The government also says the Henoko relocation is the only option to maintain deterrence. If that is the case, why is JSDF forging ahead with building missile bases on Yonaguni, Ishigaki, Miyako and Tokunoshima islands? Doesn't it mean that at heart Tokyo doesn't trust Washington for the protection of its territories? This may be true, especially, in light of the fact that the two governments have signed an agreement to the effect that JSDF has primary responsibility to defend Japan’s own territories.

It boils down then that there is no justifiable reason on the part of the government why Futenma must be relocated to Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa. It could be closed right then and there if both Washington and Tokyo so wished.

NIMBY-- not in my backyard... very damaging mentality for a nation. The government could give compensation or help those who want to leave Okinawa and settle elsewhere in Japan.

The area around Kadena Air Base is dangerous because since the base was built, residential areas have been crowded together in order to receive subsidies, and schools have been built close together.

Regarding the relocation to Henoko, the referendum in Henoko passed with a majority vote, but Denny is deliberately ignoring this.

Is that democracy?

South Korea is the only country where the judicial power can interfere with the executive power.

In a normal developed country, a court would not be able to decide whether a treaty with another country decided by the government is unconstitutional or not.

If possible, foreign countries would need to negotiate not with their own governments, but with courts that can refute decisions made by their governments, in order to conclude treaties.

Does any other country have states, provinces or regions with higher authority than the national government in this?

In the US, Puerto Rico (a US Territory) wanted the Navy to stop using Vieques island for shelling practice. The people legally fought beginning in 1999 and eventually won their case in 2002 though civil disobedience incursions and by staging 100% non-violent sit-ins. In May 2003, the Navy had left on Presidential order.

Without the firing range, the Navy had little need for any facilities on Puerto Rico.

On March 31, 2004, the United States closed its Roosevelt Roads Naval Station on mainland Puerto Rico. A skeleton staff of 200, down from approximately 1,200 civilian and 700 military personnel, stayed on at the facility until the transfer of the property was completed. The closure of the base at Roosevelt Roads resulted in a substantial financial loss to the economy of Puerto Rico that the Navy estimates at $250 to $300 million a year.

The US military is good at leaving places. Sadly, they leave deadly equipment and chemicals behind which usually require lawsuits to get the USGovt to address and 20+ yrs of effort AFTER the lawsuits are won. In the US, the military is supposed to follow federal laws regarding dangerous material storage, handling, etc. But since there isn't anyone really watching, the local govts can't get onto federal land for inspection, and because local laws don't have jurisdiction, nobody really knows what was there and is left behind until AFTER the military is gone.

A survey by the Puerto Rico Health Department revealed that the cancer rate in Vieques is 27% higher than mainland Puerto Rico.

I would expect Okinawa to have similar issues.

Expect toxic compounds and elements such as arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, depleted uranium and napalm, and tons of a fiberglass-like substance to be left behind. Most of these toxins are persistent and bioaccumulate.

With any shutdown and removal plans, ensure 10-20 yrs of environmental cleanup are included AND fully funded.

Another corrupt decision.

Who paid who for this decision?

It boils down then that there is no justifiable reason on the part of the government why Futenma must be relocated to Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa.

Wrong! It all boils down to the Japanese government decided it, not you. You and your opinions are not the basis used for the national defense of Japan nor it's security agreements with the United States.

Plain and simple. You know you have ZERO legal standings with any of your opinions or conspiracy theories, so you continue to play the copy-paste game from long worn out discussions.

Oh I correct the following for you. This is a fact but not one you want to accept. Tokyo DOESNT want it closed, so it will stay.

Good night!

It could be closed right then and there if Tokyo so wished.

Yubaru,

Are you still there, trying to refute my contention that Futenma is an illegal property because the land it sits on was confiscated from private citizens in blatant violation of international law whereby the U.S. has no right per se to demand a replacement be provided in exchange for its return?

Tokyo is simply colluding with Washington to realize the Henoko relocation plan out of NIMBY reasons as some poster pointed out.

Is the Futenma base land in violation of international law?

I always think that if you say that it violates international law, could you please tell me specifically which article it violates?

Moreover, once the Futenma base is gone and the relocation to Henoko is completed, the land will be returned to the original rights holders.

Henoko welcomes the base, and the land at Futenma will be returned.

There's nothing wrong with that, right?

Agent_Neo

Art. 46 of the Hague Convention states that "Family honour and rights, the lives of persons, and private property, as well as religious convictions and practice, must be respected. Private property cannot be confiscated."

But, here on Okinawa, the U.S. occupation forces confiscated private land with impunity to construct new bases like Futenma or expand already-existing bases like Kadena while area residents were herded in camps like prisoners of war. 

In the early 1950s, further confiscation of private land was forged ahead "at bayonet point and by bulldoser."

I always think that if you say that it violates international law, could you please tell me specifically which article it violates?

There was a time that "yes" the land was illegally procured, but one has to look at the era, and back then it mattered, "to the victor goes the spoils" mentality.

However, ALL the legal issues were settled in the agreements between the US and Japan when the islands were returned to Japanese control. The US military was absolved of all "crimes" or issues related to their actions during the occupation. It's 100% settled law. There is zero argument on this anywhere.

Also, to note, the bases in Okinawa, unlike mainland bases, are mostly, over 75% I believe it is, on private property and not government owned. So if this "claim" was true today, it would affect ALL the bases, not just Futenma, however NO ONE, not even from the comments made here, has ever brought this specific legal issue up with ANY courts anywhere in Japan, the US, the Hague, no where. Because there is not LEGAL standing and it's all settled law.

This is taken from the

Agreement Between the United States of America and Japan Concerning the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands

17th June,1971

ARTICLE lV

Japan waives all claims of Japan and its nations against the United States of America and its nationals and against the local authorities of the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands, arising from the presence, operations or actions of forces or authorities of the United States of America in these islands, or from the presence, operations or actions of forces or authorities of the United States of America having had any effect upon these islands, prior to the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

All claims, not some but all, and it is very clear here, nothing ambiguous.

Also to note,

The waiver in paragraph 1 above does not, however, include claims of Japanese nationals specifically recognized in the laws of the United States of America or the local laws of these islands applicable during the period of United States administration of these islands. The Government of the United States of America is authorised to maintain its duly empowered officials in the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands in order to deal with and settle such claims on and after the date of entry into force of this Agreement in accordance with the procedures to be established in consultation with the Government of Japan.

Any claims that any individual may have had, are no longer legal in any manner or form today, as the Japanese laws regarding the statue of limitations takes precedence. It's over 50 years ago now!

Japan recognizes the validity of all acts and omissions done during the period of the United States administration of the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands under or in consequence of directives of the United States or local authorities, authorised by existing law during that period, and will take no action subjecting the United States nationals or the residents of these islands to civil or criminal liability arising out of such acts of omissions.

Also please note this above here. There is ZERO liability as agreed upon by both the Japanese and US governments.

http://ryukyu-okinawa.net/pages/archive/rev71.html

Please accept my apologies here, there is a section above here:

Also, to note, the bases in Okinawa, unlike mainland bases, are mostly, over 75% I believe it is, on private property and not government owned. So if this "claim" was true today, it would affect ALL the bases, not just Futenma, however NO ONE, not even from the comments made here, has ever brought this specific legal issue up with ANY courts anywhere in Japan, the US, the Hague, no where. Because there is not LEGAL standing and it's all settled law.

Should not have been in quotes. No edit button,

Moreover, once the Futenma base is gone and the relocation to Henoko is completed, the land will be returned to the original rights holders.

Henoko welcomes the base, and the land at Futenma will be returned.

There's nothing wrong with that, right?

Yes! And to keep things clear, it's not a "new" base. People have been given the wrong impression due to the false narrative being pushed by the media, and the anti-base coalition.

The base is Camp Schwab, the new facility scheduled to be built, will be on the landfill connected to Camp Schwab.

The "false news" logic constantly being pushed is that it's a new base. Using this logic, if you build an addition to your home, you now suddenly have a "new home". By their logic, the new runway, built on a huge landfill at Naha Airport, makes Naha Airport a new airport. It's ludicrous! But the media has pushed that agenda, along with the anti-base coalition, and fed it so often to the world, that "everyone" has accepted the lie as being the truth.

Tell a lie enough times, and people start believing it. That fits to a "t" here.

Pushed aside in all of this, is the people of Ginowan who host the base. They even elected a mayor and city assembly that SUPPORTS the landfill project. As well as just about every village, town and city in the prefecture. But that gets little media attention too. Because it makes them look silly for supporting the issue all these years and now folks just want it done.

The agenda attempting to be pushed here, is all about beating a dead horse on a moot point.