politics

Abe to campaign in Okinawa this week

16 Comments

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will campaign for the July 21 upper house election in Okinawa on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Abe will be making his third visit to the prefecture since he became prime minister last December. He will be looking to win local support for the government's plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps air base from Futenma to Henoko.

Abe also faces local opposition over the planned deployment later this month of 12 more U.S. MV-22 Osprey aircraft to the Futenma base.

The Okinawan government has repeatedly opposed the base relocation plan and the deployment of any more Osprey.

Abe is not scheduled to meet with the Okinawan governor, and will instead appear at events with the candidate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Masaaki Asato, who has thus far remained silent on the bases issue.

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16 Comments
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I don't think the Okinawans will be fooled by his antics, they have continuously voiced their opinions regarding their island.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

He should save himself the trouble and not show up.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Abenomics, take from the poor and give to the rich.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

He might as well stay up north. This is the man that allows the Americans to walk all over Okinawa. The man has no spine and is passive/aggressive.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

"looking to win local support for the government's plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps air base from Futenma to Henoko."

That was like trying to win local support for the government's plan to open Narita Airport. They never got the local support, but they opened the airport anyway, for the benefit of the majority.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Serrano so you think the minority should be oppressed for the benefit of the majority?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Going there to campaign or stock up on "Fukushima" rice?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"Serrano so you think the minority should be oppressed for the benefit of the majority?"

Not oppressed, overruled. Ever hear of majority rules?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Serrano the people of Okinawa suffer from the presence of the Americans. These bases add nothing to the defense of Japan. The Americans do not have enough planes to make a difference. There is much more room on the Japanese "home" islands. So he comes down to Okinawa and try and force acceptance. It is just not going to happen. We the people of Okinawa need to go to the United Nations for help. End the American occupation of our home.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

wow, YariOtani, are you from Okinawa? Have you ever been there? Most of the businesses depend on US bases to survive, without. Occupation? I think not, look back on Japans history to understand what an occupation is. As far as adding to the defense of Japan, you are dead wrong there. Strategic location is the key here. Before you anti-American racism comes out, you should really think about what you say so you don't look so ignorant on the boards. And Serrano is correct, regardless of your thoughts, majority rules, the needs of the many out way the needs of the few. And it this case, it is a very few.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Most of the businesses depend on US bases to survive,

Yuri's biased opinions notwithstanding here, you are dead wrong here. Most of the businesses in Okinawa have nothing to do with, nor really care about having the US Military in Okinawa.

It would help your point to speak in specifics and not generalities. Specifically certain municipalities would be seriously hurt by any removal of the bases from their communities but the overwhelming majority of the island does not depend upon nor need the business from the bases.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

rlancy- most of the businesses in Okinawa have nothing to do with the us military, maybe you should take a closer look at okinawa and you will notice that they are not actually japanese, Instead you notice that they are oppressed people just tibetians. Why dont learn about what actually going on. I will never be proud to be an america.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

rlancy- most of the businesses in Okinawa have nothing to do with the us military, maybe you should take a closer look at okinawa and you will notice that they are not actually japanese, Instead you notice that they are oppressed people just tibetians. Why dont learn about what actually going on. I will never be proud to be an america.

Jared you should take your own advice and learn about what is actually going on. Okinawans are the farthest thing from Tibetans than you can get. You really should get off base and look around and see what Okinawa is actually like, you may be surprised.

We the people of Oklahoma need to go to the United Nations for help

Go for it! Every time someone barks against the presence of the US military in Okinawa they complain to America.

They are barking up the wrong tree, go to Tokyo, go to the UN, make your complaints there and see what answers you get.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yubaru- I have been all around Okinawa, I know about the poor treatment. I know about the agent orange. I know about the 2nd class/victimize filling.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The bases only create about 5% of Okinawa's economy but occupy about 21% of Okinawa landmass. I'm sure you could create more than 5% economic revenue on 21% of landmass.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Yubaru- I have been all around Okinawa, I know about the poor treatment. I know about the agent orange. I know about the 2nd class/victimize filling.

If you supposedly have done what you say here then you haven't actually seen anything of Okinawa and know very little if anything about it. Unless the last time you were here was in the 50's or 60's prior to the reversion back to Japan.

I'm sure you could create more than 5% economic revenue on 21% of landmass.

Sure, they'll just build another JUSCO!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

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