politics

Defense minister visits Okinawa

17 Comments

Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka on Saturday visited Okinawa to discuss the revised plan to realign U.S. forces in the island prefecture.

Tanaka met with Okinawa Gov Hirokazu Nakaima and Atsushi Sakima, the newly elected mayor of Ginowan which hosts the controversial U.S. Marine air base at Futenma.

Nakaima once again repeated his position that relocating the Futenma base to Nago, as has been proposed, is unacceptable, NHK reported. Nakaima also expressed frustration at having to repeat his stance over and over again to ministers who have visited Okinawa one after another since last year.

Tanaka, who was last in Okinawa on Jan 23, said that the central government is striving to reduce the base-hosting burden on Okinawa but has to maintain a deterrence capability. Nakaima said that Tokyo has to take into consideration how Okinawans feel when it negotiates with the U.S. government.

On Saturday, Tanaka also visited a school that is located adjacent to the Futenma base. The principal told him the noise from U.S. helicopters is intolerable and that their constantly flying over the school does not provide a safe atmosphere for the children to study in, NHK reported.

Meanwhile, Sakima also urged Tanaka to remove the base as quickly as possible. Getting the base out of Ginowan was his main campaign pledge during the mayoral election.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will visit Okinawa on Feb 27-28 for his first visit there since taking office last September.

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I wonder if he will do anything to help the Okinawans. http://www.iwanami.co.jp/jpworld/text/okinawa01.html

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It was definately a regrettable decision to get back Okianawa to the nation of Japan from US control 1972! Otherwise the base relocation problems were the business of U.S.! Okinawa was lost long long time ago and it shall never under Japan's full soverignity!

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Okinawa is the last remaining "barrier" next to Taiwan for the US in assuring "peace" for Japan from other Asian nations, especially China. If US forces were in Guam or even Hawaii, it is far too distant in "today's" battles to respond. Today every second counts in "response" to any attack. It is no longer days or weeks.

In the North, South Korea and Hokkaido are keys to Japan's security.

Not sure if you are aware, but ALL military bases used by Japan and the USA are owned and operated by Japan. USA is an invited guest force. Japan does not have the ability to defend itself.

Sad that Okinawa continues to be an issue. But if real estate is considered... the "only" Southern defense location is Okinawa for Japan. For that...Japan has spent Trillions of Yen to support the US presence in Okinawa.

The problem is that where and how they spent the Yen really did not take into account the needs and wishes of the Okinawan people. Much like that of the ill planned freeways that does not appear to be used by the public in Japan, the money spent in Okinawa appear to be misplaced.

Strategically... militarily speaking.... "optional" efficient routes are needed within Japan in case of the need to transport and transfer supplies and resources between military bases. So what appear to be useless roads may have a hidden purpose. Some of the facilities in Okinawa apparently had that purpose but without the general population knowing the real reasons behind such spending. So the appearance of waste and taking away "personal" properties for useless facilities.

If economics is the only reason for opposition, then the current move to relocate from Okinawa is worse. Till very recently the Okinawan economy was substantially supported by US military presence. Often the nationally funded roads and highways were laid to connect key ports and bases within Okinawa and not necessarily to support the local community. Now such construction is starting to benefit the community in more ways than one.

One other thing... military presence requires "men", meaning a physical presence of people for it to make sense. Otherwise there is no commitment for USA to "defend" a specific territory. It is because the men are there that a country like the USA commit to defend that location and the country that provided that location. If they move to Guam, they have only the "agreement" to defend.

The visit hopefully clarified the role of Okinawa for Japan. And I hope he was able to relate the "commitment" and the "need".

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kazetsukai, amend the SOFA, turn the bases over to Japanese command. Reduce the size of the bases, try and think of the Okinawa people. End the occupation of Okinawa by the Americans. The bases above all need to stop being American "territory".

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YuriOtani: "End the occupation of Okinawa by the Americans."

And start the Chinese? Oh wait... you seem to think Japan's fledgling military would be able to stop China, Russia, and NK combined. It's always amusing to watch popularity of the bases rise when a Chinese sub goes close to Okinawa, but hear a few Okinawans whine about the bases when US protection keeps them at bay. Yuri, you need to THANK the US for being there, not diss them. They are protecting you and yours, and what's more they are employing a lot of Japanese. Correct me if I'm wrong, but were not the neighbourhoods around the bases built AFTER the bases were put in place?

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smithinjapan, America is suppose to be our "friend" and they promised to help defend us. The SDF will slow them down until the Americans arrive. Now you want me to thank the Americans? Thank them for killing off my family, all of my aunts and uncles during the Steel Typhoon. The American attack was overkill. No regard was given for the civilians. If the Americans never have attacked, they would of all lived. The invasion of Okinawa was an act of pure hatred. About the build up? Where else would the population live. The population went from a bit under 200,000 to over 1.3 million. Where are they suppose to live? The jobs? They are all paid for by the government of Japan and the lousy exchange rate means few Americans shop off base. I have forgiven the Americans for killing off my family. Either killed by the shelling or shot down like dogs by the American troops. Am the last one now and do not live on the land of my ancestors. I will NEVER thank the Americans for their "gift" to Okinawa! Oh to stay on topic the Governor and legislature of Okinawa still say dame or no to the Japanese dominated national government.

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China could never win a war with Japan, it takes airlift and seapower.. then have neither. It is not that Japan is powerful, but it is easy to sink ships that you see coming toward you from 1500 miles away. The ocean makes it very very difficult to just invade and take over. It is actually rediculous to talk about because Japan and China are on friendly terms and need each other for trade.. a war is just old old talk from old men who can't see change when it is right in their face.

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amend the SOFA, turn the bases over to Japanese command. Never going to happen, the bases in Okinawa are not under joint military command. Sorry it's a pipe dream.

The SDF will slow them down until the Americans arrive. You complain about the bases and want them gone, and then expect that the American military is going to come and save Japan's bacon if a war ever occurred? Don't follow the logic.

The American attack was overkill. No regard was given for the civilians. If the Americans never have attacked, they would of all lived.

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The American attack was overkill. No regard was given for the civilians. If the Americans never have attacked, they would of all lived.

This is so misleading and false on so many levels I can't believe anyone actually would believe this statement. The Japanese military had the responsibility for moving civilians out of the line of fire, they didn't they in fact used the Okinawan women and children in many cases as human shields.

The only way to have prevented civilian casualties would have been to not attack the island, but this is ancient history. There is much more I could write to debunk this statement but this is not the place for it.

Needless to say the Japanese military knowing the war was almost over could just as easily have surrendered and prevented the bloodbath as well. Knives cut two ways Yuri.

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Yabaru, what is false about my writing. The fire from the Americas was so heavy it destroyed everything and killed most people in the invasion area, which is where my family lived. If the were lucky enough to find caves the Americans used flamethrowers on all of the caves. If they surrendered they were often shot since making the prisoner was "too much trouble". So you say to protect their civilians a country must surrender? Sorry Charlie, you have a perverted view of reality very Draconian. If Japan had invaded Hawaii and this many civilians have died it would be a "war crime", again you use the American doublethink.

The Minister will come down from Tokyo and in a meeting with the Governor demand he sign the construction permit and have the police use whatever force necessary for construction. The Governor will ask if he wants more O-cha? He would then try to bribe him with expensive but useless projects (to be done with mainland companies) that will have no meaningful benefit to the people. The governor will press a sandwich on his guest. Then the Minister will threaten to stop the sympathy payments and perhaps rent. The Governor will yawn and say how mild the winter has been.

The Skinny is Tokyo will not get its way now or in the future. The Governor is the picture of politeness while I slept through the classes at school. Perhaps Tokyo will pass another special Okinawa only law and then with the help of the American Marines build the new airfield. I think the Marines will use clubs and tear gas on the demonstrators. Taking control of the roads and entrances as permitted by the SOFA agreement for "security" reasons. The Marines being on duty can not be taken to court. Can tell you it is going to be a "fun" spring in Okinawa this year!=

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We Uchinanchu (Okinawan) are different from Naichas (Mainlanders). First of all Okinawa was never a part of Japan. It was the Kingdom of Ryukyu. I will never forgive Japanese for choosing Okinawa as a battle field, at that time no one was evacuated or had no idea what was going on. I will never forgive Japanese army, who used my ancestors for their feeling of satisfaction and telling them to sacrifice the life for the Japanese emperor. Obviously, now it is our turn to fulfill our exception and have them sacrifice. What goes around comes around. Im proud to be Uchinannchu.

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uchina58, yes we have to remember the Japanese. The invasion I blame on both of them and now the Minister as a well as a lot of posters are using fear to justify the occupation.

They say the Chinese, North Koreans or even the Russians will invade without the Americans bases. The truth is none of the above can do it.

But the end result, the true genius of the plan, was the fear. Fear became the ultimate tool of this government,

I am proud to be Uchinanchu.

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Yabaru, what is false about my writing. The fire from the Americas was so heavy it destroyed everything and killed most people in the invasion area,

One can not place blame on one side without also laying blame on the other as well. The Japanese military caused much of the sorrow and headaches that happened to the Okinawan people. They very well could have evacuated all of them if they had so chosen, but refused to.

What is false in your writing is your misunderstanding of what it takes to destroy an enemy dug into caves and willing to fight to the death.

If they surrendered they were often shot since making the prisoner was "too much trouble". So you say to protect their civilians a country must surrender?

No taking prisoners was not a problem, having those potential prisoners pop a hand grenade and kill them was.

You refuse to accept Japan as your country, yet you claim otherwise here.

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Yubaru, you are making excuses and where would of Japan have sent the population? So it was alright for Americans to kill civilians because they may do something. However if the Japanese did the same thing it is a war crime. Anyhow if Japan had evacuated them with ships going through the American sub net, the Americans would own Okinawa now. They would of never let the Okinawa people back.

You do have a knack for doublethink. Suppose it is how you justify the occupation. Saw the wikileaks film of an American helicopter shooting defenseless civilians in Baghdad. Guess somethings never change. So the US military made it classified to cover up their misdeeds. Despite the evidence they refuse to accept responsibility.

You are confused, I am a Japanese national but am Uchinanchu.

I would love to hear the talks, wonders what the Tokyo men say to the Okinawa officials?

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One can not place blame on one side without also laying blame on the other as well.

Yubaru, have you ever thought where the Uchinanchu fit into this statement? To this day, the Uchinanchu is caught in the middle of all this.

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How many ministers are left that have not visited Okinawa yet?

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Ben_Jackinoff Good question??? ahaha

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