Opponents of SDF base on island worry as it puts down roots

So they locals were very happy to have the base that has helped revitalize their island, but now that there is a chance of a conflict they want them out. Sorry, you can't have your cake and eat it too! What did they think they were voting for when they agreed to have a military base built on their island.

NIMBY. Pretty much seen anywhere in countries where the people are allowed to voice their opinions.

Would like to know what is the impact of the base construction on the local environment.

once the cement is in place, it won’t move

Well with all due respect to the JSDF ...however allowing the Chinese armed coastguard to enter senkaku waters every few days for years which is in ishigaki city limits is very pathetic.

Observing China isn't doing anything about it !

Ive visited Yonaguni several times and you can actually see Taiwan on a clear day.

“we have a greater risk of being attacked because of the base. “

That’s a strange argument. The presence of the base is actually making the island less vulnerable to a possible Chinese invasion. I’m sure the majority of the islanders do not share Ms Yamaguchl’s view.

Do you remember that old black & white movie starring Steve McQueen, "The Blob"? The movie is about this huge jelly-like monster which spreads, grows and oozes out from everywhere and envelopes everything in its path. Russia and China are both like that. Especially where there is little or no resistance, they will both try to overrun a foreign territory by whatever means at their disposal, including violence. It's more important than ever for everybody to stand up together to this thing. China and Russia are both playing by their old rule book again.

Military bases are always delicate issues, so it is fine and positive for people to express their worries, specially when the situation shifts and they get less and less power to change things. It will probably be impossible to reach an agreement that leaves everybody happy, but at least every argument should have their day in the light.

They are registered voters so they can influence local elections," 

Hmmm, unless they have changed their official residence to Yonaguni they will not be able to participate in municipal elections there.

While my son was in Tokyo, he never "voted" there, but he always received the election notice card, here, locally. The same would be for them as well.

One other thing, if they have changed their residence to Yonaguni, that also means that they pay taxes there as well, unlike a lot of other mainlanders who build houses on the outer islands of Okinawa, but never transfer their residency.

Yonaguni is where the US should have relocated its Futenma base. Way closer to Taiwan.

"As the old saying goes, if you want peace, prepare for war."

Yes Sir.

If and when China attempts to invade free and independent Taiwan, these locals will be very grateful for the security the GSDF offers them to protect their island.

Because the CCP would not think twice about taking Yonaguni-shi were there no troops there.

Dozens more such GSDF bases should be built in the coming years.

@Meiyouwenti

Perhaps its the preemptive strike capabilities that is a concern.

Military installations or bases are yes also a target .

Offense and defense.

The island, which is part of Okinawa Prefecture, voted in favor of a proposal to host a base in a referendum in 2015. But the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia has prompted some of them to reconsider the risk of the island becoming a battlefield in the event that China takes aggressive action against Taiwan.

It makes no sense. First, the security situation differs between (pre-invasion) eastern Ukraine and the island. Second and more importantly, Ukraine was attacked not because of the military presence, but because of its absence or shortage in the critical areas. What lessons do they really learn from it?

The SDF deployment in the front line can be deterrent while the aggressor always aims to fill the power vacuum. Don't let them come launch "de-nazification" programme.

concerns that have only grown since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the fear that Moscow's actions could embolden China to press its own territorial claims more aggressively in nearby waters.

Russia and China in their attempts to lead the new world order, as they try to become the replacement imperium, are behaving like a virus that's become pandemic. Nations need to develop their own defense mechanisms to limit the spread of their predatory diseases, diseases shown to be fatal in Ukraine and elsewhere. If the CCP and Kremlin want to inflict their brands of national socialism on those living within their borders, I'm sorry for Russian and Chinese people. But both Russia and China, like all sovereign nations should try to improve the quality of life for those living within their own borders before expanding and making life worse for those in other sovereign nations. The CCP and Kremlin control huge portions of the planet already, Neither regime needs more territory., so both should stay within their own borders

Aside from the noise and possible water contamination from the construction, Kinjo says he is also concerned that the rich natural environment on the island, which attracts tourists from all over the world, could be destroyed if the island is ever drawn into a military conflict.

Get this base out of Okinawa!

Give back the land to the residents of Yonaguni!!

It's the missile bases already installed on Ishigaki, Miyako and Amami Islands that are the really potential targets of any Chinese attack.

But I don't really understand why people are getting worked up about this stuff all of the sudden. An attack on Japanese territory obligates the USA to respond militarily.

They suddenly discovered they are now officially, cannon fodder.

Military bases cause massive amounts of toxic chemical releases into the environment, just look at unusable military base land on Okinawa mainland. Yonaguni Island is one of the best scuba diving places in East Asia. There is a whole underwater city, some people nickname Atlantis. I really want to go there before it is wiped off the face of earth.

@painkiller

Excuse me for pointing out to you that the paragraph your referring to is about the new construction taking place on ishigaki Island where kinjo has a mango farm and not Yonaguni.

The Yonaguni base started 6 years ago along with Miyako and Amamioshima.

Ishigaki has barely begun last year and it's gotten stalled frequently.

@Rodney

The USA military bases are well-known to cause much chemical dumping however i think the Japanese bases are more environmentally conscious.

Atlantis was in the Atlantic by the way.

Yonaguni perhaps Lemuria.

Ive visited Yonaguni several times and live in yaeyama.

Those same type rock formations are everywhere.

You might find it interesting that there was a Pacific islander style Heiaw on a peak of Yonaguni before they put radar and other equipment there.

The Heiaw stones have the exact same composition as the basalt from mauna kea.

You may notice a resemblance of the menehune headdress and the yaeyama natives headdress.

I'd be a lot more worried if it wasn't there.

@deanzaZZR

That's incorrect because the missile base isn't installed yet on ishigaki.

Amami and Miyako yes.

The islanders must be aware that regardless of the presence of a couple of hundred defense force people, the island will be taken by China in the event of conflict anyway. It would provide them another island to put missiles on and brings it closer to Japan, and puts them between Japan and Taiwan.

It has a strategic position that is desirable by all. Japan actually needs to have defensive systems there and shelters for the local inhabitants in the event of attack.

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Kyo wa heiwa dayo neToday  10:39 am JST

@painkiller

Excuse me for pointing out to you that the paragraph your referring to is about the new construction taking place on ishigaki Island where kinjo has a mango farm and not Yonaguni.

oh, thank you.

Well, get rid of the SDF bases on Ishigaki too.

If the residents want the SDF out then they should start learning Mandarin to accommodate their future neighbors

If there was no bases in okinawa, then they wouldnbe facing similar intimidation that Taiwan is experiencing now.

Bullies only respect a show of strength and prey upon weaknesses.

Nobody doubts that the Okinawans have had to pay the price for Japan. This is their (geographically induced) burden to bear for now.

A smart move, GOJ read the tea leaves on China’s expansion attempts in the area & an ECM Station is a great first alert method!

Ha-ha, why don’t they just propose to peacefully give the island to Chinese and then observe how they will preserve the nature etc.

@fighto

If and when China attempts to invade free and independent Taiwan

If Taiwan was truly free and independent then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Perhaps one day Taiwan will be "free and independent"

And no China isnt threatening to invade Japan either.

No body lives on the senkaku.

It helps if you actually know what it is your fighting about , otherwise it's just nonsense.

Sorry, as far as the Chinese are concerned, if your island is there, you're ALREADY a Target.

Better to actually be ABLE to Defend yourself, than just TALK about it.

A perfect example IS Ukraine.

Such a Japanese response. I was opposed but now that they are in front of me I don’t want to say it. I guess we just accept it.

exactly how the government stayed in power this long

even if your new islandmates are nice and welcome, you don’t have to hold in the thought of I’d rather not have the base though. The sdf wives at the grocer store didn’t put the base there, neither did the soldiers, speak out

@peter14

And puts them between Taiwan and Japan

Do you not know that Yonaguni and the senkaku are part of the yaeyama islands of Okinawa prefecture/Japan ?

@painkiller

Daijobudesu !

Yes i wish the base wasn't happening on ishigaki.

Seems unnecessary with the bases on Yonaguni and Miyako already.

If the Japanese on the Japanese island do not want Japanese troops stationed there, perhaps the North Koreans or the Chinese would be willing to oblige them.

@Kyo wa heiwa dayo ne

Do you not know that Yonaguni and the senkaku are part of the yaeyama islands of Okinawa prefecture/Japan ?

The island, which is part of Okinawa Prefecture, voted in favor of a proposal to host a base in a referendum in 2015.

Yes, the story made that clear. Do you think it is NOT between Taiwan and the main Japanese islands?

"They are nice neighbors," Yamaguchi said. "That's why it's become harder to openly voice opposition to the SDF. In a small island like this, human relations always take precedence."

Ummm... maybe if they're nice neighbors, have been a boon to the economy, increased the population, and have "woken up" the sleepy and dying island, you simply rethink your stance on the SDF instead of just trying to think of new ways to hide your admittedly ignorant opinion?

I always marvel at the naivety of those who believe as a nation if they don't arm themselves nobody will attack them. The opposite is true. Being undefended in fact makes you a more desirable target. Nations intent on expanding their territory by taking that of other nations do not some how magically respect nations who are undefended. Those undefended nations become their first conquests. The same is true of regions of nations another nation may wish to attack. Take someplace undefended or poorly defended, fortify it and use it as a base from which to attack better defended targets. You prevent war by making it too costly to a potential enemy to attack you, and you do that by being well armed and making it clear you would use those arms if attacked.

I suppose that on a small island with a small community, where a cat getting rescued from a tree would be big news for years, change must be very hard to accept. But to complain about the very people who are not only protecting, but boosting business, how small minded are some people.