politics

Japan's top court dismisses Okinawa bid to halt U.S. base landfill work

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noise, crime and safety…. That is why the bases are relocating to a location very far from residences. Opposing relocation will only prolong the existence or presence of Funtenma marine base in Ginowan City.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Hu hu hu hu. There is no more cow to milk. I get money from China. I get money from the Federal budget. Now it’s gone! I cannot also make this as an election issue anymore. Now the next elections will focus not on the US bases anymore but on employment, inflation, poverty, education, welfare, etc. I have no solutions for this! Whaaaa!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

how abt send US army troops back home?

war have ended in 1945 guys.

Japan is going spend a lot of money for US weapons and shopping is to be funded by our taxes so why you are still here?pap and mum waiting for you at home!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Just openly sell the islands to the us at this point. Would probably cover their defense budget goals since they obviously don’t care in tokyo

4 ( +5 / -1 )

The replacement of USMC Air Station Futenma now under construction at Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa, is indeed a white elephant having nothing to do with deterrence. The construction of Futenma's replacement is meaningful only for the U.S. that wants to maintain areas and facilities in Okinawa unchanged and intact forever.

It’s so frustrating that our voice doesn’t reach the ears of the powers that be. No wonder there's a bunch of

people who are talking about independence.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

When americans says " jump ", the japanese say "How high" ?

4 ( +7 / -3 )

So, the logic here is that US is occupying (and destroying) Okinawa in order to prevent China from occupy Taiwan? As they say, lead by example, not words!

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Fredrick,

So, the logic here is that US is occupying (and destroying) Okinawa in order to prevent China from occupy Taiwan?

There are a lot of mainlander Japanese who wrongly believe the construction of Futenema's replacement in Henoko is absolutely necessary to defend Japan. So, why oppose to it? they contend.

But they are wrong. The airport is for basing M-22 Ospreys to transport troops  Note, however, that quite a large portion of active elements of Okinawa-based Marines are to relocate to Guam. Besides, there's a bilateral agreement that says primary responsibility to defend outlying islands rests with JSDF, not USFJ. Furthermore, the Marine Corp is now contemplating to transform themselves from conventional expeditionary forces to missile-launching units employing Hymars missiles. Military analyst Jun Kitamura asserts that there is no reason for building the new base in Henoko. That's why I say the Henoko new base is a white elephant, only squandering tax money for nothing.

If there's any meaning in it, it is an implication that U.S. Forces are here to stay forever.

The Futenma air station is built on illegally confiscated private lands in blatant violation of international law. No bilateral agreement can exonerate the illegality that Futenma is characterized by. Unlawfully taken-up property must be returned to its legitimate owner with no strings attached. Period.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

how abt send US army troops back home?

war have ended in 1945 guys.

In addition to Okinawa, how about the Kuril Islands too

War ended in 1945, comrades

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If the US leaves Okinawa the Chinese will be licking their chops to take control of the island just as they are claiming every rock out there in the middle of the ocean

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Eastman Do you really want the US army troops back home? You will be the first person complaining that Japan can't defend themselves just on US weapons alone you still need boots on the ground to operate the sophisticated weapons. You complain about tax dollars, everyone pays taxes and want a good life but that life of leisure safety and security comes at a price. If you are not willing to pay that price then continue crying wolf. You keep saying the war ended in 1945, thats a different kind of war. This is not 1945 its 2023. Just be thankful you can wake up everyday above ground!

war have ended in 1945 guys.

Japan is going spend a lot of money for US weapons and shopping is to be funded by our taxes so why you are still here?pap and mum waiting for you at home!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Both Washington and Tokyo are well aware that the Henoko new base now under construction doesn't contribute much to deterrence and security. Nevertheless, the landfill work in Henoko will keep going on, squandering tax money and destroying pristine mother nature. 

Why? The Futenma relocation insinuates that the U.S. military presence in Okinawa and in Japan in general is forever, never temporal and ephemeral.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

FYI:

 "The Okinawa Reversion Agreement was a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Japan in which the United States relinquished all rights and interests specified in Article III of the Treaty of San Francisco, and thus return Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty."

Nowhere in the Okinawa Reversion Agreement of 1971 is there any provision that says the illegal nature of USMC Air Station Futenma has been rescinded. Even if there is, a bilateral agreement such as this will never be able to rescind the fact that private lands were forcefully and thus illegally confiscated to construct USMC Air Station Futenma while area residents were herded in camps like prisoners of war.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Jim Dandy,

History or not the facts are Economically Japan will loose revenue from 4,000 marines spending their pay, the logistics to support them and maybe Russia will invade this time.

So, you want to say the Marines' withdrawal from Okinawa will badly damage the local economy. Have you been to Mihama American Village in Chatan or New Naha Business District in Naha? The areas were used exclusively by U.S. forces but returned to Okinawa because methinks they were considered not very important strategically. But note how thriving both areas have become now!

In the case of New Naha Business District, the economic impact it brings to the local economy is 32 times more than it used to be, from 5.2 billion yen to 165 billion yen, and employment 92 times, according to Gov. Tamaki.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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