politics

Gov't to resume U.S. base construction in setback for new Okinawan governor

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ou mean you want to change the pacifist constitution to a war constitution? You know, Okinawa's reintegration with mainland Japan in 1972 was brought about by Okinawa's decades-long struggles to be reunited with Japan. We believed the return would free ourselves from suffocation feelings we felt under the oppressive U.S. military administration and at the same time that we could heartily enjoy life under a reborn Japan's Pacifist Constitution.

The idea that you put forth is ludicrous, as first off there is no such thing as a "war constitution" not to mention the fact that Abe has stated numerous times his intentions, and you are twisting his intentions to serve your own, lord knows what, purpose.

We believed the return would free ourselves from suffocation feelings we felt under the oppressive U.S. military administration and at the same time that we could heartily enjoy life under a reborn Japan's Pacifist Constitution.

We? There are few if any that believe you are a part of the collective, you like to sound like it, but are far from it. Your ideas and thoughts are along the lines of the fringe elements in Okinawa that call for a return to the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom. No one listens.

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Yubaru,

I'm asking the question of Schopenhauer, not you.

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We are the bosses!

Well, that is kinda how federal governments work...

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The Japanese federal government’s message to the okinowan governer, “Go home! Your drunk! We are the bosses!”

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You mean you want to change the pacifist constitution to a war constitution? 

No one, not even Abe himself, is suggesting this, or even offering this as an idea for the changes to the constitution.

Amazing the opinions and ideas that folks come up with here.

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Military make weapons and people that kill, Trade like One Belt, One Road , with Environmental Principles make the World Better, which future do you want, East or West ?

Stay Pacifist or Not Pacifist ?

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Schopanhauer,

Sorry, Okinawans. Please wait until when the time comes when Japan defends their country by themselves after changing the pacifist constitution.

You mean you want to change the pacifist constitution to a war constitution? You know, Okinawa's reintegration with mainland Japan in 1972 was brought about by Okinawa's decades-long struggles to be reunited with Japan. We believed the return would free ourselves from suffocation feelings we felt under the oppressive U.S. military administration and at the same time that we could heartily enjoy life under a reborn Japan's Pacifist Constitution.

So what would be the meaning of Okinawa's reversion to Japan if Japan changed the pacifist constitution to a belligerent war constitution? That may be the time when Okinawa will mull over independence which you’ve been so strongly recommending on threads elsewhere.

By the way, aren’t you aware that it’s the U.S. side that is more eager for Japan's constitution to be revised so that the SDF can fight global wars along with U.S. forces with impunity? In other words, Japan’s status as a U.S. vassal or a military colony will be more strengthened than now in spite of yourself. Is that what you want?

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 it was scrapped in favor of one much less evasive. 

My apologizes, "invasive" not evasive. Mea Culpa.....

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Yubaru,

Click open https://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/prentry-217219.html (The video: "Gov. Nakaima's news conference for approving landfill work"「動画 仲井真知事 辺野古埋め立て承認記者会見」 and see if my opinion is invalid, based on false information.

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Oh and the following governors opposition was based upon a minor point in the agreement and was over turned in court.

SO there is ZERO legal basis to the construction, and it will continue...FINALLY!

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Some information for people here to consider regarding the "size" of the landfill area.

The Ministry of Defense is asking Okinawa’s permission to reclaim about 395 acres of land to build V-shaped runways off the tip of the Marine Corps’ Camp Schwab,

395 acres is roughly 1.6 sq/km Huge? I think not. Also not part of the initial plan which was to be in deep water, but was brought to the shoreline and uses the land area/beach of Camp Schwab.

https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/futenma-to-move-no-earlier-than-2019-1.214094

Talk about hypocrisy?

A similar project headed by the Japanese government at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni near Hiroshima reclaimed land for a new off-shore U.S. military runway that began operation in 2010. That project — now the largest heavy-lift runway in the region — hit numerous delays and took 13 years to complete.

Anyone ever hear of any "protests"?

Oh back to Henoko...some protesters here are still using the following as the basis of their argument, FACT this is NOT the current plan as it was scrapped in favor of one much less evasive. and that I refer to above in the first paragraph after the quote here!

The United States and Japan will locate the FRF in a configuration that combines the Henoko-saki and adjacent water areas of Oura and Henoko Bays, including two runways aligned in a "V"-shape, each runway having a length of 1,600 meters plus two 100-meter overruns. The length of each runway portion of the facility is 1,800 meters, exclusive of seawalls (see attached concept plan dated April 28, 2006) [PDF]

https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/security/scc/doc0605.html

Read the size there, and the one quoted above about the over size of the current project and do the math.

Huge differences. It's called negotiation and cooperation between the Japanese and US governments, with the approval of the Okinawa governor at the time!

Don't be fooled by the "noise", reality is different!

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True, former Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima approved the landfill work in 2013. But when he approved it, there was a condition attached to it: Futenma Air Station must be closed and returned in 5 years. The central goverment agreed on it. The breaching of this agreement on the part of the Abe government alone can suffice for the Okinawa Prefectural Government to rescind the approval.

Within 5 years AFTER the construction of Henoko was finished.

(Again conveniently leave out important information to support an invalid opinion.)

>

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The landfill work was approved in 2013 by then Okinawa Gov Hirokazu Nakaima, but his successor Takeshi Onaga, who died in office in August, revoked the approval in 2015, citing legal defects in Nakaima's decision.,

True, former Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima approved the landfill work in 2013. But when he approved it, there was a condition attached to it: Futenma Air Station must be closed and returned in 5 years. The central goverment agreed on it. The breaching of this agreement on the part of the Abe government alone can suffice for the Okinawa Prefectural Government to rescind the approval.

But as I've been arguing on other threads, the U.S. government, for starters, has no right whatsoever to demand the new base be built at Henoko in Nago in exchange for Futenma's return. The land on which Futenma sits is a stolen property and hence there isn’t any legal ground for the U.S. to attach conditions for its return. Futenma must be returned unconditionally right then and there.

.

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Sorry, Okinawans. Please wait until when the time comes when Japan defends their country by themselves after changing the pacifist constitution. But many Japanese appear they are not determined to do so. They know their nature. Once they build a military, it will become a very strong military and they cannot stop it. We are like beans in a tray.

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Been snorkeling there. It is a very beautiful ecosystem. Why smash it just to kill foriegn women and children? I think @will is right on.

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Does it legitamise America being there for ever, or is that another red herring ?

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It's just another issue to be bandied about for political gain

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Can I get an amen!

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citing insufficient environmental protection measures and an issue with soft ground on the seabed beneath the construction site, among other issues. It subsequently put the construction work on hold.

How ironic, the so-called "soft ground" on the sea bed is found surrounding the entire island of Okinawa, and is NOT limited to the area of the landfill.

Yet, the government choose to build landfills in numerous different locations around the island, and many of those have schools, housing areas, commercial development, and on those areas literally tens of thousands of people live and work daily!

There was NEVER a peep of discussion nor argument, never any concern for the environmental impact, that destroyed fishing grounds or anything else regarding the areas in question.

Even at one of the more noted landfills, Nishizaki in Itoman, the landfill area literally started sinking, and one of the High School's built there, Okinawa Suisan HS, had major reconstruction done because the huge cracks appeared in the walls and supporting beams that put the entire school in danger of collapsing.

Thanks in part to that cluster-fruck of construction, the other landfill were refilled twice, once filled, then filled with water, allowed to settle and then refilled again!

No complaints either for the Naha Airport runway construction, which is on the same type of sea bed!

They have gotten so good at it, that typically any buildings that are on landfills require anchors driven deep into the ground to the sea bed to support the structure, and many municipalities offered that construction for free, driving, in the posts as an incentive, to people to build there. Now for an average house that is unnecessary.

Yet now they suddenly wake up and feel concerned about an airport runway for the military? Right!

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Excellent.

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Well said

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The landfill work was approved in 2013 by then Okinawa Gov Hirokazu Nakaima, but his successor Takeshi Onaga, who died in office in August, revoked the approval in 2015, citing legal defects in Nakaima's decision. In an ensuing court battle, the revocation was found illegal and Onaga was forced to rescind it in late 2016.But the prefecture again retracted the approval in August after Onaga's death

Notice here, there are no court battles being fought about the environment, no court battles being fought about land rights, no court battles being fought about legality overall of the bases. All these so called "legal experts" and arm chair judges here think they know better than the actual professionals who are fighting this battle.

The ONLY court battle being fought is over a "legal defect", from within the original approval.

People are having the wool pulled over their eyes far too often. All the noise of the protests, and everything else, is in effect meaningless and just draws out the inevitable conclusion. The new facilities at Schwab, including the landfill project will continue as predicted.

Now hopefully this can be completed, and MCAS Futenma finally is closed!

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