What's new

Update: Deadlock Deepens Over US Base Relocation in Japan

Aepsilons

ELITE MEMBER
May 29, 2014
24,960
118
35,589
Country
Japan
Location
United States
TOKYO — Deadlock over the controversial relocation of a US military base in southern Japan deepened Friday when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met the anti-base governor of Okinawa.

The two men remained as far apart as ever after a 30-minute meeting that analysts said was largely Abe going through the motions of consultation ahead of a key trip to the United States.

Takeshi Onaga told reporters he asked Abe "to tell President Obama that the governor of Okinawa and his people are clearly against" plans to build a new facility on the semi-tropical island's coast in exchange for the shuttering of Futenma airbase.

The issue has queered relations between Tokyo and Okinawa, a once independent kingdom that was annexed by Japan in the 19th century, for nearly two decades, and is an irritant in ties with Washington.

Okinawa is home to more than half of the 47,000 US service personnel stationed in Japan as part of a defence alliance, a proportion many islanders say is too high.

Futenma, whose busy runway sits in the middle of a densely-populated city, has become emblematic of that ill-will since Washington announced plans to move it in 1996, in what the US hoped would ease tensions with the host community.

Locals have blocked the move, insisting the facility should go off-island instead, and last year elected the vehemently anti-base Onaga, who is determined to block construction of the new base on the coast.

The standoff between Tokyo and Okinawa has hardened over recent weeks, with demonstrations near the construction site, putting pressure on Abe to ease tensions.

At the start of Friday's meeting, Abe pledged he will "work towards reducing burdens" on Okinawa, but insisted the current plan "is the only solution".

Onaga hit back that three recent popular votes in Okinawa all "showed overwhelming opposition by Okinawans to the construction of a new base."

"Okinawa has never voluntarily offered to host bases," he said, noting that lands were seized during the post-World War II US occupation.

Takehiko Yamamoto, an international politics expert, said Abe is unlikely to compromise on the move, which Washington has repeatedly said is what it wants.

But Abe "needs to do something before visiting the United States, as the issue of US bases in Okinawa is a thorn in the side of the Japan-US alliance".

"I'm concerned that things may get nasty if the government keeps taking the current high-handed approach ... prompting anger not only among Okinawans but among some outside the islands," he said.

Tokyo and Washington are working to update the guidelines governing their military alliance at a time of rising disquiet over China's growing assertiveness.

"The government is in a difficult position of balancing the need to listen to Okinawa's public opinion and the need to maintain the security alliance with Washington," said Yamamoto.



Deadlock Deepens Over US Base Relocation in Japan
 
The protests seem to have increased in momentum,



okinawa-protest.jpg




amin20130301083630943.jpeg




the_protesting_crowd_in_ginowan_on_2009-11-08.jpg
 
not much progress made, i really wonder if the US base will ever leave Okinawa

To be quite honest, there is vehement hesitation to distribute US military presence into the mainland and I doubt any prefecturial governors will even concede to such a decision and Abe knows this. If Okinawa does not relent, then Tokyo will face a supreme court review if it forces this on the Prefecture, something that Abe and his cabinet do not want. I really don't know what is the proper solution. Perhaps it is time that Japan and America to consider ending these military bases in Japan.

There's no reason why our alliance would be hampered say if they were to voluntarily leave the Japanese Archipelago, anyways. Guam , afterall, is rather close by. And besides, the soldiers can always be redistributed to South Korea, which is also home to US military forces, and the Koreans seem more receptive to hosting American soldiers.

let's get out period. japan is a big boy can handle it's own.


I agree.
 
You think US is interested to leave Japan when Americans soldiers are well feed by Japanese tax payers and earn to keep an eye on China and Japan at the same time. :lol:


not saying it would happen, but it should happen. if they don't want us there then fine we'll kick mud and leave :oops::oops:

we still got South korea,Taiwan, Philippines and maybe even Vietnam and Malaysia to handle our boys.
 
You think US is interested to leave Japan when Americans soldiers are well feed by Japanese tax payers and earn to keep an eye on China and Japan at the same time. :lol:


I generally see US forces as a collaborative force and have positive feelings about them and the defense alliance. However, its a very delicate situation we're in, we clearly can't simply ignore the feelings and the opinions of an entire Prefecture , and a very large part of southern Japanese islands.

I was a firm supporter of the construction of the Henoko Base and the closure of Futenma. I've voiced it out in previous conversations before, however, this was almost a year ago. And still the protests are unabated , moods have not changed. We're still back in square 1.

I don't think we should go ahead with Henoko construction if the people of Okinawa oppose it. If we are a democracy then we should consider the popular will here.

not saying it would happen, but it should happen. if they don't want us there then fine we'll kick mud and leave :oops::oops:

we still got South korea,Taiwan, Philippines and maybe even Vietnam and Malaysia to handle our boys.

There are US troops in Taiwan? :)
 
not saying it would happen it should happen. if they don't want us there then fine. :oops::oops:

we still got South korea,Taiwan, Philippines and maybe even Vietnam and Malaysia to handle our boys.

Amercans soldiers can still stay in the warship and live as boat people while begging other Asians for charity to feed them...that can also be the alternative solution or just go home.
 
Amercans soldiers can still stay in the warship and live as boat people while begging other Asians for charity to feed them...that can also be the alternative solution or just go home.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:


maybe we should just build some fake islands in the area. we got plenty of cargo planes to replenish them :cheers:
 
Amercans soldiers can still stay in the warship and live as boat people while begging other Asians for charity to feed them...that can also be the alternative solution or just go home.

lol, really? beg for food? We are afterall talking about the US Navy, right? I don't think you have to worry about logistics when it comes to the US Navy. They're a league of their own.
 
To be quite honest, there is vehement hesitation to distribute US military presence into the mainland and I doubt any prefecturial governors will even concede to such a decision and Abe knows this. If Okinawa does not relent, then Tokyo will face a supreme court review if it forces this on the Prefecture, something that Abe and his cabinet do not want. I really don't know what is the proper solution. Perhaps it is time that Japan and America to consider ending these military bases in Japan.

There's no reason why our alliance would be hampered say if they were to voluntarily leave the Japanese Archipelago, anyways. Guam , afterall, is rather close by. And besides, the soldiers can always be redistributed to South Korea, which is also home to US military forces, and the Koreans seem more receptive to hosting American soldiers.

That's the point isn't it, Japan is a very capable power plus no country is gonna invade Japan or Okinawa. Guam is close by and South Korea has US military presence. I can understand the people living on that island who wants US military out, especially of the problems caused by them and the island is used to store Agent Orange.

By the way where is this Henoko?
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 1, Members: 0, Guests: 1)


Back
Top Bottom