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US promises to reduce burden of military presence in Okinawa US promises to reduce burden of military presence in Okinawa
(about 1 hour later)
The US ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, has pledged to reduce the burden of the US military presence in Okinawa, as local anger mounted over the construction of a new base on the island's unspoilt north-east coast.The US ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, has pledged to reduce the burden of the US military presence in Okinawa, as local anger mounted over the construction of a new base on the island's unspoilt north-east coast.
In a meeting on Wednesday with Okinawa's governor, Hirokazu Nakaima, Kennedy, who is making her first trip to Japan's southernmost prefecture, said the sight of school students greeting her had reminded her of the importance of "working together to reduce the burden of the military presence here". In a meeting on Wednesday with Okinawa's governor, Hirokazu Nakaima, Kennedy said the sight of school students greeting her had reminded her of the importance of "working together to reduce the burden of the military presence here".
She added: "Hopefully we can work together to keep the momentum moving forward for progress."She added: "Hopefully we can work together to keep the momentum moving forward for progress."
Okinawa, located about 1,000 miles south of Tokyo, hosts more than half the 47,000 US troops in Japan and three quarters of US bases.Okinawa, located about 1,000 miles south of Tokyo, hosts more than half the 47,000 US troops in Japan and three quarters of US bases.
Kennedy's visit comes as Japan seeks guarantees of Washington's support over its long-running dispute with China over ownership of the Senkaku islands, in the East China Sea. The US has refused to take sides in the dispute, but says it will honour its security treaty obligations to come to Japan's aid if it comes under attack. Kennedy's first trip to Japan's southernmost prefecture comes as Tokyo seeks guarantees of Washington's support over its long-running dispute with China over ownership of the Senkaku islands, in the East China Sea. The US has refused to take sides in the dispute, but says it will honour its security treaty obligations to come to Japan's aid if it comes under attack.
The Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, is determined to break the current deadlock over the proposed relocation of Futenma, a US marine corps airbase in Okinawa, from the middle of a densely populated area to an offshore site on the outskirts of Nago city.The Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, is determined to break the current deadlock over the proposed relocation of Futenma, a US marine corps airbase in Okinawa, from the middle of a densely populated area to an offshore site on the outskirts of Nago city.
Tokyo and Washington agreed to the move, plus the transfer of about 8,000 troops and their families to Guam and Hawaii, after the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl in Okinawa by three US servicemen. But local opposition has so far prevented the relocation from going ahead.Tokyo and Washington agreed to the move, plus the transfer of about 8,000 troops and their families to Guam and Hawaii, after the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl in Okinawa by three US servicemen. But local opposition has so far prevented the relocation from going ahead.
Many Okinawans, angered by pollution, crimes involving servicemen and the risk of aircraft accidents, are demanding that Futenma be moved off the island altogether.Many Okinawans, angered by pollution, crimes involving servicemen and the risk of aircraft accidents, are demanding that Futenma be moved off the island altogether.
Nakaima, who once opposed the relocation, recently made an about-turn and granted permits to begin land reclamation at the new site, setting him on a collision course with the mayor of Nago, Susumu Inamine, who was re-elected last month on an anti-base platform.Nakaima, who once opposed the relocation, recently made an about-turn and granted permits to begin land reclamation at the new site, setting him on a collision course with the mayor of Nago, Susumu Inamine, who was re-elected last month on an anti-base platform.
"There are various problems … such as crimes, accidents, environmental issues and so on," Nakaima told Kennedy. "We would like to seek your help so we can resolve the issue and reduce our burden of hosting US bases.""There are various problems … such as crimes, accidents, environmental issues and so on," Nakaima told Kennedy. "We would like to seek your help so we can resolve the issue and reduce our burden of hosting US bases."
Outside, a small but vocal group of protesters denounced Kennedy's visit as an empty gesture, with some asking why she had no plans to discuss the base move with Inamine, who is expected to attempt to delay construction by, for example, blocking developers' use of local ports and roads.Outside, a small but vocal group of protesters denounced Kennedy's visit as an empty gesture, with some asking why she had no plans to discuss the base move with Inamine, who is expected to attempt to delay construction by, for example, blocking developers' use of local ports and roads.
But most of their anger was directed at Nakaima, whose decision on land reclamation now faces a legal challenge.But most of their anger was directed at Nakaima, whose decision on land reclamation now faces a legal challenge.
"Until he gave his consent, in almost 70 years not one political leader in Okinawa had said the bases were welcome here," said Kazunobu Akamine, a 60-year-old demonstrator. "He did the worst thing imaginable."Until he gave his consent, in almost 70 years not one political leader in Okinawa had said the bases were welcome here," said Kazunobu Akamine, a 60-year-old demonstrator. "He did the worst thing imaginable.
"We will never agree to the construction of the new base. The people of Okinawa are being discriminated against by the Japanese government and, by extension, the United States.""We will never agree to the construction of the new base. The people of Okinawa are being discriminated against by the Japanese government and, by extension, the United States."
The Okinawan media seized on Kennedy's criticism last month of the dolphin slaughter in Taiji to demand why she was not similarly concerned about the fate of the dugong, a sea mammal whose habitat off the coast of Nago will be affected by the base construction.The Okinawan media seized on Kennedy's criticism last month of the dolphin slaughter in Taiji to demand why she was not similarly concerned about the fate of the dugong, a sea mammal whose habitat off the coast of Nago will be affected by the base construction.
"You expressed that you were deeply concerned by the 'inhumaneness' of drive-hunt dolphin killing," the Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper said. "Then is it not inhumane to pose a threat to the habitat of the dugongs by destroying their feeding grounds?""You expressed that you were deeply concerned by the 'inhumaneness' of drive-hunt dolphin killing," the Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper said. "Then is it not inhumane to pose a threat to the habitat of the dugongs by destroying their feeding grounds?"
In an open letter to Kennedy, the Okinawa Times said that to go ahead with the relocation in defiance of local wishes "is completely unacceptable in a democratic society".In an open letter to Kennedy, the Okinawa Times said that to go ahead with the relocation in defiance of local wishes "is completely unacceptable in a democratic society".
The paper continued: "To attempt to build a new military airbase in Okinawa, after the tragedy of the Battle of Okinawa, the long and difficult 27 years of American occupation that followed it, and the disproportionate burden of military bases shouldered by Okinawa since, is nothing but blatant discrimination against the Okinawan people. Please relay these feelings to President Obama."The paper continued: "To attempt to build a new military airbase in Okinawa, after the tragedy of the Battle of Okinawa, the long and difficult 27 years of American occupation that followed it, and the disproportionate burden of military bases shouldered by Okinawa since, is nothing but blatant discrimination against the Okinawan people. Please relay these feelings to President Obama."
Earlier in the day, Kennedy laid a wreath at a memorial to the 240,000 people, including US troops and about a quarter of the island's civilian population, who died during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.Earlier in the day, Kennedy laid a wreath at a memorial to the 240,000 people, including US troops and about a quarter of the island's civilian population, who died during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.