Author: Yamaguchi Banri
Associated Press
TOKYO (AP) — Despite fears of escalating tensions between China and nearby regions, the current governor of Okinawa has opposed the forced relocation of U.S. naval bases by Japan’s central government and called for a further reduction in the number of U.S. troops on the southern islands. Re-elected on the 11th. Taiwan.
Okinawa Prefecture Mayor Tamaki Danny and his supporters declared his victory, after exit polls showed him beating two contenders – two who were backed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s ruling bloc and backed his base relocation plan The contender, Atsushi Sakima, celebrated with the slogan “Long live” shortly after, with another opposition-backed candidate, Mikio Shimochi.
Tamaki, backed by the opposition, won 339,767 votes, or about 51 percent of the valid votes, compared with 274,844 for Sakima and 53,677 for Shimoji, according to the final result released by Okinawa Prefecture.
A victory for Tamaki could deepen tensions between Okinawa and the central government.
Plans to move the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a crowded neighborhood to a less populated part of the island have been delayed for years. Okinawans call it a new construction rather than a relocation, and want the Futenma base closed and removed from the island.
“My commitment to solving the problem of U.S. military bases for the future of Okinawa has never wavered,” Tamaki said. He said he would continue his efforts to convey Okinawa’s wishes to the central government.
During the campaign, Tamaki also vowed to do more to improve Okinawa’s economy. Tourism on this subtropical island known for its coral, marine life and unique culture has been severely damaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
Resentment and frustration run deep in Okinawa because of the large U.S. presence and Tokyo’s lack of effort to negotiate with Washington over how to balance the burden of troop garrisoning between the Japanese mainland and the southern island group.
Okinawa was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II, and it remained under American occupation until it returned to Japanese control in 1972. Today, most of the 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan and 70 percent of U.S. military installations remain in Okinawa under bilateral security treaties, occupying only 0.6 percent of Japanese land.
Because of the U.S. bases, Okinawa struggles with noise, pollution, accidents and crime related to U.S. troops, Tamaki said.
The Japanese government has shifted the country’s defense posture to southwestern Japan, Okinawa and its remote islands in recent years, and has aggressively pushed Japan’s military capabilities and capabilities over the next five to 10 years, citing growing threats from China, North Korea, and Russia. Budget.
Many in Okinawa are concerned that Japan’s missile defense systems and amphibious capabilities are increasingly deployed on outer islands near geopolitical hotspots such as Taiwan, necessary. Okinawans fear they will be the first to be drawn into the Taiwan conflict.
The Futenma base relocation plan was instituted after the rape of an Okinawan schoolgirl in 1995, in which three U.S. service members were convicted. The case once again sparked local opposition to the U.S. base. The relocation has been delayed for years due to resistance from Okinawa and environmental and structural problems in the Henoko area where the new base was supposed to be set up.
