June 14, 2011
Editorial (excerpts)
The Japanese government will construct a V-shaped runway at a new U.S. base in the Henoko district of Nago City, said Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi during a meeting with Okinawa Governor Nakaima Hirokazu in Naha City on June 13. According to the minister, the government, based on that position, will negotiate a new base plan with its U.S. counterpart at the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (two-plus-two) to be held on June 21. Kitazawa also told the governor that the U.S. plans to deploy the vertical take-off and landing aircraft MV22 Ospreys in the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.
Under the name of relocation of the Futenma base, the Japanese and the U.S. governments have agreed to build a new base in Henoko and the U.S. side has demanded that the new base have a V-shaped runway. The move to accept U.S. demand is the betrayal of the vast majority of Okinawan people who have opposed the transfer of the Futenma base within the prefecture and prevented the construction of another base as an alternative to the Futenma.
In 2006, the Japanese government, led by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komei Party, agreed with the U.S. government to construct a new base with a V-shaped runway in Henoko. The Democratic Party of Japan, however, in the 2009 Lower House election, promised to relocate the Futenma base to “outside Japan or at worst outside Okinawa.” Nonetheless, last May former Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio broke the promise and agreed to relocate the base within Okinawa. In August 2010, A Japan-U.S. expert panel set by the DPJ-led government under Prime Minister Kan issued a report, which includes two options: V-shaped and I-shaped runways.
Okinawan people have repeatedly opposed the base relocation within the prefecture, and Governor Nakaima has clearly stated he will not accept it. In light of this public sentiment, more officials in both the Japanese and U.S. governments are considering that the relocation will not be completed by 2014. Nonetheless, Kitazawa approved the construction of the V-shaped runway, which the U.S. government demanded—flattering to the United States just days before the two-plus-two.
No one can deny that a new base in Nago’s Henoko will cause deep suffering for local people with the risk of crash or heavy noise, just like the Futenma base. A large new base provides the U.S. military with the state-of-the-art facility of the Marine Corps which launches first strikes around the world.
The government should stop passing the foreign base from one place to another within Okinawa and increasing burdens on the local residents.
Meanwhile, Kitazawa also suggested to the governor that if the relocation plan fails, the Futenma base will continue to exist, and that the U.S. military will deploy the Ospreys to the base from October 2012. The Osprey is a defective aircraft. It has caused many accidents since its development stage and creates unbearable noise. This is why Okinawan people have long protested against the deployment. Before the U.S. military starts to deploy the aircrafts next year, we should move to close and dismantle the Futenma base.
The Japanese government will construct a V-shaped runway at a new U.S. base in the Henoko district of Nago City, said Defense Minister Kitazawa Toshimi during a meeting with Okinawa Governor Nakaima Hirokazu in Naha City on June 13. According to the minister, the government, based on that position, will negotiate a new base plan with its U.S. counterpart at the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (two-plus-two) to be held on June 21. Kitazawa also told the governor that the U.S. plans to deploy the vertical take-off and landing aircraft MV22 Ospreys in the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.
Under the name of relocation of the Futenma base, the Japanese and the U.S. governments have agreed to build a new base in Henoko and the U.S. side has demanded that the new base have a V-shaped runway. The move to accept U.S. demand is the betrayal of the vast majority of Okinawan people who have opposed the transfer of the Futenma base within the prefecture and prevented the construction of another base as an alternative to the Futenma.
In 2006, the Japanese government, led by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komei Party, agreed with the U.S. government to construct a new base with a V-shaped runway in Henoko. The Democratic Party of Japan, however, in the 2009 Lower House election, promised to relocate the Futenma base to “outside Japan or at worst outside Okinawa.” Nonetheless, last May former Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio broke the promise and agreed to relocate the base within Okinawa. In August 2010, A Japan-U.S. expert panel set by the DPJ-led government under Prime Minister Kan issued a report, which includes two options: V-shaped and I-shaped runways.
Okinawan people have repeatedly opposed the base relocation within the prefecture, and Governor Nakaima has clearly stated he will not accept it. In light of this public sentiment, more officials in both the Japanese and U.S. governments are considering that the relocation will not be completed by 2014. Nonetheless, Kitazawa approved the construction of the V-shaped runway, which the U.S. government demanded—flattering to the United States just days before the two-plus-two.
No one can deny that a new base in Nago’s Henoko will cause deep suffering for local people with the risk of crash or heavy noise, just like the Futenma base. A large new base provides the U.S. military with the state-of-the-art facility of the Marine Corps which launches first strikes around the world.
The government should stop passing the foreign base from one place to another within Okinawa and increasing burdens on the local residents.
Meanwhile, Kitazawa also suggested to the governor that if the relocation plan fails, the Futenma base will continue to exist, and that the U.S. military will deploy the Ospreys to the base from October 2012. The Osprey is a defective aircraft. It has caused many accidents since its development stage and creates unbearable noise. This is why Okinawan people have long protested against the deployment. Before the U.S. military starts to deploy the aircrafts next year, we should move to close and dismantle the Futenma base.
