November 02, 2010

Japanese Communist Party representative Akamine Seiken at a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on November 1 stated that the return of all U.S. bases in Okinawa will bring about economic benefits of 915.6 billion yen to Okinawa and demanded that the government make efforts to get these U.S. base sites back to Japan.

Sixty-five years after the end of the war, U.S. bases still occupy 10.2% of the Okinawan islands and 18.4% of Okinawa’s main island alone. Due to the vast airspace and sea areas allotted for U.S. military training, Okinawa fishermen cannot freely operate in waters and air safety is a concern. “The existence of military bases poses major obstacles to development of the local economy,” Akamine argued.

He revealed that thanks to Okinawans’ efforts to achieve self reliance, only about 5% of its economy depends on the U.S. bases, down by two-thirds from the level in 1972 when Okinawa was returned to Japan.

Akamine showed Prime Minister Kan Naoto the estimate by the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, indicating that economic effects of the U.S. bases are only 420.7 billion yen while 915.6 billion yen or about 2.2 times more benefits will come to Okinawa’s economy if all the bases are returned.

The prime minister replied, “From what you have told me, I now understand the state of Okinawa’s economy which has become less dependent on the U.S. bases and is on the way to a self-sustained economy.”
- Akahata, November 02, 2010