November 12, 2024

The Japanese Communist Party members of the Chiba prefectural assembly on November 8 urged the prefectural government to request that the national government suspend Ground Self-Defense Force’s Osprey operations and withdraw their deployment.

The JCP assemblypersons group also demanded the suspension of U.S. Osprey flights in Chiba Prefecture.

On October 27, a V-22 Osprey belonging to the 1st Helicopter Brigade of the GSDF Camp Kisarazu (Kisarazu City, Chiba Pref.) sustained damage in a failed takeoff from GSDF Camp Yonaguni (Yonaguni Town, Okinawa Pref.) during the Japan-U.S. Keen Sword 25 exercises. Currently, 17 Ospreys are under flight suspension.

A prefectural government official said that residents’ safety should come first and that the local government already asked the national government to investigate the cause of the accident and take thorough measures to prevent a recurrence.