History of Henoko Relocation Plan

In the early morning of Okinawa Memorial Day, emerald water in O-uraBay was softly lapping on the sand. The boring equipments stood in the middle of the bay looked like taking a rest to pray for war victims seventy years ago. But, once Ministry of Defense and U.S. Force resumes the construction of Henoko Air Base, protest in Okinawawill be vitalized again. As long as the people in Okinawa are firmly against the relocation plan, Henoko base will not be operated.

In 1999, Cabinet led by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi made a decision to build an alternative facility in Henoko along with returning U.S. Futenma Marine Air Base to Japan. The decision was based on an agreement with Government of Okinawa with two conditions. One was that the alternative facility would be temporary one with expiration in fifteen years later. Another was that the facility was to be dual use of military and civilian with consideration of economic development in northern part of Okinawa Island. But, actual construction was delayed with some reasons.

Turning point came in 2005 and 2006. In the consecutive negotiations between Japan and U.S. government, there appeared another plan, which would build a new base in Henoko. The plan was different from former one in terms of building two runways in the area close to the coast and it did not have any expiration and dual-usage. Crucially enough, government of Japan and U.S.agreed on the plan without any consent from Okinawa.

People in Okinawa became furious. For them, accepting 1999 plan was painful enough. Periodical use of the facility and economic consideration for the region was the most persuasive points to the people. New plan was something far from acceptable.

In 2009, a strange Prime Minister offered a new deal. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama declared that Futenma Air Base should be moved to foreign land, or other place in Japan at least. In his effort to look for alternative place, people in Okinawa got to know that burden of military base has not to be vested on Okinawa, but somewhere in Japan. They realized that they do not necessarily have to make a painful decision. Once Hatoyama revealed a truth of Futenma relocation issue, spilled water never get back to a glass.

At the beginning of Shinzo Abe administration, stake was too high already. But, this authoritarian administration made matters significantly worse. It unilaterally started actual construction in Henoko, ignoring long history of negotiation with Okinawaand public opinion appeared in elections. There is no politician around Abe who knows well about the history. Political novices in Abe administration firmly believe in power of national government and face consistent protest from Okinawa. Killing regional will is not something a democratic government would do.