Hard Demand of Okinawan Governor

Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, had a meeting with Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, to discuss the issue of violence by a tail of United States Force in Okinawa. Onaga required meeting with U.S. President, Barack Obama, taking opportunity of visiting Japan for Group 7 Summit and review of Status of Forces Agreement between Japan and U.S. While showing his basic attitude to stand by Okinawa, Abe actually had to reject those requests. No improvement was brought in their relationship.

The meeting took ten minutes at Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Tokyo, with participation of Chief Cabinet Secretary in charge of Okinawa issue, Yoshihide Suga. Onaga regarded the issue, abandoning of female corpse by a worker for U.S. Force who was suspected to have raped and killed the woman, as caused by the existence of U.S. bases, requiring review of Japan-U.S. SOFA. “To protect safety and security of our children or grandchildren, I want to talk directly with U.S. President,” told Onaga.

Although Abe promised to demand Obama strict measures, Suga dismissed the possibility of meeting between U.S. President and the governor. “Generally speaking, it is proper that security or diplomatic issue is discussed between central governments,” told Suga in his press conference. Onaga criticized policy of Abe administration to “do everything the government can do” as “not to do anything the government cannot do.” He also questioned qualification of Ambassador for Okinawa in Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Okinawa Defense Bureau of Ministry of Defense.

Onaga has political reasons to be aggressive to central government. He is supported by the voters who are negative on existence of U.S. military bases. There will be a major rally to protest U.S. Force on June 19^th. On June 23^rd, Okinawa will have annual memorial day for the victims of Battle in Okinawa. Those events will be the good opportunity for Onaga to appeal his rightness to be countering Abe administration. He also hopes to increase his supporters in Okinawa Prefectural Congress in coming election on June 5^th.

However, Onaga has basically been accepting Japan-U.S. security regime and recognizing deterrence of U.S. Air Force in Kadena Air Base. If he requires shutting down of all U.S. bases in Okinawa including Kadena, it will contradict his policies being kept for years. His supporters are divided into two groups, one for shutting down all the bases and another for limited protest against relocation of Futenma Marine Air Base to Henoko. Rushing to anti-base movement may undermine the political basis of Onaga.