Okinawa took one step away from Japan. Ignoring protests of
residents, U.S. Marine Corps deployed two MV-22 Osprey in Futenma Air Base on
Saturday. It is the government of Japan, rather than U.S. Force, that is
responsible for those consistent oppositions against enhancing military
presence in Okinawa, because the people in Okinawa regard that concentrated
burden as a reflection of discrimination of the mainland Japanese. The United
States also needs to pay attention to the necessity of distributing Okinawa’s
burden.
One direct reason of the protest was that operations of
Osprey have been violating the agreement the government of Japan and U.S.
exchanged when it had been deployed in Futenma last October. Both governments
agreed with avoiding flight over populated area and late at night.
Nevertheless, residents observed 318 examples of violations during first two
months. Asahi Shimbun reported that Osprey shook wall of houses under its
flight, and kids went inside buildings when it came over their head. But, the government
dismissed those appeals, recognizing those operations were necessary for drills
of Marines.
Fundamental frustration, however, stems from the consecutive
and additional betrayals of Japanese government. Former administration of
Democratic Party of Japan forced Okinawa to accept alternative facility of
Futenma Air Base, neglecting their promise to remove the base from Okinawa.
Liberal Democratic Party won the election of the House of Representatives last
December with the promise of reducing the burden of Okinawa. But, they lost
Okinawa district in the election of the House of Councillors last month, mainly
because of disappointment on LDP’s policy.
The deployment of 12 Ospreys adding to already deployed 12
reflects the attitude of Japanese government, in which it only understand the
requirement of U.S. Force, ignoring Okinawa’s appeals. It is natural that
people in Okinawa regard their land as being left behind of Japan. Against the
growing threat from Korean Peninsula, and pressure from China around Senkaku
Islands, the government of Japan keeps on accumulating burdens on Okinawa
without any persuasive strategies.
U.S. government should not be optimistic on this deep rift inside
Japan. If it wants to maintain deterrence against those instable factors, it
needs to distribute the presence in Okinawa to reduce the burden in the most strategically
important island. This kind of trouble inside the alliance only benefits China
and North Korea.
No comments:
Post a Comment