Restart of Drilling

Against all people’s voice requiring to think twice, the administration led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe restarted drilling of the seabed of Henoko in Nago city, Okinawa. Although Tokyo government halted the construction process of Futenma replacement facility there last September, it seems to have exhausted in listening to the opposite opinion all around Okinawa. Further troubles in Okinawa will definitely weaken deterrence of United States-Japan alliance. Due to immatureness of handling the government, Abe is going straight forward to the wrong way.

After last September, new governor against current relocation plan, Takeshi Onaga, was elected in November. Coast guard raised warning level against protestors on small boats or canoe, not against any invaders from North Korea or China, but Japanese citizens. Abe or Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, has been refusing to have a meeting with Onaga. While Okinawa local government established a consultative committee to review the decision of former governor to allow the construction, national government decided to go further.

Suga explained the resumption of construction under rule of law. “Japan is governed by laws. We are advancing, abiding by laws. It is proper for us to continue the construction,” told him in a press conference on Thursday. There seems no democratic mind in the leaders of Abe administration on this issue. Even U.S. President, George W. Bush agreed on building an investigation committee, hearing voices of the people rallied around White House. Extremely stiff attitude of Abe reminds of authoritarian regime under Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping.

It is obvious that Abe is hurrying up to have a certain progress in Okinawa before his visit to United States in May. In the possible meeting with Obama, he wants to have an agreement on Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Security Cooperation, which will help his own domestic political agenda of remilitarization of Japan. Oppression on local community, which can also be seen in Fukushima to construct an intermediate processing facility for radioactively contaminated soil, is to subjugate the people under the power of state.

Its result is apparent. Under democratic regime, people cannot be subjugated by state power. After the bubble brought by irregular monetary policy bursts, Abe will have to get out of the stage. Next administration will have to adjust the policy toward Okinawa, if it wants to maintain a grip on that region. Futenma relocation will again be deadlocked. Abe is going forward to destroy U.S.-Japan alliance.