New Offensive Action from Okinawa

Another countermeasure was taken by Okinawa. Prefectural Congress of Okinawa passed an ordinance, which would regulate transporting earth and sand for landfill from outer area on Monday. Although the congress stressed the necessity of conserving biology of Okinawa, it was obvious that Okinawa tried to disturb landfill in Henoko, where Government of Japan and United States had a plan to build new Marine airbase. Escalation of opposition between Tokyo and Okinawa was stepped up.

Draft of the ordinance was submitted by five parties, including Social Democratic or Communists, which supported Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga. It was aimed to preserve biological diversity by refraining from introduction of strange creatures such as small ants or spiders.

The ordinance demands developers to research and report about mixture of “registered strange creatures” into the soil, when they carry it from another prefecture. The report must be done ninety days before carrying. If the soil was suspected to be including those creatures, the local government of Okinawa can investigate the developer or recommend not carrying it. To abide by the ordinance, a developer needs to take more time to research.

Liberal Democratic Party in Okinawa, the opposite power against Onaga, criticized the ordinance as political move to disturb Henoko relocation. LDP has been promoting the building of the second runway of Okinawa International Airport as an important policy for the economy of Okinawa. New ordinance will disturb not only the introduction of soil into Henoko, but building plan of the civilian airport. Tokyo government is closely watching whether new ordinance will be unpopular among the people in Okinawa who expect convenience of air transportation.

In the plan of Ministry of Defense, building Henoko Airbase requires a great amount of earth and sand from Kagoshima or Yamaguchi. Although it is unlikely that the ordinance can stop the construction, new action of Okinawan government will be recognized as symbolic protest against unilateral infringement of self-determination by the national government.

However, national government has not shown any attitude to talk with Okinawa on the issue. “I will closely watch whether the ordinance is going to target a specific policy,” told Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga. Watching is not what he, as a responsible Minister, should do. Lack of communication is making Okinawa issue more complicated.