Reform of Closing Base

Ministry of Defense announced on Friday that it would start a major reform of facilities in United States Futenma Marine Airbase. Wait a moment, please. Haven’t both government of Japan and U.S. agreed on returning the base to Japan to remove danger in the center of residential area in central Okinawa? It is inevitable for the people to be skeptical on implementation of the agreement, if the base would be maintained. Futenma relocation issue is going no way, indeed.

Receiving request from U.S. Force for maintaining safe operation of the base, Japanese government decided to reform nineteen facilities, including barracks, hangars, water tanks and main office, which exterior was peeling off and roof leaky. It takes two or three years to finish the reform. Its estimated cost amounting to tens of billions of yen will be dispensed from the budget of Japan.

The review plan for transformation of U.S. Force in Japan in 2012 determined that both U.S. and Japanese government would pay for the cost for maintenance of Futenma Base until relocation to Henoko would be finished. But, Japan already paid for all the cost for reform of barracks and sewage in 2013, which amounted ¥5.6 billion. Logic of this unilateral burden may be explained as “Hey, you guys are so lazy in persuading people in Okinawa that our barracks are get older and misery. You know, you’re responsible for it.”

According Asahi Shimbun, an official for Ministry of Defense explained that Japanese government independently decided to take the burden along with the line of Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Although U.S. requested reform of facilities for amusement, Japan turned it down as impossible to persuade Japanese taxpayers. The oppressive attitude of U.S. government on security issues often paralleled in Japan with that of rogue gangsters.

Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, has been requiring close of Futenma Base within five years. “If it is a major reform, that kind of skepticism will coming up on my mind,” told Onaga, when he asked by reporter whether he would think it as extension of life of Futenma. Onaga and Japanese government have been opposing each other over the relocation plan to Henoko. While he would retreat from his order of cancellation of landfill approval in Henoko, Onaga insisted on his idea of disturbing Henoko relocation plan with all the methods he could take.

Accumulating spending for relocation of Futenma Base to Henoko is caused by miscommunication between Okinawa and Japan. Ignoring theory of autonomy, Japanese government keeps on putting pressure on Okinawa. It is Japanese citizens who have to pay for their poor governance.