Objection to Perfidious Introduction of New U.S. Military Aircraft

Last month, the U.S. government disclosed that it is planning to deploy 24 new U.S. Marine Osprey transport aircraft to the Futenma airbase in Okinawa. Upon receiving this news, the Japanese national government finally formally addressed the local governing bodies with a few short words.

The Osprey aircraft, like a helicopter, is capable of vertical flight, and like an airplane, it is capable of level flight. In comparison to modern transport helicopters, the Osprey is two times faster, has an engine with three times the power and can travel four times as far. With the introduction of such a powerful aircraft, the future permanence of Futenma airbase becomes complete, and the return of Futenma airbase looks ever more fleeting.

With ever-growing doubts, Okinawans believe that circumstances don’t permit the introduction of the Osprey. Prefectural Gov. Nakaima Hirokazu has issued a complaint with the national government and has, at the airbase at Ginowan, sought for numerous resolutions for withdrawal and meetings to protest the current events.

At the heart of the problem is strong distrust for the Japanese national government, which has perfidiously covered up the introduction of the aircraft. On the U.S. side, a resolution from the Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) was drafted in 1996, which included the return of the Futenma airbase to Japan. When the U.S. tried to include the Osprey into the resolution, there was an outcry from Japan for its removal, and it was subsequently removed.

Even when the Democratic administration came to power, its attitude remained that “we have no official announcement.”* The result of such blatant slighting of public opinion in Okinawa and in Japan as a whole is that no one can believe anything related to the lies they were led to believe.

Safety and noise pollution are a big concern. In the fourth stage of development, an Osprey crashed and killed 30 people. Even after the formal introduction of the Osprey by the U.S. military, it crashed in Afghanistan. There are doubts about U.S. reports on noise pollution that “it is quieter.”*

Notwithstanding, the Japanese government has said that “it is simply the newest model”* and that legally, the people have no authority to reject it. Also, the government’s point of view is that there are no other alternatives to this aircraft.

But is that really true? For example, Prefectural Gov. Nakaima has noted and emphasized that the cruising range of the Osprey “allows it to be used beyond the prefecture.”* This viewpoint has certain persuasive power. The Democratic administration has investigated into the possibility of transportation exercises between Futenma and Kyushu, but due to lack of cruising range of current helicopters, the idea was postponed.

In this past U.S.-Japan security meeting, it was decided to postpone the relocation of Futenma airbase from the proposed 2014 date. Due to this, the Japanese government needs to once again consult with the U.S. about the possibility of transport training extending outside of Okinawa and about alternatives.

With this kind of attitude, the government could be on the path to gaining the trust of Okinawans again. However, they must not force the introduction of the new Osprey aircraft.

*Editor’s Note: These quotations, though accurately translated, could not be verified.