Relocating the Marines: Hoping for a Speedy Restoration

In the relocation of the U.S. Marines that are currently in Okinawa, the speedy restoration of the former U.S. military facilities and the reduction of the burden that the base has placed on the local area is essential.

In 2006, the Japanese and U.S. governments announced a “joint information report” that would review a plan to reorganize U.S. military forces in Japan.

The relocation of the Marines from Okinawa to Guam, and the return of U.S. military facilities to the locals, is progressing and has been separated from the issue of the relocation of the Futenma air base. [The United States] has made it known that relocating the Futenma air base to Henoko continues to be the only direction they can take.

Last fall, the relocation of the Marines to Guam was stalled due to the budget issues in the U.S. Congress. Relocating Futenma to Henoko also hit roadblocks due to local opposition.

This time, the review prioritizes Marine relocation. Foreign Minister Genma emphasized that “this in no way approves not relocating Futenma,” but he could not deny the fear of the double-edged sword that Futenma will remain where it is for the long term.

The scope of the relocation of the Marines will shrink the 8,000 troops by about 4,700 to Guam. The decentralization of forces to places like Hawaii points in the direction of a reduction in the number of troops stationed in Okinawa to about 10,000. The specifics are expected to take months of discussion between Japan and the United States.

First, the government will expedite the relocation to Guam; then it will be necessary to do everything they can to reduce the burden that has been placed on Okinawa. They need for the locals to understand that the U.S. military maintains deterrence and stability.

If 4,700 Marines relocate to Guam, we can expect that the number of incidents and accidents involving the troops, as well as the noise, will be reduced. According to the 2006 Japanese-U.S. agreement, there is a high possibility that U.S. facilities in the southern parts of Okinawa, including Camp Zukeran and Makiminato Service Area, will be returned.

Using the remains of U.S. military facilities in population-dense areas is a likely means of Okinawa’s encouragement.

The government and Okinawa need to investigate points of agreement and must positively discuss what the future of Okinawa will look like after the U.S. military areas are returned. That could possibly provide a breakthrough on the question of moving the Futenma airbase to Henoko.

Straying from the Futenma problem and the difficulty of relocating the facility to Henoko was the responsibility of former Prime Minister Hatoyama and the Democratic administration. Prime Minister Noda should understand that and tackle the problem head on.

Other than Guam, Marines will be sent to Hawaii, among other places, but as plans are still surfacing, this is unsettled. It will take time for it to come to fruition.

In order to see the 8,000 relocated, the government needs to buckle down and negotiate with the Americans.