Marines Transfer to Australia: No Justification for Stationing Troops in Okinawa

Published in Ryukyushimpo
(Japan) on 30 June 2014
by Editorial (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stephanie Chiu. Edited by Emily France.
Even if the full picture is not shown, one can still piece the puzzle together little by little to get a sense of the image. If we liken the recent movements of the U.S. Marines to the puzzle, one can then clearly see from it just how weak the basis behind the garrison in Okinawa is.

According to the American newspaper Stars and Stripes, about 2,500 of the American troops stationed in Okinawa are to move to Australia. In addition, it is possible that the scale of this garrison may further increase.

Under the Asia Pacific pivot set forth by the Obama administration, the American military is to increase the activity of military exchanges in various Asian countries. Their strategy has shifted to one that will avoid spurring China into increasing their military power in excess, while closely discussing military matters with other Asian countries and surrounding China from afar with the glares of their neighbors.

Regarding the American bases in Okinawa, it has been pointed out again and again that they lie within range of Chinese missiles and that, according to an American military specialist, “getting too close to China makes one vulnerable.” In order to address these concerns, the Marine Corps has promoted decentralization to places such as Australia, Guam and Hawaii.

What we should pay attention to is the fact that, according to an agreement between America and Australia, American amphibious assault ships are to be deployed to move Marine soldiers to Australia until 2018. If a dispute occurs, over 1,000 Marines will be built up and deployed, with a strong implication that they will be sent to Okinawa to secure the Asia Pacific region.

Concerning the Marines in Okinawa, the American military reorganized once more under a mutual understanding between America and Japan in 2012, when a shift in the earth’s crust occurred. The 4th Marine Regiment of the 3rd Division was to move to Guam alongside a combat service support unit, then disperse to Hawaii, and finally deploy a task force of 2,500 for relocation to Australia. A combat force of approximately 9,000 soldiers were to be sent away to join the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, which was patrolling the Pacific Ocean along Okinawa, and remain in headquarters.

The infantry group that was to be the main force in times of strife has almost emptied, and the number of the military personnel piloting airplanes and helicopters has rapidly decreased. Despite this, a new military base is being constructed in Henoko, Nagoya to substitute the Futenma Base. This is a logical inconsistency of incredible proportions.

In addition, it has been proposed that former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Joseph Nye, a man who holds great influence on U.S. Asian policy, also transfer to Australia. An opinion is also circulating within American scholars for the withdrawal of American troops back to their home country.

Even considering the expanded deployment into Australia, there is no way to justify the garrison of Marine troops in Okinawa if we consider geopolitics and military rationale first. The Americans shouldn’t be allowed to invade and construct something as foolish as the Henoko base.


海兵隊豪州移駐 沖縄駐留は正当化できない
2014年6月30日

描かれている物が何かを示されなくとも、パズルのピースを少しずつ埋め合わせていくと輪郭が浮かぶ。米海兵隊をめぐる最近の動きをパズルに例えるなら、沖縄への駐留根拠の薄弱さという実像がくっきりと浮かび上がってくる。
 米軍の準機関紙・星条旗などによると、米軍が、在沖海兵隊員約2500人が移駐する予定のオーストラリア(豪州)で、駐留規模をさらに拡大する可能性が濃厚になっている。
 「アジア太平洋重視」を掲げるオバマ政権の下、米軍は、アジア諸国との軍事交流を活発化させている。軍事力を高める中国を過度に刺激することを避けつつ、アジア諸国との軍事的連携を密にしながら、遠巻きに中国へのにらみを利かす戦略にシフトしている。
 在沖米軍基地については、中国のミサイルの射程内であることを挙げ、米の軍事専門家から「中国に近過ぎて脆弱(ぜいじゃく)だ」との指摘が再三繰り出されている。こうした懸念に対処するため、海兵隊は豪州、グアム、ハワイなどへの分散配置を進めている。
 注目すべきは、米豪の協定により、2018年までに海兵隊員を運ぶ海軍の強襲揚陸艦が豪州に配備されることだ。紛争が起きた際、千人以上の海兵隊員を乗せて機動展開する行動拠点が、アジア太平洋地域で沖縄に次いで確保される意味は重い。
 在沖海兵隊をめぐっては、米軍再編を仕切り直した2012年の日米合意で地殻変動が起きた。主力歩兵部隊の第3師団第4連隊のグアム移転が決まり、後方支援部隊もグアム、ハワイに分散し、機動部隊2500人が豪州にローテーション配備される。約9千人の実戦部隊が去り、沖縄には太平洋上を巡回している第31海兵遠征部隊と司令部が残る構図となる。
 紛争時の主力となる歩兵部隊がほぼ空っぽになり、航空機やヘリに乗せる兵員が大幅に減るにもかかわらず、普天間飛行場の代替新基地を名護市辺野古に建設することは、論理的矛盾も甚だしい。
 米国の対アジア政策に影響力を持つジョセフ・ナイ元国防次官補が豪州移転を提言し、米識者には米本国への撤収を説く見解もある。
 豪州への配備拡大をみても、地政学や軍事的合理性を前面に据えて海兵隊の沖縄駐留を正当化するには無理がある。辺野古新基地建設の愚を犯してはならない。
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