Distance Grows Between Okinawa and the National Government over Airbase

Minister of Defense Kitazawa Toshimi visited Okinawa and met with the prefectural governor Nakaima Hirokazu. Regarding the prefectural governor’s statement that the Futenma Air Base should be “relocated outside of the prefecture,” the Minister of Defense emphasized that the Japan-U.S. alliance is critical for the stability of the Asia-Pacific region. He also said, “Both countries will have to earnestly pursue a bilateral agreement which includes the relocation of the air base to Henoko Bay in Nago City.” There has not been any indication that an agreement will be reached before relocation begins, showing once again the difficulty of reaching a bilateral agreement.

It will soon be one year since a bilateral agreement was completed on May 28, 2010, during the final days of former Prime Minster Hatoyama’s administration. In that time, the strains between Okinawa and Prime Minister Kan’s administration over the problem of the Futenma Air Base has not improved. After that bilateral agreement, the feeling that came to Okinawa was, “Why do we have to bear this overweight burden for the entire country of Japan for the sake of security?” The government says that Okinawa has an advantageous geography for military activities, but Okinawa still feels differently about the air base problem and sees it as discrimination by the mainland.

On the other hand, Prime Minster Kan’s administration has repeatedly declared the fulfillment of the Japan-U.S. agreement and has decided on building the runway on reclaimed land in Henoko Bay and, recently, on a V-shaped runway approved by the U.S. Either way, it follows the desires of the U.S., and the L.D.P. has agreed with the U.S. on the shape, location and manner of construction. According to cabinet members in charge of foreign affairs and national defense (who have yet to meet at the U.S.-Japan leadership summit), it appears that Prime Minster Kan’s administration believes that the final decision on relocation will be achieved at the Japan-United States Security Consultative Committee. The Minister of Defense’s visit to Okinawa was for the very purpose of preparing Okinawa for the decision.

However, the difference between how Okinawa feels about the relocation to Henoko Bay and the plans that the two governments have should not be covered up. The more Prime Minister Kan’s administration embodies the plan for relocation founded upon the Japan-U.S. agreement, the larger the distance between Okinawa and his administration becomes, and it is clear that the distance will become so large that it will be difficult to bridge.

The prefectural governor, the prefectural council, the mayor of Nago and the city council, along with every mayor in the prefecture are seeking to move the base outside of the prefecture. There is likely not a single politician within the administration who believes that the base will be relocated to Henoko Bay by 2014 as the Japan-U.S. agreement states. Nevertheless, Japan will continue to accept a policy that assumes bilateral agreement. The image of Prime Minister Kan’s administration is reflected in its use of a “double standard” with its official stance towards the U.S. and its real intentions.

When thinking about the whole story of the Futenma Air Base problem, other than giving it—to some extent—time, there just isn’t any solution. However, it is urgent that the danger to citizens around the Futenma Air Base, which has been called “the world’s most dangerous base,” be removed. As the Futenma base stands now, continual use of the base must be avoided.

One bilateral plan to reduce the burden on Okinawa states that “U.S. military activities outside of Okinawa, including training, will be expanded.” This applies to the Futenma Air Base. The two governments should earnestly search for a plan that will distribute and relocate the operations of Futenma outside of the prefecture before the relocation is finished.