Two Plus Two: The Henoko Draft Freezes Foolishness

Published in Asahi Shimbun
(Japan) on 20 June 2011
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Kenny Nagata. Edited by Jennifer Pietropaoli.
We should have the wisdom to stop. We should not impatiently advance the problem of relocating the American Futenma Air Force Base in Okinawa.

However, at the meeting between Japanese and American Foreign Policy and Defense Consultative Committees (two Japanese plus two American committees), both governments tried to settle a dispute over concrete plans for the runway in the Henoko area of Nago.

The issue is whether to proceed with the two runways in a V-shape — a plan that was decided during the Liberal Democratic and Komeito coalition administration — or to go with a single runway, or I-shape, which the Japanese have newly proposed in consideration of the environment and in an effort to diminish the size of the area that must be developed.

They have postponed the final decision, but even without beginning to obtain approval from Okinawa, the final draft is expected to support the V-shaped American plan.

Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa strongly opposed Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima’s view of a complete removal of Futenma from Okinawa, calling it a pipe dream. But between Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s announcement that he will resign, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates approaching retirement at the end of the month, why decide on a plan that will hurt relations with Okinawa?

Even solving the problem could, in fact, make the situation worse.

Whether it is a V-shape or an I-shape, the fact of the matter is that Okinawa and Nago City are united in their opposition of Henoko, making the project virtually impossible.

In America, an influential bipartisan member of the Senate issued a statement seeking plans to abandon Henoko. The next Secretary of Defense, CIA Director Leon Panetta, responded to the U.S. Congress that together they will “determine what the best and most cost effective approach would be.”

The bitter reality is that the opportunity to find a solution is only beginning to bud.

This time, the two plus two committee has decided that the goal for the relocation of Futenma will be postponed until 2014. They will not establish a new deadline, but will instead pursue a “design that can come into reality as soon as we are able.”* In the present situation, a breakthrough is nowhere in sight.

The reality of the situation is not fixated on Futenma. On top of both Japanese and American governments rethinking the conditions, it is time to think seriously about a new direction.

In which case, any kind of examination also includes a premise of rebuilding a relationship of trust with Okinawa.

One thing that may hinder the developments in the relationship with Okinawa is the problem of deploying the new U.S. Marine Corps Osprey transport aircraft.

Okinawa citizens strongly oppose the deployment of Osprey because of the fatal accidents that occurred during its development. Beginning with the issue of noise in the area, it is necessary that both Japanese and American governments respond accordingly to Okinawa’s requests for information.

Not working diligently to obtain the consent of the locals and enforcing the deployment of the Osprey will only negatively influence the settlement of the relocation problem.

*Editor’s Note: This quote, although translated accurately, could not be verified.



立ち止まる知恵もあるはずだ。沖縄県の米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題は、性急に進めるべきではない。

だが、日米両政府はあす、ワシントンで開く外務・防衛担当閣僚会合(2プラス2)で、名護市辺野古に計画する代替滑走路の具体案に決着をつけようとしている。

自公政権時代に決めた滑走路2本の「V字案」のままでいくのか、環境に配慮して埋め立て面積を減らそうと日本側が新たに提案した滑走路1本の「I字案」とするか――。


結論を先送りしてきたが、沖縄の理解を得ぬままの見切り発車で、米国側が推すV字案を成案とする見通しだ。

北沢俊美防衛相から通告された沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事は「絵空事だ」と強く反発している。辞意を表明した菅直人首相の下の閣僚と、今月末で退任するゲーツ国防長官との間で、沖縄との関係を損ねてまで案を決めて何の意味があるのか。

問題解決どころか、さらに事態をこじらせるだけだ。

V字案であれ、I字案であれ、沖縄県と名護市が一致して反対している以上、「辺野古」は事実上無理だ。

米国では、上院の超党派の有力議員が辺野古断念を求める声明を出した。次期国防長官のパネッタ中央情報局(CIA)長官も、米議会で「何が最善で最も費用対効果が高いか見いだす努力をしたい」と答えている。

苦い現実を見据えて、打開策を探る機運は芽生えつつある。

今回の2プラス2では、普天間の移設完了目標2014年の先送りも決める。新たな期限は設けず、「できる限り早い実現を図る」とする方向だ。事態打開のメドが立たない現状ではやむをえない。

現実を直視して、普天間の固定化につながらないよう、日米両政府は態勢を立て直したうえで、真剣に仕切り直しを考えるときだ。

その際に、いかなる検討も沖縄との信頼関係の再構築が大前提になる。

その試金石のひとつになりそうなのが、米海兵隊の新型輸送機オスプレイの普天間配備問題の扱いだ。

開発段階で死亡事故が相次いだオスプレイ配備に対する沖縄県民の反発は強い。日米両政府は騒音など周辺環境への影響をはじめ、沖縄が求める情報の開示に最大限応じる必要がある。

地元の納得を得る努力を尽くすことなく配備を強行すれば、また移設問題の解決に悪影響を与えるだけだ。

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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