politics

Okinawa governor to visit U.S. in bid to stop base relocation

57 Comments

Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga said Monday he plans to visit the United States this month in a bid to stop the planned relocation of the U.S. Marines' air base at Futenma to the less populous Henoko region in the prefecture.

The Okinawan government and the central government have been at loggerheads over the issue since Onaga was elected last November. Onaga has met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and, most recently, with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. However, the two sides have failed to narrow their differences, with Onaga adamant that the base relocation will not proceed.

Furthermore, Onaga has expressed his displeasure that Abe did not convey the prefecture’s stance when he met U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington last month.

Onaga told a news conference in Naha that he will be in Washington from May 30 until June 4, Fuji TV reported. Prior to arriving in Washington, Onaga will first visit Hawaii from May 27.

Okinawan government officials said Onaga's itinerary has not yet been finalized, but it is unlikely he will be able to meet anyone at the cabinet level.

Onaga said he hopes to speak with members of the Defense and State departments, as well as members of Congress, to directly voice his opposition to the base relocation. "I will say that not only will we not let the base be built, it simply cannot happen. I hope the U.S. side will hear me as I relay the voices of the people of Okinawa who call that area home."

Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine will also accompany Onaga to Washington.

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57 Comments
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Waste of taxpayers money. He will not see anyone of any importance and he will be turned away empty-handed. He can then go back to Okinawa and claim he has done everything he can do and will eventually bow to the inevitable.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

Why is a Prefecture bypassing the Japanese National government. He should not be allowed to address the US Federal level unless he speaks for the National government for which he does not.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Why is a Prefecture bypassing the Japanese National government. He should not be allowed to address the US Federal level unless he speaks for the National government for which he does not.

This isn't the first time and it probably won't be the last that local politicians have wasted taxpayers money by travelling to Washington to get doors shut in their faces.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

Yubaru & "True" Okinawa: The US has more foreign military bases than any other country, yet they have ZERO foreign military bases in the US. All countries should have the right to be free of foreign military occupation, for the same reasons that the US doesn't allow them on their soil.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Yubaru

Spot on. A complete waste of plane fare. And why the stop in Hawaii? Better omiyage than DC?

Stuart hayward

The US has more foreign military bases than any other country, yet they have ZERO foreign military bases in the US

Maybe if the U.S. had ever unconditionally surrendered to and been occupied by a foreign power then just maybe your statement would make at least some sense.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

USNinJapan2:

Maybe if the U.S. had ever unconditionally surrendered to and been occupied by a foreign power then just maybe your statement would make at least some sense.

Maybe your response might make sense if EVERY occupying military bases America has in foreign countries, unconditionally surrendered! But that's not the case, is it?

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Well, in any case, according to the Japan Times, the US military is in Okinawa illegally:

It therefore boils down to the conclusion that the U.S. military presence in Japan, in Okinawa in particular, is illegal across the board. Naturally, the confirmation by both Tokyo and Washington to forge ahead with the Henoko relocation plan is null and void.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2015/05/09/reader-mail/u-s-military-okinawa-illegally/#.VVKPBWCsWpE

Onaga is a powerful politician who represents his people. Abe doesn't. He realises that Abe only does what the US tells him to, so he's going to the source of the problem.

Good on him.

-6 ( +8 / -14 )

Stuart hayward

Maybe your response might make sense if EVERY occupying military bases America has in foreign countries, unconditionally surrendered! But that's not the case, is it?

No, the others exist because the U.S. military footprint within their borders is welcomed by the host nations who, unlike you, realize and accept that our military presence (along with the monetary aid, diplomatic partiality, etc. that is contingent on hosting our forces) is a geopolitically stabilizing one which serves their best interests at the end of the day. Same goes for the significant number of other nations who maintain military bases overseas and have permanently forward deployed forces in other sovereign nations.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

USNinJapan2 the people of Okinawa would welcome no American bases. The arrogance of the American military occupation is beyond all belief. Also why do we have to go through a American puppet government in Tokyo. We have to right to seek redress of the problem directly from the US government. While in America he should stop in the UN and seek justice. You are not welcome in Okinawa, go away! The SDF can defend us from China.

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

USNinJapan2: Now you've change the content of what you said, your comment justified military occupation simply because of an unconditional surrender. Now your on about "geopolitically stablizing", are you referring to how well that's working out in afganistan?

Either way, you can't deny the fact that the US is occupying more foreign countries than any other, yet they won't allow a single foreign military base on their own soil, for ANY reason. "Geopolitically stablizing" or not!

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Complete waste of time. And think about all of the CO2 that he will be pouring into the atmosphere. He might end up needing all those US troops to help keep the rising sea waters caused by his trip from flooding his island.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

YuriOtani

Also why do we have to go through a American puppet government in Tokyo. We have to right to seek redress of the problem directly from the US government. While in America he should stop in the UN and seek justice.

You evidently don't have a grasp of how treaties, agreements, protocols, pacts, etc.between sovereign governments work and particularly why a state/prefectural government isn't and can not be a party to them. Only the Government of Japan and its appointed ministries are entitled to negotiate with the U.S. Government regarding this international treaty. Inability to come to an agreement domestically with his own national government does not give the governor of a prefecture any right to engage a foreign government. YOU many not like it, but that's how the real world works.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

Ummmm. . . News flash for Onaga: the US WANTS the new base and more Japanese involvement in military affairs as well as an increased presence. Moron.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

We have to right to seek redress of the problem directly from the US government. While in America he should stop in the UN and seek justice.

You have no political rights at all on US soil. Onaga' quest is in vain. Don't expect the red carpet.

SDF can defend japan from China. Probably so. But lets face it, do japanese have the stomach for battle? It's been a while, so prob not-

5 ( +8 / -3 )

The U.S. government may behave as if assuming to give short shrift to a visiting Okinawa governor.

Okinawa governors including former Governor Nakaima and some before him visited Washington not once but many times to appeal the U.S. base issue directly, often bypassing the central government. They've known the central government can't be depended upon for it merely acts not as the benefactor of its own citizens but as a collaborator for Washington.

Japan is nothing but a U.S. vassal, you know, doing things faithfully as dictated by the suzerain U.S. Did PM Abe convey to President Obama at their April 28 summit meeting the message asked by Gov. Onaga to rethink the Henoko relocation plan? Never.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

I like optimists but I wonder if he really thinks he can convince the US to stop the relocation? Isn't it just a show? To prove to the Okinawan people that elected him that he "tried?"

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Yuriotani: the arrogance is yours, Yuri. Time and again you spit on the US military, which protects you (and no, Japan could not protect itself!), spit on the vets, and spit on your own government when it suits you. Now, you want to talk arrogance? Onaga! Going to a nation that has been patient while Japan flip-flops on its promises and ommittments due to a few people more than willing to live off the bases and ollect money for hosting, and demand protection from those you spit on.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Ha! Like anyone from the U.S. will listen to the governor of a backwater prefecture in Japan!

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Onaga is a powerful politician who represents his people

Powerful? He represents the poorest prefecture in Japan, with a population of roughly 1.5 million people, and won election to his current post by a count of roughly 360, 000 votes to just over 260,000 for his opponent and you call him powerful?

I guess then to you Abe must be a god!

Ha! Like anyone from the U.S. will listen to the governor of a backwater prefecture in Japan!

Odds are the people he does end up seeing will be some under-under-under- secretary of something somewhere that has nothing to do with Okinawa directly.

But then Onaga will tell the press his mission was successful.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

The Henoko relocation issue has become internationalized already. You may think Washington won't listen to a governor from a backwater prefecture in Japan. They may not or at least try not to. But the world is listening and watching. UK, German and French media visited Okinawa and reported the issue. Even Al Jazeera covered the story.

I'm sure this thread is being read and watched by people all over the world.

You can't make short shrift of Governor Onaga's visit to Washington and his appeal to stop construction of a new base in Henoko.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Waste of taxpayers money.

Not at all. He was elected by taxpayers who expect him to act on their behalf. He's perfectly doing the right thing for taxpayers in Okinawa and he has all the right to lobby for his constituency and do everything he can to fulfill his duty as an elected official.

Of course Onaga can not expect officials from the US government side to meet him, but that's not the main reason for him to go to the US. As he says he want's to convey the voice of Okinawans live in the US and for Okinawans and their cause I wish him good luck with that.

The best thing that could happen is that the US media picks up his cause, but I'm not sure whether his advisors are smart enough and well enough prepared for achieving such a task.

Why is a Prefecture bypassing the Japanese National government. He should not be allowed to address the US Federal level unless he speaks for the National government for which he does not.

Simply because Japanese National government is bypassing the democratically expressed will of prefecture. Onaga wouldn't have to act in such a way if the democratic processes in Japan would work properly.

I have to repeat it once and again, the Henoko conflict is not only about the relocation of a US base, but about whether the will of the people is respected or not.

No proper democracy could ignore the clearly and democratically expressed will of a geographically and culturally so distinct minority.

If Okinawans fail to get through with their cause it will mean a huge set back for democracy in Japan, just as it would if the LDP should get through with their constitutional rewriting.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

You can't make short shrift of Governor Onaga's visit to Washington and his appeal to stop construction of a new base in Henoko.

And you can not deny the fact that international policy is determined between nation's leaders and not underlings.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

international policy is determined between nation's leaders and not underlings

That you call the person who Okinawans elected as their representative and "underling" tells a lot about how you see Okinawa, Yubaru.

It also speaks volumes about your "definition" of democracy.

Could it be that you are used to the military line of command in which there surely are "underlings" and "overlings"?

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Onaga is a powerful politician who represents his people. Abe doesn't.** actually both represent there people (Japanese nationals) if Onaga doesnt like having to answer to Tokyo then he should run for PM himself, see if he has the support to make the changes he want in Okinawa. Those in Tokyo are doing so in Japans national interest, not just one prefecture that thinks it should need special treatment. He will fail in the US and he will fail in stopping the base relocation. If Okinawans dont like it they should declare independance and cut all ties including financial from the rest of Japan

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Okinawa governor to visit U.S. in bid to stop base relocation

Best of luck Mr Onaga, and fair enough. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself

6 ( +8 / -2 )

seems like everyone is too busy dishing it out rather than looking at what is best for business. That's right this anti Henoko position by Onaga is not in reality what is best for Okinawa regarding reducing the base presence but rather a way to hide what is really the true agenda. Onaga is a business man first, and he is in the business of making money but if the can hide his true agenda behind a good smokescreen so be it. The real intent by Onaga is to keep and stall Futema right where it is and stop the construction in Henoko so that his development construction company can reap in the profits in raping the island of Okinawa by ripping it apart with no regard to the environment except to build and add more resort businesses. Make the money is what it is all about. Recall Hatayoma and Ozawa are owners of many of the best views in the Henoko area.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

@ wtfjapan MAY. 13, 2015 - 03:42PM JST

Those in Tokyo are doing so in Japans national interest, not just one prefecture that thinks it should need special treatment.

I beg your pardon, but at the moment Okinawans don't want special treatment they just want equal treatment. They ask for the same rights and and the same opportunities like any other Japanese prefecture.

Of course they also want to have their Okinawan identity respected, but they are nowhere close to even discussing such issues, because they are busy with regaining their basic civil rights and their dignity.

Just because Okinawa rejoined Japan from being a US military colony doesn't mean that they can be treated differently from other Japanese prefectures that were lucky enough not to have been taken over by the US.

Obviously Tokyo is happy that they can provide the US military with plenty of facilities and wonderful training grounds at their disposal without having to get into any troublesome inner Japanese discussions. Okinawans are simply fed up with this hypocritical position and the completely unfounded talk about "The Keystone of the Pacific" and of there being "no other choices".

The US military is very good at dealing with all kinds of difficult logistical situations, in peace and war time, and could easily facilitate a deterrent force in Japan with much less metrics tons of rusting metal standing around in Okinawa, but they are of course happy if they can get all the nice facilities that their planning department envisions and all that provided almost for free by their submissive ally.

Why should they bother if Tokyo takes over all the dirty business?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

That you call the person who Okinawans elected as their representative and "underling" tells a lot about how you see Okinawa, Yubaru. It also speaks volumes about your "definition" of democracy.Could it be that you are used to the military line of command in which there surely are "underlings" and "overlings"?

Whomever gave you the idea that Japan is a democracy? That's first. Next, elected representatives should be taking up their cases with the proper authorities and in regards to international relations you dont see a "state" making security agreements with a foreign power.

It is even noted in the US Constitution that the National government not the states have the responsibility of defense of the country. Consider that for a moment, before you start talking about a prefectural (state) governor going over the head of state (Prime Minister) in negotiating or at least trying to negotiate a change in national policy.

That is ludicrous, it is a media game, nothing more nothing less.

I beg your pardon, but at the moment Okinawans don't want special treatment they just want equal treatment. They ask for the same rights and and the same opportunities like any other Japanese prefecture.

Really? How shallow is your knowledge of Japan, if you think that they dont want special treatment, they already get it and want more, but what do they give in return? They have the same rights and same opportunities if they could elect competent leaders.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I can not believe anyone can say that all the people of Okinawa want is to take but not to give. The people of Okinawa have been giving to Japan every since they were annexed. What other prefectures in Mainland Japan lost more civilians in WW 2 than Okinawa? What other prefectures in Mainland Japan host more U.S. Military Bases than Okinawa? Which prefecture was given to the U.S. Military while the other prefectures remained as the country of Japan? What more do you want Okinawa to give? If you do not like the people of Okinawa, that is your right but at least give them credit for the sacrifices they have made and continue to make for the country of Japan.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Whomever gave you the idea that Japan is a democracy?

At least nominally it is a democracy and it has a democratic constitution, at least until LDP manages to change that. I suppose you want to say that it is not a real democracy, and I would partly agree, but contrary to you I believe that Okinawa boasts the most vital democratic spirit of all Japanese prefectures and Okinawans are doing their best to make Japan a more democratic nation. They are not the typical yea-sayers you can find all over Japan (sorry if this sounds a bit insulting).

Really? How shallow is your knowledge of Japan, if you think that they dont want special treatment, they already get it and want more,

If you want to say Okinawa is getting special treatment because there is no other prefecture that has to provide nearly as large a part of its land to foreign military you are perfectly right. Okinawa gets a very "special" treatment here.

If you want to say that Okinawa is special in that it is pocketing loads of government money then you are wrong because the amount of subsidies Okinawan gets are actually just gradually more then average for Japanese prefectures and you might be surprised to hear that calculating the overall per capita budget Okinawa gets from Tokyo it is just 6th in the prefectural ranking. So where is that special treatment compared to the special burden?

For the prefectural budget see: http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/kikaku/chosei/kikaku/yokuaru-yosan.html

Get your facts right before accusing Okinawans of being extorters.

They have the same rights and same opportunities if they could elect competent leaders.

If 1% of Okinawas land would be used by the US military it would already be multiples compared to any other Japanese prefecture, but Okinawans have to provide nearly 20% of their mainland for the US military and have absolute no say in that.

Can somebody please tell where is that "same rights and same opportunities"?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

This appears to be a pointless guesture, the USA has No real influence, the Japanese national government is the decision maker for the location. The US would probably just keep futenma, given the choice.

However, this move of the governor is effective. Politically it makes it seem as if He is doing something to meet his campaign promise. Also, Consider this debate about relocation has been going on since 1996, basically the Okinawa politicians have kept this stalled for a couple of decades, in the end that is success, 20 years and futenma has not been relocated, it seems the stalling tactics are in fact working.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Yubaru,

Shinzo Abe's constituency is the 4th election district of Yamaguchi Prefecture. He won 100,829 votes in his constituency in the last Lower House election and eventually became a prime minister through the political system that is characteristic of Japan.

Takeshi Onaga, on the other hand, won 360,820 votes in last year's Okinawa gubernatorial election, which are three times as many as Abe's winning votes.

Can Abe dismiss Onaga as an underling because Abe is a prime minister and Onaga a local governor?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Great point voiceofokinawa. We all see you did hw on that. The problem is Abe wields a little more political power than Onaga. I'll pat him on the back (Onaga) and give him an "E" for effort. But basically, tokyo and DC will get their way no matter what. No matter if the international community is closely watching too.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@couceofolkinawan: Shinzo Abe's constituency is the 4th election district of Yamaguchi Prefecture. He won 100,829 votes in his constituency in the last Lower House election and eventually became a prime minister through the political system that is characteristic of Japan. Takeshi Onaga, on the other hand, won 360,820 votes in last year's Okinawa gubernatorial election, which are three times as many as Abe's winning votes. Can Abe dismiss Onaga as an underling because Abe is a prime minister and Onaga a local governor?

=================================================================================

You did not know PM selection is not a popular contest of governors.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

With the side trip to Hawaii nothing but a junket.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

As for PM selection, Governor election has nothing to do. A majority party ( more lower house members elected party)will have PM candidates and Majority party members elect one. Abe was elected. So he became PM. Historically more PM from Yamatudhi ken than any prefecture but no one opposed Abe becaise he was elected by his peers. Onaga has won with more vote for governor is not related to any lower house votes.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What I want to point out is the central government is composed of ministers (lawmakers) who are by nature local politicians because they are all elected locally. The catch is they wield enormous collective power as "the nation."

They are the nation and localities must toe the line marked by them as Yubaru suggests: "international policy is determined between nation's leaders."

Something is wrong with the system, no doubt.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Then I suppose the governor of Okinawa needs to go to the United Nations and file complaint about the US military occupation of Okinawa. USNinJapan2 by your logic Guam should be forced to accept the new Marine base. What ever happened to local control of government? So you think the national government should have absolute control over their nations citizens?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Yuri Otani, It has nothing to do with American arrogance. And if you studied more about the history of Japan and understood exactly how your own Government has chosen to conduct itself in the past, you would understand why the world at one stage believed that Japan should never again be able to have it's own military forces. And you have to accept that. And still many people believe that this should continue. Please allow me to ask you a question. If you were the judge at a trial of a person responsible for some terrible crimes, would you agree to that person being released from prison if they were unwilling to apologize, show remorse for, and accept responsiblity for what they had done? While America is far from perfect, I would suggest that you should show some appreciation to them because when trouble really erupts between Japan and China - as it surely will, when history repeats itself, America has pledged to support Japan. Study your own history and you will gain some appreciation of the real situation, and why I suggest that your complaining will continue to fall on many deaf ears.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

YuriOtani

USNinJapan2 by your logic Guam should be forced to accept the new Marine base.

Kind of a moot point since Guam isn't opposing the redeployment of Marines from Okinawa to Guam, but yes, issues pertaining to NATIONAL DEFENSE (a federal responsibility, not the states') are cases where the federal government's needs certainly do trump states' rights. The federal government would not be able to build military installations according to a plan which enables the effective deployment of military forces for domestic defense and overseas power projection.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@voiceofokinawaMAY. 14, 2015 - 07:56AM JST What I want to point out is the central government is composed of ministers (lawmakers) who are by nature local politicians because they are all elected locally. The catch is they wield enormous collective power as "the nation."

They are the nation and localities must toe the line marked by them as Yubaru suggests: "international policy is determined between nation's leaders."

Something is wrong with the system, no doubt.

Lawmakers means elected persons in upper and lawer houses. Ministers are called differently. Lawmakers are supposed to be locals. Otherwise wealthy people will become candidates in Okinawa, Hokkaido and Tohoku and you lose representatives for local people. Yubaru explained well. Nations; leaders.

Something is wrong is your ignrance. Will you like Tokyo people govern Okinawa???

0 ( +0 / -0 )

toshiko,

It's true that ministers and lawmakers are different. Cabinet ministers are appointed by a Prime Minister and lawmakers are elected directly by voters in each constituency. Note, however, that most of the time cabinet ministers are appointed from among lawmakers.

It is in this sense that cabinet ministers, let alone Prime Minister, are local politicians by nature.

I don't follow what you mean by the following line:

Otherwise wealthy people will become candidates in Okinawa, Hokkaido and Tohoku and you lose representatives for local people.

Could you elaborate on it a bit more?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@voice: Central Japanese Govt has hard time to control Onaga as he is an Okinawan local politician. He defg LDP pressure. LDP wishes how ir can replace Okinawan local with none local Japanese KDP henchman. There are bunch of mainland people wo kike to become governor of any prefecture.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

" the planned relocation of the U.S. Marines’ air base at Futenma to the less populous Henoko region"

What's up with all the people living around Futenma? Must be a good area to live...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I doubt his going to USA will not be mentioned in any media in USA. Media even ignored Abe.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

toshiko (May. 14, 2015 - 08:31PM JST )

LDP wishes how ir can replace Okinawan local with none local Japanese KDP henchman. There are bunch of mainland people wo kike to become governor of any prefecture.

First time to have heard there's such a scheme on the part of LDP. Where did you pick up the information? But I think that's next to impossible.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

With Abenomics in the gutter and a stagnant japan, the US media didn't really have anything to say. Which will make Onaga look more foolish when he lands in DC.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@vpice" How come you tuist mainland Japanese politicians? Visit LDP HQ in Tokyo/ I wrote my allegation. My allegqtion. Read Japanese history books and learn Japanese sneaky tricks.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@YuriOtani

USNinJapan2 the people of Okinawa would welcome no American bases. The arrogance of the American military occupation is beyond all belief.

I guess Japan shouldn't have started that whole World War II thing. Oh but you are right. Why should Japan have to put up with those arrogant Americans when the arrogant Chinese are so much better?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

At least he can enjoy Hula Hula now. Hope he gets idea of prfittable tourist business in Hawaii.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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