Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio today was forced to issue a public apology over his failure to convince the US to abandon its military base on Okinawa.
Hatoyama’s Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) took power in late August after campaigning primarily on opposition to the ruling party’s support of keeping US military presence on the southern island.
But even after the DPJ was swept to power in the biggest power change in Japan since World War 2, the US made it clear that they would not negotiate with the new government, but would retain the base.
The split over the base led to some diplomatic tensions, but Hatoyama finally backed down and has allowed the base to remain. Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima was critical of the decision, saying was a betrayal of Hatoyama’s campaign pledge.
The Okinawans are overwhelmingly opposed to the US bases, which take up a significant portion of the crowded island. The DPJ initially threatened to oust the US from the island entirely, though it is clear at this point that this was an empty threat.
do ANY politicians NOT break their campaign PROMISES…????? Throw the BUM out…. He should commit seppuku as a traitor to his country..
Occupiers never give up their bounty voluntarily, Mr.Adolf didn't retreat voluntarily from occupied Europe either.
Have you considered that perhaps Mr Hatoyama and Okinawans are playing a collusive game while pretending to be at swords drawn? The American position is that the locals must accept any base. The Okinawans aren't likely to accept now. And why not? Because Hatoyama and his coalition allies suggested that they might not have to any more. Hatoyama may be the fall guy in this, but the genie won't be put back in the bottle without bleeding it first.
No, Toyota runs Japan and Toyota won't be allowed unbridled access to US markets if Japan kicks the US military out. So arms were twisted in Tokyo to keep the bases. So we keep the status quo: Japan can continue to increasingly dominate US auto sales and our trade deficit with Japan which is immense can continue unchanged and we get to strut and fret about Asia for a while longer.
Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea are meeting today in China to form an Asian version of the EU. One that locks out the US.
So basically the US Govt. is saying "F**k you Japan, we're going to keep occupying your island (rapes included) and you can't do anything about it."
I think the Okinawans may have to take up arms at some point in the future. It's the only way bullies listen…
Shame on the U.S. government for bullying Japan into keeping its bases there. On the other hand why America wants to waste money protecting Japan that neither needs or wants American protection is beyond me. I would bring all of America's troops abroad home.
What better way to coerce the Japanese government into acceptance of continued US occpation than the spectre of war between the Koreas? Think about it; who benefits most from the S. Korean boat sinking? The US Empire is who benefits most; certainly not N. Korea. Just another version of Operation Northwoods.
I followed this diplomatic argument with interest. The US bases on Okinawa are fundamentally wrong. They are ostensibly for Japan's protection, but the Japanese self defence force is more than capable of protecting Japan from most realistic threats. In reality Japan is footing the bill for US desires to contain the expansion of Chinese naval power in the North Pacific, and it is seriously compromising the development of Okinawa.
The whole Ryukyu archipelago could become a hive of development if Okinawa island itself was not hampered with a large chunk of it's land being held back by the US, much of which isn't even efficiently used. Meanwhile, the rest of the main island is seen as a no-go area for business due to crime committed by out of control US troops and the low quality of life due to pollution, noise and over-crowding. Companies can't convince employees to relocate their families there, and tourism development is out of the question.
However, the place should thrive. Without the US bases, tourism would boom. The whole archipelago has a mild year round climate (whilst winters in the home islands range from chilly to neigh on sub-arctic) , they are Japanese speaking, use Japanese currency, and are by the far hte shortest flight to a mild winter climate. Many islands around Okinawa (and parts of Okinawa itself) have beautiful unspoilt monsoon tropical wildlife and forests, and many sites of cultural interest. Naha has the potential to develop into a major city with all the retail therapy and entertainment one could want.
Similarly, the archipelago's location near to south eastern/est central China and Taiwan make it an excellent place for Japanese manufacturers to set up, who can easily ship components and specialist items needed in China's industries, and the area could be a major shipping centre, sitting between Shanghai and the pots of the South Western USA and Panama. The US bases already have a lot of the necessary infrastructure sitting there, and plenty of spare land…
The potential of it, and how it cannot be unleashed is infuriating…