Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.
Qatari PM: We must not surrender to the arrogance of extremists and pursue our quest for a 'two-state solution'

Going against the stream, Okinawa governor says US base imperils peace

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 20 Sep 2023 14:00
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The governor of Okinawa Prefecture makes a passionate plea for international support during a United Nations session.

  • x
  • Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki shows a board, displaying statistics of US military bases in Japan including Okinawa, during a press conference in Tokyo on March 1, 2019, after a vote on the relocation of a US base on the island on February 25. (AFP)
    Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki shows a board, displaying statistics of US military bases in Japan, including Okinawa, during a press conference in Tokyo on March 1, 2019, after a vote on the relocation of a US base on the island on February 25. (AFP)

Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki appealed for international support at a United Nations session on Monday to express his opposition to the relocation of a US military base within his region.

However, a Japanese government representative in Geneva promptly raised doubts about Governor Tamaki's position, underscoring the ongoing disagreement over this project, which originates from a 1990s agreement between Tokyo and Washington.

Tamaki addressed the Human Rights Council of the United Nations, stating that the clustering of military installations in the area poses a threat to peace.

"I am here today to ask the world to witness the situation in Okinawa," he said.

During a segment of the session designated for a Japanese non-governmental organization, Tamaki, who is the first Okinawa governor to address the council in eight years, remarked, "The reclamation work proceeds despite the fact that it was clearly opposed by Okinawan voters in a democratically held referendum."

According to the bilateral agreement, the Japanese government is moving forward with the relocation of the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. This relocation involves shifting the base from the densely populated Ginowan to a new facility currently under construction in the coastal area of Nago, both on Okinawa Island. This decision is being made despite strong opposition from the local population.

Governor Tamaki has been actively seeking international support in his efforts to oppose this relocation plan. He pointed out that Okinawa Prefecture hosts a disproportionate 70% of all US military bases in Japan, despite occupying only 0.6% of the country's total land area.

Related News

DPRK slams US-Japan-South Korea war games as ‘reckless’

Japanese lawmakers urge government to recognize Palestine

Earlier this month, Japan's Supreme Court rejected the appeal made by Tamaki's government regarding the central government's directive to proceed with essential landfill operations.

Following Tamaki's speech at Monday's event, a representative from the Japanese government delegation in Geneva defended the continued efforts to construct an airfield in the Henoko region of Nago.

"Steadily advancing the construction work based on the policy that the Henoko relocation is the only solution will enable the complete return of Futenma Air Station as swiftly as possible," the official said.

He further claimed that the construction of the airfield in the Henoko area is intended to mitigate risks to the local population and ultimately enhance their safety.

The big picture 

The citizens of Okinawa oppose the US presence on the island. They regularly complain about the noise of low-flying planes and the danger of accidents at US bases, as well as crimes committed over the years by US military personnel. The US military, on its part, claims that the crime rate among its personnel is lower than among the population of Okinawa.    

Environmentalists also complain that the necessary work at the landfill for the construction of the base will destroy coral reefs and damage the habitat of manatees.

In 2015, the former governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, barred the decision to move MCAS Futenma from the city of Ginowan to the northern Henoko area, demanding that it be completely removed from the region. In 2018, Onaga died, but his successor Tamaki continued to push for the withdrawal of the base from the island. The central government won a number of lawsuits, after which the process of moving the base to the Henoko area resumed.

This is happening as the relations between the US and Japan have been strengthening as Washington constantly employs the term "Chinese threat" as a pretext to exert power in Asia.

Read next: Japan Army can't protect country, US nuclear arms needed: Top General

  • Japan
  • US Military Base
  • governor of Okinawa
  • Okinawa
  • Russia
  • United Nations
  • US
  • China

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Damage sustained after a Yemeni drone exploded in Ramon Airport, southern occupied Palestine, Sunday, September 7, 2025 (Social Media)

Yemeni drone successfully hits Ramon Airport in southern Palestine

  • Politics
  • 7 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Elon Musk attends a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, May 30, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

Elon Musk calls for dissolving UK parliament at London far-right rally

Israeli media: US betrayed Qatar, gave green light for attack on Hamas
Politics

Israeli media: US betrayed Qatar, gave green light for attack on Hamas

Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan
Politics

Leaked memo shows Trump eyeing Louisiana National Guard plan

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor
Politics

Mamdani vows to arrest Netanyahu if elected New York mayor

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS