Former Prime Minister Hatoyama promotes Okinawa’s peaceful role in East Asia

Former Prime Minister Hatoyama promotes Okinawa's peaceful role in East Asia

Former Prime Minister and the administrative director of the East Asian Community Institute/World YUAI Forum Yukio Hatoyama talked about the importance of Okinawan's role in bringing peace to East Asia. At Nago Civic Hall on June 6.


June 6, 2015 Ryukyu Shimpo

At Nago Civic Hall on the afternoon of June 6, the East Asian Community Institute/World YUAI Forum held a symposium to discuss conservation of the natural environment in the Yambaru, Northern Okinawa. The symposium also declared opposition to the plan to move U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to the Henoko district in Nago.

Former Prime Minister and the administrative director of the institution Yukio Hatoyama delivered a lecture under the theme of “Okinawa as the center and cornerstone of peace in East Asia.” Hatoyama referred to the fact that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been strengthening its defense capacity and the Japan-U.S. alliance to counter its perceived threat, China. Hatoyama said, “If Japan sees China as a threat and increases military capability, accordingly China has to do the same, which could make both nations compete in an arms race, creating an environment that leads to war.” He emphasized the importance of bringing peace to East Asia through cultural exchange. Hatoyama stressed the importance of the role Okinawa can play with its geopolitical and historical background.

(English translation by T&CT)

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