“Would you build it in Lake Towada, Matsushima, or Lake Biwa?” Governor Takeshi Onaga says base relocation “For political purposes,” urges Diet committee to reconsider

“Would you build it in Lake Towada, Matsushima, or Lake Biwa?” Governor Takeshi Onaga says base relocation “For political purposes,” urges Diet committee to reconsider

Governor Takeshi Onaga (standing on the right) expressing his concern over the situation in Okinawa to the House of Councillors’ Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense. February 20, Okinawa Prefectural Office


 

February 21, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga held a conference to exchange ideas with Japan’s House of Councillors’ Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense (Shingo Miyake, Chairman), at the Okinawa Prefectural Office February 20, while the committee was visiting Okinawa. Ichiro Tsukada (Liberal Democratic Party – LDP), one of the committees directors, stressed the importance of the relocation of MCAS Futenma to Henoko in Nago City. In response to this, Governor Onaga referenced the declarations of former cabinet ministers to request the committee reconsiders, stating, “What is being said is that [the base] can only be in Okinawa for political reasons, rather than out of military necessity. If that is the case, I must implore you to rethink putting the base in Okinawa.”

 

Regarding the base relocation issue, Governor Onaga indicated, “If we were to propose that we fill in Lake Towada in Akita Prefecture, or Matsushima Bay in Miyagi Prefecture, or Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, I doubt that the Diet representatives from those regions would be able to stomach it for the safety of Japan.” He continued, “Henoko is only 20-30 kilometers from Futenma. To say that this is a considerable move, or that is it OK if the aircraft crash into the sea, breaks my heart.”

 

The governor also mentioned the reality of American Military aircraft making crash landings and dropping parts from the air, noting, “The core of the current Japanese government says that they have whole-hearted devotion and will reduce the burden on Okinawa, these are just words. The reality of the bases is that we have had as many as 30 incidents over the past year, and the burden feels quite harsh.” He touched on the incident where a window fell onto the grounds of Futenma Dai-ni Elementary School in Ginowan imploring the committee members to consider, “If we are unable to definitively end incidents like these, is feels as if Japan’s sovereignty is meaningless.”

 

Right before Governor Onaga’s statement, Tsukada stressed the importance of the relocation, saying, “If this is completed, the flight paths will be over the ocean, and will increase safety as well as greatly reduce the noise pollution.”

 

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

 

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