Okinawa Vice Governor objects to USMC training being carried out at Naha Military Port
Vice Governor Kiichiro Jahana (deeper in the photograph) made an objection to Isao Ono of the Okinawa Defense Bureau (foreground) on the afternoon of February 15 at the Prefectural Office
February 15, 2022 Ryukyu Shimpo
Regarding the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa carrying out training involving aircraft taking off from and landing at the Naha Port Facility (Naha Military Port), the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) invited Director Isao Ono of the Okinawa Defense Bureau and Ambassador in charge of Okinawan Affairs Naofumi Hashimoto of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to visit the Prefectural Office on February 15, and called for the U.S. military to completely stop aircraft takeoffs/landings and training at Naha Military Port.
Okinawa Vice Governor Kiichiro Jahana submitted an objection letter to Director Ono and Ambassador Hashimoto on February 15. The letter states that, “There is serious doubt as to whether the training is such that it could not be carried out anywhere if not at the Naha Port Facility.” Vice Governor Jahana said, to Director Ono and Ambassador Hashimoto, that, “The expectation is that [citizens] will be shown that aircraft are flying in and gradually become accustomed to that situation, isn’t it? Citizens are worried that this situation will become permanent.”
The Marine Corps is flying aircraft such as Osprey vertical takeoff and landing transport aircraft into Naha Military Port for trainings such as “noncombatant evacuation” exercises. Ambassador Hashimoto expressed his acceptance of the objection from the OPG and agreed that it is possible to use ports as the locations for these noncombatant evacuation exercises. He also mentioned that he wants to convey his apprehension concerning the training at the Naha Port Facility to Tokyo.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
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