Archive for the Editorial Category

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Editorial: Missile defense unit on Okinawa’s main island is an overreaction that invites danger

February 20, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

The progressing militarization of the Ryukyu Islands is a dangerous plan. It should not even be worth considering.
The Japanese government is currently considering deploying a surface-to-ship missile defense unit on Honto, the main Okinawan island. They are also progressing a deployment of a security forces as well as surface-to-air, and surface-to-ship missile defense units totaling approximately 700-800 people, to Miakojima, Okinawa.

Based...

 

Editorial: It is too soon to say if Nago City’s Mayor Toguchi accepts the new base

February 5, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

The issue of MCAS Futenma’s relocation to Henoko, Nago City was the major issue at hand in the Nago mayoral election. Taketoyo Toguchi, an independent new candidate endorsed by the Japanese government which is advancing construction in Henoko, beat the independent...

Editorial: U.S. Colonel’s remark comparing cars to military aircraft shows military’s unchanged arrogant sense of authority

 

January 24, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

 

Colonel Darin Clarke, who manages the Marines’ government and external affairs in the Pacific, made a comment in response to the protest resolution from the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly about consecutive U.S. military...

U.S. base worker should face up to his crime in court

 

November 17, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The incident was a tragic one in which the life of a 20-year old woman with a bright future ahead of her was stolen away.

Although it is the right of the defendant, his exercise of the right to remain silent is difficult to...

Marines should leave Okinawa after U.S. military helicopter goes up in flames in Takae

 

October 12, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

A CH-53 transport helicopter belonging to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma made an unplanned landing and then burst into flames on civilian land along route 70 in Higashi Village.

The nearest civilian homes were a mere 200...

Henoko construction should be halted to protect scarce coral from further destruction

 

October 3, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

A scarce type of coral has been discovered in the ocean area on the south side of Cape Henoko, where the Japanese government plans to do land reclamation for the construction of a new base in Henoko, Nago City.

The Okinawa Defense...

After 2-plus-2 Conference, How long will Japan continue to be subservient?

 

August 20, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

It may be obvious, but the relationship between Japan and the U.S. is not equal; the imbalanced power relationship continues.

This once again became clear at the joint presentation and press conference for the “2-plus-2” ministerial...

With first memorial service for Okinawan POWs in Hawaii, Japan is obligated to collect remains of fallen

June 6, 2017 by Ryukyu Shimpo

“The memorial service for Okinawan prisoners of war in Hawaii,” which honors the 12 Okinawans who were captured during the Battle of Okinawa, then taken to a prison camp in Hawaii where they died, was just held for the first time in Honolulu.

The twelve...

Editorial: Increasing support from the international community at the UNPFII

April 29, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

At the 16th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) being held at the United Nations headquarters, a representative for the Asia region prepared a statement indicating that the construction of a new base in Okinawa is being pushed...

Editorial: We’ll exercise our right to self-determination

April 28, 2017 by Ryukyu Shimpo

The San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect on April 28, 1952, when Japan gained its independence, and when Okinawa, along with Amami and Ogasawara, were split from Japan.

In Article 3 of the Peace Treaty, the United States, with Japan’s consent and without...

Editorial: The Marines must withdraw to the continental U.S. after stray bullets found at Onna construction site

April 16, 2017 Ryukyu Shimpo

An accident which should never happen has happened in Onna. At the Afuso Dam construction site in the Camp Hansen Marine Corps base, damage that appears to have come from stray bullets was found in water tanks and the cars of dam workers.

When the stray bullets...