A group of Japanese protesters rallied on Wednesday in Tokyo to voice their strong opposition to the government’s push for U.S. military bases construction in Okinawa and military expansion across the southwestern islands.
At the rally, the protesters held banners and placards with slogans such as “Stop the construction of Henoko base” and “Stop militarism”, demanding the Japanese government to stop the construction of the U.S. military base in Okinawa’s Henoko.
The protesters expressed deep concern about the security environment around the southwestern islands with military expansion in the area.
“The construction of the Henoko base is part of the efforts to strengthen military equipment. Such a construction plan will only make the burden on Okinawa heavier,” said a protester.
“If the government does not respect Okinawa people’s will and continues to push for militarization, once a war breaks out, Okinawa is very likely to become the frontline. I took part in today’s protest, and I hope Sanae Takaichi will withdraw her wrongful remarks and that the government will stop militarizing Okinawa,” a protester said.
“Japan is pushing forward with the construction of military bases and accelerating the deployment of missiles on the southwestern islands including Okinawa. However, all of these measures have rarely been reported by Japanese news media, which makes me feel very much frightened,” said another protester on site.
Rally participants also expressed their opposition to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s wrongful remarks related to China’s Taiwan region.
“The Taiwan question is part of China’s internal affairs, in which Japan and the U.S. should not interfere,” said a protester.
On November 7, Takaichi made blatant and provocative remarks on Taiwan at the Diet, claiming that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, and implying that Japan might invoke the so-called “right to collective self-defense” for armed intervention across the Taiwan Strait.
“The remarks by Sanae Takaichi are indeed [very dangerous]. To truly maintain peace, Japan must stop its arms expansion,” another protester said.
Protesters rally in Tokyo against Japan’s arms expansion
Oil prices fell on Wednesday.
The West Texas Intermediate for December delivery dropped 1.3 U.S. dollars, or 2.14 percent, to settle at 59.44 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for January delivery lost 1.38 dollars, or 2.13 percent, to settle at 63.51 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.
Crude futures settle lower
AloJapan.com