Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja. (Mainichi)
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Recently elected Okinawa Gov. Genta Koja said Monday that he supports a controversial plan to relocate a U.S. military air base within the prefecture as it is “the quickest way to eliminate the dangers posed” by the existing facility.
While acknowledging that he would have preferred the air station to be relocated outside Okinawa or overseas, Koja said there was currently no concrete alternative to the relocation plan, which stems from a 1996 Japan-U.S. agreement.
“I believe the most important priority in reducing the excessive burden of U.S. military facilities is to ensure the return of (land occupied) south of Kadena Air Base, as already agreed upon by Japan and the United States,” Koja said during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan.
Koja, the first Okinawa governor in 12 years to support the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan to the coastal Henoko area in Nago, urged the central government to establish a clear timetable for the return of land occupied by U.S. military facilities and ensure that the process proceeds as scheduled.
Okinawa has continued to host the bulk of U.S. military facilities in the country since its 1972 reversion from U.S. control following Japan’s defeat in World War II.
The continued operation of Futenma Air Station in the densely populated city of Ginowan has significantly affected residents’ lives, with concerns over aircraft accidents and noise pollution.
Regarding the expansion of Self-Defense Forces deployment across the Nansei Islands, a strategically important chain stretching southwest from Kyushu toward Taiwan, Koja said the prefecture would not accept such moves unconditionally.
“I intend to firmly press the government to explain what constitutes the minimum level of defensive capability necessary to maintain peace, and why particular military functions and facilities are required,” he said, calling on the central government to provide detailed explanations to local communities.
Koja also expressed outrage over a recent robbery-murder case involving a U.S. Marine in Naha, calling for a fundamental revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement.
His demands include obliging the United States to promptly respond to Japanese requests for the transfer of criminal suspects before indictment and applying Japanese domestic laws to U.S. military personnel.
Koja also called for changes to SOFA to allow Okinawa Prefecture to conduct on-site investigations inside U.S. military bases, amid concerns over water contamination involving PFAS chemicals.
Koja, who campaigned for the Sept. 13 gubernatorial election primarily on economic issues rather than base-related concerns, reiterated his pledge to double prefectural residents’ take-home pay, as well as promote growth in industries including tourism and startups.
AloJapan.com