Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

deployment of U.S. bases in Okinawa, F-22A fighter
U.S. bases in Okinawa satellite map

LONDON, June 12: India’s Defense Research think tank analysis of 10 articles, although perhaps the U.S. military in Okinawa not welcomed by the Japanese in Okinawa Prefecture, but Okinawa is for the United States still has strategic importance. Potential threat by the Chinese and North Korean threat, the Japanese to allow the U.S. bases stationed in Okinawa.

The article said that the U.S. military bases stationed in Okinawa and the need to debate Okinawa, Japan has set off a few times in the political waves. However, the Japanese government is always the excuse of national security requirements, the US-Japan security alliance placed on top of domestic politics. The U.S. bases and troops transferred to Okinawa than US-Japan security alliance would have a negative impact, and now the alliance with the United States and Japan on the still indispensable. Despite opposition by the Japanese public, but the Japanese government has agreed to relocate the Futenma air base to Okinawa’s Nago City, the more secluded vicinities ancient wild (Henoko) coast. So, the Japanese government that the US-Japan security alliance and the importance of domestic public opinion, set the expense of reason, what is it?

The article said that the U.S. military and its military bases in Japan and East Asia to help protect Japan’s peace and stability, and geo-strategic location of Okinawa is to be selected as the U.S. military bases, which is For the defense of Japan and the United States power projection in the Far East to consider. Okinawa and other parts of Japan and other East Asian countries, the distance makes it an ideal military base, and will set up base here, but also to expand the U.S. military’s control. In extraordinary times, be affected in other parts of Japan before the United States Marine Corps (emergency first responders to make) more likely to take appropriate action. In addition, Japan also can not ignore it faces neighboring countries with nuclear weapons – such as China, Korea, and Russia – the potential danger. Although you can rule out the threat of Russia and China, but North Korea’s threat is real, Japan has been cooperating with the U.S. (United States provide for Japan), to strengthen its missile defense system.

Okinawa Prefecture, including one by the hundreds of islands of the island chain. The center of this island chain of Taiwan and almost equal distance from the Japanese island of Kyushu. During the Vietnam War, U.S. military bases, especially the military bases in Okinawa, is the most important strategic and logistical base. In addition, the Japanese strategists point out that despite the “non-nuclear principles,” but during the Cold War a number of bases in Okinawa is still used for storage of nuclear weapons. Even today, in the United States and Japan signed a secret agreement to support the U.S. nuclear submarines and destroyers equipped with near Japan are still cruising. Moreover, the U.S. military bases in Japan to help the United States to facilitate access to strategically important in terms of five Sea – Bering Sea, Sea of ??Okhotsk, Sea of ??Japan, the East China Sea and South China Sea.

article said, according to the 1960 US-Japan security treaty, the U.S. military be stationed in Japan. May 1972, the United States to return Okinawa to Japan. However, the same year, according to “Status of Forces Agreement the U.S.” won the right to use military facilities in Okinawa. U.S. military facilities in Okinawa and military sites, including airports, exercise area and logistics facilities. Okinawa accounts for 0.6% of Japan’s land area, but there are up to 74% of the U.S. military base. One, stationed at Futenma Marine Corps base is the 36th Brigade. The article said that the U.S. military including the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. Which included about 36,000 soldiers, 43,000 family members, 5,000 Department of Defense civilian staff and Japanese staff.

in the early years of U.S. occupation of Japan, the U.S. military to become one of Japan’s largest employment, employment, nearly 20 million Japanese. Soon after, however, this data down to 2.5 million. With the continuous development of national economy, Japan accounts for some share of the employer. Support of the United States as host country, Japan has for the United States currently provides about 20 billion dollars. However, it should be noted that the U.S. military on people’s lives around the base had a negative impact. Japanese people – especially the Japanese in Okinawa Prefecture, the U.S. military caused by noise pollution, crime and other problems have been tired.

The article said that despite widespread public criticism and opposition, but the US-Japan Security Treaty and the U.S. military on Japanese foreign and security policy is still very important. Of U.S. military facilities and military re-adjustment may lead to unequal sharing of responsibilities between the two countries. “Japan-US Security Treaty,” Article 5 of the United States an obligation to protect Japan, while Article 6 provides that the U.S. military in Japan must provide equipment and venues. The treaty is very different from the North Atlantic Treaty, which only requires States parties to provide a common defense. The U.S. military is also for all the Japanese armed aggression “effective deterrence.” The article says that in the event of war, the United States is bound to protect Japan, or even to send reinforcements, then the base becomes very important. In short, the U.S. military is vital for Japanese security, the U.S. military to ensure peace and stability in the region.

conclusion, the article said that although the U.S. military in Okinawa by the Okinawa Prefecture, the Japanese may not be welcome, but Okinawa is for the United States still has strategic importance. Potential threat by the Chinese and North Korean threat, the Japanese to allow the U.S. bases stationed in Okinawa. (Spring)