Abercrombie urges Okinawa community input in redeployment and consolidation

On Saturday the U.S. government announced agreement with Japan for a reduction of about 7,000 U.S. troops, primarily Marines, on Okinawa and the consolidation of U.S. military facilities on the island.

The agreement would relocate the Marine Corps Air Station from its present site at Futenma in the southern part of Okinawa to Camp Schwab in the north of the island.

Safety concerns stemming from Futenma’s location in a densely populated area have long been a point of friction between Okinawa prefectural and municipal authorities and the U.S. military.

However, according to news reports, Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine rejected the move to Camp Schwab and called for the air station to be relocated to a site outside the prefecture.

Abercrombie said, “The people of Okinawa have borne a heavy burden for more than 60 years.  The military presence on their island is the last remaining vestige of World War II.  The elected prefectural and municipal governments should have a voice in any plan involving the disposition of military forces on Okinawa.  I would urge the U.S. and Japanese governments to give great weight to their input before making any final decisions.  Recognition of the dangerous situation at Futenma is an encouraging development, but the entire range of community concerns must be taken into account.

“I am familiar with the situation, because I have worked on this issue for more than a decade.  In 1993 I visited Okinawa and spoke extensively with the mayors, community leaders, and former Governor Ohta.  I visited Japan in 1996 with other members of the House Armed Services Committee and have also traveled to Guam, Korea and other alternative basing sites for U.S. forces.  Since then I have worked with Governor Inamine and have urged the Department of Defense and the Armed Services Committee to address the issue in a manner that takes the interests and desires of the people of Okinawa into account.  It took hard work and good will by many people, especially the elected leaders of Okinawa, to get us to this point.  The broad agreement reached demonstrates genuine progress on the issues I have championed for more than a decade regarding the relocation of U.S. troops and base realignment.  I am optimistic that if all parties continue working in that same spirit, we will achieve an outcome that respects the desires of the people of Okinawa and the security interests of Japan and the United States.”

The Okinawa consolidation and transfers are part of a broader U.S.-Japan agreement aimed at adjusting the bilateral military relationship to reflect changing strategic realities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Most of the U.S. personnel leaving Okinawa would be transferred to Guam, with some going to Hawaii.

The transfers and consolidation are expected to take place over a period of six years.

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