Under a deal finalized in 2006 after protracted negotiations with Tokyo, Washington agreed to shift some 8,000 Marines by 2014 to the U.S. territory of Guam.

But in a move criticized by Okinawan activists, the United States has at the same time installed a Patriot missile defense system on the island amid concern over North Korea, which shot a missile over Japan in 1998.

Akira Kato, a professor of political science at Obirin University, said the island had always struggled with balancing opposition to the foreign forces with the positive impact on the economy.

“Unless Okinawa really becomes independent economically, it would be impossible for it to become free of U.S. bases,” he said.

He also noted that President George W. Bush’s administration, which has spearheaded a realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and across the world to meet new threats, would be out of office in January.

“The incident occurred at a time of political change,” he said.

In a controversial part of the 2006 deal, the U.S. military agreed to relocate an air station opposed in the crowded city of Ginowan but only to move it to a small town elsewhere in Okinawa.

Activists accused Governor Nakaima and his allies in Tokyo of dividing the Okinawan public and said they hoped for larger protests in the future.

“The government argues the realignment plan would scale down the U.S. military presence and reduce the strain on Okinawa, but we say it would not reduce the burden but rather strengthen it,” said Shiko Sakiyama, chairman of the anti-U.S. base group Okinawa Peace Movement Center.

But he acknowledged: “So long as Nakaima takes a position conciliatory toward U.S. bases and the security alliance, it would be difficult for Okinawa to unite like before.”

Subscribe to The China Post and save.  Click hereSharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 800 characters max

Receive China Post promos

Respond to this email