Starting Controversial Landfill for New Base

Ministry of Defense on Wednesday began landfill off the north coast of United States Marine Corp Camp Schwab in Nago city, Okinawa, to reinforce the soil “as soft as mayonnaise.” Although Governor of Okinawa, Denny Tamaki, firmly opposed the construction, the government of Japan forcefully started the construction without approval of Tamaki. The construction of new base will cause consistent protest against US Force in Okinawa for a long period of time.

The government of Japan started dumping earth into the south side of the coastal area of the camp in 2018 and the landfill there has made progress. It found soft soil in the base of Oura Bay, northern side of the camp, and decided to change the plan of construction. Receiving oppositions from the people in Okinawa, Tamaki refused that plan-B exercising legal power to disapprove it. The Supreme Court decided last month in favor of national government so that it can go forward with the construction by proxy, instead of the governor.

 

The construction started with pouring rocks into the sea to build a basis for seawalls. The government of Japan believes that the soil will be improved by driving 70 thousands of piles into the seabed. Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said in his press conference that it takes 9 years and 3 months to complete the construction. US Force needs to wait until mid-2030s to start using new base.

 

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the press that “fixation” of Futenma Air Base cannot be tolerated at all and he would make efforts to completely return the base from US as soon as possible. His comment can be interpreted as that as long as Henoko base is not built, Futenma base will not be returned to Okinawa. No other choice except building it in Henoko is in his mind.

 

“It is a big mistake, if they are hoping Okinawa to give it up by unilateral promotion of the construction,” Tamaki said in his press conference. “A number of people has expressed their opposition. If Tokyo ignores that, it will affect the security relationship between Japan and US.” Tamaki demanded the government of Japan to sit at a table to talk about the issue with Okinawa. Although Kishida has been saying that he would explain about the construction politely to Okinawa, he or Minister of Defense has not accepted a meeting with Tamaki after the decision of Supreme Court.

 

About 30 people sit down in front of the gate of Camp Schwab, protesting against the construction. The protesters argued that their opposition would not be changed by forcible execution of policy by the national government. Even if the government can successfully finish the construction, the resentment against the base may disturb the operation of Henoko base in the future.

 

Archipelago of Japan is sometimes called as “the nest of earthquakes.” There is no discussion about whether the new Marine base on a mayonnaise soil will withstand major earthquakes. The government of Japan is also responsible for explaining the strength of Henoko base to the people in Japan, pouring not only rocks and sands but ¥930 million of money into constructing new base.

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