Marking the 78th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa, Denny Tamaki, the Governor of Japan’s southern prefecture of Okinawa urged for more diplomatic efforts toward peace, saying a military building on the islands has residents fearing becoming embroiled in regional tensions.
The Battle of Okinawa, one of World War II’s bloodiest battles, killed about 200,000 people, nearly half of them being Okinawan residents. In an attempt to delay a U.S. landing on the main islands, Japan’s wartime military, virtually sacrificed the local population.
Tamaki, in his peace declaration, averred that Okinawans suffered “unimaginable damage” and mark the anniversary by reminding themselves of the absurdity and cruelty of the war as well as lessons learned from survivors.
“We resent all forms of war and renew our determination never to turn Okinawa into a battlefield,” he said.
However, Japan’s new security and defense strategies that highlight a defense buildup on Okinawa are “triggering fear among Okinawans, because of our memories of the fierce ground battle,” Tamaki said. “What we need is diplomacy of peace through dialogue.”
Japan’s central government adopted new national security and defense strategies last December with plans to double defense spending over the next five years.
That would be a significant military building with more strike capability, a major break from Japan’s principle of self-defense-only under its postwar pacifist constitution.
Diplomacy and an effort to nurture trust and relieve tensions through dialogue, according to Tamaki, are increasingly important for Asia-Pacific countries.
Also, Tamaki assured that Okinawa will use its history, culture and location; close to Taiwan, China and other Southeast Asian countries, to contribute to peace and prosperity in its own way, through exchanges in tourism, environment, culture and other areas.
Today’s Peace And Stability Built On Okinawa’s Sacrifice
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that he renewed his determination not to repeat the tragedy of the war by remembering the peace and stability of today was built on Okinawa’s sacrifice and difficulties.
Kishida made these remarks at a ceremony in the city of Itoman commemorating June 23, 1945, the end of the Battle of Okinawa. Hundreds of attendees, including Kishida and other officials, offered a moment of silence at noon and placed white chrysanthemums for the war dead.
Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Kishida noted, “But as we face the most severe and complex security environment in the postwar era, it is important to strengthen our defense posture in the southeast region for the protection of people’s lives.”
That effort would be accompanied by increasing the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance, Kishida iterated.
Japan says that reinforcing defense on its southwestern islands, including Okinawa, that are near geopolitical hot spots such as Taiwan is key to its defense amid China’s growing assertiveness and tensions.
Japan’s Defense Ministry has installed missile defense units on Okinawa’s nearby islands Ishigaki and Yonaguni.
In May last year, Okinawa marked the 50th anniversary of its reversion to Japan, two decades after the U.S. occupation ended in most of the country.
Still, a majority of the 50,000 U.S. troops based in Japan under a bilateral security pact and 70% of U.S. military facilities are still in Okinawa, which accounts for only 0.6% of Japanese land. Because of the U.S. bases, Okinawa faces noise, pollution, accidents and crime related to American troops, Tamaki said.
Okinawa is also deeply mired in resentment and frustration due to the significant U.S military presence there and Tokyo’s failure to engage in negotiations with Washington to balance the security burden between mainland Japan and the southern island.
