Japanese Government worries that anti-base sentiment is on the rise as Covid-19 spreads widely with the theory that the US Military is the epicenter gaining traction. (7ja22)
The view has been hardening that the US Military bases in Japan are the epicenter of the sudden expansion of the epidemic in 3 prefectures: Okinawa, where Special Contagion Prevention Measures against Covid-19 have been applied, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima. Compared to Japan’s, the US Military’s disease prevention measures have been pointed out to be weak. The Japanese Government is worried that anti-base sentiment will surely heighten among its population.
On 6 January, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi phoned US Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking for a tightening of contagion prevention measures among US Military in Japan, “We strongly request that you implement strong and thorough measures, including imposition of confinement to base.” The Foreign Ministry’s request for confinement to base was unprecedented. Secretary Blinken answered, “I want to do whatever I can.”
US Military bases in their midst is a common factor among the 3 prefectures. In Japan, 70 percent of the facilities, such as Camp Hansen, are concentrated in Okinawa. Yamaguchi Prefecture embraces Iwakuni Base. Iwakuni Base is in the city of Iwakuni, adjacent to Hiroshima Prefecture. The cluster of infections, suspected of being the variant Omicron strain, arose from bases in Okinawa and Yamaguchi.
As for the US Military in Japan, the omission of border protection measures was decided in December of last year. The US Military explained that, under the Japan US Status of Forces Agreement, the US Military is not bound by the Japanese measures, but “We’re taking measures consistent with Japan’s.”
The Japanese Government requested that, before leaving the US and again after entering Japan, testing be conducted. However, without even doing the testing, the US limits on activities after entering Japan were shortened from 14 to 10 days. But even under the activity controls, on base activities were recognized.
On 22 December, the Japanese Government protested to the US Military in Japan (Commander of US Forces Japan, Lieutenant General Ricky N. Rupp). The US Military in Japan promised to carry out measures such as testing troops within 72 hours before leaving Their country and within 24 hours of arrival in Japan. By 30 December, Japan would impose the same measures. But by the end of December, the disease had already begun to spread widely in 3 prefectures: Okinawa, Yamaguchi, and Hiroshima. It seems the tightening of measures was too late. The sense of distrust is hardening in the 3 prefectures.
At a press conference on 6 January, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki concluded, “The US Military bases are one cause of the widespread contagion.” Yamaguchi Prefecture Governor Tsugumasa Muraoka pointed out, “When units arrived from the US without testing, that hit with a great impact.” Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki criticized the US Military with, “Totally unacceptable!”
The Japanese Government is eager for calm. The unease and anti-base sentiment can only broaden as the virus spreads widely to outside the US bases, not only in Okinawa and Yamaguchi. As of 6 January, Misawa Base in Aomori Prefecture had 82 cases, Yokosuka Base in Kanagawa 80, Atsugi Base also in Kanagawa 69, and Yokota Base in Tokyo 65.
If the National Government does not show a strict response, there is a fear that the spearhead of criticism will be directed not only against the US Military, but against the ruling party.
At a press conference on 6 January, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Residence. On the theory that the US Military was the source of the infections, he stated, “It’s difficult to judge at this point in time.” Then on 7 January at the Japan US Consultative Committee (2 plus 2), he stressed that he ordered Foreign Minister Hayashi to request strict measures even more forcefully. He claimed, “I want to get the understanding of the nation’s people by pushing the US side to move with resolve.” On 6 January, the US military in Japan, falling into step, announced Covid prevention measures such as a requirement to wear masks when outside base.
From the opposition parties, voices arose calling for a revision of the Status Of Forces Agreement which blocks the Japanese quarantine of bases. Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii stated at the meeting, “The root cause of the problem is the mockery of the Status Of Forces Agreement. I strongly request a drastic revision!”
Original Japanese article: Jiji Press, published Friday 7 January 2021 at 07:05
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/88cc4f1a333292054de3c38f08ea45ed2fc22023
Translator’s note:
Denny in the News: news about Okinawan Governor Denny Tamaki.
Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media.
This blog hopes to translate one news article a day on the governor. It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience.
Any suggestion on improving the translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.
Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.
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