In a significant development, Japanese construction workers resumed landfill operations on Wednesday at the proposed site of the new U.S. military base on Okinawa, defying protests from local residents who argue that the move violates their rights and poses environmental risks.
The relocation site, situated on Okinawa’s eastern coast, has been a focal point of disagreement between the Tokyo government and local authorities, particularly as Okinawa gains strategic importance in the Japan-U.S. military alliance amid escalating tensions with China. The Fukuoka High Court’s Naha branch recently ordered Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki to approve the government’s modified landfill plan, leading to the resumption of work.
Despite Tamaki’s appeal to the Supreme Court, construction proceeded on a barge brought to the location, where loader machines dumped rock and gravel into the sea as part of the reclamation process for the planned U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
Governor Tamaki denounced the court ruling as unjust and against the will of the residents, expressing deep regret over the restart of landfill work. The dispute over the Futenma base’s relocation has been ongoing for decades, originating from the 1996 agreement between Tokyo and Washington to close the air station.
The central government initiated reclamation work off Henoko Bay in 2018, facing challenges when segments of the designated site were found to be on soft ground. Despite a rejected revision plan by Okinawa’s prefectural government and a suspension of work, the recent court decision has allowed the resumption of construction.
Governor Tamaki, advocating for a reduction in the U.S. military presence on Okinawa, has received global support. Scholars, filmmakers, and citizens from around the world have signed a petition demanding an end to what they perceive as the island’s status as a “de facto military colony.” The petition, addressed to President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, urges the cancellation of the new base construction in Henoko, emphasizing the need to cease the discrimination and military colonization of Okinawa.