US Military Presence in Japan: a Paradox between Local and National Security

For many governments, finding a balance between different groups of interest is a difficult task. This is especially the case for Japanese government, which has to deal with American military presence in Okinawa. On the one hand, local residents want the Americans to go, as Americans are perceived to threaten local safety. On the other hand, Japan depends on American military presence for its national security. Finding a compromise is almost impossible: US presence in Okinawa creates a paradox between local and national security. Meanwhile, mass protests from local Okinawans continue to take place on a daily basis; just as tensions with neighboring countries such as China are increasing. Yet, in a rapidly changing world, solving the paradox of security is very important for Japan.

Okinawa is a sub-tropical region covering more than a 100 islands in the southern part of Japan. Wedged between mainland Japan and Taiwan, its history has been tumultuous. The islands formed the independent as Ryukyu Kingdom until 1872, when it was annexed by the Japanese Empire — starting the “Okinawan Diaspora” from local perspective. In the Second World War, Okinawa became a frontline during Battle of Okinawa, which cost 120,000 Okinawan lives, mostly civilians. Despite the hard fought battle, Japan did not restore its sovereignty over the islands from the US until 1972. By then, Americans had already forcibly seized farmland from its owners, building vast military installations on the island. As of…