Stationing of US marines in Okinawa strange

From Okinawa they can deal with any contingencies as quickly as possible that may occur in any part of the region. But in a contingency involving China or North Korea, Sasebo in Nagasaki prefecture would serve much better. Sasebo is much closer to Beijing, Shanghai and Pyongyang than Okinawa. Or if skirmishes ever occur in the Senkaku waters, the self-defence forces would have primary responsibility, not the US marines. Thus, it turns out that the “superior strategic location” argument doesn’t hold water at all. Furthermore, if the marines are in Okinawa to deal with such contingencies quickly, why are 8,000 of them, including the 4,900 most active elements, scheduled to move to Guam, leaving only support units behind in Okinawa? 

This means the marines are stationed here not because Okinawa has a superior strategic location but simply because the bases in Okinawa are as cosy as can be. Washington will keep drumming up its worn-out mantra that the US military presence is for the defence of Japan and is of the utmost necessity in the face of an assertive China. As a result, Tokyo will provide lavish support (an annual $1.56 billion).

Yoshio Shimoji

The Japan Times/ANN