(Provisional translation by an external company for reference purpose only)
This is my first visit to the main island of Okinawa since assuming office as Minister of Defense. As I mentioned at the time of my inauguration, I recognize the great importance of having a forum for exchanging opinions with local residents as well as confirming the situation on the relevant sites in Okinawa in order to mitigate the impact of the bases in Okinawa. Today, I first offered flowers at the memorial located on Mabuni Hill. Then, I visited the Air Self-Defense Force Naha Air Base to meet with the commanders of units that are on the front lines of national defense and received reports on the recent situation. Next, I visited the current Naha Port facilities with Mr. Kinjo, Deputy Mayor of Naha City. Due to the facility on site having a very high potential for use, I was able to understand very well that the return of the site was eagerly awaited. I also visited the Urasoe Wharf area, where the Naha Port facilities are to be relocated. At this site, a borehole survey is currently being conducted, although it has been suspended due to the effects of marine conditions during the winter season, and I reaffirmed my determination to work toward the early construction of a replacement facility. After that, I moved to Henoko, Nago City, which is the relocation site of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, and met with the residents of the Kube-sanku area and Mr. Kohagura, a member of the City Council. I expressed my gratitude once again for their understanding of the relocation to Henoko. In addition, I stated that the Ministry of Defense (MOD) would steadily proceed with the relocation work to Henoko with the aim of realizing the full return of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma as soon as possible, while continuing to give consideration to the impact on the residents of the surrounding areas and the preservation of the environment. We have received various opinions and requests from the mayors of the Kube-sanku area, and we will make sure that we take them into consideration and address them in our efforts moving forward. After that, I visited the construction site of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma replacement facility construction project in Camp Schwab with Major General Walford, Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations Pacific. We confirmed that reclamation work on the Henoko side was almost complete, while on the Oura Bay side, seawall construction and reclamation work were progressing steadily. I was also briefed on the upcoming ground improvement work planned for the Oura Bay side. The reason for ground improvement is to ensure the stability of the revetment, which is to be constructed on the ground. The layer of cohesive soil identified on the Oura Bay side of the site is classified as very hard to medium cohesive soil. With regard to this ground, it is planed that ground improvement work on this soil, to the extent necessary, will be based on the specific design. As for the design of the ground improvement and associated works, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will supervises based on the standards used at many offshore airports on reclaimed land, such as Haneda Airport and other airports. It has been concluded that driving sand piles up to 70m below sea level and improving the ground is sufficient to ensure the stability of the structures. This construction method is also used at Haneda Airport, Kansai Airport, and Naha Airport. The construction method used is one with a long history of numerous successful construction results, and this was reviewed and confirmed by a technical review committee consisting of experts. Thus, the cohesive soil confirmed on the Oura Bay side of the land will be sufficiently strong to ensure the stability of the revetment by driving hard sand piles into the ground using a common and well-proven ground improvement method. Through today’s visit, I was able to understand once again that there would be no issue in completing the reclaimed land and constructing the air station. I believe that it is necessary to steadily proceed with this construction work, complete the replacement facilities as soon as possible, and realize the return of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. I therefore would like the relevant parties to continue to carry out the construction work firmly and steadily. Additionally, I also met Mayor Toguchi of Nago City, Mayor Nakama of Kin Town, Mayor Toma of Ginoza Village, and Vice Mayor Yamashiro of Onna Village, earlier. They requested continuing the efforts to solve issues including the noise problems caused by U.S. military aircraft. In particular, the Mayor of Nago City requested addressing the concerns of the citizens and protecting their living environment with regard to the construction project of an alternative facility to Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The MOD will continue to make every effort, including reaching out to the U.S. side, to minimize the impact on the local community. Tomorrow, on December 15, I will continue to meet with the people in municipalities related to the U.S. bases, as I did today, and I am also scheduled to meet with Governor Tamaki and the Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) and Okinawa Area Coordinator of the U.S. Forces, Japan. The MOD intends to listen carefully to their opinions and requests.
I would like to report on one more topic. On the commencement of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps personnel in Okinawa to Guam, we will reach a major milestone since the relocation was included in the “Japan-U.S. Roadmap for Realignment Implementation” in May 2006.
Recently, detachment of approximately 100 logistics support Marines from the III MEF has started to relocate from Okinawa to Guam. Commencement of relocation to Guam signifies the first phase of relocating U.S. Marine Corps personnel from Okinawa to locations outside of Japan, and relocations will take place in a phased approach in the future. The relocation of U.S. Marine Corps personnel from Okinawa to Guam is extremely important. The Japan-U.S. Alliance will continue to make every effort to mitigate the impact on local communities, while engaging in strengthening deterrence and response capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. Based on an agreement between Japan and the U.S., Japan has provided the Government of the U.S. with a portion of the costs for the relocation to Guam and has also provided funds. Currently, projects necessary for the relocation, including those funded by the Government of Japan, are in progress. I believe it is of great significance that the announcement of the commencement of the relocation to Guam has been made as a result of the steady progress of these efforts. The MOD will continue to cooperate with the U.S. side and advance the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa to Guam.