US Military Base Issues in Okinawa

Military Base Affairs Division Okinawa Prefectural Government

1 Okinawa Overview Location of Okinawa

3,000km 2,000km

・Taipei 630 km （391 mi.） ・ Shanghai 820 km （510 mi.） ・ Seoul 1,260 km （783 mi.） ・ Hong Kong 1,440 km （895 mi.） ・ Tokyo 1,550 km （963 mi.） ・ Los Angeles 10,350 km （6,431 mi.） ・ Washington, DC 14,790 km （9,191 mi.）

1,000km

Basic Info (Rank in Japan) 1. Land Area : 2,276 k㎡/ 878.73 mi2 (43rd ) 2. Population: 1,393,000 (30th) 3. Numbers of Remote Islands: 160; 49 of which are inhabited 4. Ocean Area: 1,000 km east and west, 400 km north and south 5. Average Annual Income Per Person: ¥2,039,000 (47th) 6. Base-Related Revenue: Approximately 5.3 % of gross prefectural revenue

Okinawa

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Air Spaces / Water Areas Used for US Forces Training in Japan

Tokyo US Navy US Air Force

Osaka

US Army and Marine Corps

Okinawa

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Air Spaces / Water Areas Used for US Forces Training in Okinawa

Area of 621 miles east to west, 248 miles north to south Area 2,276 Km2 (878.73 mi2)

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The Current Situation of US Military Bases on Okinawa Island ★Okinawa Island: 1,207.87 km2 / 466.36

mi2

(Total land area of Okinawa 2,276.01 km2)

• U.S. Military Bases take up 18.4% of Okinawa Island.

• Central / Southern

Okinawa Island is home to 1.14 million (91%) residents and major industries.

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Aerial Photo of Futenma Air Station Aircraft Noise Observation Station Futenma High School

Exceeding the Environmental Standards (3 Districts)

Futenma Elementary School

Within the Environmental Standards (4 Districts) Futenma Jr. High School

Futenma Daini Elementary School

Nodake 77

Aragusuku 73 Oyama 67

Ginowan City Hall

Oyama Elementary School Ginowan High School

Ginowan Jr. High School

Mashiki Jr. High School

Aichi 64

Mashiki 69 Ojana Elementary School

Nakagusuku Elementary School Ginowan Elementary School

○Elementary Schools (10)

Okinawa International

University 沖縄国際大学

Ueojana 83 Okinawa Catholic School Elem., Jr., High Schools Kakazu Park

Kakazu Jr. High School

Kakazu Elementary School

Ginowan 66

○High Schools (4)

Shimashi Elementary School

Chubu Commercial High School

○Junior High Schools (5)

Nagata Elementary School

○College (1)

Vast US military bases situated at central locations of Okinawa’s urban areas are greatly impacting city functions, transportation systems and land utilizations.

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2 Historic Background ★ During the Battle of Okinawa, over 200,000 precious lives perished and valuable cultural assets were destroyed. ★ In this war that enmeshed the local population, 1 in 4 Okinawans were killed. Landing point inundated with US Forces vessels.

★ Post-war, under the US military administration, vast US bases were constructed on land that was requisitioned or acquired by other means. ★ As a result, Okinawa came to play a role as the “Cornerstone of the Pacific” for the US Forces.

Construction of Bases (Photo: Futenma Air Station in 1945)

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★ Japan’s autonomy was restored in 1952, with the conclusion of the San Francisco Peace Treaty. However, Okinawa continued to be cut off from the mainland Japan. ★ After 27 years of US occupation, Okinawa’s hope for the Reversion to Japan was fulfilled in 1972. Reversion Commemoration Ceremony (Naha City, 1972)

Aircraft flying over residential areas to land at Futenma Air Station.

★ Even after the Reversion, many US military bases remained as provided facilities under the JapanUS Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. ★ Thus, the dense concentration of US military bases on Okinawa were not alleviated, and the residents were made to shoulder the excessive weight of the bases.

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US Facilities in Okinawa

(1) Number of Facilities and their Areas, Population Number of Facilities

34

（As of March 2010）

Area of the Facilities （As of March 2010）

23,293.9 Hectares

(Approx. 10.2 % of the total land area of Okinawa Prefecture)

33 facilities and 22,925.1 Hectares of which are used exclusively by the US Forces.

(Approx. 73.9% of exclusive-use facilities of US Forces in Japan)

Population of Total: 44,895 Servicemembers, Servicemembers： 24,612 (USFJ Total: 35,965) Civilians, and ※ Civilians: 施設数及び施設面積は、2009年３月末現在 1,381 their Dependants 軍人・軍属・家族数は、2009年９月末現在 Dependants： 18,902 (As of Sept. 2009)

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(2) Composition of Exclusive-Use Facilities of US Forces (By Prefecture)

Okinawa 73.9%

Approx. 74% of facilities exclusively used by the US forces are on Okinawa. An extremely high percentage compared to other prefectures.

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(3) Land Ownership Percentage

Private Land 33% Municipal Land 29%

National Land 35%

Prefectural Land 3%

In mainland Japan, most of the land is owned by the national government , however in Okinawa, approx. 66% of the land is owned by bodies other than the central government.

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(4) Ratio of Servicemembers by Military Branch

The highest percentage of servicemembers on Okinawa are with the Marine Corp.

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4 Impacts on the Okinawan People (1) Incidents and Accidents Related to Military Training Number of Cases: 1,545 【Av./Yr. Approx. 41】 ★Aircraft-Related 506 (Crash 43) (Emergency Landing 367) (Others 96) ★Forest/Field Fires 520

US Marine Corps UH-1N helicopter crashed in Camp Hansen in July 1998. (Photo: Ryukyu Shimpo)

Field Fire at Camp Hansen in April 2005 (Photo: Ryukyu Shimpo)

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Aircraft Accidents

2004

On August 13, 2004, a US Marine Corps CH-53D helicopter crashed into the Okinawa International University. 2008

On October 24, 2008, a Cessna crashed into a crop field adjacent to a residential area and a school in Nago City. (Front page news in the local newspapers)

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(2) Incidents and Accidents Involving US Forces Components Cases of Incidents

Heinous Offenses 564 (10.0%) Violent Offenses 1,037 (18.2%) Larceny Offenses 2,859 (50.1%) Intellectual Offenses 235 (4.1%) Moral Offenses 66 (1.2%) Other 944 (16.5%)

Total

5,705

(Btw. 1972 – 2010)

★ Cases of heinous crimes (homicide, robbery, arson, rape)

564 cases (10.0%)

Traffic Accidents Involving US Forces Components:

2,588 cases

(Btw. 1981-2010)

★ In 1995, 3 US servicemembers sexually assaulted a young school girl. ★ In Feb. 2008, another alleged assault took place which also involved a minor.

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Incidents and Accidents etc. Related to the US Forces (Overview)

(1) Incidents & Accidents

(2) Criminal Cases

(3) Traffic Accidents

Total    

Number of Cases

Annual Average

Monthly Average

1,545

41

3

5,705

150

13

2,588

89

7

(9,838)

280

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(1) 506 Aircraft-Related Accidents, 520 Forest / Field Fires (2) 564 Heinous Offenses, 1,037 Violent Offenses, 2,859 Larceny Offenses For (3), the figures represent records from 1981. Average: Rounded Figures

Including traffic accidents, 23 incidents & accidents occur on average per month.

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5

Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) ★ About SOFA･･･

Special privileges?

Official Name：”Agreement under Article VI of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between Japan and the United States of America, Regarding Facilities and Areas and the Status of United States Armed Forces in Japan” Approved and Enacted in 1960 Contents: The SOFA consists of 28 articles concerning the rights and obligations of US Forces components, usage and rights of US military facilities and areas in Japan.

Not a single revision in over half a century! Increased awareness on human rights and environmental issues.

Does not meet the demands of the times, or the wishes of the citizens.

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11 Items Under the SOFA Requested for Review (August 2000)

1. Article II: Use of Facilities and Areas 2. Article III: Measures on Facilities and Areas 3. Article III-A: Environmental Preservation within Facilities and Areas *Newly Established 4. Article IV: Return of Facilities 5. Article V: Port and Landing Fee Exemptions 6. Article IX: The Status of US Armed Forces and Related Personnel 7. Article XIII: Taxation 8. Article XV: Organization Management 9. Article XVII: Jurisdiction 10. Article XVIII: Renunciation of Claims 11. Article XXV: The Japan-US Joint Committee

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6

Impact on the Prefectural Economy

(1) Level of Revenue Related to the US Forces Unit: Billion Yen

％

250

18 (15.5) 203

200

215.5

208.8 208.4

14

184

12

156.3

150

100

16

134.6 128.2 (8.6) (7.4) 100.6 (5.1) (4.9) (5.2) (5.4) 77.7

10

US Forces‐related revenue

8 (5.4) (5.3) (5.3)

6

Gross prefectural revenue

4

50

2 0

0

Year 1972

1977

1982

1987

1992

1997

2002

2006

2007

2008

At the time of the Reversion in 1972, US Forces-related revenue was 15.5% of the gross prefectural revenue. In 2008, although the total increased 2.7 times than that of 1972, the ratio decreased to 5.3%.

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(2) Number of Japanese Employees for USFO Number of Employees

20,000

19,980 1 6 22

AAFES

1 9 51

15,000

Marines Air Force

2 8 09

Navy 541

10,000

Army

8,447 7,279 7,495 7,898 8,349 793 1 8 04

13057

2 4 61

5,000

1 6 90

3 0 31

3 0 43

2 5 90 445

2 6 48

2815 0 Year

3 0 17

2 9 28

2 6 06

2 5 36

2 4 59

9,014 9,135 1 6 25

1 5 78

1 4 91

1 4 40

1 2 30

1 1 18

912

8,703 8,928

1972

1977

397

3 0 11

2 8 34

2 6 86 465

861

767

785

1982

1987

1992

513

520

546

2 9 90

2 9 77

2 9 96

2 9 74

555

591

608

772

764

782

790

804

1997

2002

2008

2009

2010

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7 US-Japan Joint Statement US-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation May 1, 2006 Joint Statement of the US –Japan Security Consultative Committee (SCC) May 28, 2010

The SCC confirmed their commitment to steadily implement the realignment initiatives described in the “US-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation,” and made supplementary additions.

(a) Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) Both countries confirmed their intentions to locate the replacement facility at the Camp Shwab Henoko-saki area and its adjacent waters.

Futenma Air Station

Henoko-saki

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(b) Relocation of Marine Corps Personnel to Guam Both countries confirmed that approx. 8,000 personnel of III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) and their approx. 9,000 dependents will relocate from Okinawa to Guam. The US will review the remaining III MEF unit composition on Okinawa. (c) Land Returns Both countries confirmed the return of facilities and areas south of Kadena Air Base in accordance with “US-Japan Roadmap for Realignment Implementation.” *These 6 facilities/areas are the candidates for total/partial return.

★ MCAS Futenma

★ Makiminato Service Area

★ Camp Zukeran

★ Naha Port

★ Camp Kuwae

★ Army POL Depot Kuwae Tank Farm No.1

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(d) Shared Use of Facilities Both countries intend to study opportunities to expand the shared use of facilities between US Forces and the Self Defense Force. *Camp Hansen has been used jointly with the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force since 2006.

(e) Training Relocation Both countries decided to expand the relocation the of US Forces activities, to include both bilateral and unilateral training, outside of Okinawa. In this regard, both sides also committed to utilize Self Defense Forces facilities and areas in mainland Japan, and to examine the relocation of training outside of Japan, such as to Guam. *Currently, Kadena-based aircraft take part in training which have been relocated to Chitose (Hokkaido), Misawa (Aomori), Hyakuri (Ibaraki), Komatsu (Ishikawa), Tsuiki (Fukuoka), and Nyutabaru (Miyazaki).

(f) Environment Both countries will consider promptly and earnestly on environmental issues including the provision of reasonable access to the US Forces facilities/areas in case of environment-related accidents, and for environmental surveys to be conducted prior to the return of land.

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(g) Training Areas Both countries decided on the partial lift of restrictions on the use of the Hotel Hotel Training Area and committed to continue consultations on other measures.

(h) Noise Reduction at Kadena Air Base Both countries affirmed their commitments to pursue further noise reduction at Kadena through such measures as expansion of both bilateral and unilateral training to areas outside of Okinawa Prefecture, including improvements to the Aviation Training Relocation Program.

(i)

Communication and Cooperation with Communities in Okinawa Both countries affirmed their intentions to intensify communication with communities in Okinawa on issues of concern related to the presence of US Forces. The two sides committed to explore cooperation in such areas as information technology initiatives, cultural exchanges, education programs and research partnerships.

Training Air Space/Water Areas

Kadena Air Base

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8 Use of the Returned Land Return of the US Forces Facilities means… The Expansion of Okinawa’s Potential

Naha Shintoshin (Before Land Reversion)

Naha Shintoshin (After Land Reversion: Aug. 2006)

Throughout Okinawa where former military land has been returned, many areas continue to develop vast residential / commercial neighborhoods, vitalizing the economy and our citizens.

Future Image of Okinawa・・・ Work towards independent economical sustainability and deepen ties with our neighbors in the Asia Pacific region.

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Website: Military Affairs Division, Executive Office of the Governor, Okinawa Prefectural Government http://www3.pref.okinawa.jp/site/view/contview.jsp?cateid=14&id=592&page=1 Or: Okinawa Prefectural Government Home Page→”English”→ “US Military Issues (under “Menu”) ”

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