In disregard of the opposition and concern of local residents, the Japanese defense ministry is speeding up their bid to turn Okinawa Prefecture into a military base.

The defense ministry made a plan to build a training ground of the Ground “Self Defense Force” in the site of golf course (about 20 hectares) in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, on the pretext of strengthening the defence system in the Nansei Islands.

As soon as it announced the plan, the local inhabitants have continued to voice their opposition to the plan.

As the opposition of residents got fierce, the defense ministry held a briefing to convince the locals of the necessity of the construction of the training ground on February 11.

While advocating the deterioration of security environment surrounding Japan, the defense ministry mentioned the necessity of fundamental increase in defence capabilities in the briefing which drew about 300 persons. It explained variously the necessity of the construction project, saying the training ground is only for training shooting movements without using live bullets and blank shots and the takeoff and landing of helicopter is only allowed in case of disasters and emergencies.

However, the locals protest, saying “the use of the training ground is not clear” and “the adverse effect on surrounding residential areas is uncertain”.

As is known, the sufferings and misfortune of the residents are enormous since 70 percent of military bases are concentrated in Okinawa Prefecture.

The locals, who have constantly fallen victim to ceaseless GI crimes, noise pollution and various accidents, have strongly demanded the shutdown of the US military base and return of its land for a long time.

The Japanese authorities, who set the humiliating policy of following the US as a national policy, have openly buckled down to the removal and expansion of military base that they pushed secretly in the past, far from closing the US military base, while regarding the locals’ demand as the passing sound of the wind.

The residents, who have suffered misfortune and sufferings due to the US military base, will not agree on the construction plan of the defence ministry which will bring another suffering.

The Japanese authorities, who are dead set on the unheard-of military buildup, obsessed with the wild ambition for military expansion, look on with folded arms at the sufferings of residents.

They are reportedly going to build the training ground as the number of personnel has increased since the 15th brigade of the Ground “SDF” has been raised to the status of division.

Why does Japan, a war criminal state which lost the right of belligerency and participation in the war and which cannot possess combat capabilities under the constitution, continue to increase military bases in Okinawa facing the Asian continent?

It is evidenced by the undisguised military moves of Japan.

Japan, which has increased its defence budget every year, boosted the defense budget in 2024 to the largest ever scale of over 7.949 trillion yen and massively purchased offensive-oriented military equipment from the US including Tomahawk long-range cruise missile.

Given that it has pushed military buildup far exceeding its defence demand, Japan’s continued expansion of military base in Okinawa is nothing but a revelation of its foolish wild ambition for overseas invasion disturbing regional peace and stability.

Its neighbouring countries and the international community are now carefully watching its military moves with heightened vigilance.

The Japanese authorities must lend an ear to the public demand and realize that they would be doomed to destruction if they keep moving toward a military power in disregard of the demand.