Okinawa's new governor Onaga wants to downsize US military bases

[CougarKing]

Downsizing US bases in Okinawa could work to China's advantage when it comes to their East China Sea ADIZ or even their Senkakus/Diaoyu island chain claims...

Defense News

Analysts: Okinawa Vote a Blow To Japan-US Ties
Nov. 17, 2014 - 03:44PM  |  By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

TOKYO — Voters in Okinawa have thrown a spanner into Japan’s relations with the United States after electing a governor who wants the American military to downsize its presence at a time of alarm over China’s territorial ambitions.

Takeshi Onaga rode a wave of anti-US resentment to pummel two-term incumbent Hirokazu Nakaima in a weekend poll widely seen as a referendum on the deal he struck to move an American airbase from a crowded city center to a pristine bit of coast.

While most Japanese value the protection the US military alliance gives them, especially in the context of Beijing’s growing assertiveness in its numerous regional disputes, a sizable proportion of Okinawans want them to leave the island.

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[Tibbson]

With the recent announcement that Japan's economy is in recession this governor may want to think twice about downsizing what is most likely his area's biggest revenue generator. 

 

[RedcapCrusader]

There's also rumour that Japan wants to return to their old conservative ways and rewrote the constitution to allow the JDF become an expeditionary military and participate in NATO ops.

I can't find the article now (of course) but apparently they have a huge hidden fund of black money in the event SHTF. They could easily roll that fund into their expeditionary model.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

The base should downsize their economic input into the local community for 2 months.