By withdrawing the military from Japan, the US will disperse them throughout the region

The United States is partially withdrawing troops from the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa and dispersing them throughout the Pacific Ocean. Hawaiian writes about it news Portal Honolulu Civil Beat.

New military-ready facilities are being completed right now in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, and Australia. The construction is financed by the Japanese authorities. The territory freed from use by the US military will be returned to the Okinawa prefectural authorities.



Earlier media reported that as part of the growing alliance between the two countries, an agreement was reached that the United States would withdraw about half of their total number of Marines, that is, about 9000 troops, to Guam and Australia. The Northern Mariana Islands and Hawaii have not previously figured as target areas for the transfer of bases.

In addition, it was announced that some of the objects would be moved within the same Okinawa, but to a less populated part of it.

Previously, the behavior of US military personnel in the prefecture has been the cause of criticism and protests. Americans here often become the heroes of crime chronicles, including rape, traffic accidents and fights. In addition, regular exercises pose a threat to local residents and infrastructure.

The significant US military presence in Okinawa Prefecture has been causing tension for years. Okinawa accounts for less than 1% of all Japanese landmass, but there are two-thirds of the US military bases in Japan - and about half of the total 50th contingent - the same Honolulu Civil Beat report notes.

Earlier, a number of experts and the media have already noted the fact that neither the Japanese government nor the people want to truly break allied relations with the United States. According to the general opinion of the islanders, the US military maintains peace and stability in the region, so no one wants their complete withdrawal. It is only a question of reducing the obviously excessive presence.

Okinawa Prefecture was under American occupation from 1945 to 1972, after which it was returned to Japanese sovereignty along with the other Ryukyu Islands. Thus, in the United States, they hoped to bring down the heat of anti-Americanism that existed in the then Japanese society, which, on the whole, was achieved.

It is noted that, despite the reduction of the American military contingent in Japan, in fact, bilateral cooperation is only gaining momentum.