Y&M Magazine - US Troops in Okinawa

Home Sweet Home?: US Troops in Okinawa
by Terri Keeley 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Conclusion

The US military’s disregard for women, the environment, and the land is not particular to Okinawa. As an institution, the military creates an atmosphere in which its members, regardless of rank, can act with little fear of the possible outcomes. Ultimately, the US government is the architect of these circumstances. Agreements between the US and countries hosting its troops allow the US government to act with impunity, providing the framework for US servicemembers to do so as well. This imbalanced relationship between the two countries is further aggravated when US GIs "misbehave," especially because local populations have no course for redress. Although the emergence of Okinawan groups such as Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence, the One-Tsubo Anti-War Landowners Association, and the Red Card Movement is a positive development, further awareness and action is needed in the United States to force major changes in US foreign policy.

Facts about Okinawa

454 square miles, almost exactly the size of Los Angeles.

Population of 1.2 million.

0.6% of Japan's land base, yet houses 75% of the 63,000 troops stationed on Japan's 39 bases.

Six Okinawan cities are 40% occupied by US bases.

24,847 military personnel, including dependents, raise the number of US citizens to 48,626.

Okinawa, known as Ryuku, had its own language and culture, influenced both by Chinese and Japanese culture. In 1865 it was annexed by Japan.

Since the 13th century, Ryuku was involved in trade and intentionally did not develop a military, believing it could damage its trading relationships.

US occupation began in 1945, after a three month battle, the only one on Japanese soil during World War II. Estimates of the number of people killed range from 150-200,000, with the island losing one-third of its population.

In 1951 under the San Francisco Peace Treaty, Okinawa became a legal possession of the US.

In 1972, control of Okinawa reverted back to Japan.

Under the "compassionate budget" Japan helps the US financially maintain its troops, the only host country to do so. This is roughly equal to $100,000 for each servicemember.

There were two major waves of protests before the 1995 assault:

1952-57: right to free speech, unionization, proper compensation for expropriated lands, popular election of chief executive
late 1960s: basing B52s on the island used to bomb Vietnam

For More Information

Johnson, Chalmers. Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire. New York: Metropolitan Books, 2000.

Kirk, Gwyn, Rachel Cornwell and Margo Okazawa-Rey. "In Focus: Women and the US Military in East Asia" Foreign Policy in Focus, vol. 4, no. 9, revised July 2000.

Kirk, Gwyn, and Margo Okazawa-Rey. "Japan/Okinawa" from East Asia/US Women’s Network Against Militarism.

Shorrock, Tim. "In Focus: Okinawa and the US Military in Northeast Asia" Foreign Policy in Focus, vol. 5, no. 22, July 2000.

Contact Groups

Asia Pacific Center for Justice and Peace
110 Maryland Ave, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20002
phone: 202-543-1094
fax: 202-546-5103
e-mail: apcjp@igc.org
website: http://www.apcjp.org

East Asia-US Women’s Network Against Militarism
353 30th St.
San Francisco, CA 94131
phone: 415-550-7947
fax: 415-550-7947
e-mail: gwyn@igc.org or mor@sfsu.edu

Okinawa Women Act Against Military Violence
405, 3-29-41, Kumoji
Naha, Okinawa Japan
fax: 81-98–864-1539
e-mail: suzuyo@mxi.mesh.ne.jp

About the Author

Terri Keeley is a staff member of the American Friends Service Committee's National Youth and Militarism Program. She can be reached at youthmil@afsc.org.

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