Okinawa, the large Japanese island, still occupied by the US , sweepingly rejected US base relocation… but who cares about referendums & democracy?

Okinawa is a group of islands located south of Japan, with an area of 1,418 km2 and a population of nearly 1,500,000. The capital Naha is situated in the main island and  has a population of 1,420,000

The islands were taken by the United States during the Second World War in 1945 in a bloody battle in which  nearly 100,000 Japanese and 15,000 US soldiers died.

After the war several military bases of the US were established in Okinawa which have remained there for the last 75 years.

Presently there are about 30,000 United States military personnel based in Okinawa, which respresents almost half of the 50,000 strong US forces located in Japan.

There is no plan for withdrawal of the bases and presently there is a proposal to expand the military occupation building a new base near the fishing town of Henaka.

The population of Okinawa has carried out a non-binding plebiscite where the vast majority has voted for the refusal to establish the new base. However, the Japan government has authorized this expansion showing to what point the Japanese government is dependent on the United States for critical geopolitical decisions.

 About the referendum (article from rt.com)

Residents have overwhelmingly rejected the relocation of a US military base to a remote part of Okinawa out of fear it will destroy the ecosystem and jeopardize locals’ safety. But Tokyo will likely ignore the protest, as usual.

The non-binding referendum saw a 52 percent turnout and some 72.2 percent of locals have said 'No' to the construction of a military base next to the fishing village of Henoko. Only 19 percent voted in favor of moving Futenma Marine Corps airbase to a new location, away from the densely populated Ginowan city, the prefecture reported.

But, despite the massive public opposition, the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe continues to insist that American presence on the island is vital to Japan’s deterrence capabilities and ability to protect itself against potential adversaries.

But, despite the massive public opposition, the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe continues to insist that American presence on the island is vital to Japan’s deterrence capabilities and ability to protect itself against potential adversaries. is pushing through the construction by force,” one of the voters, Sina Miyagi, told RT’s Ruptly. “However, I hope that our opinion will make a difference and Okinawa and Japan will restart dialogue, so that both can find a compromise.”

Okinawa accommodates about half of the 54,000 American troops stationed in Japan, to the detriment of the locals, who continue to rally against noise pollution and the behavior of US troops, who, in the past, had repeatedly been involved in sexual assaults and even deadly incidents.

“There are many people protesting in Henoko every day,” another local, Sho Asato, said. “I hope this referendum will be a show of support to them.”

Over the years, Henoko has become synonymous with mass protests and numerous sit-ins, as locals rally to preserve the peaceful existence of Henoko Bay, where corals and dugongs could face extinction from the US presence.