Consul General Speaks to Ryukyu Shimpo on DPRI

Nov. 22, 2005

The Ryukyu Shimpo newspaper published the following interview with Consul General Thomas G. Reich about the recently unveiled Defense Policy Review Initiative (DPRI) as it affects Okinawa. Following is the gist of interview with Consul General Reich and reporter Tsuyoshi Matsumoto at the Consulate General on Nov. 22.

Consul General Thomas Reich, left, speaks to reporters Nov. 22 at the Consulate General.

Question: How would you assess the interim report on US Forces Japan [USFJ] Realignment?

CG Reich: This will lead to a substantial reduction of the base burden in Okinawa. It will make possible a faster return of the Futenma air station than the SACO [Japan-US Special Action Committee on Okinawa] report, and (the reduction of 7,000 marines) will mean the reduction of 10,000 Americans. It is also possible that most of the bases south of Kadena Air Base will be returned.

Question: Why would this mean burden reduction?

CG Reich: The Futenma base will be moved from an area where 80,000 live to one where only less than 2,000 reside. You cannot say this is not burden reduction. If the return of the base is realized, a military base that is located in a densely-populated area will be moved to the north, where there is a small population, and into a military base, too. This will be very beneficial for Okinawa.

Question: Why was an agreement reached on the plan to relocate Futenma to the coastal area of Camp Schwab?

CG Reich: The Japanese government had a strong determination to make this happen. This was the decisive factor for the United States.

Question: Governor Keiichi Inamine rejects the coastal plan and 90 percent of Okinawans oppose this plan.

CG Reich: There are two types of rejection or opposition among the Okinawans. The local residents are concerned about aircraft flying over them, but the flight route is yet to be determined. Some other people think that the bases in Okinawa should be returned gradually and should disappear, so they interpret relocation inside Okinawa to be linked to the permanent presence of bases. I can understand the ideology, but adjustment is needed to ensure the reduction of bases.

Question: Is a solution to the Futenma relocation issue the condition for the reduction of marines, the return of the bases in central and southern Okinawa, and so forth?

CG Reich: That this is one package is as stated in the report.

Question: The United States does not regard this report as an interim one.

CG Reich: I do not know where the expression interim report came from and why. The agreement was decided upon by both countries. The final report next March will spell out the concrete, detailed measures to be taken for implementation. We would like to listen closely to the local communities' opinion and incorporate this in the implementation process.

Question: Local communities in all the relocation sites all over the country are objecting.

CG Reich: We ask the Japanese government to implement [the report]. The agreement is in line with the objective of the Japan-US alliance for reliable security.> Prime Minister Koizumi says that this is in the interest of the whole of Japan, including the local communities hosting bases.

Question: Mayor Kishimoto of Nago is saying that he is willing to continue discussing revisions to the shoal option. Is there a possibility that this will be incorporated in the final report?

CG Reich: The agreement is only one month old. It is too early to discern the consensus in Okinawa. We have heard strong opinions from Nago City regarding accepting the coastal plan or a revised [shoal proposal]. We would like to communicate closely with the leaders of Okinawa.

Question: What would you like to ask from the Okinawan people?

CG Reich: I am sure there is a dilemma between accepting the agreement and enjoying the benefits of burden reduction and sticking to an ideology attractive to Okinawans and let this golden opportunity slip. We hope they will face reality and make a decision. China is strengthening its military power, and there are problems with North Korea. Okinawa is becoming geographically more important for the Japan-US alliance. The realignment proposals will be able to reduce the burden on Okinawa. I hope they understand.

Question: Is the relocation of Futenma outside Okinawa out of the question?

CG Reich: Japan and the United States studied whether all the functions of Futenma can be moved outside Okinawa, and they realized that it is impossible. In particular, they concluded that the helicopter units need to be stationed in Okinawa.

Courtesy of FBIS, a portal of the Open Source Center, which is the primary provider of open source information to the U.S. Government.