User:Bque/Okinawa Island

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Controversy

As of May 2022, the stationing of U.S. military personnel at military facilities across Okinawa Island remains a hotly-contested and controversial issue, with the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma [link] often being at the forefront of protests against the presence of U.S. military presence on the island [1][2].

An agreement to relocate Marine Corps Air Station Futenma was first reached by the Japanese and U.S. governments in 1996 [2][3][4]; since then, however, progress to relocate the base has stalled due to widespread anti-base protests across Okinawa centering on noise and environmental pollution concerns, as well as resentment stemming from alleged and confirmed incidents of sex crimes committed by U.S. military personnel stationed on Okinawa [1]. Local Okinawans have also expressed concerns with outbreaks of COVID-19 originating from U.S. military facilities across Okinawa which occurred in January 2022 [1]. Efforts have also been halted by the election of prefecture governors campaigning on anti-base agendas; these include former Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and current Governor Danny Tamaki [5].

[summary of noise and community concerns]

[summary of environmental concerns]

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