The killing of a Japanese woman in Okinawa, allegedly involving a US serviceman, has brought anger over the US military presence on the island back to the fore and posed a political test for Prime Minister Sane Takaichi’s government, as Japan and the United States seek to strengthen military cooperation in response to security challenges in East Asia.
US corporal arrested in killing case
Japanese police arrested 20-year-old US Marine Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard on suspicion of killing 39-year-old Anna Yagi and stealing her wallet and other belongings. Yagi was strangled inside a hotel in Okinawa last Saturday, while the serviceman denied the allegations against him.
The case falls under Japanese jurisdiction under a longstanding agreement governing the presence of US forces in Japan, as the crime took place off duty. It remains unclear whether Japanese authorities will formally charge Ballard, while the fallout from the case has extended beyond holding the suspect accountable to a debate over the authorities’ response to residents’ anger and the future of US bases on the island.
Protests in Okinawa and Tokyo
In recent days, Okinawa residents have taken to the streets to protest the crime, chanting slogans including “We will not tolerate violence” and “US bases are a human rights issue”. The capital Tokyo also saw sporadic demonstrations, amid local demands for a review of the security and social burdens resulting from the US military presence.
The case also had political repercussions, with Okinawa Governor Jenta Koga travelling to Tokyo to meet the prime minister. Koga said Yagi’s killing had “caused serious concern among the prefecture’s residents” and expressed concern about the conduct of US forces, saying that Washington’s efforts to strengthen discipline among its personnel in Okinawa “are not bearing fruit”.
Military leadership tightens restrictions
In a military response to the incident, Lieutenant General Benjamin Watson, commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, ordered all US military activities to be suspended for two days. The suspension period was set aside to train personnel in standards of conduct and discipline, as part of measures taken by the leadership following the arrest of the suspected serviceman.
The measures also included a two-day ban on consuming alcoholic drinks inside and outside military bases, as well as a month-long night-time curfew. The restrictions came as pressure mounted on the US leadership to demonstrate a practical response to concerns raised by residents and local authorities about the conduct of forces stationed on the island.
The burden of US bases on Okinawa
Tensions surrounding the US military presence in Okinawa date back decades, with crimes committed by US servicemen on the island a recurring source of friction between Washington and Tokyo. The prefecture bears the largest share of this presence, hosting about 70% of US military facilities in Japan despite covering no more than 1% of the country’s area.
The spread of bases over the years has fuelled resentment among local residents because of crime, environmental pollution and congestion linked to the military facilities. Previous crimes committed by US servicemen also prompted the Pentagon to make concessions to local authorities in Okinawa, but the new case has revived questions about the effectiveness of disciplinary measures and the Japanese government’s ability to protect the interests of the prefecture’s residents.
Amid continuing opposition, Okinawa underwent an electoral shift, with Koga winning the governorship last month against a rival affiliated with the anti-war movement and opposed to the US military presence on the island.
The result was seen as a possible indication that opposition to the bases had become a lower priority for some voters, as their attention shifted towards livelihood issues amid the security challenges Japan faces from China and Russia. Okinawa occupies a central position in Takaichi’s “south-western shift” strategy to strengthen Japan’s military presence in the region, particularly as the prefecture is the closest to Taiwan.
The prime minister, known for her hardline stance towards China, hinted last year that Japan might take part in defending Taiwan if it were invaded by China, breaking with a policy Tokyo had followed for decades. China considers Taiwan part of its territory.
Yagi’s killing came just weeks after Takaichi celebrated Koga’s victory in the Okinawa gubernatorial election. The governor’s supporters saw his election as an opportunity to facilitate Tokyo’s plans to deepen military cooperation with Washington and deploy more Japanese forces, missiles and radar towers on the island, before the crime brought those plans into direct confrontation with residents’ anger.
Fumiaki Nozue, a professor of international politics at Okinawa International University, said Koga faced a crucial question: “When Japan’s national security policy conflicts with the lives and livelihoods of Okinawa’s residents, which side will he choose?” The question reflects the pressure on the governor between the central government’s defence priorities and the demands of the prefecture’s residents.
Manabu Sato, an emeritus professor at Okinawa International University, said Takaichi understood the importance of containing public anger, but argued that the responses of senior officials amounted to nothing more than “showmanship”.
They express anger and make forceful demands, but take no substantive action
