OEJP's Statement on the Japanese Government's Approval by Proxy of Seafloor Reinforcement Work

Okinawa Environmental Justice Project's Statement on 

the Japanese Government's Approval "by Proxy" of the Okinawa Defense Bureau's Proposed Seafloor Reinforcement Work for the Henoko Base Construction Project in Okinawa, Japan

The Okinawa Environmental Justice Project strongly condemns the Japanese government's approval "by proxy" of the Okinawa Defense Bureau's proposed seafloor reinforcement work for the Henoko base construction project in Okinawa, Japan. The OEJP calls on the Japanese and U.S. governments to cancel this democracy-undermining, unscientifically evaluated, environmentally destructive, militarily inept, reckless and discriminatory project against Okinawa: This project is destined to fail. The OEJP calls on the Japanese government to restore the environmental damage the project has caused. The OEJP calls on the Japanese and the U.S. governments to close the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station and establish a new plan to relocate the Futenma station outside of Okinawa. The OEJP is determined to continue its fight to stop the project and protect the environment of Henoko-Oura Bay in this Post-Execution by Proxy phase. 

The Japanese Government's Approval "by Proxy"
On December 28, 2023, Tetsuo Saito, minster of the Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism of the Japanese government, approved "by proxy" the Okinawa Defense Bureau's proposed seafloor reinforcement work for the Henoko base construction project in Okinawa on behalf of Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki and thus the people of Okinawa who elected him as our governor. The approval has enabled the Bureau to start seafloor reinforcement work, and the Bureau is expected to begin it on January 12, 2024.
 
The Japanese government's approval by proxy followed the Fukuoka High Court　Naha Ranch's ruling that Governor Tamaki's disapproval of the seafloor reinforcement work was illegal. Governor Tamaki has appealed to the Supreme Court. His appeal cannot stop the reinforcement work until the Supreme Court rules in favor of his appeal. The Supreme Court is, however, expected to agree with the High Court's decision.

Problems with the Government's Approval
The Japanese government's approval by proxy utterly undermines the principle of democracy. For more than 20 years, the people of Okinawa have opposed the Henoko base construction project by every democratic means possible, including elections, referendums, and non-violent direct actions. Governor Tamaki's relentless opposition to the base project epitomizes Okinawa's democratic voice.
 
The Japanese government's approval by proxy ignores the scientific data and rationality regarding the project. Experts have questioned the rationality of constructing a military base in such an unfavorable location and even the project's feasibility. The presence of world-class biodiversity in Henoko-Oura Bay, the extremely soft seafloor and active fault lines at the construction site, and the possibility of earthquakes all indicate that this area is not suitable for military facilities.
 
The Japanese government's approval by proxy furthers the destruction of the world-class biodiversity of Henoko-Oura Bay. No one with a clear mind can accept the Okinawa Defense Bureau's claim that driving 71,000 piles into the seafloor for reinforcement work will not cause adverse environmental impact (of those piles, 16,000 piles will be 1.6-2.0m in diameter and will be driven as deep as 80 meters below the water surface). The Okinawa Defense Bureau's claim that the construction work has not impacted the environment has been refuted with clear evidence. 

The Japanese government's approval by proxy disregards the concerns expressed by the U.S. government and U.S. think tanks regarding the proposed base as a replacement for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station. The U.S. Governmental Accountability Office has warned that the proposed runways are too short for proper operation. The U.S. military has also questioned the operability of the airbase sitting on a sinking seafloor. Given the project's uncertain completion time, the Henoko base appears to have fallen out of the U.S. military's strategic plans.
 
The Japanese government's approval by proxy keeps the people living around the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station exposed to the dangers from the station indefinitely. The Japanese and U.S. governments' mantra "Henoko is the only solution" to the dangers of the station ignores the uncertainties of the Henoko base construction project. As the project's completion time is uncertain, it is also uncertain when the people will be free of the dangers.

The Japanese government's approval by proxy underscores the Japanese government's discriminatory attitude toward Okinawa. This is the first time in Japan's history that the Japanese government used its power to execute by proxy against any prefectural government. Despite all these negative factors discussed above, the Japanese government did not hesitate to use this power against Okinawa. The government's discriminatory attitude is only matched by the profound recklessness of the project. 

Our Fight Continues in the Post-Execution-by-Proxy Phase
The OEJP is determined to continue our fight to stop the Henoko base construction project and protect the environment of Henoko-Oura Bay in this Post Execution by Proxy phase. The strength of our struggle comes from our understanding that this project will fail because it is a democracy-undermining, unscientifically evaluated, environmentally destructive, militarily inept, reckless and discriminatory project. Collaborating with civil society members worldwide, the OEJP will reach out to and tell elected officials in Japan and the U.S., international experts, and international institutions about the recklessness and discriminatory nature of the project. 

Image Source: The Asahi Shimbun