The crash of a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter has fueled residents’ fears about military-related accidents in Okinawa Prefecture and sparked concerns among Defense Ministry officials about a possible impact on Japan’s security strategy.

The multipurpose UH-60JA helicopter carrying 10 GSDF personnel vanished around Miyakojima island in the southern island prefecture on April 6.

“It’s shocking. I can’t think of anything to say but I hope they are found soon,” Takeshi Kakihana, 72, head of a signboard shop in Miyakojima city, said.

Kakihana served as a city assembly member and promoted SDF deployment to Miyakojima island.

As head of the local SDF cooperation association for the past two years, he has also been in charge of recruiting SDF personnel.

On April 2, just four days before the helicopter disappeared, Kakihana attended the opening ceremony of GSDF Camp Ishigaki with senior officers of Camp Miyakojima and shared a meal with them.

He heard that one of those officers was aboard the helicopter.

“Why did the helicopter suddenly vanish? There’s so much we don’t know,” Kakihana said. “Residents are increasingly anxious, and we would like (the government) to clarify the situation.”

POSSIBLE FRAYING OF STRATEGY 

Chinese vessels and aircraft have been frequently passing through areas between Okinawa Prefecture’s main island and Miyakojima island.

Japan opened a garrison on Miyakojima island in 2019, and the Defense Ministry stationed around 700 personnel there, including security forces and a missile unit.

It has the second most SDF personnel in the prefecture, after one on Okinawa's main island.

The Miyakojima garrison is part of the Defense Ministry’s “southwest shift” that focuses on stationing troops mainly in Okinawa Prefecture to keep an eye on China’s increasing maritime activities in the area.

The ministry has established a succession of garrisons in the Nansei (Southwest) islands to enhance deterrence against Chinese maneuvers.

The islands are located south of the Senkaku Islands, which belong to Japan but are also claimed by China.

The government started the southwest shift strategy in 2010. It opened SDF camps on Yonagunijima island in 2016, Miyakojima island in 2019 and Ishigakijima island in March this year.

The government is considering deploying long-range missiles to the area that could be used to strike enemy bases preparing to attack Japan. The government decided to acquire that strike capability at the end of last year.

A senior Defense Ministry official noted that the helicopter accident, which may have been caused by a malfunction, occurred on the “front line” where the ministry is bolstering personnel and equipment.

“Not only does (the accident) cause distrust among residents, but it could also lead to the fraying of our defense strategy, including our external influence,” the official said.

The 10 personnel on the helicopter included Lt. Gen. Yuichi Sakamoto, head of the GSDF’s Eighth Division, whose headquarters is located in the GSDF’s Camp Kita-Kumamoto in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Seven other senior SDF officers were also aboard the helicopter, according to the Defense Ministry.

A senior SDF official said the Eighth Division, with about 5,000 personnel, is considered “particularly important” among the nine divisions nationwide.

Leaders of the Eighth Division are considered to have followed an “elite course” within the SDF.

They have included notable high-ranking SDF officials, including Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of staff of the SDF’s joint staff.

Although the Eighth Division has jurisdiction over Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, it was reorganized into a “mobile division” ahead of the rest of the country in 2018.

The division is expected to be the first deployed to the southwestern islands in the event of an emergency.

After a recent reshuffle at the top of the division’s leadership, including Sakamoto’s promotion, Miyakojima island was chosen as the first inspection site for the newly appointed personnel.

The helicopter vanished on this inspection tour.

The deputy head of the division is currently acting as division commander.

The ministry said the change has created no problems with the crisis management system.

However, one senior SDF official said the impact from the helicopter accident could be “immeasurable.”

“Losing so many senior SDF officers in charge of southwest defense and other important missions would be a major blow to the entire GSDF,” the official said.

A Maritime SDF minesweeper discovered bodies and what is believed to be the helicopter’s fuselage on the seabed north of Irabujima island, west of Miyakojima island, on April 13 and 14.

The missing UH-60JA helicopter, introduced in 1998, was capable of around 6,000 hours of flight time. It had logged about 2,600 hours before the accident.

The pilot had 3,000 total flight hours, while the copilot had 500 hours, both of which posed no safety problems, according to the ministry.

(This article was written by Kazuyuki Ito, Taro Ono, Takashi Watanabe and Kaigo Narisawa.)