THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
May 17, 2024 at 18:34 JST
U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, left, and Yonaguni Mayor Kenichi Itokazu stand in front of “Japan’s westernmost monument” on Yonagunijima island in Okinawa Prefecture on May 17. (Taro Ono)
YONAGUNI, Okinawa Prefecture--U.S. Ambassador Rahm Emanuel on May 17 visited Yonagunijima island via the U.S. military’s first use of the isle’s civilian airport since Okinawa Prefecture’s reversion to Japan in 1972, officials said.
Emanuel inspected the Ground Self-Defense Force’s garrison and other facilities on Yonagunijima, Japan’s westernmost island.
The visit is believed to be a “stepping stone” for the U.S. military to secure a foothold at the forefront of the Self-Defense Forces’ “southwest shift” toward China.
Japan and the United States have increased security cooperation in preparation for a possible contingency in Taiwan. Yonagunijima island is located about 110 kilometers from Taiwan.
After landing at Yonaguni Airport in the morning, Emanuel and Yonaguni Mayor Kenichi Itokazu traveled to a monument on the western edge of the island and looked out over the East China Sea toward Taiwan.
Emanuel later visited the GSDF garrison in Yonaguni and stopped by at a local fishing cooperative where he interacted with local residents.
He told reporters that deterrence is important for the security of Yonaguni, is part of Japan’s strategic vision, and complements the U.S. strategy.
The GSDF garrison was established in Yonaguni in 2016 as a precursor to the southwest shift.
In November 2022, the island for the first time hosted a joint Japan-U.S. training exercise.
For Emanuel’s visit, the Okinawa prefectural government had asked the U.S. Embassy and other authorities to refrain from letting U.S. forces use the civilian airport for non-emergency purposes.
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said later in the day about the U.S. military’s use of Yonaguni Airport, “This is extremely regrettable.”
The prefecture on May 15 marked the 52nd anniversary of its return to Japanese sovereignty from U.S. control.
(This article was written by Taro Ono and senior staff writer Taketsugu Sato.)
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