Prime Minister Takaichi and Okinawa Governor Hold Talks to Discuss Preventing Recurrence Following Incident Involving U.S. Military Personnel
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her first meeting with Okinawa Governor Genta Koja at the Prime Minister's Office on the 7th. This meeting was held in response to a robbery-murder case involving a U.S. Marine in Okinawa Prefecture.
During the meeting, Governor Koja conveyed the anxiety and anger of the prefecture's residents and demanded strong measures to prevent the recurrence of incidents involving U.S. military personnel. In Okinawa, there is harsh criticism from local residents regarding the repeated incidents related to U.S. military bases.
In response, Prime Minister Takaichi expressed her regret over the incident. Furthermore, she stated her intention to proceed with discussions between Japan and the U.S. to consider effective measures to prevent recurrence. How the government will address the reduction of Okinawa's burden and ensure safety will be the focus moving forward.
This meeting served as an opportunity to confirm how the government and Okinawa Prefecture will cooperate regarding the review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement and the future of U.S. military bases. The government intends to demand strict responses from the U.S. side while accelerating concrete measures to prevent further incidents.