Okinawa assembly adopts resolution on Osprey

February 21, 2018

The Okinawa prefectural assembly unanimously adopted a resolution and a written opinion on Wednesday to protest a recent incident involving a component of a US Marine Corps Osprey aircraft in the southemmost prefecture.

The assembly criticized the US military for failing to report the incident to the Japanese side, saying, "We can't help but suspect that the US military intended to hide it."

With the tilt-rotor transport aircraft stationed at the Marines' Futenma air station in the Okinawa city of Ginowan, the assembly called on the US military to suspend the operations of the base.

The resolution noted that the US military continues its training activities even after a series of incidents and problems involving US military aircraft.

"Their disregard of Okinawa residents cannot be tolerated," the resolution said. "Okinawa is not a colony. The US military should take the prefecture's demands and the assembly resolution seriously."

The assembly called on the US military to investigate the cause of the incident thoroughly and prevent Futenma-based aircraft from flying over private land.

The component of the Osprey was found washed ashore at a beach on the Okinawa island of Ikeijima on Feb. 9. Jiji Press