{"id":44895,"date":"2026-10-20T16:37:57","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T14:37:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/europeanvalues.cz\/?p=44895"},"modified":"2026-11-09T16:46:41","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T14:46:41","slug":"okinawa-the-achilles-heel-of-the-u-s-japan-alliance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/europeanvalues.cz\/en\/okinawa-the-achilles-heel-of-the-u-s-japan-alliance\/","title":{"rendered":"Okinawa: The Achilles&#8217; Heel of the U.S.-Japan Alliance"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"44895\" class=\"elementor elementor-44895\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-71aa5192 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"71aa5192\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7dc76e51\" data-id=\"7dc76e51\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-727c4b18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"727c4b18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-no-translation=\"\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Photo: Unsplash.com<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33f8b1ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"33f8b1ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-no-translation=\"\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<style>.elementor-element-33f8b1ff{display:none !important}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5c413e0b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5c413e0b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4af2260e\" data-id=\"4af2260e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5d2b20c3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5d2b20c3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-no-translation=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-b275888\" data-id=\"b275888\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-323f8cae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"323f8cae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>What is happening?<\/h2><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout October, <strong>Japan<\/strong> and the <strong>United States<\/strong> have been reaffirming and <strong>strengthening their partnership<\/strong> in the Indo-Pacific, including diplomatic agreements, foreign assistance, cooperation in economic security, and beyond. However, despite these positive interactions, meetings between officials from two countries have taken place amid another case involving one of the most sensitive issues in the bilateral relationship: the <strong>U.S. military presence in Okinawa<\/strong>, where a <strong>U.S. Marine<\/strong> has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cme3xw4yy28do\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">arrested<\/a> on <strong>suspicion of killing and robbing<\/strong> a local woman.<\/p><h2>What is the broader picture?<\/h2><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On <strong>October 8<\/strong>, Japanese Foreign Minister <strong>Toshimitsu Motegi<\/strong> and <strong>12 U.S. envoys<\/strong> to the Indo-Pacific, including the ambassadors to <strong>Japan<\/strong> and <strong>China<\/strong> as well as the director of the American Institute in <strong>Taiwan<\/strong>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/news\/20261009de56935\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">confirmed<\/a> that Japan and the US would continue to <strong>cooperate for regional stability and prosperity<\/strong>. Motegi stressed that the <strong>Japan-U.S. alliance has become increasingly important<\/strong> as the regional <strong>security environment grows more tense<\/strong>, while the American representatives reaffirmed their <strong>unwavering commitment to the region<\/strong>.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Four days later, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs <strong>Allison Hooker<\/strong> and Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs <strong>Hiroyuki Namazu<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/releases\/office-of-the-spokesman\/2026\/10\/second-u-s-japan-free-and-open-indo-pacific-foip-dialogue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">held<\/a> the <strong>second U.S.-Japan Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Dialogue<\/strong>. Their meeting marked the <strong>10th anniversary<\/strong> of the FOIP vision, introduced by the late Prime Minister <strong>Shinzo Abe<\/strong> in 2016 and <a href=\"https:\/\/europeanvalues.cz\/en\/japans-free-and-open-indo-pacific-part-ii\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">updated<\/a> this year by current Prime Minister <strong>Sanae Takaichi<\/strong>.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two sides <a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/releases\/office-of-the-spokesman\/2026\/10\/second-u-s-japan-free-and-open-indo-pacific-foip-dialogue\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">discussed<\/a> how to <strong>coordinate their foreign and security assistance<\/strong> in priority countries, with practical examples including the <strong>Luzon Economic Corridor<\/strong> in the <strong>Philippines<\/strong>, the <strong>Japan-U.S. Mekong Power Partnership<\/strong>, and <strong>maritime security awareness<\/strong> in <strong>Southeast Asia<\/strong> and the <strong>Pacific Islands<\/strong>. They also reviewed progress in economic security, digital connectivity, energy security, and defense industrial cooperation. In terms of broader international security, they discussed closer cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners, as well as Japan&#8217;s growing cooperation with <strong>NATO<\/strong>.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, amid these agreements and reaffirmations, the case involving the killing and robbery of a local woman in Okinawa loomed in the background. The incident took place on <strong>October 3<\/strong>, with the suspect arrested the following day. <a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/news\/20261005de54802\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Calling<\/a> the crime \u201cheinous,\u201d Takaichi <strong>demanded stricter discipline<\/strong> among U.S. military personnel and measures to <strong>prevent a recurrence<\/strong>. During the aforementioned meeting with U.S. envoys, Motegi also <a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/news\/20261009de56935\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">highlighted<\/a> the importance of preventing similar incidents.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <strong>U.S. Embassy<\/strong> in Tokyo and the <strong>Marine Corps<\/strong> extended their condolences to the victim\u2019s family and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cme3xw4yy28do\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">said<\/a> that they were fully cooperating with the Japanese authorities. In addition, as of October 9, all U.S. service personnel in Okinawa were subject to a <strong>30-day <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/news\/20261010de57648\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>curfew<\/strong><\/a> between midnight and 5 a.m.<\/p><h2>Why does it matter?<\/h2><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following World War II, Japan and the US transformed from principal adversaries into close allies. However, Okinawa is among the parts of Japan that paid the <a href=\"https:\/\/europeanvalues.cz\/en\/prisoners-of-okinawan-geography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">highest price<\/a> for peace. It not only suffered heavily during the <strong>Battle of Okinawa<\/strong>, as WWII was nearing its end, but also remained under <strong>U.S. occupation until 1972<\/strong> and served as a strategic military hub during both the <strong>Korean and Vietnam wars<\/strong>. To this day, Okinawa Prefecture hosts around <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/japan-us-military-okinawa-marine-arrested-be87679d33e3c0d9e6e453a9e3e5826f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>70%<\/strong><\/a><strong> of all U.S. military facilities in Japan<\/strong>, which continues to cause considerable resentment among the local populace.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Washington <a href=\"https:\/\/sgp.fas.org\/crs\/row\/R42645.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">argues<\/a> that a U.S. military presence is essential to <strong>defending Japan<\/strong> and <strong>maintaining regional stability<\/strong>, given Okinawa&#8217;s <strong>strategic location<\/strong>. However, there have been tangible <a href=\"https:\/\/thediplomat.com\/2026\/05\/why-does-okinawa-have-so-many-us-military-bases\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">negative consequences<\/a>, including <strong>noise pollution<\/strong>, <strong>environmental damage<\/strong>, and <strong>crime<\/strong>. To make matters worse, the number of <strong>criminal cases involving U.S. military personnel<\/strong> has <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/japan-us-military-okinawa-marine-arrested-be87679d33e3c0d9e6e453a9e3e5826f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>increased<\/strong><\/a> in recent years, rising from about <strong>40 in 2020<\/strong> to <strong>101 in 2025<\/strong>.<\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These drawbacks feed into <strong>Chinese propaganda<\/strong> narratives. On the other hand, China&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/europeanvalues.cz\/en\/not-so-happy-anniversary-indo-pacific-waters-10-years-after-the-south-china-sea-arbitration-ruling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">growing regional assertiveness<\/a>, combined with deepening cooperation with other regional actors such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/news\/20261014de59015\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Russia<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/nhkworld\/news\/20261012de58086\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North Korea<\/a>, are among the reasons Japan, the US and like-minded Indo-Pacific countries, are deepening their relationships in the first place. China exploits <strong>negative experiences<\/strong> stemming from U.S.-Japan relations to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/world-news\/2025\/01\/25\/china-infiltrating-japan-in-preparation-for-taiwan-invasion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stoke<\/a> <strong>Okinawa independence movement<\/strong>, while Chinese state-owned media <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globaltimes.cn\/page\/202610\/1372354.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">frames<\/a> Japan&#8217;s growing defense spending, the development of <a href=\"https:\/\/english.cw.com.tw\/article\/article.action?id=5064\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">regional alliances<\/a>, and its more proactive international engagement through initiatives such as FOIP as forms of <strong>\u201cmilitary expansion.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Okinawa thus remains one of the <strong>most strategically important<\/strong>, yet also <strong>most vulnerable<\/strong> points in U.S.-Japan relations. How Tokyo and Washington navigate this sensitive aspect of their relations will be key to ensuring the continued stability of the Japan-U.S. alliance.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photo: Unsplash.com Foto: Unsplash.com What is happening? Throughout October, Japan and the United States have been reaffirming and strengthening their partnership in the Indo-Pacific, including diplomatic agreements, foreign assistance, cooperation in economic security, and beyond. However, despite these positive interactions, meetings between officials from two countries have taken place amid another case involving one of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":44884,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[500],"tags":[506],"class_list":["post-44895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","tag-david-toman"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Okinawa: The Achilles&#039; Heel of the U.S.-Japan Alliance - European Values Center for Security Policy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/europeanvalues.cz\/en\/okinawa-the-achilles-heel-of-the-u-s-japan-alliance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Okinawa: The Achilles&#039; Heel of the U.S.-Japan Alliance - European Values Center for Security Policy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Photo: Unsplash.com Foto: Unsplash.com What is happening? 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Throughout October, Japan and the United States have been reaffirming and strengthening their partnership in the Indo-Pacific, including diplomatic agreements, foreign assistance, cooperation in economic security, and beyond. 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