琉球新報 2017年1月31日 06:01
翁長雄志知事が就任後、３度目の訪米行動に出発した。トランプ新政権に影響力を持つ連邦議員やシンクタンクなどを訪問し、米軍普天間飛行場の名護市辺野古移設に伴う新基地建設の断念を訴える。
さらに教職員採用への口利き疑惑で、基地問題で知事の右腕となってきた安慶田光男副知事が辞任した打撃は大きい。混迷の中にある翁長県政の立て直しは急務だ。
難局を打開するためにも、知事は同行するオール沖縄会議のメンバーと共に従来の発想にとらわれない戦略的な行動を取るべきだ。
７割を超える県民が反対し続ける新基地建設が及ぼす環境と生活破壊の不条理、オスプレイ墜落事故が県民に与えた衝撃などを分かりやすく発信してほしい。欧米では到底許されない住宅地上空でのオスプレイの宙づり訓練など、行き過ぎた二重基準の基地運用が、普遍的価値である人権を脅かしている実態も伝えてもらいたい。
トランプ政権の安全保障政策を担う陣容には元軍人、特に海兵隊出身者の重用が際立つ。「狂犬」の異名を持つ元海兵隊大将のマティス氏が国防長官に就き、国土安全保障省長官のケリー氏も元海兵隊大将だ。国家安全保障会議（ＮＳＣ）アジア上級部長には海兵隊出身のポティンガー氏が就く。
海兵隊はＯＢを政界中枢に送り込み、政府、議会への影響力が強い。沖縄での既得権として辺野古新基地を位置付け、見直しを拒む可能性も否めない。
トランプ政権はオバマ前政権のアジア重視政策を踏襲するとされる。だが、駐留経費負担の増額要求、辺野古移設など個別の事案についての出方はまだ見えない。
一方、米議会では上院軍事委員会のマケイン委員長（共和）が米本国や海外の基地閉鎖・再編の本格的検討に取り組む姿勢を示しており、在沖米軍に影響する可能性がある。
米国第一で利益を追求するトランプ政権の安保政策がどこに向かうのか。あらゆる可能性に備えながら、沖縄側の戦略を組み直す必要性がある。
新基地建設は県民の反発を強め、中長期的には在沖基地の安定的維持も揺るがすだろう。知事が米国に働き掛ける重要性は変わりない。
Editorial: With U.S. trip, governor needs strategy for breakthrough on new base issue
January 31, 2017 Ryukyu ShimpoGovernor Takeshi Onaga has departed for his third trip to the United States since taking office. He will visit Congress members and think tanks that have influence on the new Trump administration and call for abandonment of the plan to build a new base in conjunction with the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, Nago.
Compared to his previous two trips, Governor Onaga is now facing a headwind. Okinawa lost a lawsuit brought against it by the national government and was forced to reverse its action to prevent the base construction. The Abe administration has resumed construction at sea and is increasing pressure on Okinawa.
In addition, Governor Onaga’s right-hand man in dealing with the base issues, Vice Governor Mitsuo Ageda, recently resigned amid suspicions that he used his position to intervene in the hiring of public schoolteachers, dealing a blow to the prefectural administration. The Onaga administration is in a state of confusion and urgently needs to get back on its feet.
In order to resolve this challenging situation, the governor and All-Okinawa Coalition members who are accompanying him to the United States must take strategic action and not be tied down by conventional conceptions.
More than 70% of Okinawans continue to oppose the construction of a new base, which will harm the natural environment and people’s lives, making it absurd to follow through with the plan. The recent Osprey crash also sent shockwaves throughout Okinawa. The governor should explain these things clearly. U.S. bases in Okinawa are operated under flagrant double standards, as seen from the implementation of drills that involve suspending objects below aircraft directly over residential areas, which would be unthinkable in the United States or Europe. This threatens the universal value of human rights, and the governor must convey this fact as well.
Trump’s national security team features former military officers, specifically a former Marines, in positions of power. As Secretary of Defense, Trump appointed former Marine Corps General James Mattis, who has been nicknamed “mad dog”, and as Secretary of Homeland Security, he appointed former Marine Corps General John Kelly. On the National Security Council, the senior director for Asia is Matthew Pottinger, a former Marine.
With former Marines in positions of political power, the Marines will have strong influence on the government and Congress. We cannot deny the possibility that they will view the Henoko base as a vested interest and refuse to compromise.
It is thought that the Trump administration will follow in the footsteps of the Obama administration’s Asia-focused policy. However, it has yet to be seen how the new administration will handle specific issues such as the Henoko relocation or a possible request for an increase in Japan’s financial burden for the U.S. base presence.
Meanwhile, in Congress, Senator John McCain (Republican), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, appears ready to seriously consider steps toward closing and reorganizing U.S. bases in the United States and abroad, and this could impact U.S. bases in Okinawa as well.
We don’t know that sort of security policy will be advanced by Trump, with his “America first” policy of pursuing national interests. Okinawa must be prepared for whatever happens, while simultaneously rebuilding a strategy of our own.
Building a new base will increase resistance from Okinawans and will likely hinder stable operation of U.S. bases in Okinawa in the long term. It is as important as ever for the governor to continue making overtures to the United States.
(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)
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