Okinawa governor’s move, extremely popular: Commentator
Press TV has conducted an interview with Michael Penn, a journalist and political commentator in Tokyo, to discuss the remarks made by the governor of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, saying he will cancel approval needed for work to relocate a contentious US air base from one area there to another.
What follows is a rough transcription of the interview.
Press TV: Just how much popular support does the governor’s decision have?
Penn: Well within Okinawa itself, there is no doubt that his position is overwhelmingly supported by the people there. They have been looking for a leader who would stand up for their position and within his prefecture among his constituency this is an extremely popular move.
Press TV: In general, is there any way that Japan could free itself from the US base altogether?
Penn: Well that is extremely unlikely. Japan’s entire national security strategy is essentially dependent on the US-Japan alliance and about 75 percent of the US bases are there in Okinawa prefecture. So it is not likely that we are going to see a mass exodus of US soldiers but the question of this one base I think is in play.
Press TV: And of course how much can the pressure by the people force the lawmakers not to sign this bill and of course not to do it?
Penn: Well that is the big question. You have basically on one side a public opinion and a local governor who is absolutely determined not to allow the construction of this base but with almost equal ferocity you have the Abe administration, the central government in Japan, that is determined that the base be built. So it is really unclear which side is going to win this confrontation. It is going to be very fierce.
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