Japan has protested to the United States after a US Marine was arrested in Okinawa over the suspected murder of a Japanese woman. The case has renewed concerns surrounding the conduct of US military personnel stationed on the island.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi lodged the protest on Sunday. She also called for full US cooperation with the Japanese investigation.
Police suspect 20-year-old US Marine Devin Jacob Ballard of killing 39-year-old Anna Yagi. The incident reportedly occurred at a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa prefecture.
Authorities also suspect Ballard of taking Yagi’s wallet and backpack. However, police said Ballard denied the allegations.
Japan Demands US Cooperation
Takaichi described the incident as extremely serious and called for stronger cooperation from the United States.
“The occurrence of such an extremely brutal and vicious incident is extremely regrettable,” Takaichi said in a statement.
“The government of Japan strongly protests to the US side and strongly seeks maximum cooperation with the investigation,” as well as the tightening of discipline and thorough measures to prevent a recurrence, she said.
The Japanese government has therefore urged the US side to cooperate fully with authorities investigating the case. It has also called for stronger discipline and measures to prevent similar incidents.
US Marines Cooperate With Investigation
The US embassy and the US Marine Corps expressed condolences following the incident. They also confirmed their cooperation with Japanese authorities.
The Marine Corps said Ballard remains in Japanese custody. He is assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force and based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
“The Marine Corps takes these allegations very seriously and expects every Marine to adhere to the highest standards of behaviour,” it said.
The arrest comes amid a long-running debate over the presence of US forces in Okinawa. Most of the roughly 18,000 US Marines stationed in Japan are based on the island.
US Military Presence Remains Controversial
Okinawa has hosted a large US military presence for decades. The United States controlled the island from the end of World War Two until 1972.
However, the military presence has repeatedly caused resentment among local residents. Concerns have included aircraft noise, crashes and the conduct of US military personnel.
A particularly serious incident occurred in 1995. Three US servicemen were accused of raping a 12-year-old Okinawan girl, triggering large protests across the island.
The latest killing could therefore add further pressure to the debate over US military facilities in Okinawa.
Okinawa Base Relocation Faces Fresh Pressure
The incident could also complicate Takaichi’s efforts to relocate some US Marines from the crowded Futenma air base.
The proposed relocation would move some Marines to a more remote facility at Henoko. However, opponents of the plan want US troops moved out of Okinawa altogether.
Okinawa’s location also gives the island strategic importance for Japan and the United States. The island lies about 100 kilometres from Taiwan at its closest point.
Tokyo and Washington regard Okinawa as important for deterring potential military aggression from China. However, the latest incident has brought renewed attention to the challenges surrounding the US military presence.
As the investigation continues, Japanese authorities are seeking cooperation from the US side. Meanwhile, the arrest has added another sensitive issue to the longstanding debate over military bases and their impact on Okinawa.
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