Summary
A US military employee was arrested on suspicion of dumping a local woman’s body.
After this accident, the curfew was given for military personnel in Okinawa. It prohibits the drinking out of base and going out after 0:00. In spite of such situation, a US Navy soldier has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Now, there are plans to relocate the Futenma airbase, but after a series of alleged crimes by US military personnel, many residents want to see it removed altogether.
My opinion
The US military bases may be very noisy and scary thing for people of Okinawa. It is natural to think that they want to remove them. However, I think that the US base is necessary for the security of Japan because we don’t have military power, especially nuclear weapon. Now, the neighborhood country, China and North Korea have nuclear weapons and can aim at Japan. The deterrent by the American nuclear weapon is necessary for Japan. The presidential election is held in United States now. If Trump become the President, the Japan-U.S. alliance would be broken and US forces would withdraw from Japan. And, China will take a more provocative attitude toward Japan.
It is very bad diplomatically. I think this is difficult problem. It is ideal to build good relation between Okinawa’s people and military personnel.