Okinawa protests signal unease at Tokyo's confrontational policy

Okinawa residents are protesting against Japan's Self-Defense Forces' deployment of ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptor missiles from Monday in the latest sign that Japan's resolve to take advantage of the geopolitical tensions to accelerate the militarization of the region is against people's will.

Members of the prefecture's parliament have submitted a resolution to the defense department, Cabinet office and the foreign affairs department of Japan urging Tokyo to heed people's call for peaceful diplomacy.

The resolution demands that the government abide by the principles outlined in the four political documents it signed with its Chinese counterparts in 1972, 1978, 1998 and 2008 respectively to maintain China-Japan friendship and actively promote regional rapport through dialogue and diplomacy.

This is the first time a local parliament has submitted a resolution doubting the Japanese government's China policy and strategic judgment. It reflects not only the voice of the 1.46 million inhabitants of Okinawa but also that of all peace-loving people in the country and beyond.

Ever since Japan annexed the Ryukyu Islands in 1879 and renamed them Okinawa, the islands' fate has been lamentable. Okinawa was passively involved in World War II, with the Japanese government using it as cannon fodder. In 1945, shortly before Japan's unconditional surrender, up to a quarter of the local population in Okinawa died as a civilian shield for the Imperial Japanese Army, making the islands the bloodiest battlefield in the Pacific. It is estimated that 90,000 combatants and over 150,000 civilians living on the islands died in the campaign.

With the US mistakenly defining China as its No 1 challenge and NATO meddling in Asia-Pacific affairs, Japan's right-wing political forces think they have found an opportunity to break through the "pacifist Constitution" and revive militarism.

They have constantly hyped up the "China threat", substantially increased defense spending, developed offensive weapons and sought to acquire the capability for preemptive strikes, in an attempt to subvert the post-war international order.

Echoing the voices of Okinawa residents, several Japanese social organizations announced on Monday that they would hold a large-scale peaceful rally on May 21 to oppose the deployment of missiles in Okinawa.

The local media in Okinawa also points out that China, Japan's largest economic partner, and Japan are indispensable to each other, and the two neighbors should be wary of Washington sowing discord between them and try to ease tensions and do their best to promote peace.