Okinawa Prefecture in Japan Plans to Allow Continued Deployment of U.S. Marine Corps Ospreys
Xinhua News Agency, Tokyo, October 16 (Reporter Li Ziyue, Chen Ze'an) According to a report by Kyodo News, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Takeshi Onaga stated on the 16th that he plans to allow the U.S. military's "Osprey" transport aircraft to continue being deployed at the Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture. Kyodo News reported that this indicates a shift in the Okinawa Prefectural Government's long-standing opposition to the deployment of this aircraft model.
Onaga stated during a media interview at the Okinawa Prefectural Office that the "Osprey" transport aircraft has been deployed locally for over 10 years, and considering that the Japan Self-Defense Forces also use this model, it is "unrealistic" to demand its withdrawal or cessation of use.
The U.S. military began deploying the "Osprey" transport aircraft at Futenma Air Station in 2012, and the Okinawa Prefectural Government had previously expressed opposition. Since then, this model has been involved in multiple accidents. Due to concerns over flight safety and noise issues, local residents in Okinawa have long opposed the U.S. military's deployment of this aircraft model.
Okinawa Prefecture plans to allow the U.S. military to continue deploying Osprey transport aircraft at Futenma Air Station in Ginowan. Governor Gunta Gushiken stated that the aircraft has been in use for over ten years, and given that the Japan Self-Defense Forces also use the model, it is unrealistic to demand its removal. This marks a significant shift from the local government's previous opposition to the deployment.
- Okinawa Prefecture plans to allow continued deployment of U.S. Osprey aircraft.
- Governor Gunta Gushiken stated that the aircraft has been deployed for over a decade.
- The local government previously opposed the deployment of the Osprey.
- Concerns about flight safety and noise have been raised by local residents.
- The U.S. military began deploying Ospreys at Futenma Air Station in 2012.