U.S. Troops Deployed to the Middle East Without Notice, Japan Worried About Being Drawn into Conflict

[Global Times Special Correspondent Chen Shan] According to a report by the U.S. newspaper Stars and Stripes on the 6th, Brigadier General John Garamore, commander of the 18th Wing of the U.S. Air Force stationed in Japan, revealed in a live interview with the U.S. military network that as part of the U.S. military's operations against Iran, U.S. Air Force personnel from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa have been deployed "in harm's way." This marks the second U.S. military unit stationed in Japan to be sent to the Middle East, following the U.S. Marine Corps. What concerns Japan is that the U.S. military's deployment to the Middle East without prior notice could potentially embroil Japan in the conflict.

The report states that Garamore indicated in the interview that the U.S. military operations against Iran "have impacted all branches of the U.S. military due to their scale and scope." When asked how the situation in Iran affects Kadena Air Base, Garamore stated that personnel from the 18th Wing have already been deployed to the U.S. Central Command area to support military operations against Iran. "The key point is that there are indeed loved ones in danger at Kadena Air Base or among families stationed there," Garamore said, adding that he could not disclose the specific locations of these pilots, only stating that "the troops are well-prepared to carry out all kinds of missions."

Garamore's remarks undoubtedly confirm that the U.S. Air Force stationed in Japan has been engaged in the Middle East battlefield. What displeases Japan is that under the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, any changes to the military deployment of U.S. forces in Japan or their participation in overseas combat must be consulted with the Japanese government in advance. The Okinawa Times criticized that "the consultation mechanism of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty is now virtually non-existent," and the unilateral actions of the U.S. military indicate that the U.S. bases in Japan have completely become "attack points" that the U.S. can use at will.

Japan's concerns are not unfounded. Former commander of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Qanani Moghadam, previously warned that while Iran does not currently view Japan as an enemy, if U.S. bases in Japan are used to attack Iran, it would launch attacks on Japan and prohibit Japanese vessels from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

In mid-March, the U.S. 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit stationed in Okinawa, Japan, along with the U.S. Navy's USS Tripoli amphibious assault ship leading an amphibious readiness group, headed to the Middle East. The U.S. Navy announced on March 28 that the USS Tripoli amphibious readiness group had arrived in the Central Command area. Local residents in Sasebo held protests, criticizing the U.S. military stationed in Japan for participating in military actions without the consent of the Japanese government, despite being "protected and financially supported by the Japanese state," which they deemed highly unreasonable. Opponents also criticized that although the U.S. military bases are far from the Middle East, they could still be targeted, and the lives of local civilians could be indirectly affected. "The U.S. military has raised the alert level at relevant bases, indicating that there is indeed a risk of being attacked."

The Kyodo News also mentioned that as Okinawa may become a base for U.S. military operations overseas, local residents' concerns about being drawn into conflict are intensifying. The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly unanimously passed a statement on March 27 during a plenary session, calling for an immediate cessation of military attacks in the Middle East. The statement emphasized that as Okinawa hosts U.S. military bases, all risks should be avoided, and called for peaceful resolutions to issues. Additionally, it urged the Japanese government not to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces to conflict areas and not to provide logistical support to the U.S. military.

Some critics in Japan believe that the government has not made a clear statement regarding the U.S. military's deployment to the Middle East from Japanese bases, nor has it lodged any protests. "The Japanese government's diplomatic stance is unclear and has not effectively fulfilled its responsibility to protect the safety of its citizens." A previous poll conducted by the Asahi Shimbun showed that over 82% of the Japanese public opposes U.S. military actions against Iran.