Construction work continues in the Henoko area of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, for the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

EDITORIAL: It’s not too late to stop Futenma relocation work and talk it over

（社説）辺野古埋め立て　立ち止まって考え直せ

How long does the government intend to continue with the process of ignoring opposing views and accumulating fait accompli?

The Defense Ministry began land reclamation of Oura Bay in the northern side of the Henoko area of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, where base construction is proceeding for the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

It was the first dumping of dirt and sand into an area where work was made possible with the 2023 measure making the central government the proxy of the Okinawa prefectural government.

The latest move was another example of the central government continuing with the project despite intense Okinawa opposition.

Although the government has repeatedly said the relocation is progressing smoothly, that does not appear to be the case.

The dumping of soil came in an area close to land where work to strengthen the foundation was unnecessary.

Separately, the unprecedented and difficult task of driving about 70,000 piles to a maximum depth of about 70 meters to solidify the soft seabed of Oura Bay is also under way.

The Okinawa Defense Bureau began pile-driving work in January, but has suspended the work from July. As of the end of November, about 2,900 piles have been installed, or less than 5 percent of the total.

At that pace, the pile driving will not be completed in even two decades and there is no clear prospect for the future.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has called on the central government to abandon its plan and respond to a plea for dialogue on the grounds that it had become clear that completing the entire project had become very difficult.

The government should perhaps consider informing the prefectural government about its detailed work plan and discussing the matter without ruling out other options.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration is eager to strengthen the defense capability of the Nansei region, including Okinawa.

Defense of the Nansei chain of islands will likely become a key agenda item in discussions for reviewing three documents related to national security policy.

Tensions have risen in the region and greater concerns are felt about the possibility that Okinawa will once again become a battlefield.

It is the government that stubbornly distances itself from the governor who opposes the Henoko relocation project and widens the gap with Okinawa.

In a recent visit to Okinawa, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara met with Tamaki, but he adhered to the established course regarding the relocation.

The situation of concentrating 70 percent of U.S. military facilities in Japan in Okinawa, which does not account for even 1 percent of Japan’s total land area, cannot be left as is.

If Okinawa is considered to be an important area from a national security standpoint, the priority should be on persistent negotiations with the United States to find a path for reducing the unbalanced base burden and having Takaichi take the initiative to improve relations with Okinawa.

It will be close to a year since the Defense Ministry began ground improvement work at Oura Bay.

Less than 20 percent of the needed landfill volume has been dumped into the bay so there is still time to stop the project and calmly assess the current situation.

With the projected completion of the relocation not until at least the mid-2030s, an early resolution of the dangers associated with Futenma is not possible.

Government expenditures for the project will likely increase. 

For many reasons, the Henoko relocation is unreasonable including the technological difficulties, the environmental burden and, above all, the deep opposition from Okinawa.

The issue cannot be resolved without squarely facing the voices of the local residents.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Dec. 14

反対の声を無視し、既成事実を積み上げる。そんなやり方をいつまで続けるのか。
　沖縄県の米軍普天間飛行場を移設するため名護市辺野古で進む基地建設で、防衛省は北側の大浦湾で埋め立てを始めた。一昨年の政府による代執行で工事が可能になった区域での土砂投入は初めて。県が移設に反対する中、強引な姿勢を改めて示した形だ。
　「着実に移設する」と政府は繰り返すが、順調に進んでいるとは受け取れない。
　今回、土砂を投入したのは陸側に近い地盤改良の不要な場所だが、これとは別に、大浦湾に広がる軟弱地盤の改良には約７万本の杭を最深約７０メートルまで打ち込む前例のない難工事が必要となる。沖縄防衛局は１月に杭打ち作業を始めたものの７月以後は中断。打設数は１１月末で約２９００本と５％に満たず、このペースだと２０年でも終わらない計算で、今後は見通せない。
　沖縄県の玉城デニー知事は「工事全体を完成させることが困難な状況が明らかになりつつある」とし、計画を断念して対話に応じるよう求めた。政府は詳細な工程を県に示した上で、代替策も排除せずに話し合えばどうか。
　高市政権は、沖縄を含む南西地域の防衛力増強に前向きだ。安保政策に関わる３文書の見直しに向けた議論では、南西諸島の防衛力も議題となろう。地域の緊張は高まり、沖縄が再び戦場になるのではという不安は増している。
　辺野古移設に反対する知事とかたくなに距離を置き、県との溝を広げているのは政府の方だ。先日、沖縄を訪れて知事と会談した木原稔官房長官も、移設については従来通りの姿勢を示した。
　国土面積の１％に満たない沖縄に、在日米軍専用施設の７割が集中する状況を放置してはならない。沖縄が安全保障上、重要な地であるというのなら、偏った基地負担を減らす道を米国と粘り強く交渉して探り、首相が先頭に立って関係修復に乗り出すことこそ、先決ではないか。
　防衛省が大浦湾の地盤改良に着手して、間もなく１年。全体の埋め立てに必要な土量のうち、投入が終わったのは２割に満たず、まだ立ち止まれる段階だ。現状を冷静に検証することこそ必要だ。
　移設事業の完了は２０３０年代半ば以降で、普天間の危険の早期解消にはつながらない。国費の膨張も避けられない。技術的な難しさ、環境への負荷、何より県の反発が根強い。多くの理由から、辺野古移設には無理がある。

(2025年12月14日)