Key Facts
• February: Three candidates from the Centrist Reform Alliance lost Okinawa districts in the House of Representatives election.
• April 9: These three met party executives, urging a shift to “stop construction” of the US military base in Henoko, Nago City.
• They argued that construction requires extensive time and budget due to soft ground improvements.
• They stated early return of Futenma Air Base and construction halt are compatible.
• US Marine forces have dispersed to Guam, Hawaii, and Australia, changing strategic conditions from 30 years ago.
• Party Policy Chair Okamoto acknowledged their concerns and promised to relay them to Secretary-General Mai.
• Okinawa’s governor election is scheduled for September, alongside multiple local elections.
• Centrist Party leader Junya Ogawa expressed cautiousness about revising the party’s ambiguous Henoko stance.
• The Centrist Party formed in January by merging pro-Henoko Komeito and anti-Henoko Constitutional Democratic Party members.
• Okamoto stated no current plans to debate the proposal, citing prior intense discussions leading to the party’s “realistic diplomacy and defense policy.”
• Before the election, CDP’s Jun Azumi said stopping construction if in power was unrealistic, causing distrust among Okinawa’s opposition supporters.
• Candidate Yara recalled local media shock and party headquarters’ unclear stance during the campaign.
• Yara questioned the realism of leaving Futenma’s dangers unaddressed while Henoko construction timeline remains uncertain.
Summary
Ahead of Okinawa’s September governor election, three defeated Centrist Reform Alliance candidates pressed their party to clearly oppose the Henoko US base construction, advocating for its halt and early return of the Futenma Air Base. They highlighted the lengthy, costly nature of construction due to soft ground and noted strategic shifts in US Marine deployments. Despite these appeals, the Centrist Party, formed from a merger of pro- and anti-Henoko factions, maintains an ambiguous position, prioritizing a “realistic diplomacy and defense policy.” Party leaders, including Junya Ogawa and Policy Chair Okamoto, have shown reluctance to revise this stance, citing prior internal debates and alliance complexities. This ambiguity has fueled distrust among Okinawa’s opposition voters, especially after remarks by Constitutional Democratic Party figures dismissing construction halts as unrealistic. The party faces pressure to clarify its position to avoid electoral losses in Okinawa’s upcoming local elections.
