Okinawa voters expected to turn backs on central government despite China threat

11 September 2022 - 07:23 By Reuters
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has pushed for increased defence spending to counter China, but media polls have shown voters in Okinawa likely to re-elect Denny Tamaki, who is supported by a broad coalition of opposition parties. File photo.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has pushed for increased defence spending to counter China, but media polls have shown voters in Okinawa likely to re-elect Denny Tamaki, who is supported by a broad coalition of opposition parties. File photo.
Image: REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Voters in Okinawa are expected to re-elect their opposition-backed governor on Sunday, turning their backs on Japan's central government and national ruling party despite being on the front lines should conflict with China erupt over Taiwan.

Rising tensions in the neartby waters have become a concern for the tropical prefecture, which is far closer to Taiwan than to Tokyo. China this summer launched five missiles into the sea close to Okinawa — and within Japan's exclusive economic zone — during military exercises after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has pushed for increased defence spending to counter China, but media polls have shown voters likely to re-elect Denny Tamaki, who is supported by a broad coalition of opposition parties.

The LDP backs Atsushi Sakima, a former mayor. Tamaki defeated him in 2018 by 396,632 votes to 316,458, partly by calling for the large Futenma US air base to be moved outside the prefecture.

Sakima favours the central government's plan to move the base from a crowded urban area to Okinawa's more remote Henoko district, while a third candidate, former national lawmaker Mikio Shimoji, wants it re-purposed as a shared military and commercial airport.

The US military is a hot-button issue in Okinawa, which saw some of the bloodiest fighting in World War 2 and has long resented the burden of hosting the majority of US troops in Japan on facilities that take up 5% of Okinawa's lad. Polls show 55% of Okinawa voters oppose moving the Futenma base to Henoko.

But with Okinawa's economy hit hard by slumping tourism due to the coronavirus pandemic, Tamaki's campaign is shifting attention to economic policies, which Sakima has long emphasised, and which could give him a slight boost.

"The situation is a bit fluid as a result of this," said Airo Hino, a political science professor at Tokyo's Waseda University.

Candidates backed by the LDP have also won four recent mayoral elections in Okinawa, signalling a potential shift.

"I think the Taiwan situation may be having a bit of an impact even in Okinawa," Hino said.


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.