Japan demands stricter discipline of US military stationed in the country

The Japanese authorities will press the United States to improve the discipline of American troops stationed in the country and demand to do everything possible to prevent incidents involving them. This statement was made by the Secretary General of the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan Minoru Kihara, commenting on the murder of a resident of the southern prefecture of Okinawa, on suspicion of which a US marine was arrested.

According to TASS, he said:

- The government will continue to insist on strengthening discipline in U.S. forces in Japan and preventing a recurrence of incidents involving them.

Kihara noted that the incidents involving U.S. military personnel “caused great discontent among local residents, anxiety and are unacceptable.” He also promised that the Japanese government will continue to work closely with the United States to prevent such incidents, as well as to reduce the burden on local residents, especially in Okinawa, from American military facilities.

Earlier, the police of the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa arrested a 20-year-old US Marine on suspicion of robbery and murder of a local resident. It was indicated that the serviceman was assigned to the US Marine Corps Air Base Futenma, stationed in Okinawa. According to police, the body of a 39-year-old local resident was found in the room of one of the local hotels. CCTV footage shows the detainee and the victim entering the room together, and after a while he left alone. It is also known that the victim lost his personal belongings. According to Japanese media, during the interrogation, the man completely denies his guilt.

In connection with the incident, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned US Ambassador to Tokyo George Glass to protest. Earlier, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said that the incident “is completely outrageous and inexcusable.”.

The U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa issued a statement in which it expressed “deepest regrets to the family of the deceased,” adding that it “takes the incident with the utmost seriousness” and is assisting the Japanese authorities in the investigation.

The southernmost of Japan’s major islands, Okinawa, is home to more than 70 percent of all U.S. military installations in the country, including the largest Kadena Air Force Base outside the United States. The U.S. military sometimes commits crimes there, including sexual crimes, causing extreme discontent among local residents.