Japan's Prime Minister protests to the United States over the alleged killing of Japanese women by U.S. soldiers

(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) On Sunday (October 4), Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae protested to the United States over the alleged robbery and murder of a Japanese woman by a U.S. Marine in Okinawa.

According to police, 20-year-old U.S. Marine Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard is suspected of killing 39-year-old Anna Yagi at a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's southernmost prefecture, on Saturday and taking her wallet and backpack. Ballard denies the accusations.

"It is extremely regrettable that such an extremely cruel and heinous case has occurred," Sanae Takaichi said in a statement. "The Japanese government has lodged a strong protest with the United States and requested the United States to provide maximum cooperation in the investigation."

"Such an incident is unacceptable and I feel extremely angry," Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said in a speech broadcast by the Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK).

The U.S. Embassy in Japan and the U.S. Marine Corps expressed condolences and said they were cooperating with relevant Japanese authorities in the investigation.

The U.S. Marine Corps said in a statement that the suspect is affiliated with the III Marine Expeditionary Force and is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. He is currently detained by Japanese authorities.

The statement said it "takes these allegations very seriously and holds every Marine to the highest standards of conduct."

Okinawa base controversy may heat up again

There are approximately 18,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan, most of whom are stationed in Okinawa.

The United States had controlled Okinawa since the end of World War II and did not return it to Japan until 1972. For a long time, the U.S. military garrison has repeatedly caused dissatisfaction among local residents due to noise pollution, military aircraft accidents, and illegal behavior of garrison personnel.

Okinawa under US military bases: Security, or an unfair legacy?

In 1995, the rape of a 12-year-old Okinawa girl by three U.S. servicemen sparked large-scale protests.

The murder may complicate the Gao city government's efforts to move forward with plans to reintegrate the U.S. military.

According to the plan, some Marines stationed at Futenma Base in the densely populated area will be moved to the new base facility in Henoko. Opponents, on the other hand, demand that U.S. troops be moved completely out of Okinawa Prefecture.

Okinawa is only about 100 kilometers from the nearest island of Taiwan, and both Tokyo and Washington believe that Okinawa has a key strategic position in containing possible military actions by China.

Why is Okinawa of strategic importance to the U.S. military?