In a one-page summary of a report on Japan-U.S. relations submitted to the U.S. Congress in mid-February, the Congressional Research Service said "U.S.-Japan defense cooperation has improved" under the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, citing such developments as enactment of "controversial security legislation" and updating of the bilateral defense cooperation guidelines. The summary also noted that "concerns remain about the implementation of an agreement to relocate the controversial Futenma base in Okinawa due to opposition from the local population."
The simple fact that a short summary of a 43-page report dealing with overall relations mentioned the planned relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma — from a populated area of Ginowan in southern Okinawa Island to the Henoko area of Nago in the northern part of the island — points to awareness on the part of U.S. congressional researchers that the issue, if mishandled, could severely hinder bilateral relations. About two weeks earlier, Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga, visiting Washington, told some U.S. lawmakers that the Futenma relocation to Henoko could take 15 to 20 years since 70 to 80 percent of the people in Okinawa oppose it. The researchers may have taken Onaga's words seriously.
Both the Japanese and U.S. governments should not neglect a warning the report gives in its main text: that the "risk remains that heavy-handed actions by Tokyo or Washington could lead to more intense anti-base protests." It cautioned that some Okinawan anti-base citizens' groups "may take extreme measures" to stop the Henoko construction. Before such a scenario becomes reality, both governments should soberly consider whether their current approach to the Futenma dispute is appropriate.