Opening ceremony of the "Resolute Dragon" training exercise at Camp Courtney, a US military base in Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture, on September 11. (©Sankei by Naoki Otake)
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It was reported on September 17 that protesters had forced the cancellation of a supply transport training exercise on Miyakojima (Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture).
Designed to simulate island defense operations, the drill formed part of the large-scale joint field exercise Resolute Dragon between the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the United States Marine Corps.
The recent disruption has raised concerns about the potential effects on relief supply transportation during emergencies.
Training Drill Halted
During one of the drills, the Ground Self-Defense Force planned to unload vehicles from a civilian vessel chartered by the Ministry of Defense at Hirara Port on the morning of September 13, before transporting the supplies to Camp Miyakojima.
However, protesters blocked vehicle movement, forcing the team to alter its plans.
An officer from the Miyakojima Police Station answered an emergency call from the Ground Self-Defense Force, according to the prefectural police.
The officer urged the protesters to disperse, citing reasons such as "obstructing vehicle traffic." After learning that the training would be canceled, the officer did not take further measures, including forcible removal.
Recurring Opposition Protests
Approximately 15 members of the Miyakojima residents' liaison committee against missile bases held a protest.
They chanted slogans such as "Don't treat Miyakojima as a battlefield for training."
One participant told The Sankei Shimbun, "We acted as human shields. Without that, I believe [the Ground Self-Defense Force vehicles] would have landed."
Radical protests have repeatedly disrupted military activities in Okinawa. In January, opposition activists forced a transport helicopter to abandon its planned landing during disaster relief training in Nago City.
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Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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