TOKYO, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The town council of Kadena in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture on Wednesday passed a resolution protesting the repeated paratroop training exercises conducted by U.S. forces at Kadena Air Base, calling for an immediate and complete halt to the practice.
The council stated that the U.S. military has continued to carry out the drills despite strong opposition from local residents, effectively normalizing the activity at the base.
Council member Tatsuya Nakamura emphasized that local governments and assemblies near the base have repeatedly requested the U.S. military to stop the exercises.
The U.S. forces have never provided a satisfactory explanation and continue to push forward, he said, adding that the blatant disregard for local voices is "completely unacceptable."
The council plans to formally deliver its protest to the director of the Okinawa Defense Bureau under Japan's Ministry of Defense on Thursday, and promises to continue to engage with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and U.S. military representatives on the matter.
Kadena Air Base is one of the largest U.S. military installations in East Asia. It has long been a source of local complaints due to noise and other disruptions.
According to the council, U.S. forces have conducted 12 paratroop drills at the base since December 2023. Enditem
京公网安备 11010802027341号