The Japanese government on Friday vowed information-sharing with local governments "to the extent possible," after angering Okinawa over its failure to report alleged sexual assault cases involving U.S. military members based in the southern island prefecture.
In the wake of recent prosecutions and arrests of U.S. military personnel for sex-related crimes, Japanese Foreign Ministry's top bureaucrat Masataka Okano expressed the central government's desire to discuss with the U.S. government concrete measures to prevent such incidents from occurring, according to the ministry.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who met Okano on Friday, said he is "seriously concerned" by recent allegations against American service members and committed to work with Japan to ensure they maintain "the highest standards" of conduct, the ministry said.
The latest development followed revelations of two cases in late June -- one involving a U.S. Air Force serviceman indicted in March for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor, and another involving a U.S. Marine arrested in May on suspicion of attempted rape resulting in injury. They were revealed through local media reporting.
Local police did not disclose the two incidents, citing the need to protect the victims' privacy. The Foreign Ministry was aware of them but refrained from providing the information to the Okinawa prefectural government, taking the police's decision into account.
At a press conference Friday, Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi underscored the importance of considering a "swift response" in information-sharing when it comes to cases in Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan.
Starting Friday, the central government will notify municipalities of any crimes allegedly committed by U.S. military members "without exception," he said.
"On top of that, the information to be conveyed will be provided to the extent possible on a case-by-case basis from the perspective of protecting victims' privacy," the chief Cabinet secretary who doubles as the minister in charge of mitigating the impact of U.S. forces in Okinawa, added.
Hayashi said the information will be provided "after the case is disposed of" by investigative authorities.
Investigative authorities will pass on the information to the Foreign Ministry, which will then convey it to the Defense Ministry before it is reported to the local government.
But he noted that such communication could be halted when the information is "inappropriately handled."
Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki welcomed the announcement from the central government, calling it "a step forward."
Crimes committed by U.S. service members and nonmilitary personnel have been a constant source of grievance for locals.
Emanuel told reporters after meeting Okano, "The United States and the United States' armed forces can do better."
"Whatever we're doing as it relates to training and education, it's self-evident it's not working. So therefore we have to change it, update it."
He expressed his desire that an upcoming security meeting involving the two countries' foreign and defense ministers, expected to be held in Tokyo, will serve as a chance to announce "whatever changes as it relates to both the training and education and the transparency with the community."
© KYODO
21 Comments
deanzaZZR
Looking forward to getting a list of USA military crimes committed in Okinawa a week after the next local election.
sakurasuki
JGovt's vow, is that same thing as JGov pledget? Why any one expect any change will happen anytime soon?
BertieWooster
Of course, they wouldn't have to worry about information sharing if the US troops weren't in Okinawa. How about relocating them on US soil? Then let them rape and pillage and see what happens!
TaiwanIsNotChina
We have plenty of Marines on US soil where they also commit crimes at the level of Japanese citizens I'm sure.
Yrral
US military has 10 of thousands of sexual assault committed on other US military personnel each year by other people in the military,
elephant200
The whole world should aware of a group of criminals known as the US armed forces, once they occupying your country they will never leave but extortion of protection money, they said that sum is the fees of protecting you from Russia or China.
But what they are doing to the locals, especially women?
elephant200
US military has 10 of thousands of sexual assault committed on other US military personnel each year by other people in the military.
That was part of their country's culture!
elephant200
Rahm Emanuel, who met Okano on Friday, said he is "seriously concerned" by recent allegations against American service members and committed to work with Japan to ensure they maintain "the highest standards" of conduct.
Never believe this man, he is a big liar even to his own country. He is the biggest bully in Asia !
el
Just another example of Japan treating Okinawa like a vassal state. Outrageous.
elephant200
We have plenty of Marines on US soil where they also commit crimes at the level of Japanese citizens.
But still they were criminals, they were supposed to protect Japan from China, North Korea. Oh it was a myth fabricated!
elephant200
the information to be conveyed will be provided to the extent possible on a case-by-case basis from the perspective of protecting victims' privacy.
So this is a case by case justice practicing? How unfortunately for the locals!
JJE
Ruthless conduct against children and part of a pattern of well-entrenched and documented behaviour by you-know-who.
TokyoLiving
Get to jail those scumbags and then deport to their country of depraved people..
Y.G.H.
Legrande
Promises made always after the fact don't really inspire much confidence.
bass4funk
You really want to get China excited don’t you. I’m sure China shares the same concerns as you do.
Rape and pillage? 99.9% of the military in Okinawa are not rapists
Yrral
Elephant, sexual assault is prevalent in America,but it not acceptable behavior
TaiwanIsNotChina
We've heard that bleating from others. Your hero China can bury sexual assault and Russia is well known to rape their own soldiers on a same sex basis, so there really is nothing to compare the US to.
TaiwanIsNotChina
And yet he is not threatening Taiwan and preventing the Philippines from using their own territory.
WA4TKG
The Anti-American crowd is alive and well this morning, ‘eh?
Ramsey's Kitchen
Your hero China can bury sexual assault and Russia is well known to rape their own soldiers on a same sex basis, so there really is nothing to compare the US to.
Is your ' comparison ' based on reliable facts or is it just another case of whataboutism and deflection ? The article is about sex crimes by US military in Japan, your ranting about Russia and China is completely irrelevant.
WA4TKG
Isn’t it funny that I see plenty of Okinawan / Japanese girls coming out from the dormitories on base, on a daily basis and never heard THEM talking about US Military “Crimes” against women.
(not to detract from what these predators have done)