No. 1353 Designation on the ‘Specified Use Airports and Seaports’ Nationwide
The Kishida administration announced April 1 to designate the 16 airports and seaports across the country for a specified use by the Self Defense Forces (SDF) and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) to cope with national emergencies. That represents a beginning of the official plan to ‘militarize the entire land of Japan’, showing its first phase. We must stop the government’s preparation for staging wars against other nations, protesting the recent government’s authorization to export weapons.
NO! MILITARIZATION OF ENTIRE LAND OF COUNTRY
Governor of Kochi Prefecture Hamada Seiji, as the first-of-all prefecture’s administrative leader, has agreed to the Kishida government’s decision, referring to designation of the three seaports for ‘a specified use’ in his prefecture. He explained that ‘the agreement with the central government stipulates the use of these seaports by the Self Defense Forces in ordinary times and does not undertake usage in an emergency’.
Protection from bullets in the event of emergencies
Despite the governor’s comment, the Defense Buildup Program, which was approved by the Cabinet, postulates ‘usage of infrastructure in the event of emergency’, ‘setting up rules on routine uses of airports and seaports in light of responses in an emergency, too’.
A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a US think-tank, stipulates that ‘losses to be incurred on US and Japan could be reduced by way of vastly upgrading aircraft parking aprons which China must attack’, assuming an exigency around the Taiwan area. This is a description to indicate the US’s intention to use Japan as a shield from bullets in a contingency.
Incidentally, it is not a matter of a municipality, but judgment of the state’s government, to decide on ‘a border between routine and exigency’. As the Defense Buildup Program specifies ‘usage in the event of national emergencies’, a local government must obey the state’s declaration.
As you see, in Okinawa, people are mobilized in evacuation training for contingencies, discussions are held on building refuge shelters and the SDF’s bases are constructed underground. Mr. Gushiken Takamastu of the Association of Gama-hu-ya, called a man excavating in caves to gather ashes of the war dead, told that ‘people can hear sounds of an approaching war here in Okinawa’.
The authorities of Kochi Prefecture emphasized merits of the designation, saying ‘state’s assistance will be easily available during time of natural disaster’. Everyone, however, does not believe that the designated municipalities will be treated preferentially in such an occasion.
The Kochi prefectural government did not reply to the question on risks and its local assembly did not make voting, either. Rules on democracy were omitted and due procedures were not taken. Is such a hasty process possible? Undoubtedly, such achievements by local governments were a souvenir of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio for his official visit to the US.
US Ambassador in Japan praised Kishida government
Ambassador of the United States in Japan Rahm Emanuel praised the premier, saying that ‘his government has made a minute review over the 70-year-strong national security policy of Japan to overturn it drastically. Japan is now a perfect global partner to the United States in terms of the security affair’.
It is Okinawa that will be attacked first and in a most concentrated way at the time of national emergency. When a municipal authority agrees to the government’s militarization plan, that means to help inflict sacrifices on people of Okinawa.
We must enhance criticisms and bolster struggles against the Kishida government which discounts democracy and excludes people. Infinitely obeying the US administration, it has obtained approval only by the Cabinet to fully lift up prohibition to export weapons to other countries.
岸田政権は４月１日、有事に備えた「特定利用空港・港湾」に全国16の空港と港を指定した。いよいよ「日本全土の軍事拠点化」が始まった。武器輸出全面解禁と相まった戦争準備を止めよう。
高知県では、浜田省司知事が早々に県内３港の「特定利用港湾」指定を受諾する方針を示し、「国との協定は、平時における自衛隊の港湾利用であり、有事利用は想定していない」と説明した。
有事の「弾除け」
しかし、政府が閣議決定で強行した防衛力整備計画には「有事の際の対応も見据えた空港・港湾の平素からの利活用に関するルール作り」と、「有事活用」が記されている。
米国のシンクタンク「戦略国際問題研」報告には台湾有事を念頭に、「中国が攻撃しなければならない駐機場を大幅に拡大し、日米の損失を軽減することができる」と有事の際の「弾除け」に使う本音が書かれている。
そもそも、「平時と有事の境目」の決定に自治体は関与できず、政府の判断となる。防衛力整備計画に「有事の活用」とある以上、国の判断に従わされることになる。
すでに沖縄では、有事に備えた住民避難訓練が行われ、避難シェルター設置も検討され、自衛隊基地の「地下化」が進められている。沖縄戦の遺骨発掘を続けている「ガマフヤーの会」の具志堅隆松さんは、「沖縄にいると戦争の足音が聞こえる」と語った。
高知県は、指定のメリットとして「災害時に支援を受けられる」ことを挙げたが、指定された自治体が災害時に優先的に支援を受けられるなどありえないことは百も承知だろう。
高知県は指摘された危険性への回答も示さず、県議会の議決さえも行わなかった。民主主義の原則はおろか、まともな手続きすら踏まない急ぎ方は、首相訪米の「お土産」だったことは間違いない。
駐日米大使が称賛
エマニュエル駐日米大使は、「岸田政権は２年間で70年来の日本の安全保障政策の隅々に手を入れ、根底から覆した。日本は今や米国にとって完全なる安全保障上のパートナーだ」と称賛した。
有事の際に、真っ先に・集中して攻撃を受けるのは沖縄であり、自治体が「軍事拠点化」に手を挙げることは、沖縄の人々を犠牲にすることに手を貸すことである。どこまでも米国に付き従い、「閣議決定」だけで武器輸出の全面解禁に踏み込んだ政権の反民主主義・国民不在ぶりに対する批判と闘いを強めよう。
英訳版↓
No. 1353 Designation on the ‘Specified Use Airports and Seaports’ Nationwide
The Kishida administration announced April 1 to designate the 16 airports and seaports across the country for a specified use by the Self Defense Forces (SDF) and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) to cope with national emergencies. That represents a beginning of the official plan to ‘militarize the entire land of Japan’, showing its first phase. We must stop the government’s preparation for staging wars against other nations, protesting the recent government’s authorization to export weapons.
NO! MILITARIZATION OF ENTIRE LAND OF COUNTRY
Governor of Kochi Prefecture Hamada Seiji, as the first-of-all prefecture’s administrative leader, has agreed to the Kishida government’s decision, referring to designation of the three seaports for ‘a specified use’ in his prefecture. He explained that ‘the agreement with the central government stipulates the use of these seaports by the Self Defense Forces in ordinary times and does not undertake usage in an emergency’.
Protection from bullets in the event of emergencies
Despite the governor’s comment, the Defense Buildup Program, which was approved by the Cabinet, postulates ‘usage of infrastructure in the event of emergency’, ‘setting up rules on routine uses of airports and seaports in light of responses in an emergency, too’.
A report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a US think-tank, stipulates that ‘losses to be incurred on US and Japan could be reduced by way of vastly upgrading aircraft parking aprons which China must attack’, assuming an exigency around the Taiwan area. This is a description to indicate the US’s intention to use Japan as a shield from bullets in a contingency.
Incidentally, it is not a matter of a municipality, but judgment of the state’s government, to decide on ‘a border between routine and exigency’. As the Defense Buildup Program specifies ‘usage in the event of national emergencies’, a local government must obey the state’s declaration.
As you see, in Okinawa, people are mobilized in evacuation training for contingencies, discussions are held on building refuge shelters and the SDF’s bases are constructed underground. Mr. Gushiken Takamastu of the Association of Gama-hu-ya, called a man excavating in caves to gather ashes of the war dead, told that ‘people can hear sounds of an approaching war here in Okinawa’.
The authorities of Kochi Prefecture emphasized merits of the designation, saying ‘state’s assistance will be easily available during time of natural disaster’. Everyone, however, does not believe that the designated municipalities will be treated preferentially in such an occasion.
The Kochi prefectural government did not reply to the question on risks and its local assembly did not make voting, either. Rules on democracy were omitted and due procedures were not taken. Is such a hasty process possible? Undoubtedly, such achievements by local governments were a souvenir of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio for his official visit to the US.
US Ambassador in Japan praised Kishida government
Ambassador of the United States in Japan Rahm Emanuel praised the premier, saying that ‘his government has made a minute review over the 70-year-strong national security policy of Japan to overturn it drastically. Japan is now a perfect global partner to the United States in terms of the security affair’.
It is Okinawa that will be attacked first and in a most concentrated way at the time of national emergency. When a municipal authority agrees to the government’s militarization plan, that means to help inflict sacrifices on people of Okinawa.
We must enhance criticisms and bolster struggles against the Kishida government which discounts democracy and excludes people. Infinitely obeying the US administration, it has obtained approval only by the Cabinet to fully lift up prohibition to export weapons to other countries.
May 1, 2024