The Coming War on China Page #16

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Everywhere people go on the island,

they are confronted by this sign.

It tells them they must not go past

this fence topped with barbed wire.

These fences run like great

ribbons across the island

and the bases themselves

cut swaths across Okinawa.

But all around them are people

with this continuing demonstration,

this continuing resistance.

And they have a message.

It's:
"People of the World,

"Watch what Japan and the US are doing.

"Don't let them force

the bases on Okinawa."

- [John Narrating] All this will be lost

when much of the bay becomes

concrete runways for

bombers at Camp Schwab,

the huge US Marine base behind this fence.

(applause)

In 2014, Okinawa elected a new governor,

Takeshi Onaga, who won by

a landslide on one issue.

Stopping the new base at Henoko.

This was election night

outside the American base

at Camp Schwab.

(cheering)

We shall overcome

We shall overcome someday

Oh, deep in my heart

I do believe

We shall overcome someday

The New Year's celebration

of their victory

was bittersweet.

The government in Tokyo resented this

unprecedented challenge to its authority.

The issue is now in the Japanese courts.

Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe,

has also made clear that with the backing

of his powerful patron America,

he wants to reawaken Japanese nationalism

and reclaim it's military power.

(helicopter whirs)

(drum pounds)

(singing)

While we were filming this

ceremony outside the base,

on a day when people paid respect

to their departed loved ones,

giant American helicopters

circled above us,

intimidating as always.

The threat of these low-flying aircraft

is a constant presence in Okinawa.

Teachers often can't

teach because of the noise

and the fear.

(somber music)

This was the carnage

when an American fighter

crashed into a primary school

after the pilot had ejected to safety.

Haru Akira, aged seven,

was terribly burned.

Akira suffered throughout his youth

and died from his injuries age 21.

Another tragedy waits

to happen on Okinawa.

US military aircraft have been involved

in 44 accidents on the island.

The latest threat is this

hybrid plane, the Osprey,

notorious for its safety issues.

(dance music)

Wherever the military is based in Asia,

there is a relationship with local people,

especially women, that

often breeds resentment.

In Okinawa, this resentment

ignited a riot in 1970.

Scores of American GI's

were pulled from their cars

which were set alight.

For Washington and it's

compliant ally in Tokyo,

it's this kind of

insurrection that they fear.

During the making of this film,

a young woman was raped and murdered,

allegedly by an American

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