One week after Donald Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election, Okinawans who have been campaigning for a reduction in American military presence in their prefecture are hopeful the incoming White House administration will advance their aims.
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The Japanese government, meanwhile, is bracing for the new Republican administration to follow through on demands made the first time Trump was in the White House.
He had insisted that Washington’s security partners – primarily the members of Nato, as well as South Korea and Japan – pay significantly more for American troops stationed on their soil.
And while Seoul and Tokyo were able to delay discussions on greater contributions until it was too late in Trump’s previous term to take effect, he is now expected to resume putting pressure on both governments upon his return.
“I heard that Trump said during the election campaign that he would close bases abroad if foreign governments did not pay more,” said Byron Fija, an activist against the US military presence in Okinawa.
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“If he asks for a big number and the Japanese government says it can’t or won’t pay, then maybe he will do it,” said Fija, who never knew his American father and was adopted by his Japanese mother’s older brother.
