Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Site

Japanese Journalist on Reports of Bad US Military Behavior in Okinawa

Aired July 02, 2001 - 16:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: We have talked to you earlier in this hour about the situation in Okinawa in Japan -- that's one of the most southern-most islands in Japan -- where there's a situation, a number of service people, quite a few service people stationed at Okinawa. Now there has been a new accusation of a rape by a U.S. service personnel of a local woman, and this has raised a great deal of passion and concern in this area.

Joining us today is Yoichi Kato, who is from the Japanese newspaper known as the "Asahi Shimbum." And we appreciate your joining us, Mr. Kato, with a little bit more perspective about this story, because there's a lot -- it's a little bit difficult for people in the United States to understand the great deal of emotion about this story.

I mean, after all, tragically, violent crime does occur in this country with some regularity. Why has this case aroused so much concern in Okinawa?

YOICHI KATO, "ASAHI SHIMBUM": Well, first of all, I have to explain that the people in Okinawa think they are overly burdened for hosting U.S. forces on the island. Okinawa island itself has less than 1 percent of land area of Japan, but has 75 percent of all U.S. military installations in Japan. And there has been a number of accidents and crimes by U.S. servicemen.

And -- and in terms of rape, there -- there was a horrible case back in 1995 where a 12-year-old girl was raped by a servicemen, and which triggered strong protests among the people in Okinawa and also people in mainland Japan. So there has been a long history of the sense that the Okinawa people are disproportionately forced to take the burden. And so this -- this rape incident that recently happened just came on top of it.

CHEN: Mr. Kato, we've got questions for you from our live Web chat audience. Jorge Fernandez is asking: "What will happen to Japan and America relations if this is not taken into priority?"

KATO: Well, just as the prime minister, Koizumi, who visited Washington a couple of days ago and had a meeting with President Bush and agreed the importance or significance of alliance, it is now a focus of attention for both countries, whether we can really maintain this alliance, and the presence of the U.S. forces in Japan. And as I said, Okinawa is the biggest kind of -- the host within Japan, and if Okinawan people turn their back to U.S. forces, it's really hard to maintain the present framework.

CHEN: Yoichi Kato from "Asahi Shimbum" newspaper, Japanese newspaper. We appreciate your joining us from Washington today with a little more perspective today on this story, sir, thanks.

KATO: You're welcome.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com