Japan PM demands stricter discipline for US troops after Marine arrest

A deep sense of anger is rippling through Japan following the arrest of a United States Marine accused of killing a woman. The incident has ignited widespread protests across Okinawa and Tokyo as the 20-year-old soldier denies any wrongdoing. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the act, calling it a "heinous crime" and demanding that Washington enforce strict discipline among its troops stationed in Japan. She urged the United States to provide full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

Speaking to lawmakers on Monday, Takaichi emphasized that the government has pressed for rigorous standards of conduct within US military ranks. This diplomatic pressure comes after a long history of friction between local residents and American forces. Approximately 54,000 US personnel, including roughly 18,000 Marines, are based in Japan. Most of these troops operate out of Okinawa, an island that came under American administrative control at the end of World War II and was returned to Japanese sovereignty in 1972.

For decades, crimes committed by US service members have fueled unrest on the island. Incidents ranging from rape and assault to hit-and-run accidents and drunk driving have repeatedly sparked demonstrations. The latest case involves a hotel room in Naha where a 39-year-old woman was found dead. Police say her body bore signs of strangulation, and she had been killed by the Marine who also stole her wallet. Japanese police made the arrest on Sunday before transferring the suspect to prosecutors on Monday.

The Kyodo News agency reported that Tokyo has protested with the US at various levels to address these recurring issues. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters that the capital will continue pushing for better enforcement of discipline. He noted his specific role in mitigating the impact of these forces, stating that complaints have been raised repeatedly over time. In response to this surge of outrage, Japan's Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense summoned both the US ambassador and the commander of US forces in Japan.

On Sunday, about 100 people gathered outside the Okinawa prefectural government building to voice their frustration. They shouted questions like "How much longer do we have to bear all of this?" Another group of around 100 rallied in Naha itself. Sorane Sakihama, a 24-year-old native of Okinawa who organized similar events in Tokyo, broke down upon hearing the news of the victim's death. She told AFP that she felt both angry and sad because they could not protect her.

"I want to ask them: What are these soldiers stationed here for?" Sakihama asked reporters. "They might say they are here to protect lives or boost security. But how can they say that when a life was taken by one of their own?" She planned to lead another protest outside the US embassy later that Tuesday evening. Since Okinawa returned to Japan, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper noted that roughly 6,000 US military personnel have faced arrest in Japan.