TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Sunday lodged a protest with the United States after a US Marine was arrested on suspicion of robbing and killing a Japanese woman in Okinawa.
Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is suspected of killing Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, on Saturday.
Police said Ballard allegedly took Yagi’s wallet and backpack. He has denied the allegations, according to authorities.
Japan Demands US Cooperation
Takaichi described the incident as extremely serious and expressed regret over what she called a brutal and vicious crime.
“The government of Japan strongly protests to the US side and strongly seeks maximum cooperation with the investigation,” she said.
She also called for tighter discipline among US military personnel and measures to prevent similar incidents.
The US embassy and the Marine Corps expressed condolences and said they were cooperating with Japanese authorities.
The Marine Corps confirmed that Ballard is in Japanese custody.
The suspect is assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force and is based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa.
“The Marine Corps takes these allegations very seriously and expects every Marine to adhere to the highest standards of behaviour,” the military said.
Long-Running Tensions in Okinawa
The incident comes amid long-standing tensions over the presence of US forces in Okinawa.
Most of the roughly 18,000 US Marines based in Japan are stationed on the island. The United States controlled Okinawa from the end of World War II until 1972.
Residents have repeatedly protested the US military presence over issues including aircraft noise, accidents and alleged misconduct by service members.
In 1995, the rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by three US servicemen triggered mass protests across the prefecture.
Incident Could Affect Futenma Relocation Plan
Saturday’s killing could complicate Takaichi’s efforts to relocate some US Marines from the crowded Futenma air base to a more remote facility at Henoko.
Opponents of the plan have called for US forces to be moved out of Okinawa altogether.
The prefecture is also strategically important for Japan and the United States. Okinawa lies about 100 kilometres from Taiwan at its closest point.
Tokyo and Washington consider the region important for deterring potential military aggression by China.
