America has once again apologized to Japan on Tuesday over a recent series of military accidents that have sparked outrage among civilians over American operations in the country.
General James Mattis, U.S. Secretary of Defense, apologized to Japan’s Minister of Defense, Itsunori Onodera, after multiple accidents, particularly about the emergency landing of a U.S. military helicopter in Okinawa last Monday.
The apology came two days after another incident in the prefecture, which is home to more than half of the 47,000 American troops currently stationed in Japan. A spokesperson in Japan’s Ministry of Defense said that there was an apology from General Mattis.
Onodera told him about the issue, of which he raised examples of many accidents happening in the last four months of last year and January of 2018 in Okinawa. He has said that he hopes for a good trip to Hawaii to meet with high-level U.S. military commanders discuss the issue further.
No injuries or damage to property have been reported after the helicopter landed near a hotel on Monday. But the Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, said that he was at a loss for words and he wants the U.S. military to feel a little bit ashamed for their lack of control over their high tech equipment.
These incidents have sparked outrage to American bases on the strategic island, which have served as a defacto launch pad for any military activity in Asia, should America need to use military force in the region.
Criminal activities caused by U.S. military personnel including rape, assault, hit-and- run and drunken driving crashes have triggered protests on the island. America has yet to answer for these crimes.
Reference: U.S. apologizes to Japan over repeated military accidents
