Okinawa Outrage Over Rape by US Sailors
The US military has a pervasive presence on Okinawa. (Photo: Sonia Narang)
It’s a familiar story but the problem is no less real.
Two American servicemen allegedly raped a young woman on the island of Okinawa earlier this week, igniting a storm of protest across Japan.
The incident is already being addressed at the highest levels of government.
The American ambassador to Tokyo was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday for a diplomatic dressing down.
Ayako Mie of the Japan Times says the country is outraged.
The alleged rape comes as Okinawans are already angry at the imminent deployment of Osprey aircraft to the island.
The islanders believe the Osprey has a poor safety record and would be a hazard as it flies over densely populated areas.
However, Japan and the United States agree on the strategic need for the base, Mie says, given the rise of China.
The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.
When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.