A U.S. soldier has been charged with the kidnapping and rape of a teenage girl in Okinawa, a Japanese island chain that hosts the region’s largest American military base. This incident is likely to intensify long-standing local opposition to the U.S. military presence, as Okinawa houses more than half of the 54,000 U.S. soldiers stationed in Japan.
The case has further inflamed anger due to previous sexual assault cases involving U.S. military personnel, most notably the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen, which led to prolonged protests.
The latest allegation also involves a minor, under the age of 16, the legal age of consent in Japan. The 25-year-old Air Force serviceman allegedly assaulted her on December 24 and was identified through security camera footage after the girl’s family reported the incident, according to local media.
Charged in late March, the serviceman has been in Japanese custody since then, government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi revealed on Tuesday. “We will continue to request the U.S. side to prevent such incidents at every opportunity,” Mr. Hayashi said, adding that U.S. officials are fully cooperating with the investigation.
Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a formal complaint with the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emmanuel. The first hearing in the case is scheduled for July 12.
“The case is not just disturbing but also a violation of the girl’s dignity and has brought a significant level of distrust,” said Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki.
Local media reported that the soldier was off duty when he allegedly approached the girl at a park and asked her to get into his car to talk. He then drove her to his home where he allegedly raped her.
Japan hosts one of the world’s largest American military forces outside the U.S., with about 30,000 American soldiers stationed across Okinawa. The U.S. has maintained military bases there since defeating Japan in World War Two. These bases have become increasingly strategic for Washington due to Okinawa’s proximity to Taiwan, allowing the U.S. to respond quickly to any Chinese threat.
