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Xinhua News Agency, Tokyo, August 20 (Reporter Hu Xiaoge and Jiang Qiaomei) The Okinawa Defense Bureau of the Japanese Ministry of Defense officially launched the Henoko Base reclamation project in the Oura Bay area of ​​the Henoko Base of the U.S. military in Japan on the 20th, which aroused strong protests from local residents.

According to Japanese media reports, on the afternoon of the 20th, cranes began piling operations on the coast of Oura Bay in Henoko. Many people braved the heavy rain to protest in front of the Schwab military camp near the construction site. People held up slogans such as "U.S. military bases are completely withdrawn!" "No land reclamation" and "We will not give up", and shouted slogans such as "Incredibly angry" to oppose the Japanese government's forced promotion of the construction of the Henoko base for U.S. troops stationed in Japan. Keiko Shimokado, who has participated in the demonstration for ten consecutive years, said: "To what extent will the government trample on the precious ocean and the people of Okinawa before they wake up!"

In response, Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said on the same day that the Japanese government should not waste taxes paid by the people and should immediately stop base construction.

At a press conference on the 20th, Akira Koike, Secretary-General of the Japanese Communist Party, stated that the launch of the land reclamation project at the Henoko base was a violation of local autonomy and democracy, and expressed strong protest against this.

Last December, without the consent of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Tetsuo Saito approved the design modification plan of the Henoko base of the US military in Japan on behalf of the governor of Okinawa Prefecture. Due to the soft seabed foundation of Henoko, the improvement of the foundation requires about 70,000 metal piles to be driven into the seabed. (End)