The U.S.military in Okinawa, Japan, is beginning an operational pause for 48 hours, prohibiting off-base liberty and ordering training after a Marine was arrested on suspicion of killing and robbing a woman.Lt.
Gen.Benjamin Watson, Okinawa Area Coordinator and commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force, said in a letter on Tuesday that incidents like this "demand we pause for reflection" and that serving on the island "comes with responsibility.""We speak often about standards and discipline.
Standards are what we expect, and my standards are clear: be accountable for your actions; do the right thing, especially when no one is looking; and always be guided by our core values that govern our conduct at every rank," he wrote."We live, work, and socialize alongside the people of Okinawa; their home is our home.Every interaction with our neighbors either builds or undermines the trust that is essential to our team.
When that trust is damaged, it affects the strength of our alliance and the security of this region.Accordingly, we will take time to think hard about discipline, standards and our alliance responsibilities," Watson added.THAI RESORT CITY CRACKS DOWN ON PROSTITUTION AHEAD OF USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN ARRIVALU.S.
MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft are parked at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, on the main island of the Okinawa archipelago, southern Japan, on Tuesday, Feb.18, 2025.
(AP Photo/Hiro Komae)The arrest of the Marine has sparked protests against the heavy American military presence on the southern Japanese island and concerns over military-related crime.Japanese officials have also lodged a formal protest with the U.S.government.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned U.S.Ambassador George Glass and called for cooperation with the investigation, stricter discipline among U.S.
personnel and measures to prevent similar incidents.The killing could complicate Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s push to both strengthen the Japanese military o...