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Fumio Ota

【#322(Special)】Why Did Japanese Politicians Fail to Give Consideration to US Accident Victims?

Fumio Ota ／ 2015.08.21 (Fri)


August 17, 2015

　　　　　On August 12, a U.S. Army helicopter crashed on a U.S. ship off Okinawa Island, injuring seven crewmembers including two Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force persons. In May, a U.S. Marine Osprey takeoff/landing aircraft crashed in Hawaii, killing one Marine.
　　　　　Okinawa Governor, Takeshi Onaga's remarks indicating his attempt to take advantage of the incidents for his political purposes were out of the question. But even Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga fell short of offering his condolences or sympathy for these accident victims. Regarding the chopper accident, the chief Japanese government spokesman only vowed to urge the U.S. side to investigate its cause and prevent its recurrence.
　　　　　Media reported the crashed chopper conducted a special operation exercise to address pirates or put under control a hijacked ship. If so, the exercise must meet the proactive contribution to peace that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his administration pursue. The Japanese government should give consideration to servicepersons who are injured or killed during such severe exercises.

Exercises come with accidents
　　　　　In the 1996 Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer erroneously shot down a U.S. Navy A-6 target tug by Phalanx, 20-millimeter Vulcan gun. Fortunately, the A-6 pilot made an emergency escape from the aircraft successfully, and survived.
　　　　　I was then serving defense attache in Washington and called on then U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry and Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jay Johnson to offer an apology representing Japanese servicemen in D.C. Then, they told me a word: ‘Exercises could come with accidents.’
　　　　　Right after the chopper crash, U.S. Army Chief of Staff, General Raymond T. Odierno also stated that ‘risks could accompany exercises.’ Accidents are likelier for severer exercises. If accidents are to be eliminated, exercises should be terminated. Without exercises, however, missions cannot be accomplished.

Consideration to servicepersons (SDF troops)
　　　　　If politicians who control the military (SDF in Japan) condemn servicepersons (SDF troops) for causing accidents and treat them as if they did something wrong, those servicepersons may lose ambitions to accomplish missions for the nation even at the risk of their lives. It is also significant for politicians to pay respect for the war dead by visiting Yasukuni Shrine. If a political party leader who usually does not respect the SDF attempts to take advantage of dangers for SDF servicepersons for their own political purposes, those servicepersons may see through his attempt.
　　　　　Strengthening an alliance is not only the development of national security legislation allowing Japan to defend an ally under attack, but also consideration given to allied troops killed or injured in exercises. Such consideration can support the alliance.

Fumio Ota is a JINF Planning Committee Member and a former Director of Defense Intelligence Headquarters in the Japan Defense Agency.