Large aircraft flying low near Tokashiki Island – January 6, around 2:00 p.m.
February 4, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
After U.S. military aircraft were spotted flying at low altitude near the Kerama islands, Okinawa gubernatorial chief of staff Masaru Kinjo lodged a protest to 353d Special Operations Group Commander Colonel Michael A. Thomas on February 3. According to Okinawa, the military stressed the legality of the flights, claiming “we confirmed that we were adhering to the standards related to flight agreed between the United States and Japan, and that we were well within the limits for flight over Japanese airspace.” Kinjo indicated however,” [The aircraft] were clearly below the altitude specific in Japanese law,” asking that they reinvestigate.
Okinawa Prefectural Assembly building
January 15, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo
On January 14, a meeting of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly’s Special Committee on U.S. Military Base Affairs (chaired by Moriyuki Teruya) opened and unanimously adopted the chairman’s declaration objecting to the low altitude flying of U.S. military aircraft in the vicinity of the Kerama Islands. The declaration mentioned that Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi’s statement, in which he gave his approval for these flights, was “truly deplorable”; requested a drastic revision of the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement; and asked for training in the sky over residential districts to stop. The Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) is attempting to coordinate with the US military as well as relevant agencies of the U.S. and Japanese governments, and calling personnel from these agencies to visit the Okinawa Prefectural Office next week or thereafter.