2006年VOA标准英语-Marine Air Station Key Issue in US-Japan F

By Steve Herman
Okinawa, Japan
09 March 2006

The United States pledges to move 8,000 of its Marines off the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. But U.S., Japanese and Okinawan officials are struggling to agree on plans to move a Marine¹ air station out of a congested urban area to a more remote location on the island.

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The sound of a Marine Corps² helicopter is one heard by the people of Okinawa many times a day. The Marines keep about 70 aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, near the center of the island. 

 
Ginowan city map showing US Marine air base in center
  
Over the years, the city of Ginowan has built up around the air base, with homes, schools and hospitals close to flight paths. Residents complain about the noise, and the hazards, caused by the base.

The United States and Japan agreed in 1996 to shut down Futenma. But since then, bickering³ over the details has meant nothing has changed. 
 

Lt. Col. Richardo Stewart  
  
Lieutenant⁴ Colonel Richardo Stewart, deputy assistant chief of staff for Marine bases in Japan, says the U.S. has long been aware of the need to leave the base - to help both the civilians⁵ and the Marines.

"Futenma does need to be moved," he said. "It's best to move to an area where we can best train - that the restrictions⁶ on trainings aren't as they are down in Futenma."

Okinawa prefecture is home to about 25,000 U.S. troops and their families - nearly half of all the American forces in Japan. Okinawans have long complained that the bases are a burden - that they take up too much land, that there are conflicts between troops and civilians, and that military operations can be dangerous.

Helicopters and transport planes sit on tarmac of Futenma US Marine Corps Air Station (file photo)   
  
The United States and Japan are negotiating a plan to realign the U.S. forces in the country, to  make them more efficient and mobile. A central part of that plan cuts the Marine presence on Okinawa by about 8,000 - more than half the total.

The plan, which Washington and Tokyo intend to conclude by the end of this month, includes moving the air station from Futenma to the edge of another base near the northern town of Nago. The landing strip would extend onto reclaimed⁷ land in the Bay of Oura. 

 
Kevin Maher
  
"This entire package really will go a long ways toward reducing the burden of our bases in Okinawa," said Kevin Maher, a U.S. diplomat⁸ in Tokyo who has been involved in the negotiations⁹ over Futenma. "So we would hope that the Okinawan prefecture and the local governments and the Okinawan people themselves would be understanding of this and cooperative with the central government in implementing¹⁰ this package."

But cooperation has been hard to obtain. Nago city councilman Yasuhiro Miyagi says Tokyo and Washington must take his constituents¹¹ for fools if they think residents will allow the air facility to be located there. The councilman warns that if the United States and Japan try to push through the plan they will be confronted with violent protests.

Yoichi Iha   
  
The mayor of Ginowan, Yoichi Iha, says that while he welcomes the plan to cut the Marine numbers, the idea of moving the air base will not get off the ground. The mayor says he agrees with those up north who predict that local residents and environmentalists will strongly oppose any new construction for the air base. He suggests that the Pentagon move all of the Marines off Okinawa.

U.S. officials say it is not feasible to abandon Okinawa under the terms of the security pact¹² with Japan. They say some bases must stay in the prefecture to maintain peace and stability in Asia. And, they say, relocating Futenma is essential to the realignment plan, allowing the U.S. to move troops off the island, fully¹³ support the remaining Marines, maintain the regional defense¹⁴ posture¹⁵ and meet the needs of the local community.

While citizens groups vow¹⁶ never to allow the move to Nago, some observers predict that the Japanese government will resort to its past tactics of arm-twisting and promising¹⁷ to shower local communities with billions of dollars of compensation.

Ryukyu University professor Masaaki Gabe says that is not a wise long-term strategy. The problem is, he says, is that local politicians are often voted in and out of office - so a mayor who favors working with the military can the next year be replaced by one who opposes all bases. 

Masaaki Gabe  
  
"The money is very powerful to manipulate the localities," said Gabe. "Giving the money to the localities is, in the short time, effective. But [for] the long time - very, very bad choice because U.S. and Japan, both government, [become] dependent to local support."

If financial enticements fail to win the needed support here, officials in Japan's governing Liberal Democratic Party warn they will not hesitate to push through Parliament legislation that will allow Tokyo to override¹⁸ attempts by Okinawa officials to halt the construction project in Oura Bay.

1 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

2 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

3 bickering   

v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁

参考例句：

• The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。
• The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

5 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

7 reclaimed   

adj.再生的；翻造的；收复的；回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救

参考例句：

• Many sufferers have been reclaimed from a dependence on alcohol. 许多嗜酒成癖的受害者已经被挽救过来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They reclaimed him from his evil ways. 他们把他从邪恶中挽救出来。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

10 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

11 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

13 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

14 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

15 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

16 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

17 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

18 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。