Trump’s victory sparks hope for anti-US base movement in Japan’s Okinawa
US president-elect Donald Trump pressured Japan to pay more for American troops stationed on its soil during his first term
The Japanese government, meanwhile, is bracing for the new Republican administration to follow through on demands made the first time Trump was in the White House.
And while Seoul and Tokyo were able to delay discussions on greater contributions until it was too late in Trump’s previous term to take effect, he is now expected to resume putting pressure on both governments upon his return.
“I heard that Trump said during the election campaign that he would close bases abroad if foreign governments did not pay more,” said Byron Fija, an activist against the US military presence in Okinawa.
“If he asks for a big number and the Japanese government says it can’t or won’t pay, then maybe he will do it,” said Fija, who never knew his American father and was adopted by his Japanese mother’s older brother.
