Japan protests sexual assault allegations involving US military personnel

Several Japanese citizens demonstrated near the U.S. Embassy Tokyo on the two alleged cases of sexual assault (recorded on the island of Okinawa) involving American military personnel.

The first case concerns a member of the air force (appointed Brennon RE Washington, 25A spokesperson for the Naha District Court told CNN he was charged with sexual assault (“non-consensual sexual intercourse” and “indecent abduction”) of a 16-year-old girl.

The other case involves a Marine whose name has not been released. He was accused of assaulting a 21-year-old woman.

There are approximately 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan.

Thanks to a bilateral security pact, approximately 50,000 US troops deployed in JapanIt is estimated that half of them are in Okinawa (a strategic location for dealing with growing tensions with China).

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that his country “takes seriously” such events that are “extremely regrettable” and even more so when they happened within the space of a few months.

According to the secretary, the deputy minister of foreign affairs Masataka Okano expressed regret to the United States and the ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel request disciplinary and preventive measures.

Hayashi said: “I believe the U.S. side is also taking this matter seriously… Criminal cases and accidents involving U.S. military personnel cause great anxiety among local residents, and they should never happen.”

“I believe that The US side also takes this matter seriously (…) Criminal cases and accidents involving American servicemen cause great anxiety among local residents, and they should never happen in the first place.

On the other hand, Brig.-General Nicholas Evans, The commander of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa said he was “deeply concerned by the seriousness of this accusation and regrets any anxiety it may have caused.”

U.S. officials have promised that their The military would cooperate fully with the investigation by local authorities and the courts.