Okinawa voters re-elect opposition-backed governor, media report



Okinawa electorate re-choose opposition-backed governor, media reportBy Elaine Lies and Yoshifumi Takemoto

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Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki speaks to the media after a assembly with Japan's then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (not in photograph) at Abe's authentic residence in Tokyo, Japan, March 1, 2019. Kimimasa Mayama/Pool thru /File Photo

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TOKYO, Sept 11 () - Voters in Japan's Okinawa re-elected Denny Tamaki as governor on Sunday, public broadcaster NHK and one of a kind media stated, backing an unbiased candidate who goals a smaller U.S. Army footprint on the chain of islands close to Taiwan.

The anticipated re-election of Tamaki, who end up supported with the resource of a coalition of opposition parties, is a s of pushback in the direction of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling birthday celebration, which has been hit by way of scandal over members' ties to the Unification Church.

Okinawa prefecture is an extended manner toward Taiwan than to Tokyo, placing it front and centre to growing anxiety in the location.

China this summer season launched 5 missiles into the sea near Okinawa, and inside Japan's brilliant monetary region, at some point of navy sports after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its very personal.

NHK and other Japanese media declared Tamaki the winner, mentioning exit polls. Official consequences are expected in a single day.

The son of a U.S. Marine and a Japanese mother, Tamaki become first elected as governor four years in the past whilst he campaed in competition to U.S. Navy presence. This time, he targeted more at the monetary machine, after the pandemic battered Okinawa's tourism company.

He recommended cheering supporters that he would possibly keep to paintings to strengthen the social protection net for the negative, regardless of the truth that he did no longer skirt the contentious problem of U.S. Navy bases.

"I actually have not wavered one millimetre, nor will I, in my efforts to treatment the base hassle and I will keep to percentage my thoughts with the people of the prefecture and are searching for for a solution from the authorities," he stated.

His victory is probably to be seen as a setback for Kishida's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has seen approval scores slide over revelations approximately the lengthy-strolling hyperlinks amongst some lawmakers and the Unification Church, which critics call a cult.

Kishida has apologised for his party's ties to the church and vowed to win again public bear in mind by means of severing them. The backlash has additionally fanned public opposition to a planned nation funeral for slain former most fantastic Shinzo Abe, who introduced a speech at an event hosted through manner of a church associate very last 12 months.

"The governor's re-election have become anticipated, however the troubles at stake have been now not handiest bases," said Hiroshi Shiratori, a professor of political technological understanding at Hosei University in Tokyo. He stated Abe's funeral and the Unification Church scandal also performed a feature. "They also had an impact."

Kishida's ruling (LDP) has pushed for accelerated defence spending to counter Beijing and backed former nearby mayor Atsushi Sakima. Tamaki defeated Sakima in 2018, partially with the resource of calling for the large Futenma U.S. Air base to be moved outside the prefecture.

Okinawa noticed a number of the bloodiest preventing in World War Two and has prolonged resented the burden of website hosting the bulk of U.S. Troops in Japan on centers that absorb five% of its land.

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