The Brief The US military has halted operations in Okinawa for 48 hours after the arrest of a Marine who has been accused of killing a local woman. During the halt, which will last from Wednesday to Friday, military personnel will be restricted from leaving their base, and they will undergo training. The arrest has triggered renewed protests against the large U.S. military presence in the Japanese prefecture.



The U.S. military is implementing a two-day pause on its operations in Okinawa, Japan, following the arrest of a Marine who is accused of robbing and killing a local woman.

Big picture view:

The halt on operations in the Japanese prefecture will last 48 hours, running from Wednesday through Friday. During that time, military personnel will be restricted from leaving their base, and they will receive training on standards, discipline, and  our responsibilities as members of the Okinawan community,  the Associated Press reported.

What they're saying:

 We live, work, and socialize alongside the people of Okinawa; their home is our home,  Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson, commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force, wrote in a letter posted on social media.

 Every interaction with our neighbors either builds or undermines the trust that is essential to our team,  he continued.  When that trust is damaged, it affects the strength of our alliance and the security of this region. Accordingly, we will take time to think hard about discipline, standards and our alliance responsibilities. 


Dig deeper:

The arrest of Marine Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, has triggered renewed protests against the large U.S. presence on the island in southern Japan and the rise in military-related crime. The current U.S. population on Okinawa is nearly 80,000, with almost 30,000 of them being American armed forces.

That heavy presence has long been opposed by residents of Okinawa. However, sentiment has partially shifted as some people see strategic value in light of the rising threat from Chin

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