Following a late night car accident Saturday evening in which a U.S. sailor injured two Japanese civilians on Okinawa, the U.S. military has temporarily curtailed off-base liberty and banned all alcohol consumption for almost 20,000 U.S. sailors stationed in Japan.
The accident comes as relations between Washington and Tokyo are already strained over a previous incident in which a civilian contractor, who was a former a Marine, was arrested in connection with the suspected killing of a local.
Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook confirmed the order from the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Japan, but did not say how long the restrictions would remain in effect.
“These restrictions will help prevent future incidents by insuring that each service member understands how their actions affect the U.S.-Japan alliance, which is essential to the security and stability in the region,” Cook said.
Drinking for sailors in Japan is completely prohibited, both on and off base, until the commanders “are comfortable that all personnel understand the impact of responsible behavior on the U.S.-Japan alliance,” according to a Navy statement.
All off-base liberty has been cut back. “Sailors who live off base will be permitted to travel to and from work and engage in official actions such as childcare drop-off and pickup, trips to the grocery store, gas stations or the gym,” the statement said. “The liberty curtailment will remain in effect until face-to-face training has been conducted by unit commanding officers, executive officers and command master chiefs with all personnel.”
U.S. military personnel were already subject to a 30-day nighttime curfew and a prohibition on drinking in public.
“These measures are not taken lightly,” Rear Admiral Matthew Carter, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Japan, said in a statement. “For decades, we have enjoyed a strong relationship with the people of Japan. It is imperative that each sailor understand how our actions affect that relationship, and the U.S.-Japan Alliance as a whole.”
The U.S. has been battling increasing local opposition on Okinawa to its plans to build an airfield for U.S. Marines at the north end of the island.
Japanese officials suggested drunken driving might have been the cause for the accident in which a young second class petty officer crossed the center line of a highway and struck a vehicle carrying a Japanese couple, both in their 30s.
The sailor, identified as Aimee Mejia, 21, has not been charged.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter just returned from Asia, where during a meeting with Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, he expressed regret about the death of the Japanese woman, but the traffic accident had not yet happened. The murder case made for an awkward moment when Japanese President Shinzo Abe brought up the matter during President Obama’s visit to Japan last month.
“Obviously, this is a deeply concerning event that we wish had not taken place,” Cook said.
“I think the message sent today by these actions, by the restrictions being put in place with regard to the naval force, are an indication of the seriousness with which our commanders take the situation in Japan,” he said.
Diana Stancy contributed to this report.
