At the day May 24 when the House of Councillors tried to pass a set of bills related to the new Japan-U.S defence cooperation guidelines, workers, citizens, students and religious groups protested surrounding the parliament all day. The Liberal Democratic Party, Jiyuto (Liberal Party) and New Komeito joined forces to pass legislation the bills against shouting of "Stop the war bills!" in front of the Diet. All workers and people sitting got angry about the passing of the bills.
People in Okinawa Prefecture, as is home to about 75 percent of U.S. military facilities in Japan in terms of land area, could be greatly affected by emergencies near Japan. Okinawa people responded to the enactment of U.S.-Japan defense cooperation bills, expressed feelings isolated from average Japanese on defence. For example, Ginowan Mayor Seiko Higa said the legislation is contrary to Okinawa's interests.
"We can see the difference in understanding between Okinawa residents, who live amid U.S. military bases, and the people on the main islands, who do not," said Higa, whose city houses the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station. The bills "have become law without any discussions on the details of how local governments are to cooperate and without any explanations on the matter," Higa added.
The day after the war bills passing, the Million Signature-Collecting Campaign held the rally declaring to reject any cooperation with the war law in Syakai-Bunka-Kaikan in Tokyo.
The new laws will strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance in the post-Cold War era. The laws are, however, ambiguous because the government has not ever offer an adequate explanation as to whether Taiwan was included in the guidelines' specification of "areas surrounding Japan," in which Japan would be expected to provide logistic support for U.S. forces if Japan faced an emergency. Not maintaining transparency in implementing new defense guidelines, the LDP, Jiyuto and New Komeito have already begun talks on a new bill concerning ship inspections by the SDF as the U.S. government hoped to see the prompt enactment of a new law that would enable the SDF to engage in ship inspections.
Under the legislation, the central government can request local governments and the private sector to cooperate, for example by allowing the use of their ports and airports by the U.S. military and for the transport of supplies. Therefore, Japan-U.S. security ties would be useless if they do not work in a workers' resistance or if local governments and private organizations refuse to offer their facilities when they are asked to do so by the government.
Stop the new bill concerning ship inspections by the SDF!
Stop the Emergency Law!
Oppose strengthening U.S-Japan military alliance (AMPO)!
Scrap AMPO! Remove all miliraty bases particulary in Okinawa!
Stop the way of Japan, saying persist with peaceful developmet, take the actions of a military power!
Stop the Way to Imperialist Aggressive War!