How was Japan able to establish the Okinawa Radiowave Tracking Base under the US Military Administration?

マエシロ, タクヤ

Maeshiro, Takuya

Center for the Study of Co* Design, Osaka University

人工衛星追跡

沖縄返還

Space Policy

Satellite Tracking

Okinawa Reversion

The Okinawa Radiowave Tracking Base, now known as the Okinawa Tracking and Communications Station, was established by the Space Development Headquarters of the Science and Technology Agency in February 1968. Setting up a Japanese government facility in Okinawa, which was under U.S. administration at the time, posed a challenge. However, the United States granted permission for the base without extensive negotiations with Japan. This decision was influenced by the U.S. Cold War strategy to support Japan's space initiatives in response to China's successful nuclear tests, thereby enhancing Japan's global standing. Additionally, the United States was concerned about the possibility of Japan developing nuclear weapons and preferred satellite tracking efforts, which were not directly linked to nuclear missile technology. Moreover, the U. S. government, in anticipation of the renewal of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty in 1970, sought to avoid deteriorating Japanese public sentiment towards the U.S. by refusing to establish the Okinawa Radiowave Tracking Base. Due to the contentious "island-wide struggle" against evictions and base construction in the 1950s, the United States had to delegate the task of selecting and acquiring land for the Okinawa Satellite Tracking Station to the Japanese government. The establishment of this station reflects the uncertainty in U.S. administration during the process leading up to Okinawa's return to Japan.