Abe Takes Election Campaign to Frontlines, Literally

By Yuka Hayashi

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took his campaign to the frontlines, literally, of the standoff with China, making an usual trip to distant islands of Okinawa just four days before Sunday’s national elections.

The first stop on Mr. Abe’s island-hopping tour on Wednesday was Ishigaki, whose city limits include a chain of uninhabited islands at the heart of Japan’s bitter territorial dispute with China. There, he boarded one of the Coast Guard ships used to patrol the sensitive waters around the islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, and spoke to the crew.

“Provocations on our territorial land, waters and sovereignty are continuing,” the prime minister said, without naming the source of such provocations. “I highly appreciate all the efforts you are making to patrol our territorial waters.” Donning a Coast Guardsman’s hat, the prime minister added: “Without a question, Senkaku is Japan’s unique territory, historically and in terms of international law. We have absolutely no intention to retreat, even by an inch.”

It was the first time a serving prime minister has visited Ishigaki – one of the bigger outer islands of the Okinawa island chain. Okinawa and nearby islands were returned to Japan in 1972 after the postwar occupation by the U.S.

The next stop was Miyako, an island to the east. There, Mr. Abe headed to the camp of the Air Self-Defense Force, which serves as the main radar site for the surveillance of the maritime and air activities around the areas of contention in the East China Sea.

“The importance of this base is only growing. It’s literally the cornerstone of our efforts for intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance activities,” the prime minister told the troops.

Japan’s defense officials are also studying the possibilities of building new military facilities on Miyako, as well as on Ishigaki, as parts of Japan’s efforts to strengthen defense of its southwest.