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US pilot pleads not guilty to sexual abuse of minor in Japan, threatening horrific accusations that could trigger international incident

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A US soldier stationed in Japan has pleaded not guilty to charges in which he kidnapped and sexually abused a minor, sparking widespread public outrage.

Brennon Washington, 25, is a member of the U.S. Air Force at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture.

He appeared before the Naha District Court today to enter his plea in connection with the assault charges that allegedly occurred in December.

According to Japanese prosecutors, Washington approached a girl under the age of 16 in the park in the central part of the main island of Okinawa on Christmas Eve.

A US F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off from Kadena Air Base in Japan on June 3, 2022. Washington is stationed at the Okinawa base
An overview of Camp Schwab, where Marine Lance Corporal Jamel Clayton is stationed

Washington is accused of forcibly getting the girl into his car and taking her to his house outside Kadena Air Base, where he sexually abused her.

Although the charges were filed on March 27, the case only came to light on June 25 after an Okinawa television station reported on it.

The case has caused great outrage in Japanese society, which was further fuelled when it was revealed that another US soldier had been accused of similar crimes.

On June 28, a media report claimed that 21-year-old U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jamel Clayton, also stationed in the prefecture, was charged on June 17 with attempting to assault and injure a woman in Yomitan Village on May 26.

The Okinawa Prefectural Police defended their decision not to make the two cases public, saying: “We must take sufficient care to prevent secondary victimization of the victims and protect their privacy. We are also concerned that this could hinder the investigation.”

The incidents have significantly strained relations between Japan and the United States and sparked protests.

In June, the Japanese government filed a protest with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Masataka Okano met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel to call for disciplinary and preventive measures in connection with the two alleged attacks.

On June 28, a crowd of 100 people gathered outside the U.S. Air Force Base in Kadena, bringing flowers and calling for the eradication of sexual violence.

People in Okinawa protest against the alleged sexual abuse of US military personnel stationed on the island

A college student told NHK: “I can’t forgive the Japanese and US governments for keeping it secret for six months.”

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said the allegations left him “speechless and outraged.”

He also stressed that the communications system must be “restored” in case of crimes and accidents involving US military personnel.

In the wake of these allegations, the Japanese government has reviewed its information-sharing agreements with local governments.

The Mainichi reported that it had pledged to inform local authorities “without exception” about all crimes allegedly committed by U.S. military personnel.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry was aware of the two incidents but did not pass the information on to the Okinawa Prefectural Government.

The teenager’s case is reminiscent of the rape of a twelve-year-old girl by three US soldiers in 1995.

This also led to major protests against the strong US troop presence on the island.

This led to an agreement between Japan and the United States in 1996 to close a major U.S. airport.

In 2016, a former US base employee was sentenced to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman.’

Why are there US military bases in Japan?

After Japan’s defeat in World War II, the United States occupied the country and drafted a constitution that prevented Japan from building a military.

As long as Japan spends money on its defense, the country is unable to field an offensive force.

Instead, the US promises to defend Japan and its soldiers on Japanese soil.

Okinawa was originally an independent kingdom called Ryukyu, which was incorporated into Japan in the late 19th century.

Around 150,000 Okinawans died in World War II after the Japanese Imperial Army forced the local civilian population to resist the Allied attack in the Battle of Okinawa.

The Americans occupied Okinawa for two decades longer than the rest of Japan.

They were initially welcomed by some locals as an improvement over the Japanese army.

But local resistance to the U.S. presence grew, even though the Japanese government claimed that Okinawa was a bulwark and of strategic importance in the fight against a possible conflict with China.

There are more American soldiers stationed in Japan than in any other country.

Around 54,000 US soldiers are stationed there and are tasked with maintaining peace in the Pacific.

However, the military presence has led to tensions, especially on the tropical island of Okinawa, where most of the military bases are located.

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