Contention 1: The Okinawan base plays a vital role in preventing war in Eastern Asia. China and Japan are long time rivals, especially when it comes to the subject of the South and East China Sea. In the East China sea, there are 8 uninhabited rocky islands, called the Senkaku by the Japanese and the Diaoyu by the Chinese, fairly near Okinawa. Currently, China is building artificial islands in the East China Sea in order to make a grab for them. There are also islands being constructed in the South China Sea, it has constructed port facilities, military buildings and an airstrip on the island, with two more airstrips under construction. Building these islands gives China access to a …show more content…
The Okinawan base discourages Chinese expansion.
Subpoint B. Without this base, North and South Korea will go to war.
Contention Two: The Okinawan Base provides first-response to humanitarian and environmental crises.
Bopha Typhoon http://www.stripes.com/news/marine-corps/okinawa-marines-helping-with-philippines-disaster-relief-1.200535
Members of the III Marine Expeditionary Force’s Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 were dispatched to Manila from Okinawa last Saturday to transport relief supplies to areas devastated by Typhoon Bopha.
By Matthew M. Burke
Stars and Stripes
Published: December 13, 2012
EarthQuake and Tsunami http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/us-military-personnel-play-key-role-response-japan-crisis -
U.S. Military Personnel Play Key Role in Response to Japan Crisis
By Patrick Goodenough | March 17, 2011 | 5:01 AM EDT
U.S. Marines based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southermost Japanese island of Okinawa board a KC-130J Super Hercules on March 16 to provide assistance in wake of the earthquake and tsunami
https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42645.pdf
^ talks about PLAN and DOD (Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and