File picture of US MV-22 Osprey transport plane parked on the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, February 18, 2025. /VCG
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mentioned Monday that Japan strongly protests the alleged theft and homicide of a girl within the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa involving a US Marine.
Speaking to parliament in Tokyo on the primary day of a rare Diet session forward of a coverage speech, Takaichi mentioned Japan has known as for full US cooperation with the investigation and “strict discipline among US military personnel” to forestall a recurrence, Kyodo News reported.
On Monday, Devin Ballard, who was arrested over the alleged theft and homicide of native girl Anna Yagi, 39, at a resort within the prefectural capital Naha within the early hours of Saturday, was despatched to prosecutors, based on Okinawa police.
Okinawa residents have expressed outrage over the case after police on Sunday arrested the 20-year-old US Marine stationed in Okinawa on suspicion of homicide and theft.
Ballard has denied the allegations, police mentioned.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara mentioned Monday that Japan will “continue to urge the US side to thoroughly enforce discipline.”
On Sunday, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi summoned US Ambassador to Japan George Glass and commander of US Forces Japan Stephen Jost, respectively, to lodge robust protests, urging the US army to strengthen self-discipline and take thorough measures to forestall related circumstances.
Crimes involving US army personnel stationed in Japan, together with severe offenses corresponding to homicide, rape and theft, have lengthy been a supply of deep public concern.
Official statistics present that Okinawa prefectural police recorded 101 legal circumstances involving US army personnel, civilian staff and their members of the family in 2025, marking the primary time the annual determine had exceeded 100 since 2003.Â
Source: CGTN