Japan has expressed its concerns to the United States embassy in Tokyo regarding two alleged sexual assault cases involving American service members in Okinawa. Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano met with US ambassador Rahm Emanuel to request disciplinary and preventive actions following the incidents that occurred in December and May. “Criminal cases and accidents involving US military personnel cause great distress to local residents and should never happen," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi in response to the news. A 21-year-old US Marine Corps member was charged with non-consensual sex and assault in Okinawa following an incident in May. The victim, a young woman, suffered injuries that took two weeks to heal, including being bitten in the mouth and choked, as reported by the Okinawa police. Another case involved a 25-year-old US airman accused of raping a teenage girl three months prior, which sparked further public outcry. Brigadier General Nicholas Evans of the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base expressed deep concern over the severity of the allegations and pledged full cooperation with local authorities in their investigations. The incidents have reignited tensions among Okinawa residents towards the US military presence in the region. Residents have long been critical of the bases, citing concerns over accidents, crime, and lack of transparency. The cases serve as reminders of past incidents, such as the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US service members, leading to widespread protests against the US troop presence. This ultimately resulted in a 1996 agreement between Japan and the US for the closure of a key air station, although delays persist due to relocation disputes. Approximately 50,000 US troops are stationed in Japan under a bilateral security pact, with half of them based in Okinawa. The island’s strategic significance has grown in importance for the Japan-US military alliance amid escalating tensions with China.