US Airman Indicted for Kidnapping and Raping Minor in Japan

Japanese prosecutors have charged US Air Force member Brennon R. E. Washington with kidnapping and raping an underage girl in Okinawa last December. Washington, 25, allegedly lured the girl into his car under the pretense of talking due to cold weather and then drove her to his residence where the assault occurred. The indictment was filed on March 27, and he is currently in custody at Kadena US Air Base, awaiting trial on July 12. This case has exacerbated long-standing local opposition to the US military presence in Okinawa, which hosts a significant number of US troops. Okinawa's Governor Denny Tamaki and Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs have lodged complaints with US officials, emphasizing the need for stricter preventive measures. This incident comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions in the region and may impact US-Japan military relations.