The USA reduced the number of soldiers in Okinawa for the first time by relocating 105 sailors in Japan to a different base. This seemingly minor change is interpreted as a significant step towards implementing the 2013 agreement between the USA and Japan. However, the construction of new bases and China’s increasing influence in the region indicate the uncertainty of the process. The USA took a significant step towards reducing its military presence on Japan’s Okinawa Island. According to The New York Times (NYT), a unit of 105 US Marines that will be sent to Okinawa before Christmas is redirected to a new base on Guam island instead of Okinawa. This change signifies the first-ever decrease in military presence in Okinawa. There are approximately 18,000 military personnel at the US base in Okinawa. According to the agreement signed between Washington and Tokyo in 2013, at least 9,000 American marines are planned to be relocated from Okinawa. However, the news mentions the construction of new bases in Okinawa and that the withdrawal process may take at least another 10 years. The New York Times points out that this change is not a significant step for the strategy to counter China’s influence in the region. Particularly, it is emphasized that Okinawa would be the “frontline” if China were to invade Taiwan. Christopher B. Johnstone, a former US Department of Defense official involved in the negotiations of the 2013 agreement, mentions that despite years passing since the agreement, only around 100 marines have been relocated and the process has not progressed. The USA has maintained its presence in Japan with various bases since the 1950s. However, tensions regarding the military bases in Okinawa have led to significant protests in the past. The crime committed by three American soldiers in Okinawa in 1995 sparked widespread outrage among the Japanese people. In 2004, a US helicopter crashed into the Okinawa International University campus, causing serious concerns.