Rubio pledges US cooperation in Marine-linked murder case
A US Marine stationed on Okinawa has been arrested on suspicion of killing a 39-year-old woman.
The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed to cooperate with Japanese authorities investigating allegations that a US Marine murdered a woman in Okinawa, a case that provoked protests and prompted a US military curfew and mandatory training in standards and discipline.
“Rubio expressed sincere condolences over the death of a Japanese national in Okinawa, as well as the United States’ determination to communicate and fully cooperate with the Government of Japan and local authorities as they conduct an investigation,” the department said.
Local media reported that she was choked to death and her wallet stolen.
The killing triggered outrage in Japan, where crimes involving US forces have been a thorn in relations between the close security allies and have long inflamed criticism of US troops being stationed there. Japan hosts the largest overseas contingent of US forces globally, with most of the 18,000 Japan-based Marines stationed on Okinawa.
Rubio and Toshimitsu also discussed US sanctions on the International Criminal Court and the upcoming G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Atlanta, scheduled to begin on October 30.
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- A US Marine stationed on Okinawa has been arrested on suspicion of killing a 39-year-old woman.
- The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed to cooperate with Japanese authorities investigating allegations that a US Marine murdered a woman in Okinawa, a case that provoked protests and prompted a US military curfew an
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- “Rubio expressed sincere condolences over the death of a Japanese national in Okinawa, as well as the United States’ determination to communicate and fully cooperate with the Government of Japan and local authorities as they conduct an inve