A Shanghai company with a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) background is constructing massive solar power plants near Japan’s most important U.S. military base in Iwakuni. The city’s council member has raised concerns about the CCP’s potential threat to national security.
Takashi Ishimoto, a member of the Iwakuni city council, has revealed that the Chinese firm is involved in major solar power plant projects located in Yamaguchi Prefecture. These plants are strategically positioned on both the northern and southern sides of the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.
The Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is a crucial military facility in the Far East, jointly operated by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
According to Mr. Ishimoto, the involvement of CCP capital in the construction of these mega solar power plants has raised regional and national security concerns. He expressed his worries about Shanghai Electric Power’s activities within Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is home to multiple Japanese military bases and a U.S. military base in Iwakuni.
Mr. Ishimoto has called for political attention in an April 4 post on X, formerly known as Twitter, urging action to address the questionable behavior of Shanghai Electric Power. He highlighted the need to stop the construction of power stations in the region.
Shanghai Electric Power is affiliated with the state-owned China Power Investment Corporation, which was established by the State Council’s assets supervisor body.
Shanghai Electric Power’s official webpage states that its overseas business extends to various countries, including Malta, Japan, Montenegro, and Turkey, along the “Belt and Road” routes. The company’s total overseas assets exceed 12.5 billion yuan ($1.71 billion). The “Belt and Road” initiative is the CCP’s global infrastructure project aimed at expanding its influence.
CCP-Funded Power Plants in Japan
In September 2021, the Japan Branch of Shanghai Electric Power acquired the entire equity of the Yamaguchi Iwakuni photovoltaic project. This project, managed by RS Asset Management, plans to install 300,000 solar panels on 117 hectares of land, generating 75 megawatts of power, equivalent to the energy consumption of about 22,500 households.
Shanghai Electric Power announced that construction began in November 2019 and was scheduled to be connected to the grid by June 2023.
The construction of these mega solar power plants has faced opposition from Iwakuni residents due to concerns about landslides, soil contamination, water well depletion, and environmental damage.
Ishimoto Takashi, Iwakuni City Council member. (Courtesy of Mr. Ishimoto)
Mr. Ishimoto, representing the local residents, has made efforts to communicate with Shanghai Electric Power’s Japan office regarding the power plant construction project. However, the company’s chief has refused to discuss the matter.
Mr. Ishimoto also revealed that Shanghai Electric Power is linked to another mega-solar power station in Yanai City, owned by Yamaguchi Yanai Mega Solar LLC.
According to Hideki Hirano, a professor at Himeji University, Chinese buyers often utilize Japanese limited liability companies (LLCs) as a front to acquire land outside of China. This allows them to operate the company without directly revealing their involvement.
During his investigation, Mr. Ishimoto discovered that Shanghai Electric Power is likely involved in the construction of solar power plants throughout Japan, including Hokkaido and Tokushima. These plants are strategically located near Japanese military installations, nuclear plants, telecommunication transmission towers, and transit stations.
Furthermore, Yamaguchi Prefecture has another solar power plant in Hofu City, where the plant’s leadership consists entirely of Chinese individuals, according to Mr. Ishimoto.
The Hofu solar power plant is situated only one kilometer away from a Japan Self-Defense Forces airbase, which is home to Japan’s first military unit dedicated to outer space safety.
Mr. Ishimoto has raised serious questions about why the Chinese are targeting Japanese power plants and stations. He believes that their motives go beyond mere financial gain.
Chinese-Acquired Island Land Near Military Base
Adjacent to the Yanai solar power station is a small island called Kasashima in Iwakuni. In 2017, a Chinese buyer purchased a portion of Kasashima Island and is currently constructing villas or condominiums on the island, according to Mr. Ishimoto’s sources.
It is worth noting that the construction site is located along a significant sea route known as the “Throat Road,” frequently used by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and other warships.
Map provided by Takashi Ishimoto. (Edited by The Epoch Times)
Together with the two giant solar power plants, this isolated island forms a strategic encirclement around the Iwakuni U.S. Air Force Base from the north and south.
Mr. Ishimoto believes that these actions are not mere coincidences but part of a strategic plan. He suggests that the Chinese acquisitions could facilitate the CCP’s access to U.S. and Japanese military intelligence and activities.
Suspected Exposed Aircraft Flight Zone
According to Mr. Ishimoto, a contact in the U.S. Army informed him that the solar power plants are directly beneath the flight path of fighter jets in Iwakuni. Their locations provide an opportunity to track and potentially disrupt the flight patterns of the U.S. Air Force and its aircraft. For example, U.S. fighter jets may take off from the Iwakuni base and fly towards Okinawa or move northward.
U.S. marine aircraft personnel walk past F-18 hornets from the U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 after they landed at Clark Air Base, a former U.S. base, from Iwakuni, Japan, to join a two-week joint military training exercise with Filipino counterparts dubbed Talon Vision 2007, on Oct. 12, 2006. (Jay Directo /AFP via Getty Images)
The Iwakuni base is frequently used for military training, housing around 120 to 130 aircraft, including those from other areas.
Iwakuni is the largest U.S. military air base in the Far East and serves as a crucial hub for the U.S. military presence in Japan. Its strategic location and carrier force make it a central base for military operations.
Considering that one of the missions of this U.S.-Japanese military base is to counter the CCP, Mr. Ishimoto believes that the CCP’s control over power generation facilities and surrounding land through Chinese buyers could have significant strategic implications. This control could potentially aid the CCP in espionage, intelligence gathering, and interference in the military activities of the United States and Japan.
US, Japan Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni
The U.S. Navy has two overseas bases in Japan, one in Okinawa and one in Iwakuni (pdf). The Iwakuni base has a permanent population of approximately 13,000, according to Mr. Ishimoto.
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni is located in the delta of Iwakuni city, facing the Seto Inland Sea and surrounded by Shikoku Island to the southeast and Kyushu Island to the west.
The 31st Air Force of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force is also stationed at Iwakuni Base.
Japan is the only country where the U.S. military deploys aircraft carriers overseas and the only country where the U.S. Marine Corps has air bases outside of the United States.
What measures should be taken by policymakers, stakeholders, and the public to address the involvement of a company with CCP background in critical infrastructure projects near military facilities
About national security and the involvement of a company with CCP background. The construction of these power plants near a crucial U.S. military base has raised eyebrows and calls for attention.
The city council member, Mr. Ishimoto, has been vocal about his concerns regarding the potential threat to national security. He has pointed out the strategic positioning of these power plants on both sides of the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. As a joint military facility operated by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, any potential risks to its security are taken seriously.
Mr. Ishimoto has raised these concerns, calling for political attention and action to address the involvement of Shanghai Electric Power, a company with CCP affiliation, in the construction of these power plants. His plea for intervention highlights the need to re-evaluate the construction projects and ensure the safety and security of the region.
Shanghai Electric Power is affiliated with China Power Investment Corporation, a state-owned entity established by the State Council. This connection raises further questions about the involvement of CCP capital in critical infrastructure projects near military facilities.
Furthermore, Shanghai Electric Power’s overseas business activities extend to various countries as part of the CCP’s “Belt and Road” initiative. This global infrastructure project aims to expand China’s influence and has been met with both support and concern worldwide.
The acquisition of the Yamaguchi Iwakuni photovoltaic project by Shanghai Electric Power’s Japan Branch demonstrates their presence in Japan’s energy sector. With plans to install 300,000 solar panels and generate 75 megawatts of power, this project is significant in terms of energy production. However, given the concerns raised by the city council member and residents, further investigation and analysis of the company’s involvement is necessary.
It is crucial to address any potential threats to national security and ensure transparency and accountability in the construction of critical infrastructure projects. The involvement of a company with CCP background near a major U.S. military base demands careful consideration and proactive measures to safeguard the interests of all parties involved.
As this issue unfolds, it is essential for policymakers, stakeholders, and the public to remain informed and actively engage in discussions concerning national security, foreign investments, and the potential impacts on vital military installations.
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