TOKYO, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States has rejected the idea of relocating its current air facility in Futenma, Okinawa Prefecture, to Tokunoshima, local media reported on Thursday.
The United States rejected the idea because it would leave the marines that would be based there too far away from other U.S. military personnel based in Okinawa.
The U.S. rejection will be a further blow to the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which has seen its handling of relations with Washington stumble from crisis to crisis since coming to power at the end of the summer last year.
At issue is a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) signed by the United States and Japan in 2006. Under that agreement, marines currently based at the urban Futenma facility in Okinawa were to be moved to a more rural area. The DPJ has looked to review that agreement, much to the ire of the U.S. government.
Local populations in Okinawa and Tokunoshima have also been angered by the DPJ, seeing their actions as both indecisive and not in the interests of their communities.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has said that he would like to see the government come to a decision on what to do about the SOFA agreement by the end of May, though as the date moves closer, the likelihood of that deadline been met is looking less likely.
Because of the SOFA issue, as well as a series of scandals that have connected senior cabinet politicians to illicit funds, the DPJ has seen its popularity plummet in recent months.
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Japanese gov't continues to pursue idea of relocating U.S. base outside Okinawa
TOKYO, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano indicated on Wednesday the central government plans to continue to pursue the idea of relocating a U.S. Marine base in Okinawa to Tokunoshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture.
"If we work hard now, there's a good possibility of meeting with the mayors," Hirano said at a news conference, adding that he will consider contacting the mayors personally to seek a meeting with them, despite the three mayors from Tokunoshima spurning earlier calls for such meetings. Full story
Japanese PM says safety main priority in Futenma issue
TOKYO, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Wednesday that the priority for the government as it looks to move Okinawa Prefecture's Futenma military facility is to ensure that local residents get a safer environment, with the dangers of living near a base removed.
In a parliamentary debate, the prime minister also reaffirmed to opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Sadakazu Tanigaki that he has a new location in mind for the military facility, but said he is not yet willing to reveal it for fear of local reaction before the site has been discussed with Washington. Full story
