April 27, 2010
Washington, April 26 (Jiji Press) -- Senior Japanese and U.S. foreign and defense officials met here Monday to discuss ways to resolve a standoff over a U.S. Marine air station in Okinawa Prefecture.
The two sides are likely to have discussed the possibility of modifying a plan to move the Futenma base in Ginowan in the southern Japan prefecture, sources familiar with the situation said.
Emerging proposals include building a Futenma replacement facility without reclaiming land at the Henoko coastal area of the Marines' Camp Schwab in Nago, another Okinawa city.
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is currently reviewing the relocation plan the two countries agreed on in 2006 to reduce the burden of residents in Okinawa, which hosts most of U.S. bases in Japan.
The United States has insisted that the present relocation plan to build V-shaped runways on reclaimed land in Henoko is the best option. Hatoyama has promised to resolve the standoff by the end of May.
(2010/04/27-11:28)
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