April 22, 2010
Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press) -- The United States wants the helicopter unit of a controversial Marine base in Okinawa Prefecture to be located within 65 nautical miles, or about 120 kilometers, of its ground troops, even after the base's relocation, according to a senior Japanese government official.
The United States has requested Japan to ensure that the condition will be met in any relocation plan for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station in the southernmost Japan prefecture, the official said.
The government of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is currently considering plans to transfer the Futenma base's chopper unit to an inland area of the Marines' Camp Schwab in Nago, Okinawa, and Kagoshima Prefecture's Tokunoshima Island, north of Okinawa.
By citing the acceptable distance in specific terms, the United States has apparently signaled its opposition to the proposed relocation to Tokunoshima, which is located about 180 kilometers away from Camp Schwab, where ground troops are stationed.
Japan and the United States agreed in 2006 to transfer the functions of the Futenma base, now in the city of Ginowan, to a coastal area of Camp Schwab as part of a broader accord on the realignment of U.S. troops in Japan.
(2010/04/22-12:47)
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