May 27 09:59 PM US/Eastern
TOKYO, May 28 (AP) - (Kyodo) — The following is a chronology of major events related to the relocation issue of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture.
September 1995 -- Three U.S. servicemen rape local schoolgirl in Okinawa, fueling anger among local residents.
April 1996 -- Japan, United States agree on return of Futenma base within five to seven years.
December 1996 -- Japan, United States agree to build heliport off east coast of main Okinawa Island and move Futenma's heliport functions. Sea off Nago's Henoko district near U.S. Marine Corps Camp Schwab considered as possible relocation site.
December 1997 -- Majority of Nago residents vote against relocation plan in referendum. But then Mayor Tetsuya Higa says city would accept the plan and offers to resign.
December 1999 -- Japanese government endorses plan to move Futenma to coastal area of Henoko, after Nago announces city would accept the military facility on several conditions, such as limiting its use to 15 years.
July 2002 -- Central government agrees with Okinawa prefectural government, local municipalities on basic construction plan to reclaim land off Henoko to build runway.
August 2004 -- Marine helicopter crashes in Okinawa International University in Ginowan.
April 2006 -- Tokyo agrees with Nago to construct two runways in V- shape formation on Camp Schwab's shores.
May 2006 -- Japan, U.S. agree on road map for realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, featuring plan to build V-shaped runways in coastal area of Camp Schwab, and move Futenma and transfer 8,000 Okinawa-based Marines to Guam, both by 2014.
December 2006 -- Hirokazu Nakaima takes office as Okinawa governor, demands runways be built further offshore than planned.
July 2008 -- Democratic Party of Japan unveils "Okinawa Vision 2008," seeking to move Futenma functions out of Okinawa, eventually outside Japan.
2009
Sept. 16 -- DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama takes office as prime minister, launches three-party coalition government.
Sept. 25 -- Hatoyama says premise of Futenma relocation is to move it out of Okinawa Prefecture.
2010
Jan. 24 -- Susumu Inamine, candidate opposed to relocation to Nago, wins city's mayoral election.
April 12 -- Hatoyama meets with Obama in Washington, promises conclusion of Futenma issue by end of May.
April 25 -- About 90,000 people rally in Okinawa, calling for Futenma to be moved out of Okinawa.
May 23 -- Hatoyama visits Okinawa and notifies Nakaima of central government's plan to move Futenma to area near the Henoko district in Nago, offers apology for giving up on earlier vow to move Futenma out of the prefecture.
May 28 -- Japan and the United States reach a fresh accord on the Futenma relocation, which is effectively on par with the existing plan under a 2006 Japan-U.S. accord.
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