May 26 04:49 AM US/Eastern
TOKYO, May 26 (AP) - (Kyodo) — The leader of the Social Democratic Party -- Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's junior coalition partner -- said Wednesday she will not accept a government policy on relocating a U.S. Marine base in Okinawa Prefecture even if it does not specify where to move the controversial base.
Mizuho Fukushima, who serves as the consumer affairs minister in Hatoyama's Cabinet, said at a press conference that she "will not sign" a document of government policy on the issue if the government conceals the name of the relocation site from the public while agreeing with the U.S. government on a specific site.
The government "will never be able to win people's support with such a double standard," Fukushima said.
She added that the SDP is "clearly opposed" to the current plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to the Henoko area of Okinawa due to an expected environmental impact.
Hatoyama on Sunday unveiled a plan to move the military base from the populous Ginowan to a coastal area near the Henoko district in Nago even though the prime minister promised ahead of last summer's general election that he would seek to relocate the base "at least" outside the prefecture.
As the disagreement intensifies, the focus is now on whether Fukushima will remain within the Cabinet. But she did not answer the question, only suggesting Hatoyama will make a decision.
The SDP head also indicated the party will not immediately leave the ruling coalition led by Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan, which also comprises the People's New Party.
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