By David Pilling in Tokyo and Demetri Sevastopulo in Washington, Financial Times
Published: Jan 19, 2006
The Pentagon and Japan's defence agency have agreed to accelerate discussions over relocating a US military base within Okinawa.
Last October, the US and Japan reached a deal under which Japan agreed to the reconfiguration of bases that will eventually lead to a reduction of 7,000 in the roughly 50,000 troops stationed in Japan.
That accord, reached after nearly a decade of wrangling, included the relocation of a Marines heliport from Futenma on Okinawa, the strategically important island in Japan's far south, where the bulk of the US military is located. The deal is part of a broader realignment of the US military globally, aimed at building a more flexible force better adapted to post-cold war security challenges.
During meetings with Donald Rumsfeld, US defence secretary, in Washington, Fukushiro Nukaga, director-general of Japan's defence agency, agreed on the need for a concrete relocation plan by March.
Mr Nukaga said he had urged further compromises towards reaching an agreement. He declined to say what compromises he sought.
Takao Toshikawa, a political analyst, said the topic under discussion was almost certainly the relocation of the Futenma airbase heliport function to Nago.
US and Japanese officials said Mr Nukaga had not sought major concessions. A Japanese diplomat said Mr Nukaga was simply calling for "flexibility" during negotiations.
A US defence official said both sides underscored the importance of preventing minor obstacles from derailing the process.
The October agreement ran into opposition on Okinawa, where politicians and activists have vowed to fight it on grounds of environmental damage and the perception that Okinawa already has enough bases.
The resistance of Okinawa, a culturally distinct island prefecture often at odds with mainland Japan, calls into question Tokyo's ability to implement the deal struck at national level with Washington. At least two of the three candidates in this Sunday's mayoral election in Nago City, the proposed site of the heliport, have vowed outright opposition to the facility.
The third candidate, endorsed by the ruling Liberal Democratic party, has hinted that he may accept the base on some conditions. These could form the basis of Mr Nukaga's proposals, analysts said.
Peter Rodman, assistant secretary of defence for international security affairs, said the Japanese government would have to deal with its own domestic political issues.
Yoshitami Oshiro, the candidate for Nago mayor who has taken the strongest opposing stance, said: "If I win, both the Japanese and the US governments will have to give up the base."
Many Okinawans also oppose US bases because of the danger of aircraft or helicopters crashing into built-up surrounding residential areas.
Yesterday, aides to Keiichi Inamine, governor of Okinawa, called for the suspension of air drills after an F-15 fighter jet crashed into the sea on Tuesday.
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