Gov't seeks talks with Okinawa on base issues

July 31, 2010
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The Japanese government is planning to set up regular consultative meetings with the prefecture of Okinawa in the hope of resolving the stalemated relocation of a US base on the island.

The Japanese and US governments agreed in May to relocate the functions of US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within Okinawa after Japan failed to find an alternative site outside Okinawa.

However, the people of Okinawa are demanding the base be moved off the island and remain strongly opposed to the plan.

Last week, at a meeting in Vietnam, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton acknowledged that support of the Okinawan people is indispensable for a successful relocation of the base.

The Japanese government hopes that the regular meetings would mend the lack of communication between the government and Okinawa.

In response, Okinawa Prefecture is asking that promotion of the local economy be included on the agenda for the talks.

In the hope of starting pragmatic talks, the government will send an official to Okinawa as early as the middle of August to negotiate conditions which would reflect the thoughts of the Okinawan side.

2010/07/31 13:38(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)