Japan government notified of ending talks to buy U.S. training site

May 11, 2019

Tokyo--Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Friday the ministry has been notified of the termination of talks for the purchase of a southwestern Japan island, a candidate site for U.S. military training, by the main landowner.

The ministry received the notice from the Tokyo-based land developer that owns most of the island of Mageshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, Iwaya said at a press conference.

The island is a candidate site for hosting the U.S. military's field carrier landing practice operations. In 2011, Japan and the United States agreed to consider relocating the FCLP operations from Iwojima, formally Iwoto, a remote Pacific island belonging to Tokyo.

Iwaya said, "It's necessary to continue negotiations with the landowner to reach an agreement."

In January, the ministry reached basic agreement with the firm to buy the island for 16 billion yen. "This agreement will serve as the basis for talks," Iwaya said.

Following the agreement, the firm's president was replaced due to a boardroom feud, ministry sources said. The new president has asked the ministry to increase the purchase price, the sources said.

"The company's notice is part of its maneuvering to win a higher price," a senior ministry official said. Jiji Press