Japan to discuss new deadline for ending Futenma base operations

April 10, 2019

Tokyo--The Japanese government agreed Wednesday to discuss a new deadline for halting operations at the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air base in the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.

The agreement was made at a meeting in Tokyo of the Japanese government, the prefectural government and the municipal government of Ginowan, which hosts the base.

The central government accepted a request by the Ginowan municipal government to discuss a new deadline after the old one expired at the end of February.

Ginowan Mayor Masanori Matsugawa told the meeting that a new deadline should be set to ease concerns among local residents.

The meeting was held to discuss ways to remove dangers posed by the Futenma base, located in a densely populated area.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki reiterated his request to launch dialogue among the Japanese, U.S. and prefectural governments on the construction of a military facility in Nago, another Okinawa city, to relocate the Futenma base.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga replied by saying that the central government sees no need for such a three-way dialogue because Tokyo and Washington are discussing the matter. Tamaki strongly opposes the relocation plan. Jiji Press