New Okinawa Governor Voices Resolve to Block U.S. Base Relocation

October 5, 2018

Naha, Okinawa Pref.- New Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki reiterated on Thursday his determination to stop the planned relocation of a U.S. military base within the southernmost Japan prefecture.

In an inaugural press conference at the prefectural office in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, Tamaki said he will "take over the wishes of the late Governor Takeshi Onaga."

Onaga, Tamaki's predecessor, opposed the central government's plan to build a replacement facility in the Henoko coastal district in Nago to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station, located in Ginowan. Onaga died of cancer in August.

"I will dedicate all my strength into blocking the construction of a new military base (in Henoko)," Tamaki said.

Tamaki won a four-year term as governor of Okinawa in Sunday's election, defeating another candidate supported by the ruling coalition.

At a press conference in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said relocating the Futenma base to Henoko is "the sole solution to maintain the deterrent capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance and remove the danger posed by the base." The Futenma base is located in a densely populated area.

The relocation plan has been stalled since late August when the prefectural government withdrew its approval for the landfill work needed to construct the new facility.

Mentioning a possible lawsuit by the central government over the withdrawal of the approval, Tamaki said that the prefectural government's decision was "legitimate." "I would like to do everything I can so that the prefecture's claim will be recognized," he said.

Tamaki expressed a negative view on whether the prefectural government will suggest an alternative proposal to the central government.

He said that it was "primarily" up to the United States' side to operate U.S. forces and that there is "no need" for Okinawa to pinpoint an area for the Futenma relocation.

Tamaki said he will put a priority on fighting poverty among children in steering the prefectural government. "I would like to realize a proud and prosperous Okinawa, with the motto of putting Okinawans' lives first." Jiji Press