Okinawa Chief Tells LDP of Opposition to Futenma Relocation Plan

October 12, 2018

Tokyo- Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki told a senior Japanese ruling party official on Thursday that he opposes the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station within the southernmost Japan prefecture.

"I stand in opposition to the relocation plan as I succeed the will of the late Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga," Tamaki said in a meeting with Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party.

This was the first meeting between the two since Tamaki won the Okinawa gubernatorial election in late September by beating three contenders including a candidate supported by the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito. The election was held after Onaga died of cancer in August.

Based on Japan-U.S. agreements, the Futenma base in Ginowan, Okinawa, is planned to be relocated to the Henoko coastal district in Nago, another city in Okinawa.

At the meeting, Tamaki said he believes that the development of Okinawa will contribute to the development of Japan, seeking support from the LDP for earmarking enough funds for reviving the Okinawa economy under the central government's budget for fiscal 2019.

Nikai said, "We hope to work with Okinawa in areas of common interest," citing the importance of improving the lives of people in the prefecture.

Tamaki is set to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga will join the meeting. Jiji Press