Japan PM agrees to talk with Okinawa over US base relocation

The Abe administration has been clashing for months with the Okinawa government over the latter's attempts to move the Futenma base from its present location to Henoko Bay, north of the prefecture's main island, EFE news reported.

Governor Onaga, who once accused Abe of looking down on Okinawa, said after his meeting with Abe, "I was elected governor on the platform of not allowing a new base in Henoko..."

The prevailing view among many government officials had been that the government would seek to settle the lawsuit by a court ruling, based on the judgment that suspending reclamation work would delay the entire relocation plan.

The Okinawa government has been locked in a legal battle with the central government over Futenma, demanding that Tokyo halt construction at Henoko.

The order was rejected, with the central government suing Okinawa and the latter, in turn, counter-suing.

Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga wants the base kicked out of the prefecture. The relocation is based on a 20-year-old bilateral agreement to reduce the burden of the US military presence on Okinawa.

Abe said he wants to avoid leaving the situation deadlocked "for years to come, a development that nobody wants to see".

Political analysts say the central government needs to remain cognizant of the feelings of the people of Okinawa and the history of their suffering before, during, and after WWII. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced on March 4 he has agreed to suspend construction of a controversial United States military facility in Okinawa.

The current base at Futenma, spread over 1,186 acres, is located in the centre of Ginowan town with a population of 94,000, surrounded by housings and public buildings, and has for years witnessed protests from citizens over the noise and possibility of accidents. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.

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Lawmakers unveil bill raising age to buy cigarettes to 21
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