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| U.S. Marines Corps Futenma Air Station (File Photo) |
By Shannon Tiezzi
Tokyo will suspend construction on a new U.S. air base for one month in order to hold talks with Okinawan officials.
On August 4, Japan’s central government made the surprising announcement that it will temporarily halt construction on a controversial new U.S. air base in the Henoko district in Nago, Okinawa. The new base is supposed to replace the current U.S. Marines Corps Futenma Air Station, but local political opposition has kept the project stalled for nearly 20 years.
Tokyo’s announcement came after concerted efforts by Okinawa’s government to block the project. Okinawans believe the burden of hosting U.S. troops should be more evenly distributed across Japan, and want the Futenma base relocated out of Okinawa entirely. Many have been growing increasingly angry over Tokyo’s refusal to take local sentiment into account.
Okinawa’s governor, Takeshi Onaga, was elected in December 2014 after basing his platform on strong opposition to the Henoko base. Since taking office, Onaga has sought to suspend the work through legal action, while popular protests have indicated public discontent with the base construction. Onaga even visited the United States, hoping to win support or at least sympathy for the Okinawan point of view.
Read the full story at The Diplomat