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| US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma |
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga expressed hope Thursday that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump will adopt a new policy toward U.S. military bases in Japan's southernmost prefecture.
Referring to drastic changes Trump has made since taking office on Jan. 20, Onaga said in a speech in Washington he hopes the new president will take U.S. policy on bases, including the controversial relocation of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, in "a better direction."
The bilateral policy concerning Okinawa has remained constant under previous Japanese and U.S. governments, leaving the island prefecture "full of bases," Onaga told the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at George Washington University.
"I don't think it will get any worse than today," he said.
"In that sense, I am forecasting some changes with President Trump.
"I hope he will lead us into a different direction."
Read the full story at The Mainichi