Japan Press Weekly

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2015 September 2 - 8 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Talks on US base construction in Okinawa break down

The negotiations between the central and prefectural governments on the construction of a new U.S. base in Okinawa broke down on September 7. At a press conference following the negotiations, Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi expressed his firm determination to block the construction project.

Since the national government suspended the construction work in the Henoko coastal district on August 10, the state and the prefectural authorities have intensively negotiated over the construction issue. The fifth and final round of the talks took place on September 7 at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo with PM Abe and Governor Onaga attending.

Even in that final meeting, Abe turned a deaf ear to the governor’s request to give up on the planned construction.

After the meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide told reporters that the state will resume the preparatory work for the base construction around the middle of September after the prefectural authorities complete their survey of the seabed.

PM Abe said that he will push ahead with the project with all his strength, again stressing the need to “relocate” to Henoko the U.S. Futenma Air Station which is located in a densely populated area.

Meanwhile, Governor Onaga said to reporters, “I will stop the construction work using every means in my power.” The governor has indicated that by the end of September he will cancel his predecessor’s permission for state authorities to fill in the waters.

If the permission is revoked, the state will lose its legal grounds to continue with the construction. The central government reportedly plans to file a lawsuit against the prefecture if this comes about.

On the same day, a rally to encourage the governor took place in front of the gate of U.S. Camp Schwab adjacent to the construction site with about 200 people from inside and outside Okinawa participating.

A 77-year-old man from Okinawa City, Miyagi Toyomitsu, said, “Continuing our sit-in protests here will lead to supporting the governor.”

Kamei Miori, 20, came to the site from Tokyo with four friends in order to see the reality of Okinawa with her own eyes. “I’ll work to increase public opposition to the base construction by making more people aware of the reality of Okinawa,” she said.

Past related article:
> Okinawa gov’t starts undersea environmental survey at US base construction site [September 1, 2015]