Japan’s defence chief Inada seeks support from Okinawa governor over US base relocation

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Japan’s new Defence Minister Tomomi Inada. Photo: AP

Published: 5:18pm, 24 Sep 2016Updated: 5:18pm, 24 Sep 2016

Defence Minister Tomomi Inada on Saturday sought support from Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga over a plan to relocate a US air base within the southern island prefecture, even as the dispute between Tokyo and Okinawa over the issue is set to be contested at the Supreme Court.

“Moving the base to the Henoko area is the policy of Prime Minister [Shinzo] Abe’s government,” Inada told Onaga in the prefectural capital Naha, referring to the site where the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is scheduled to be relocated despite intense opposition from Onaga and many local people.

Inada’s trip to Okinawa, her first since assuming the defence post in early August, came a day after Onaga appealed a court ruling that backed the relocation plan. A US fighter jet also crashed off Okinawa on Thursday, the latest in a series of accidents involving US military aircraft in the prefecture, which hosts the bulk of US military facilities in Japan.

Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada (third from right) meets with senior officials of the US Forces. Photo: Kyodo

In the upcoming trial following the high court ruling issued September 16, Inada said the central government will examine Okinawa’s arguments and make clear its position. But she also said it is “important to exchange opinions” along with the trial.

Onaga told Inada that he wants the central government to “sincerely” work to reduce the burden that Okinawa bears in hosting US troops, touching on the Futenma relocation issue and the crash of the US Marines AV-8 Harrier jet.