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Okinawa row: Japan and US drop Futenma airbase deadline | Okinawa row: Japan and US drop Futenma airbase deadline |
(40 minutes later) | |
Japan and the US have agreed to drop a 2014 deadline to move a controversial US airbase on the island of Okinawa. | Japan and the US have agreed to drop a 2014 deadline to move a controversial US airbase on the island of Okinawa. |
Officials from both nations said the Futenma airbase, near the provincial capital of Naha, would be moved "at the earliest possible date after 2014". | Officials from both nations said the Futenma airbase, near the provincial capital of Naha, would be moved "at the earliest possible date after 2014". |
But they did not specify a date for the relocation. | |
Both governments have endorsed a plan to move the base to a less populated part of the island, but opponents say that would devastate marine life. | |
Many locals supported a plan by former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to move the base off Okinawa entirely. | |
But Mr Hatoyama was forced to resign last year after he admitted he could not keep his promise to move the base off the island. | |
Many Okinawans feel that they shoulder too much of the burden of the 50-year-old US-Japan defence alliance. | Many Okinawans feel that they shoulder too much of the burden of the 50-year-old US-Japan defence alliance. |
About half of the US military personnel based in Japan are in Okinawa, and the island hosts some three-quarters of the bases. | About half of the US military personnel based in Japan are in Okinawa, and the island hosts some three-quarters of the bases. |
Under a 2006 agreement, the US had promised to relocate the Futenma base, and to move some 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to the island of Guam. | Under a 2006 agreement, the US had promised to relocate the Futenma base, and to move some 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to the island of Guam. |
But in a joint statement, the two countries said: "Completion of the FRF [Futenma Replacement Facility] and the Marine relocation will not meet the previously targeted date of 2014." | But in a joint statement, the two countries said: "Completion of the FRF [Futenma Replacement Facility] and the Marine relocation will not meet the previously targeted date of 2014." |
Protests over the issue have erupted sporadically in recent decades. | Protests over the issue have erupted sporadically in recent decades. |
One came in 1972, when reversion from US to Japan rule did not result in base closures. | One came in 1972, when reversion from US to Japan rule did not result in base closures. |
Another came in 1995 after a 12-year-old girl was raped by three US troops. | Another came in 1995 after a 12-year-old girl was raped by three US troops. |