Government vow to reduce burdens on Okinawa
The government and the Liberal Democratic Party have been making all-out efforts to reduce the burden placed on Okinawa Prefecture by hosting U.S. military bases, as they eye the forthcoming Okinawa gubernatorial election to be held in November.
They have proposed a temporary relocation of U.S. military aircraft, currently stationed at U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to Saga Prefecture, and a considering creating a new subsidy system which will provide financial aid to prefectural governments that accommodate U.S. military aircraft.
Concerning the gubernatorial election, incumbent Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has suggested he is willing to run again.
But strong criticism against him remains among residents of the prefecture, over his approval of the reclamation of a coastal area of Henoko district in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, where an alternative facility to Futenma Air Station is to be built.
Therefore, the government and the LDP, which want to relocate the air station to the Henoko district smoothly, are trying to show other visible benefits.
For this reason the government and LDP are making a concerted effort to introduce measures to reduce the burden of Futenma Air Station on local residents.
On Tuesday, the government proposed to Saga prefectural government that the U.S. forces’ MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft stationed at Fu-tenma Air Station use Saga Airport until the base relocation is completed.
The government also asked the Saga prefectural government to accept a plan whereby Ospreys operated by the Ground Self-Defense Force will be deployed at the airport.
In connection with the GSDF proposal, Nakaima told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday evening, “Nothing would be a greater delight for me than if the government moves as many Osprey aircraft as possible.”
Relocation of KC-130 aerial refueling planes, operated by the U.S. forces and stationed until recently at Futenma Air Station, to U.S. forces’ Iwakuni Base in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, started on July 15.
The series of efforts are in line with Nakaima’s request that operations at Futenma Air Station be halted within five years.
An increasing number of LDP members have become enthusiastic toward carrying out the relocation of the air station. A senior LDP official said, “We need to give as much consideration as possible to the situation in Okinawa Prefecture.”
Also, the government plans to create a subsidy system for financial aid to prefectural governments, in addition to municipal governments already eligible to receive some subsidies.
The measure is for local governments that accept heavier burdens along with relocation of U.S. military aircraft to Japan’s main islands.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference Tuesday about the new subsidy system, “We should take measures to reduce Okinawa Prefecture’s burdens in a responsible manner. Considering such a system is natural in a way.”
Like Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is accommodating U.S. aerial refueling plans at Iwakuni base, the Saga prefectural government will be eligible to receive the new subsidy if Saga Airport accepts U.S. military aircraft.
Govt, LDP vow to reduce burdens on Okinawa Pref. - The Japan News
The government and the Liberal Democratic Party have been making all-out efforts to reduce the burden placed on Okinawa Prefecture by hosting U.S. military bases, as they eye the forthcoming Okinawa gubernatorial election to be held in November.
They have proposed a temporary relocation of U.S. military aircraft, currently stationed at U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to Saga Prefecture, and a considering creating a new subsidy system which will provide financial aid to prefectural governments that accommodate U.S. military aircraft.
Concerning the gubernatorial election, incumbent Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has suggested he is willing to run again.
But strong criticism against him remains among residents of the prefecture, over his approval of the reclamation of a coastal area of Henoko district in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, where an alternative facility to Futenma Air Station is to be built.
Therefore, the government and the LDP, which want to relocate the air station to the Henoko district smoothly, are trying to show other visible benefits.
For this reason the government and LDP are making a concerted effort to introduce measures to reduce the burden of Futenma Air Station on local residents.
On Tuesday, the government proposed to Saga prefectural government that the U.S. forces’ MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft stationed at Fu-tenma Air Station use Saga Airport until the base relocation is completed.
The government also asked the Saga prefectural government to accept a plan whereby Ospreys operated by the Ground Self-Defense Force will be deployed at the airport.
In connection with the GSDF proposal, Nakaima told reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday evening, “Nothing would be a greater delight for me than if the government moves as many Osprey aircraft as possible.”
Relocation of KC-130 aerial refueling planes, operated by the U.S. forces and stationed until recently at Futenma Air Station, to U.S. forces’ Iwakuni Base in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, started on July 15.
The series of efforts are in line with Nakaima’s request that operations at Futenma Air Station be halted within five years.
An increasing number of LDP members have become enthusiastic toward carrying out the relocation of the air station. A senior LDP official said, “We need to give as much consideration as possible to the situation in Okinawa Prefecture.”
Also, the government plans to create a subsidy system for financial aid to prefectural governments, in addition to municipal governments already eligible to receive some subsidies.
The measure is for local governments that accept heavier burdens along with relocation of U.S. military aircraft to Japan’s main islands.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference Tuesday about the new subsidy system, “We should take measures to reduce Okinawa Prefecture’s burdens in a responsible manner. Considering such a system is natural in a way.”
Like Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is accommodating U.S. aerial refueling plans at Iwakuni base, the Saga prefectural government will be eligible to receive the new subsidy if Saga Airport accepts U.S. military aircraft.
Govt, LDP vow to reduce burdens on Okinawa Pref. - The Japan News
