A Japanese court ordered the governor of Okinawa to approve the central government’s plan for landfill work at a planned relocation site for a U.S. military base. The ruling will allow suspended construction for a key Marine Corps facility and provide a home for MV-22 Ospreys deployed at Futenma. The ruling overrides Gov. Denny Tamaki’s disapproval and orders him to issue the approval within three working days.
Tensions with China and the strategic importance of Okinawa are growing for the Japan-U.S. military alliance. The reclamation work at the site has a cost of 930 billion yen, 2.5 times the initial estimate, and may take 12 years to finish.
Local government has no power to stop construction work unless the Supreme Court overturns the decision. Japan has long tussled with Okinawa over the relocation of the Futenma base, with Tokyo and Washington saying Okinawa is the only solution. Tamaki is calling for a significant reduction of the U.S. military on the island. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the government will continue to make an effort for the return of the Futenma air station as soon as possible.
