TOKYO: Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stated on Monday that the controversial relocation of a US military base in Okinawa will not be behind schedule regardless of a referendum that noticed voters reject the transfer.
"It has been 20 years since Japan and the US agreed" to relocate the Futenma base, Abe stated. "We cannot delay this any further."
His comments came after voters in Okinawa rejected the relocation plan in a non-binding referendum over the weekend.
Some 72 p.c voted towards the transfer, with 19 p.c in favour in a vote that drew 52 p.c of eligible voters, officials stated.
Abe stated he approved the end result "sincerely" and would seek "understanding" from Okinawa citizens on his choice to transport ahead with the relocation.
"We have spent many years holding dialogue with people in the prefecture. We will continue our dialogue so that we can gain their understanding," Abe stated.
"Reducing the burden of Okinawa is a major responsibility for the central government... we will continue our utmost efforts towards a reduction of the burden related to hosting bases."
Okinawa accounts for not up to one p.c of Japan's overall land space, however it reluctantly hosts more than half of the approximately 47,000 American military body of workers.
The heavy US military presence has frustrated native citizens with problems ranging from noise and army accidents to crime involving base citizens.
To ease tensions, the United States and Japan agreed in 1996 to transport Futenma from its present closely populated location to a far flung coastal web page being constructed in part via land reclamation.
Opponents of the transfer need to see the base relocated outdoor of Okinawa, arguing accountability for webhosting US troops should be extra evenly spread throughout Japan.
Okinawa citizens have elected governors hostile to the transfer, including incumbent Denny Tamaki, who came into administrative center closing year.
But Abe's govt has shown no signal of willingness to rethink.
"It has been 20 years since Japan and the US agreed" to relocate the Futenma base, Abe stated. "We cannot delay this any further."
His comments came after voters in Okinawa rejected the relocation plan in a non-binding referendum over the weekend.
Some 72 p.c voted towards the transfer, with 19 p.c in favour in a vote that drew 52 p.c of eligible voters, officials stated.
Abe stated he approved the end result "sincerely" and would seek "understanding" from Okinawa citizens on his choice to transport ahead with the relocation.
"We have spent many years holding dialogue with people in the prefecture. We will continue our dialogue so that we can gain their understanding," Abe stated.
"Reducing the burden of Okinawa is a major responsibility for the central government... we will continue our utmost efforts towards a reduction of the burden related to hosting bases."
Okinawa accounts for not up to one p.c of Japan's overall land space, however it reluctantly hosts more than half of the approximately 47,000 American military body of workers.
The heavy US military presence has frustrated native citizens with problems ranging from noise and army accidents to crime involving base citizens.
To ease tensions, the United States and Japan agreed in 1996 to transport Futenma from its present closely populated location to a far flung coastal web page being constructed in part via land reclamation.
Opponents of the transfer need to see the base relocated outdoor of Okinawa, arguing accountability for webhosting US troops should be extra evenly spread throughout Japan.
Okinawa citizens have elected governors hostile to the transfer, including incumbent Denny Tamaki, who came into administrative center closing year.
But Abe's govt has shown no signal of willingness to rethink.
Okinawa 'no' vote won't delay US base move: Japan PM
![Okinawa 'no' vote won't delay US base move: Japan PM]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
February 26, 2019
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