Japan anti-base mayor critical of new US deal

WASHINGTON—A mayor who has fought to close a flashpoint US base on Japan’s Okinawa island voiced opposition Thursday to a deal that could see thousands of US troops leaving, saying his core concern remained.

The United States and Japan said Wednesday that they were “delinking” a package that tied the departure of soldiers from Okinawa to progress in a long-running row over the Futenma Marine base on the subtropical island.

Under a 2006 deal reached after years of talks, some 8,000 Marines would leave Okinawa for Guam and Futenma — located in the densely populated city of Ginowan — would be shifted to a quieter coastline in Nago city.

But the plan made little headway as some Japanese politicians and activists pressed for a greater pullout of US troops and many residents of Nago resisted playing host to the relocated Marine base.

Nago’s Mayor Susumu Inamine, on a visit to Washington to explain his criticism of the Futenma relocation, said that the latest statement between the two governments has not changed his view.

“I think that the relocation of the Marines to Guam and other parts of the world would mitigate our burden to some extent,” Inamine told a news conference.

“However, we are concerned that it may lead to the permanent existence of Futenma. We should not allow this to happen because we have been working on this issue for the past 16 years,” he said.

Inamine, who held meetings at the State Department, Pentagon and Congress, said that he found sympathy from some lawmakers as they are looking for ways to cut spending by the US government.

The United States stations some 47,000 troops in Japan under an alliance reached after World War II, when Tokyo was forced to renounce the right to wage war.

While few Japanese seek a complete withdrawal of US forces, many local residents resent the noise from bases and complain of the risk of accidents and crime associated with a large presence of young soldiers.

According to Japanese press reports, the United States now plans to shift 4,700 Marines from Okinawa to Guam with another 3,300 to be located around locations such as Hawaii, the Philippines and possibly mainland Japan.

US officials have declined to speak of specific numbers, saying it is premature.

Despite plans for budget cuts, the US military has kept a priority on maintaining strength in Asia as China rapidly expands its armed forces. Okinawa lies strategically close to Taiwan, which is claimed by Beijing.