Asia-Pacific

US, Japan to keep US Marine base in Okinawa

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-05-28 10:23

Hercules military aircraft are parked on the tarmac at US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan on Okinawa in this May 3, 2010 file photo. [Agencies]

TOKYO -- Washington and Tokyo agreed Friday to keep a contentious US Marine base on the Japanese island of Okinawa, reaffirming the importance of their security alliance and the need to maintain American troops in the country.

In a joint statement, the two allies agreed to move the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, a less crowded part of the southern island. The decision is broadly in line with a 2006 deal, but represents a major broken campaign promise on the part of Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

Related readings:  Japan, US agree to relocate Futenma base in Okinawa  PM: Base to stay at Okinawa  Okinawa locals rally to demand relocation of US base  Anti-base mayor's win casts new doubt on Okinawa

Hatoyama came to office in September promising to move the Marine base off the island. But after months of searching and fruitless discussions with Washington and Okinawan officials, the prime minister said the base needed to stay in Okinawa.

His decision has angered tens of thousands of island residents who complain about base-related noise, pollution and crime.

US military officials and security experts argued it is essential that Futenma remain on Okinawa because its helicopters and air assets support Marine infantry units based on the island. Moving the facility off the island could slow the Marines' coordination and response in times of emergency.

The two countries said an environmental impact assessment and construction of the replacement facility should proceed "without significant delay."

The US and Japan "recognized that a robust forward presence of US military forces in Japan, including in Okinawa, provides the deterrence and capabilities necessary for the defense of Japan and for the maintenance of regional stability," said the statement, which was issued by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa.

Protestors demonstrate against US bases in Okinawa in front of the Okinawa prefectural government offices, in Naha, on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa , May 23, 2010. [Agencies]