Okinawa governor revokes US base relocation approval

TOKYO - Governor Takeshi Onaga of Japan's Okinawa Prefecture on Tuesday officially revoked the approval for the relocation of a key US military base within the most southern island prefecture which issued by his predecessor to the Japanese central government.

Onaga's decision came after the central and Okinawa prefecture governments failed to reach a compromise over the relocation of the Futenma base to the Henoko region in their month-long consultation ending early September.

The central government, on the other hand, is expected to promptly take legal action to suspend the governor's revocation, the Kyodo News Agency reported.

Japan's central government intended to starting the relocation work this fall.

Onaga, who was elected governor in November 2014 on a platform of opposition to the controversial relocation plan, advocates relocation of the Futenma base outside Okinawa, as he and many local residents are seeking to reduce the burden on their prefecture that has long hosted the bulk of US forces in Japan.