Onaga gov Revokes Approval for U.S. Base Relocation in Okinawa

Okinawa Government Takeshi Onaga has officially revoked the approval of relocating a U.S. army base within Okinawa prefecture. The approval of relocation was decided by the former governor Nakaima two years ago, but it has been officially turned around by the newly inaugurated Onaga. Onaga, elected as the Okinawa governor last year, is on a platform of opposition to the controversial relocation plan. He is trying to prevent U.S. army base from moving to Nago Henoko. Onaga is expressing his point as it is too much for U.S. army bases to be located heavily concentrated in his Okinawa prefecture.

Land filled area was supported to be the new U.S. army base in Nago Henoko however, Onaga said that "there is no clear basis to move the army base. We cannot accept landfill work as there is no need for it." Notification is set to be sent to the Japanese Defense Agency on Wednesday for the revoke of the relocation.

On the other hand, Japanese Defense Agency is not satisfied with the action of Okinawa prefecture and Onaga. They said, "There is no reason to stop and change the original plan. It is illegal to revoke the decisions."  The Japanese Defense Agency wants to keep working on the construction. They are going to carry out the procedure needed to suspend the execution of approval revocation to be invalid by administrative appeal act.

While Onaga will do anything to prevent the relocation plan for the U.S. army the Japanese Defense Agency is planning to carry out the landfill work and construction as it was planned. The plan is to start the actual body construction for the base in Henoko coastal areas early next month.

The conflict between the two parties is going to be even more intense.