Okinawa residents against US base: Poll
A newly-released poll shows an overwhelming majority of residents on the Japanese island of Okinawa are against the relocation of a controversial US military base there.
The survey published by the newspaper Japan Times on Wednesday revealed that 76.1 percent of Okinawa residents are against “the construction of a new base” in the Henoko district of the southern city of Nago as a replacement for the US Futenma base.
In addition, the poll showed a majority of residents, 83 percent, support Okinawa Governor Takeshi Onaga, who has vowed to use every available means to stop the relocation plan.
On April 5, the Japanese government urged Onaga to concede in the row over the relocation, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga saying “we hope to get your understanding on the plan... for maintaining the deterrent power of the Japan-US alliance.”
Onaga, however, countered that any national security plan must have the Japanese people’s support, adding, “Okinawa never voluntarily offered [land] for bases.”
The US has had a major military presence in Okinawa since the end of World War II. About half of the 50,000 American military personnel in Japan are stationed on the island.
The deadlock over the base has been a major source of tension between Tokyo and Washington since 1996 when the two governments agreed on the original plan to move the base.
According to the relocation plans, the Futenma air base would be moved from Ginowan City to the thinly populated Henoko district in Nago, due to concerns over high levels of aircraft noise, accidents in civilian areas and rampant crimes, such as rape, by the US soldiers stationed at the base.
Many Henoko citizens are opposed to the construction of the military base, which they say would endanger the coral reef, tropical fish and other marine life.
However, Abe has persistently expressed his support for the project as his government considers it a key component to Japan's military alliance with the US.
CAH/NN/HRB
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