Official: No Futenma decision before Obama trip

http://marinecorpstimes.com/news/2009/10/ap_futenma_japan_decision_102209/">Official: No Futenma decision before Obama trip
By Mari Yamaguchi - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Oct 22, 2009 7:05:51 EDT

TOKYO — Japan is unlikely to make a decision before President Barack Obama visits next month on the planned relocation of a major Marine Corps airfield, officials said Thursday.

U.S. and Japanese officials agreed three years ago to shift 8,000 Marines on the southern Japan island of Okinawa to the U.S. territory of Guam and to move the Futenma air field to near Camp Schwab, which is located in a less crowded area of Okinawa.

While the plan would lighten Okinawa’s share of hosting the roughly 47,000 U.S. troops in Japan, it has met with resistance from opponents who want the base closed completely and not replaced, or moved off Okinawa altogether.

The opposition has stalled efforts to settle on a final plan for where the base should be relocated, although the Camp Schwab area remains the most likely candidate.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who took office last month, has said he wants to review the agreement, which was made with Japan’s previous conservative leaders.


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