Japan steps up plans to relocate controversial U.S. base within Okinawa

The government of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Friday agreed to complete and submit a key environmental study by the end of the year to officials in Okinawa Prefecture, in a bid to accelerate plans to relocate a controversial U.S. Marine base within the southernmost prefecture of Japan. In a meeting of Cabinet ministers on Friday it was also decided that Japan will continue to push for local support and understanding on the thorny issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Base, currently situated in the densely populated town of Ginowan, to Camp Schwab, on the northeast coast of the Okinawa island. The prefectural government of Okinawa as well as its citizens remain staunchly opposed to the idea and calls for the base to be moved off the island completely are becoming increasingly vociferous, despite the fact Japan inked a bilateral deal committing to the plan with the United States in 2006. Under the agreement, around 8,000 U.S. marines based in Okinawa will also be transferred to the U.S.-held Pacific island of Guam, a move that will also be largely financed by the Japanese side. Okinawan officials maintain that a military presence on the island has lead to a number of tragic accidents, an increase in violent crimes by U.S. service people and has negatively affected the environment. Local officials also claim that the relocation of the base to Camp Schwab and the planned construction of two new runways to facilitate operations there, will have a hugely detrimental affect on the environment as the runways will be partly built over a rare corral reef. Japan's relationship with its key security ally have been severely tested over the issue and Noda is keen to rebuild bridges with Washington following the ruling Democratic Party of Japan ( DPJ) flip-flopping over the issue following the party's rise to power in 2009. Friday's decision to move on plans to conclude an environmental assessment on the impact of relocating the base, come ahead of U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's planned three-day visit to Japan from Monday. Panetta's weeklong Asian tour includes visits to Indonesia, Japan and South Korea. Panetta will meet with senior government officials as well as U.S. troops and aside from the Futenma issue he is also expected to hold talks here on Japan's interest in buying U.S.-made, next-generation fighter jets.