Onodera, Nakaima discuss U.S. base plan

NAHA, OKINAWA PREF. – Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera sought support Saturday from Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima for a plan to return a number of U.S. military facilities in the prefecture to Japanese control.

“I believe the plan will contribute to further developing Okinawa,” Onodera told Nakaima in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture.

Nakaima responded: “I hope the government will continue making efforts so the facilities and areas will actually be returned.”

The meeting took place a day after Tokyo and Washington agreed that land south of U.S. Kadena Air Base should revert to Japan between the current fiscal year and fiscal 2028, or later.

Under the new bilateral agreement, at least 1,048 hectares of land south of the U.S. Air Force’s Kadena base is supposed to be returned, but more than 90 percent of it is to be reverted only after replacement facilities are provided in Okinawa or marines ba. ed in the prefecture relocate outside of Japan.

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Apr 7, 2013

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2013-04-20