The central and Okinawa governments clashed in court Wednesday as the state sought to overrule Gov. Takeshi Onaga for blocking preparations to relocate a U.S. military base.

Onaga, who revoked permission for landfill work at the proposed new site for U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, appeared in person at the hearing at the Naha branch of the Fukuoka High Court.

He displayed rhetorical flair as he cast the dispute as a matter of national importance.