The U.S. wants to move its fleet of KC-130 aerial refueling tankers based in Okinawa Prefecture to the Marine Corps' base in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, instead of the Maritime Self-Defense Force base in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture, as currently planned, it was learned Sunday.
According to sources, Tokyo has already replied that it is opposed to the idea. Moving the planes, which provide in-air refueling, to Kanoya from Futenma Air Station in central Okinawa was included in an interim report on U.S. military realignment in Japan that was agreed to by the two governments in October.
Most local governments named in the report as possible hosts for the U.S. military have expressed opposition, and central government officials fear that reviewing any component of it would lead to an escalation of demands for the entire document to be amended, the sources said.
However, depending on how the U.S. deals with the KC-130 issue, the final realignment report, slated to be completed in March, may be delayed, they added.
In the 1996 final report by the Special Action Committee on Okinawa detailing the relocation of Futenma, the KC-130s were to be relocated to Iwakuni. The October interim report says alternative facilities will be considered, "with priority consideration" given to the MSDF Kanoya base. It added, however, that the final decision would be made "based on ongoing operational and engineering studies."
It is unclear why the U.S. is now opting for Iwakuni, but sources said Washington may be dissatisfied with the transportation infrastructure around Kanoya, or may be looking to concentrate Marine Corps operations in Iwakuni.