While Guam steps up preparations to host marines when their presence in Okinawa is downsized, possibly by 2014, tough negotiations are continuing between the prefecture and central government on the planned relocation base that must be operational before the move takes place.
At issue in the discussions is the placement of runways to be built at the relocation site in Nago for the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan in line with a 2006 Japan-U.S. agreement on the reorganization of the U.S. military in Japan.
The Futenma base relocation is symbolic of the overall reorganization and its success hinges greatly on whether the new air station can be completed smoothly. The downsizing and transfer to Guam will not only include Futenma marines but those at several other bases.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said central government officials and Okinawa leaders are trying to hold the next session of a joint panel on the Futenma issue in early April in a bid to make progress. But there is no guarantee the talks will lead to a breakthrough in the current impasse.