The top commander of U.S. forces in Japan on Thursday told Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada it would be difficult to transfer U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa to nearby U.S. Kadena Air Base, a government source said.
U.S. Forces Japan Commander Lt. Gen. Edward Rice cited difficulties with the plan from the viewpoint of military operations during talks with Okada and Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, the source said.
The talks in Tokyo were held to discuss the Futenma issue, which is increasingly becoming a source of friction in Japan-U.S. ties.