The central government launched into an all-out battle with the Okinawa Prefectural Government on Tuesday, saying the prefecture's order to halt construction work for the planned relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is "illegal and obviously invalid."

Based on the administrative appeal law, the Defense Ministry filed a complaint with the agricultural and fisheries ministry over the order that the prefecture had lodged with the ministry's local bureau.

Farm and fisheries minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will examine the complaint and issue a ruling.