People in Okinawa have expressed little hope that Joe Biden, who became the U.S. president-elect Saturday, will review a controversial Japan-U.S. plan to relocate a key military base within the southernmost island prefecture.
"Whoever becomes president, Okinawa's problems, including the issue of moving (the base) to Henoko, will remain unresolved unless the Japanese government acts as the main actor," said Hiroshi Ashitomi, 74, a representative of a local anti-U.S. base group.
Most Okinawa residents oppose the planned transfer of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, located in the center of the city of Ginowan, to the less populated coastal area of Henoko in Nago.