Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine's tense expression while shaking hands with Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga and Prime Minister Junichiro Koiziumi last week told a lot about an agreement between him and the central government on the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The Okinawa governor and the central government agreed to deal with the relocation issue "on the basis of" a plan approved by the Japanese and U.S. governments May 1.
In dealing with the issue, the central and Okinawan governments agreed, among other things, to heed the removal of dangers inherent to Futenma Air Station, located in urban Ginowan, and ensure the safety of local residents concerned.
The government believes that the agreement gives a green light to the May 1 plan to build two 1,800-meter runways, including 200-meter overruns, in a V-shape on part of U.S. Marine Camp Schwab's land on Cape Henoko in the city of Nago and on reclaimed land in adjacent waters. It is said that the V-shape will help prevent U.S. military aircraft from flying over residential areas near the camp. But when asked at a news conference if he accepted the government's Futenma functions relocation plan, Gov. Inamine vehemently said no.