Following a revision by Japan and the United States in early February of a 2006 agreement on the realignment of U.S. military forces in Japan, various issues have cropped up that the Diet must scrutinize. But discussions there have not progressed since the government avoids giving specific answers.
Both the government and political parties must realize that the revision offers a chance to solve the issue of relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from the densely populated Okinawa Island city of Ginowan to less populated Henoko in the northern part of the island. They must do their best to use this opportunity to resolve the issue in a manner acceptable to Okinawans.
Although Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda flew to Okinawa on Sunday to apologize to Okinawans for the government's handling of the Futenma issue thus far, he should realize that the Okinawan people will not accept the Henoko plan as it stands. Mr. Noda must make concrete efforts to move Futenma's functions outside Okinawa Prefecture.