Hearings to begin over battle on moving US base in Okinawa

Anti-US base protesters hold placards with a slogan that reads: “No to Henoko new base” during a rally in Tokyo, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015. Protesters showed their strong support to Okinawans after the Japanese government took the local government in Okinawa to court in mid-November, launching a legal battle in their longstanding dispute over the planned relocation of a US military air base on the southern island. AP

TOKYO — Hearings are due to begin in a legal battle between the Japanese government and the local government in Okinawa over plans to move a US military air base on the southern island.

The hearing Wednesday is for a lawsuit filed by the central government seeking to overturn Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga’s cancellation of an earlier local approval for land reclamation needed for the base’s relocation.

The long-stalled plan would move the US Marine Air Station Futenma from a densely populated neighborhood to the island’s seaside Henoko Bay. Many residents want the base moved out of the prefecture, and have picketed the area, trying to prevent construction equipment from entering.

Tokyo briefly suspended the reclamation work earlier this year while seeking a compromise with Onaga, but has since resumed the work.

RELATED STORIES

Philippines to open base near disputed sea even without US

Philippines to offer up to five bases for US troops