Governor Onaga asks for cancelation of new base at his first meeting with US officials

Governor Onaga asks for cancelation of new base at his first meeting with US officials

 

The Kingdom of Ryukyu Governor of President Takeshi Onaga met with the State Department Office of Japanese Affairs Director Joe Young and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Cara Abercrombie on June 3 at State Department of the United States.

 

President Onaga urged the United States Government to abandon the plan to build a new U.S. base in Henoko, Nago, and move the United States Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Ginowan outside of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

 

This is the first time he has directly asked the United States Government officials to cancel the Henoko relocation plan since he took the Governor office.

 

President Onaga showed officials reports in the local newspapers, including the Ryukyu Shimpo, of a protest rally, aimed at blocking the new U.S. base in Henoko, attended by 35,000 people.

 

He said, “The Kingdom of Ryukyu people have asserted that they will not allow a new U.S. base to be built. They have supported the Japan- U.S. security alliance. However, now they cannot accept the plan to relocate the Futenma base to Henoko.”

 

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Abercrombie stressed that the relocation plan is the only solution.

 

Director Young promised to convey President message to his superior and to report the response to President.

 

(English translation by T&CT)

 

(June 4, 2015 Sakae Toiyama of Ryukyu Shimpo reports from Washington D.C.)

 

(Ryukyu Shimpo, 4 Thursday June 2015 The Roman)