TOKYO \u2014 Deadlock over the controversial relocation of a US military base in southern Japan deepened Friday when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met the anti-base governor of Okinawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two men remained as far apart as ever after a 30-minute meeting that analysts said was largely Abe going through the motions of consultation ahead of a key trip to the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Takeshi Onaga told reporters he asked Abe “to tell President Obama that the governor of Okinawa and his people are clearly against” plans to build a new facility on the semi-tropical island’s coast in exchange for the shuttering of Futenma airbase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The issue has queered relations between Tokyo and Okinawa, a once independent kingdom that was annexed by Japan in the 19th century, for nearly two decades, and is an irritant in ties with Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Okinawa is home to more than half of the 47,000 US service personnel stationed in Japan as part of a defence alliance, a proportion many islanders say is too high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Futenma, whose busy runway sits in the middle of a densely-populated city, has become emblematic of that ill-will since Washington announced plans to move it in 1996, in what the US hoped would ease tensions with the host community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Locals have blocked the move, insisting the facility should go off-island instead, and last year elected the vehemently anti-base Onaga, who is determined to block construction of the new base on the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The standoff between Tokyo and Okinawa has hardened over recent weeks, with demonstrations near the construction site, putting pressure on Abe to ease tensions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the start of Friday’s meeting, Abe pledged he will “work towards reducing burdens” on Okinawa, but insisted the current plan “is the only solution”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Onaga hit back that three recent popular votes in Okinawa all “showed overwhelming opposition by Okinawans to the construction of a new base.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Okinawa has never voluntarily offered to host bases,” he said, noting that lands were seized during the post-World War II US occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Takehiko Yamamoto, an international politics expert, said Abe is unlikely to compromise on the move, which Washington has repeatedly said is what it wants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Abe “needs to do something before visiting the United States, as the issue of US bases in Okinawa is a thorn in the side of the Japan-US alliance”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’m concerned that things may get nasty if the government keeps taking the current high-handed approach … prompting anger not only among Okinawans but among some outside the islands,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tokyo and Washington are working to update the guidelines governing their military alliance at a time of rising disquiet over China’s growing assertiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The government is in a difficult position of balancing the need to listen to Okinawa’s public opinion and the need to maintain the security alliance with Washington,” said Yamamoto.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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