Okinawa Prefecture Governor Tamaki `` Government gives up construction in Henoko '' December 26 14:22
Following the relocation of the U.S. Army's Futenma base in Okinawa to Henoko, Nago City, the Governor of Tamaki, Okinawa Prefecture, told reporters that the Ministry of Defense announced that it would take 12 years to complete due to significant ground improvement. Stressed that the government should give up construction for the early return of the Futenma base.
Regarding the relocation plan of the Futenma base, the US and Japanese governments stated in a rehabilitation plan compiled in 2013 that the construction period, such as land reclamation, is five years, and that the return of the Futenma base will be possible as early as 2022.
However, at the meeting held on the 25th, the Ministry of Defense found that soft ground was found off Henoko, and significant ground improvement was required.As a result of reviewing the design, maintenance was also conducted to provide a function as an airfield. It has been announced that the construction period including completion will take approximately 12 years.
For this reason, the return of the Futenma base is expected to be significantly delayed in the 2030s.
Expenses are estimated to be about 930 billion yen, more than 2.5 times the initial estimate.
The Okinawa Prefectural governor, Tamaki, told reporters at a prefectural office on the 26th that "it is better to stop such public works immediately in order to return the Futenma base as soon as possible," said the government in Henoko. He stressed that construction should be abandoned.
Regarding this problem, the prefecture has also made its own estimates and has argued that it will not lead to the early return of the base, but in response to this government's announcement, we will further insist on opposition to relocation to Henoko .