Governor Tamaki of Okinawa Prefecture decided not to approve the design change that the Ministry of Defense had applied for in the relocation plan of the U.S. military Futenma base in Okinawa to Henoko, Nago City, and notified the government.
In April last year, the Ministry of Defense applied to Okinawa Prefecture for a design change necessary to improve the soft ground at the planned landfill site, over the plan to relocate the US military Futenma base to Henoko, Nago City.
Approximately one year and seven months have passed since the application, and Okinawa Prefecture has not taken sufficient measures to protect the environment, such as insufficient survey of soft ground on the 24th and impact on dugong during construction. We decided not to approve it, and at around 4:30 pm on the 25th, an Okinawan official visited the Okinawa Defense Bureau and notified us that we would not approve it.
After that, Governor Tamaki said at a press conference, "The contents of this design change application do not eliminate the danger of Futenma base. I am angry and sad about the government forcing the reclamation work without giving sufficient explanation. There are many citizens and citizens of the prefecture who feel that. "
He added, "The prefecture will continue to appeal to the government for a democratic stance of seeking solutions through dialogue, and will request the Japanese and US governments to eliminate the danger of Futenma base as soon as possible." rice field.
Prime Minister Kishida "I want to pay close attention to the response of Okinawa Prefecture"
Prime Minister Kishida told reporters in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo on the morning of the 25th, "I do not know that there was a formal announcement and I would like to speculate."
Defense Minister Kishi "I want to decide the policy after scrutinizing"
Minister of Defense Kishi told reporters at the Ministry of Defense on the night of the 25th, "First of all, the Okinawa Defense Bureau will carefully examine the reason why it was disapproved by the Okinawa prefecture side."
In response to the reporter's question, "Are there any plans to consider countermeasures?", He said, "We would like to scrutinize first and then decide on our policy."
Komeito North Deputy Representative "If it goes on for a long time, the Futenma base will continue to exist."
At a press conference, the North Deputy Representative of the Komeito said, "From the perspective of eliminating the danger of Futenma base in the middle of the city, we have to accept the relocation to Henoko. I would like the government to further consider it. "
On that basis, he pointed out the policy of Governor Tamaki of Okinawa Prefecture, "If it is prolonged, the Futenma base will continue to exist as a result, and I wonder what it is."
Communist Shii Chairman "I firmly support the decision of disapproval"
At a press conference, the Communist Party's chairman, Kazuo Shii, said, "It is the Communist Party's position to firmly support the decision of Governor Tamaki to disapprove. The Henoko relocation plan has completely collapsed. The application should be withdrawn. Furthermore, I would like to strongly urge you to cancel the construction of the new Henoko base and unconditionally remove the Futenma base. "