Opposition MPs from Okinawa visited the Ministry of Defense regarding a plan to build a Ground Self-Defense Force training range on the site of a former golf course in Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture, and requested that it be withdrawn due to the fact that there are educational facilities and residential areas nearby. I did.
In response, the Ministry of Defense indicated that it would accept the request and consider it.
The Ministry of Defense is planning to acquire a former golf course site in Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture, and develop a new training ground, but local residents have repeatedly called for its cancellation as the surrounding area is a residential area. Mayor Nakamura has also requested that the acquisition of the land itself be abandoned.
Regarding this issue, on the 6th, five opposition party members from Okinawa, including Communist Party member Masakazu Akamine of the House of Representatives, visited the Ministry of Defense and met with Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto. "I doubt who thought of building it," he said, calling for the plan to be withdrawn.
In response, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Matsumoto said, ``We will take their requests seriously, consider them broadly, and then provide detailed explanations to local residents.''
After the meeting, Mr. Akamine told reporters, ``Although the Ministry of Defense did not show any signs of accepting a blank withdrawal, we are determined to expand the movement of prefectural residents to stop the plan.''