Japan considers the redeployment of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam an important job, Japanese Defense Secretary Gen Nakatani said at a meeting with prefectural Governor Danny Tamaki.
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The Secretary of Defense visited the Governor of Okinawa as the transfer of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam began. Earlier, the US command announced that it had begun redeployment, the first 100 people will be transferred to Guam over the next year.
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“The transfer of Marines to Guam is an important effort, and in cooperation with the US side, we will move forward with this transfer,” Nakatani said.
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Governor Tamaki noted that “Okinawa insists on firm implementation and the presentation of a clear transfer plan so that the redeployment to Guam is completed as soon as possible.”
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He also demanded that all Marine Corps exercises be moved to Guam and asked the Department of Defense to carry out appropriate work in this direction.
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Tamaki also expressed concern about the resumption of flights of American Osprey tiltrotors in the absence of complete information from the American side.
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“As the first stage of the redeployment of US Marines outside Okinawa Prefecture, the transfer of the first 100 people from Okinawa to Guam has begun. The transfer will be carried out in stages, we have confirmed with the United States that 4 thousand people will be transferred from Okinawa to Guam. The Japanese government has been involved in this issue , sees great meaning in the fact that the start of the transfer was announced,” the Secretary General of the Government said, in turn, at a press conference in Tokyo Yoshimasa Hayashi.
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In 2006, Japan and the United States reached an agreement to ease the load on Okinawa, where 70% of American bases are located, and to redeploy 9,000 Marines to Guam and Hawaii. Of these, 4 thousand should go to Guam. On Saturday, the US Marine Corps announced the start of the transfer of the first 100 people, which will be carried out over the next year. Relocation costs will amount to 8.6 billion yen ($57 million), of which Japan will pay 2.6 billion yen ($17.3 million). The Japanese Self-Defense Forces will also be able to use the training grounds built on Guam.
