Tokyo Halts Legal Battle on U.S. Okinawa Base Ahead of Election But Final Solution Still Unclear

TOKYO, JAPAN – MAR. 4: Japan on Friday March 4 chose to halt a complex legal battle against Okinawa Prefectural government over a new military replacement airstrip there for the United States Air Force. The action came ahead of Upper House elections expected to take place in July, but it was not clear if Tokyo really gives up its plan to make a reclamation to create an offshore airstrip, which is the source of criticism from the government and civic groups. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga quoted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as saying that if Tokyo and Okinawa keeps the legal battle against each other, the dispute will end up being deadlocked and the situation of the incumbent Futenma base -- surrounded by homes and schools and situated right in a populated area -- will be kept fixed for years. But Since Tokyo and Washington still apparently insist that relocation to the new offshore airstrip is the best option, which Okinawa government is against, the final solution is not immediately clear.