Onaga arrives at Washington D.C.

Okinawa Governor Takashi Onaga is scheduled to arrive at Washington D.C. on Saturday, on his trip to the U.S. to try to directly convey to American decision makers the will of the Okinawan people opposing the construction of the replacement facility for the MCAS Futenma in Henoko.

During his week-long visit to Washington, Onaga will meet the directors for Japan affairs at the U.S. State and Defense Departments. Director of the Office of Japanese Affairs at the State Department Joseph Young has talks with Onaga, and Andrew Winternitz, senior country director for Japan at the Defense Deartment will also have a meeting with the governor during his.

The Okinawa Perfectural Government has reportedly requested that Onaga would have talks with bureau chief-level U.S. foreign affairs and defense officials.

In the meetings, Onaga intends to deliver the same message he has repeatedly told the Japanese government officials he has met here. He will urge the United States to abandon the planned relocation of the MCAS Futenma in Ginowan to Camp Schwab in the Henoko district, and transfer the base out of the prefecture or Japan.

Prior to Onaga’s visit, a State Department spokesman repeated that the current plan to move Futenma functions to a replacement facility in Henoko is the “only solution” to avoid the continued use of Futenma.

18:12 28 Mar , 2024