Japan's government started offshore construction work Monday on relocating a U.S. Marine base on Okinawa. <\/p>\n
The step marks the beginning of the main construction to move Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, a less populated area on the island's east coast. <\/p>\n
It comes just days after U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis during a visit to Tokyo reaffirmed with Japanese leaders that the Henoko plan is the only option. <\/p>\n
Workers are to dump large concrete blocks into sea to create undersea silt curtains to reduce environmental impact a process needed before creating a coastal embankment and subsequent landfill. <\/p>\n
The relocation has stalled for over 20 years due to persistent protests. About 100 people gathered outside Camp Schwab, a U.S. base near the construction site, to protest. The held up placards with messages such as \"No to new Henoko base\" and \"Independence from colonialism.\" <\/p>\n
Many residents complain about the large American troop presence on Okinawa and want the Futenma base removed, not relocated. <\/p>\n
Monday's move follows a series of legal battle between Japan's central government and the island, which ended up with a supreme court decision rejecting an injunction order back by Okinawa. <\/p>\n
Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga, seeking to block the construction, is expected to refuse to renew a current permit for moving coral reefs in the designated area when it expires at the end of March, according to media reports. <\/p>\n
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that the central government is determined to \"move forward with the relocation work,\" while paying attention to environment and the livelihoods of residents. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https:\/\/www.twitter.com\/mariyamaguchi<\/a> <\/p>\n Find her work at http:\/\/bigstory.ap.org\/content\/mari-yamaguchi<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here is the original post:<\/p>\n Offshore Work Begins on Relocating US Base on Okinawa - ABC News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Japan's government started offshore construction work Monday on relocating a U.S. Marine base on Okinawa. The step marks the beginning of the main construction to move Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Henoko, a less populated area on the island's east coast Continue reading