Okinawa referendum rejects relocation for US military base
TOKYO (AP) — The residents of Japan’s southwestern island region of Okinawa rejected a relocation plan for a U.S. military base ina referendum, increasing pressure on the national government to change its stance that the facility will be built no matter what.
The results of Sunday’s vote showed 72 percent opposed the plan for the Marines air base being built on a landfill in coastal Henoko. Support for the relocation plan totaled 19 percent.
The referendum is not legally binding but underlines Okinawans’ sentiment on the relocation plan.