Okinawa Officials Challenge Tokyo Decision to Resume US Base Transfer

Authorities of Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture on Monday filed an application to a committee charged with resolving disputes between states and regions, challenging a Tokyo decision to resume work on the transfer of the Futenma US military base, local media reported.

TOKYO (Sputnik) —  The Japanese government has resumed construction of a US military base in Okinawa on Thursday, having negated a regional government veto on its relocation just days earlier.

If the appeal is not accepted, Okinawa authorities may appeal to court, the NHK television reported.

According to earlier media reports, the base is expected to be moved from Okinawa's highly-populated district in the city of Ginowan to the Henoko coastal area of Nago city.

The relocation was stalled amid protests against a continued US military presence in the country as well as environmental concerns that the new base endangers local wildlife.