WASHINGTON – Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga expressed hope Thursday that the administration of U. S. President Donald Trump will adopt a new policy toward U. S. military bases on the island prefecture.
Referring to the drastic changes Trump has made since taking office on Jan. 20, Onaga said in a speech in Washington he hopes the new president will take U. S. policy on bases, including the long-delayed relocation of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, in “a better direction.”
The bilateral policy concerning Okinawa has remained constant under previous administrations on both sides, leaving the prefecture “full of bases,” Onaga told the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at George Washington University.
“I don’t think it will get any worse than today,” he said.
“In that sense, I am forecasting some changes with President Trump.
“I hope he will lead us in a different direction.”
Onaga said he held talks with Republican and Democratic members of Congress about local opposition to the Japan-U.
