冲绳岛县知事批准在冲绳设立美军基地

The governor of the southern Japanese island of Okinawa has approved the relocation of a U.S. Marine Corps air station to reclaimed land along the coast, breaking a campaign promise to have it removed from the island.

An Okinawan official confirmed Friday that Governor Hirokazu Nakaima approved the Japanese Defense Ministry\'s application to reclaim land for a new military base on Okinawa\'s coast.  It would replace the U.S. Marine Corps base in Futenma, a more congested part of Okinawa\'s main island. 

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe persuaded Nakaima to approve the move in a meeting Wednesday, after offering increased financial assistance to the island.

Futenma is located in a heavily populated area of Ginowan where residents complain of the noise made by jets and the safety of people living around the facility.  Tokyo has insisted on the move as called for in an agreement reached with the United States in 2006.

Okinawa residents have steadfastly opposed the agreement.

冲绳岛一名官员星期五证实，冲绳县知事仲井真弘多批准了日本防卫省有关在冲绳岛沿岸设立一个新军事基地的申请。该基地将取代美国海军陆战队的普天间基地，普天间位于冲绳岛人口更密集的一个地区。

日本首相安倍晋三星期三会晤仲井真弘多，说服他批准这一申请。此前安倍晋三提出增加对冲绳岛的财政援助。

普天间位于人口密集的宜野湾市，当地居民抱怨喷气机的噪音太大以及基地周边居民的安全受到影响。东京坚持依照2006年与美国达成的协议，将该基地迁离普天间。
冲绳岛居民一直强烈反对这项协议，要求将美军基地迁离冲绳岛。