TOKYO – Japanese and U.S. defence chiefs will meet in Tokyo next week amid intensifying local opposition to the construction of a new U.S. military base on the southern island of Okinawa.
A report said Thursday that Defence Minister, Gen. Nakatani, and U.S. Defence Secretary, Ashton Carter, spoke over the phone Wednesday and agreed to hold talks in Tokyo next week.
The two are expected to meet next Wednesday, the local media reported, citing Japanese government sources.
Their talks are likely to include the proposed U.S. military base on Okinawa and bilateral defence cooperation.
Tensions are high between Tokyo and the local government in Okinawa over a plan to build a new U.S. military base in the northern part of the island.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, told a news conference he plans to fly to Okinawa on Sunday to discuss the proposed base with Gov. Takeshi Onaga.
In late March, Onaga ordered the Defence Ministry Monday to suspend a marine survey at the planned site. But Fisheries Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi suspended that order on Monday. (dpa/NAN)
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