Hawaii Governor ready to accept U.S. Marines from Okinawa

Hawaii Governor ready to accept U.S. Marines from Okinawa

Susumu Matayoshi, the head of the Executive Office of the Governor (left), exchanged opinions with State of Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie on the transfer of 2,700 Marines in Okinawa to Hawaii at the Government Offices in the afternoon of July 30 (Photograph provided by the Okinawa Prefectural Government).


August 1, 2013 Ryukyu Shimpo

On a visit to Hawaii, Susumu Matayoshi, the head of the Executive Office of the Governor, met State of Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie at the Government Offices in the afternoon on July 30. Abercrombie stated that he is willing to accept U.S. Marines currently stationed in Okinawa.

The U.S. and Japanese governments have agreed on a plan to transfer 2,700 Marines from Okinawa to Hawaii. Abercrombie suggested the governments move ahead with the plan as soon as possible, adding that the Hawaii State government is ready to accept the troops and has a clear idea of the infrastructure requirements. Later that day, Matayoshi talked about his meeting with Abercrombie in a video-link press conference held at the Okinawa Prefectural Government Office.

The prefectural and state governments confirmed that they will move to exchange opinions and information with one another on base issues in Okinawa, including transfer of the Marines.

Abercrombie has previously mentioned also accepting the family members of Marines personnel, but he did not do so on this occasion. He said the U.S. and Japanese governments have not make sufficient effort to resolve the issue of U.S. military bases being concentrated on Okinawa.

The U.S. military plans to transfer 2,700 Marines from Okinawa to Hawaii. This is in keeping with the U.S. and Japanese governments adjusting the plans to realign U.S. forces in Japan last April, something that the Commander Of United States Pacific Command has referred to in statements in Congress.

(English translation by T&CT, Mark Ealey)

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