Suga says he will no longer use term proceed as planned over Futenma relocation

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Monday he will no longer use the expression shukushuku-to, which roughly translates as proceed as planned, when explaining the Abe administrations position on the planned relocation of the Futenma air base in Okinawa Prefecture.

Suga made the comment a day after Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga criticized him for repeatedly using the term to express the administrations policy of pressing ahead with the plan to build the replacement facility in the Henoko area in Nago, farther north on Okinawa Island than its current location in the city of Ginowan.

If (the expression) made him feel uncomfortable, I dont think I should use it, Suga, who doubles as minister in charge of reducing the burden on Okinawa of hosting the bulk of U.S. forces in Japan, said at a news conference.

In a meeting with Suga in Naha on Sunday, Onaga said that with repeated reference to the expression, it sounded like Suga was looking down on Okinawa.

It was the first meeting between the two since Onaga took office in December with a pledge to block the Futenma relocation within Okinawa. He and other base opponents want the airfields functions moved out of the prefecture.

The two failed to bridge their gaps over the relocation plan. Suga vowed Monday to uphold the plan, saying the administration will maintain its policy to respond appropriately based on related laws and regulations.

However, he said Sundays talks represented a first step for dialogue between the central and Okinawan governments, as the two sides need to cooperate in handling various issues involving the island prefecture.

We saw differences in our positions yesterday, he said. But I believe it is important to hold talks to try to fill such gaps.

Suga said the administration will consider Onagas request for a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Asked if such a meeting could come before Abe goes to the United States in late April for a summit with President Barack Obama, Suga only said the government has not heard specifically as to what kind of request (Onaga) may have.

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Suga says he will no longer use term proceed as planned over Futenma relocation