Japan And The U.S. Still Trying To Find Common Ground For U.S. Bases

A US military cargo plane is seen at Futenma Air Base in Ginowan, Okinawa island. Photo AFP

Japan Finalizing US Base Relocation Proposal -- Washington Post

TOKYO -- Japan is still seeking to move a contentious American military base off the southern island of Okinawa and will finalize its proposal for Washington by the end of March, the prime minister said Friday.

Officials have considered various options but will boil them down to one proposal to resolve the dispute by May as promised, Yukio Hatoyama told a news conference.

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My Comment: Talk about bad timing. On the same day that the Japanese Government is floating the idea of a compromise on the US base in Okinawa, we have the sinking of a South Korean warship in the Yellow Sea that raises concerns and tensions in the entire region.

This is what happens when politicians pander to a local constituency for votes .... it may sound OK during the election, but actually implementing it raises issues that will impact numerous other arrangements and agreements.

To save face, I am sure that some compromise will be reached, but it will not what the majority of the people in Okinawa were originally promised.