Hatoyama is Bothered by the Futenma Base Issue

  2010/5/28 source：

May 16, 17,000 citizens of Okinawa formed human chain around Futenma Marine Corps Air Station to protest against Futenma’s relocation in Okinawa. Since the beginning of May, public opinion polls have been showing that Japanese public support for Hatoyama fell below 25% , mainly because the Futenma problem cannot be solved in time.

The Hatoyama’s political goal of “moving Futenma base out of Okinawa,” which used to be one of the important motives for  Japanese participation in politics and vote in support. But now the Futenma issue has become the biggest stumbling block for Hatoyama regime and the Democratic Party of Japan.Coincidentally, one of the back-up plans for the Futenma Base, Tokunosima, is objected. Thus, the biggest obstacle between the Japanese government and public is their difference in understanding the Futenma issue. To make bad worse, the relocation of Futenma has caused split in the coalition. Parties out of power are also attacking the Hatoyama administration and the Democratic Party for more leverage in the election.

In addition, the relocation of the Futenma Base has become the biggest obstacle to the development of Japanese-U.S. relations. Since the public support to the Hatoyama administration precipitated  and Hatoyama administration failed to cooperate with the United States on many issues, the United States starts to question the value and raison d’etre of the Hatoyama administration.
 
Right now, it seems impossible to solve the Futenma Base problem before June; it is also unlikely that a satisfactory final plan will be made in the short term. Too much lip service will jeopardize the credit of the Hatoyama administration as well as the Democratic Party and also affect the House of Councillors election in July.