Bloc against U.S. base transfer keeps majority in Okinawa election

A bloc of assembly members opposed to relocating a key U.S. military base within Okinawa retained a majority in Sunday's prefectural election.The result mirrors strong local sentiment against the push by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government to keep U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within the prefecture by completing a replacement facility for the facility in the Henoko coastal district in Nago.With the majority, Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki will be in a stronger position to oppose the central government's plan to move the base, which is considered to pose a danger to local residents giv…READ FULL ARTICLE