Japan government to bypass Okinawa governor, approve U.S. base relocation

The Japanese government is arranging to approve a modified plan for landfill work to relocate a key U.S. base within Okinawa next week bypassing the local government, which seems poised to defy a court order mandating the approval, sources with knowledge of the matter said Saturday.Land minister Tetsuo Saito is poised to make approval by proxy for the plan on Thursday in what will be the first such move by the central government on behalf of a local government, central government sources said.The Fukuoka High Court's Naha branch said Wednesday that Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki needs to approve…READ FULL ARTICLE