 "Japan overrides protests, resumes work on US base transfer")
Japan has resumed construction work needed to relocate a US air base from one area of Okinawa's main island to another, overriding vigorous protests by local residents.
The land reclamation work on Henoko Bay today came as protesters seeking to block access to the area were dragged away. Protesters also heckled workers from canoes offshore.
Local residents object to living with US Marine Air Station Futenma and want the base moved out of Okinawa.
The central government had suspended the work in August to allow time for talks on a compromise. Okinawa's governor revoked his predecessor's approval for the plan, but that decision was overridden by the Transport Ministry.
The land reclamation work on Henoko Bay today came as protesters seeking to block access to the area were dragged away. Protesters also heckled workers from canoes offshore.
Local residents object to living with US Marine Air Station Futenma and want the base moved out of Okinawa.
More From This Section
Current plans call for moving it to a less developed area on the island called Henoko.
The central government had suspended the work in August to allow time for talks on a compromise. Okinawa's governor revoked his predecessor's approval for the plan, but that decision was overridden by the Transport Ministry.