The three-party ruling alliance on Tuesday approved a government-proposed bill to promote the Okinawan economy that will be submitted to the current Diet session.
The bill, which provides tax incentives for businesses that operate in a designated free-trade zone, is expected to obtain approval from the Cabinet on Friday before it is submitted to the Diet.
The swift action by the Liberal Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party and New Party Sakigake followed a meeting of the LDP's executive council earlier in the day, in which the party officially gave the green light to the bill.
Last week, the LDP effectively froze the bill and expressed anger over Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota's announcement that the prefecture officially opposes the central government's plan to build a sea-based U.S. military heliport off Nago, northern Okinawa.
The LDP changed its stance immediately after the Nago mayoral election Sunday, when Tateo Kishimoto, who was backed by supporters of the heliport, emerged victorious.
The heliport is to take over the major functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, central Okinawa. In the free-trade zone, income taxes for corporations will be reduced from the current 37.5 percent to little more than 24 percent.
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