Three local governments hosting U.S. bases on Monday rejected Japan-U.S. plans to realign U.S. forces because their communities will face increased burdens.
Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi Matsuzawa said he cannot accept a plan to upgrade the U.S. Army's Japan headquarters in Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture to a joint task force-capable command.
"The plan would not result in reducing the burden of the local community," Matsuzawa told reporters after being briefed by a Defense Facilities Administration official about Saturday's agreement between Japan and the United States at their security talks in Washington, which includes the realignment of U.S. forces in Kanagawa.
"We will negotiate intensely and call for a smaller burden. The central government has an obligation to respond to our request," he said.
In Hokkaido, Chitose Mayor Kotaro Yamaguchi told reporters it is "difficult to accept" a plan to shift a venue for U.S. F-15 training flights from the U.S. Air Force's Kadena base in Okinawa to the Air Self-Defense Force base in Chitose.
Residents of Chitose have already voiced concern over possible noise and accidents involving U.S. fighter jets, city officials said.
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