If the Liberal Democratic Party emerges victorious in next Sunday's Lower House election, one of the main tasks looming for the new government will be repairing diplomacy.
Despite the Democratic Party of Japan sending relations with China to new lows since taking power in 2009, people in Okinawa feel they are being toyed with over the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
After the DPJ took power, its first prime minister, Yukio Hatoyama, said the Japan-U.S. alliance must evolve. He also said Futenma's replacement facility should be outside Okinawa, raising hopes residents would finally get their way after years of negotiations over the contentious base.
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