Japan’s Okinawa votes against controversial US base move

Voters on the southern Japanese Island of Okinawa have rejected the relocation of a controversial US military base elsewhere on the Island.

However, Japan’s government said it would press ahead with the plan.

Local authorities said the vote saw some 72 percent of voters opposing moving the US Marines Futenma Airbase with 19 percent in favour.

Over 430,000 people turned out in large numbers to oppose the relocation.

They urged Okinawa governor, Denny Tamaki to respect the result of the symbolic freedom.