Japan PM under pressure over US base

Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama who pledged to take an independent stance from Washington is facing challenges over US military presence in the country.

A new survey conducted by the Sankei newspaper showed Tuesday that more than 73 percent of respondents were unhappy with Hatoyama’s management of the issue.

According to a 2006 deal, the two countries agreed to remove US forces of the Futenma Airbase from the crowded city of Ginowan on Okinawa to the coastal area of Nago.

During his last year’s election campaign, the Japanese premier vowed to move the base off the southern island of Okinawa, but there is no sign of a possible alternative plan.

Nearly half of the voters believe Hatoyama should resign if he fails to resolve the problem by the end of May as he himself announced the May deadline.

According to the poll, nearly 85 percent of respondents said they were unimpressed with Hatoyama’s leadership skills.

Accidents and crimes committed by US service personnel near Okinawa’s residential areas have turned the local population against the presence of American forces there.

Washington has nearly 50,000 troops based in Japan, more than half of whom are in Okinawa.