Marines from MCAS Futenma Expeditionary Firefighting and Recovery conduct night arrested landing training with F/A-18s from VMFA(AW)-115. Public DomainNAHA, Japan — Candidates backing the relocation of a key US military base within Okinawa and those opposed to it each claimed 24 of the 48 seats available in Sunday's prefectural assembly election, highlighting the challenges in solving the contentious long-running issue.

The result came as the state pushes through its plan to move US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within the southern island prefecture from densely populated Ginowan to the coastal area of Henoko. The central government started construction work in January on a part of the relocation site despite strong local opposition.

Before the election for the 48-seat assembly, the bloc against the transfer to Henoko had a majority, including members affiliated with the Komeito party, the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

In the election, 75 people declared candidacies. Two secured seats without a vote, leaving 73 competing for the remaining 46 seats.

READ: Okinawa rejects court order to OK revised US base transfer plan

Many residents in Okinawa have long hoped for the Futenma base to be moved outside the prefecture, which hosts the bulk of US military facilities in Japan. Anti-base sentiment runs deep due to noise, pollution and a number of high-profile crimes committed by American service members.

But the central government continues to stick to the plan, decided in the 1990s, maintaining it is "the only solution" for removing the dangers posed by the Futenma base without undermining the perceived deterrence provided by the Japan-US security alliance.

It began reinforcing soft ground at the site on Jan. 10 in waters on the Oura Bay side of the Henoko area in Nago following its unprecedented decision to override the local authority's objection to the project.

Even after completing the landfill work, it will take another three years to arrange the transfer, and the actual return to Japanese control of the land where the Futenma base is located is expected to take place in the mid-2030s or later.

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