Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, who principally sponsored Senate Resolution 17-17, said their island, which used to be a forward base of the American forces during World War II, welcomes the Futenma Airbase.
Two-thirds of public lands on Tinian are leased to the U.S. military.
“The CNMI can offer geographical utility to the U.S. Department of Defense in its search for strategic defense capability in Southeast Asia and the nation of Japan seeks to divert some of its military presence from the island of Okinawa, notably the Marine Air Station Futenma and whereas the island of Tinian offers service members and their families access to modern facilities, recreational activities and diversions,” S.R. 17-17 reads.
“The CNMI has proven itself an avid supporter of the United States military as evidenced by one of the highest rates of enlistment in the United States and the CNMI states its sincere welcome as the destination to relocate the Futenma Air Base,” it added.
Two Japanese lawmakers and top aides visited Saipan and Tinian recently and conducted a public hearing about the possibility of relocating Futenma to Tinian.
The Japanese lawmakers said they will make a report about their findings and submit it to a parliamentary panel.
The original U.S.-Japan agreement calls for Futenma’s relocation within Okinawa but away from its present location in Ginowan City which is home to 90,000 people.
Okinawans and other Japanese, however, want the base out of their country.
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