26 December 2016, 06:13 GMT
TOKYO (Sputnik) – The governor's decision came shortly after the national government won a lawsuit against the state, forcing the latter to allow the move of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to the Henoko Bay in Nago, Kyodo news agency reported.
The talks on the relocation have been ongoing for over two decades and have been significantly hindered lately by the steadfast opposition of the local residents, many of whom would like to see the base gone rather than relocated.
Okinawa occupies less than 1 percent of Japanese territory but hosts some 74 percent of the country's total US military presence.
