Locals Sell Land For Japan's Osprey Base

The Japanese government's plan to station a V-22 Osprey fleet in the southwestern prefecture of Saga cleared a major hurdle, as local landowners gave a green light to sell the land necessary for the deployment, Mainichi Shimbun reported.

Photo Insert: Nearly a decade has passed since the SDF called for support from the prefecture for the plan to deploy the V-22 Osprey fleet at the Saga airport.

Nearly a decade has passed since the Defense Ministry initially called for support from the prefecture for the plan to deploy the Ground Self-Defense Force's tilt-rotor transport aircraft at the Saga airport, which would play a key role in strengthening Japan's ability to protect outlying islands amid China's maritime assertiveness.

Saga Gov. Yoshinori Yamaguchi announced in 2018 that the prefecture in the Kyushu region will accept the plan.

But talks between the central government and the landowners, many in the fishing business, have progressed slowly amid concerns over the environmental impact and effects of noise from Ospreys on fishing.

WEEKLY FEATURE : MVP Group Keeps Lights On During Pandemic