About 2,600 troops would be moved from Okinawa to Camp Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture and Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture, the source said.

If implemented, it would result in a reduction of roughly 16 percent in the number of marines in Okinawa, now totaling about 16,000.

Okinawa, which hosts the bulk of the U.S. military presence in Japan, has been seeking reductions in troops stationed there.

But it is unclear if the plan will be realized given anticipated opposition from municipalities and residents near the two candidate sites.

It remains to be seen whether the partial transfer would satisfy the Okinawa Prefectural Government and local residents because most marines are expected to remain there.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 26, 2004
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