"Japan's Top Court Upholds Controversial US Military Runway Construction in Okinawa"

Japan's Supreme Court has dismissed Okinawa's rejection of a government plan to build U.S. Marine Corps runways on the island, ordering the prefecture to approve it despite local protests. The ruling upholds a previous high court decision and allows for the construction to proceed, as Okinawa's strategic role becomes increasingly important for the Japan-U.S. military alliance amid tensions with China. Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki has called for a reduction of the U.S. military presence on the island and the closure of the Futenma base, but Tokyo and Washington insist on relocating it within Okinawa.