Japanese and US defense chiefs have reaffirmed that a planned relocation of a US military base within Okinawa Prefecture and a transfer of 8,000 Marines from there to Guam should take place soon.

Japan's Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka on Friday spoke with US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta by phone for the first time since assuming the post.

The 2 confirmed that the countries will work to soon realize a bilateral accord under which the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station is to be moved to a less populated coastal area in Nago City.

Tanaka told Panetta that Japan will closely coordinate views and cooperate with the US to further deepen their countries' alliance.

Panetta said the US is focusing on the Asia-Pacific region in the country's new defense strategy and hopes to strengthen the alliance for the sake of regional peace and stability.

Tanaka also asked Panetta to deliver F-35 stealth fighters to Japan as scheduled. Japan has chosen the plane as the next mainstay fighter of the country's Air Self-Defense Force.

Tanaka told reporters after the talks that he sees no change in the delivery schedule, brushing aside concerns about a delay following a recent US announcement about slowing procurement of the aircraft.

News credit: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120127_19.html

Image credit: http://cominganarchy.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/futenma.jpg