Japan and the United States have begun negotiations to revise a plan to transfer US Marines from Okinawa Prefecture to Guam.

The countries agreed in 2006 to transfer 8,000 troops to Guam and move the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station to a less populated area of Nago City.

But construction of facilities at the Guam base is behind schedule. The US is also planning to realign its forces in accord with its latest defense strategy. The country is putting more focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said on Friday that Japan and the US are "calmly" discussing how to handle both issues.

Japanese government sources say the number of troops to be transferred won't change, but their destination may now include other bases in Asia-Pacific region, such as Hawaii.

A US Department of Defense spokesperson said details of the plan will be disclosed in a draft defense budget for the next fiscal year, scheduled to be released a week from Monday.

Under the existing agreement, the transfer of troops from Okinawa is contingent on progress in the relocation of the Futenma Air Base. But there is speculation that this condition may be dropped as both governments look to speed up the realignment of forces.

News credit: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120204_02.html

Image credit: http://www.marinerthai.com/pic_news/2007-07-11-003.jpg