A leading Japanese daily says the United States is planning to beef up the command functions of U.S. forces in Japan as part of its plan to realign its military presence in the eastern Asian country.
The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said Tuesday that the U.S. has proposed transferring the U.S. Naval Air Facility in Atsugi, Kanagawa Prefecture, to the U.S. Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The paper added that the U.S. also proposed the transfer of about 2,600 of the U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The proposals were reportedly made during talks between Japanese and U.S. foreign affairs and military officials recently held in San Francisco.
During the talks, the U.S. also proposed that the status of the commander of U.S. forces in Japan be upgraded from lieutenant general to general in line with enhancements to the command.