City Voters Reject Plan for U.S. Naval Air Wing

Voters in Iwakuni overwhelmingly rejected the relocation of a U.S. naval air wing to their city, in a nonbinding vote seen as a symbol of opposition to the proposed realignment of American forces in Japan.

The plan to move the wing, still under negotiation, is part of the Pentagon’s push to streamline its overseas bases and create a leaner, more flexible military. The push is also meant to ease tensions caused by the U.S. military presence. The wing from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk is based near Tokyo.