TOKYO: Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Monday confirmed an accord for the government to buy a southwestern Japan island that would take over field carrier landing practice, or FCLP, operations of US carrier-borne aircraft.

On Friday, the government reached a certain agreement to acquire the island of Mageshima in the city of Nishinoomote in Kagoshima Prefecture from the landowner for about 16 billion yen, the top government spokesman told a press conference.

As part of the realignment of US forces in Japan, the two countries' governments have agreed to transfer the FCLP operations to Mageshima from Iwojima, formally Iwoto, a Pacific island belonging to Tokyo.

Securing a site for the US military's FCLP operations is "an important challenge in light of security," Suga said, adding, "We'll work to prepare permanent facilities at an early date."

On whether the island will be used for training of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces as well, Suga said, "We'll study various measures."

JIJI Press