Okinawa Times wrote that it will probably be necessary for the Okinawa prefectural government to review its strategy for negotiations with the central government on Futenma relocation following the recent resignation of Vice Governor Ageda, who was Okinawa’s key contact with the GOJ. The paper quoted a senior Okinawa official as saying that it will now be impossible for the prefectural government to hold behind-the-scenes negotiations with Tokyo as Ageda did with Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga. The paper wrote that the central government, however, expects that Ageda’s departure will weaken Governor Onaga’s confrontational approach toward Tokyo, noting that the loss of Ageda will deal another political blow to Onaga following the defeat of a candidate he supported in the recent Miyakojima mayoral election. However, a source connected to the Defense Ministry was quoted as saying that Ageda’s resignation will benefit neither side.