Japan's southern Okinawa region on Saturday braced for the return of Typhoon Khanun, just days after the storm lashed the islands with heavy rain and winds.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says Washington will deploy a new missile-armed mobile Marine unit across Japan's southern island of Okinawa, as Washington and Tokyo step up military cooperation meant to deter China.

Many Japanese people, particularly Okinawans, are against the continued heavy American military presence and are protesting to draw attention to the issue.

The Japanese island chain of Okinawa has marked the 50th anniversary of the end of the US occupation.

The Japanese island chain of Okinawa has marked the 50th anniversary of the end of US occupation after 27 years and its return to Japan.

Japan's southern Okinawa prefecture reports record daily coronavirus infections fueled by the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant largely blamed on US forces stationed there.

Japan decided on Friday to declare quasi-emergency measures in three regions in order to stem a COVID-19 surge that some officials have linked to US military bases in the country.