Bush works to cement alliance with Japan

By JENNIFER LOVEN
Associated Press Writer
Fri Nov 16, 5:35 PM ET

WASHINGTON - With gestures both symbolic and substantive, President Bush sought on Friday to ensure that Japan remains a loyal American ally in volatile, crucial Asia.

Bush hosted Japan's new prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, in grand fashion at the White House for their first meeting. In a signal of the importance the U.S. places on the relationship that has suffered some strain in recent months, the president threw an elegant lunch for the prime minister and chose the White House's grand foyer as the spot for them to address reporters. Bush has appeared in the marble-columned and crystal-chandeliered setting with only a few other leaders, all from important allies such as Great Britain, Germany and India.

Photo: President Bush, right, walks with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, prior to their joint statement.

Bush also gave Fukuda something vital to take home to his constituents: The president assured him that Washington "will not forget" the issue of Japanese kidnapped in North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. It was a key issue in their meeting as Washington presses forward on dealmaking to persuade Pyongyang to give up nuclear weapons. Bush said his meeting with the mother of an abductee taken as a young girl was "one of the most moving moments of my presidency."

"I understand how important this issue is to the Japanese people," he said.

However, the pair took no questions after talking to the media for about 15 minutes. So it wasn't clear whether Bush would agree to Japan's request that the U.S. not remove North Korea from its list of state sponsors of terror without an accounting of the kidnapped Japanese from Pyongyang.

Fukuda took office less than two months ago, becoming the fourth leader to rule Japan since Bush took office. The most well-known was the flamboyant and popular Junichiro Koizumi, whose closeness with Bush over the years rivaled that of many other world leaders. Fukuda replaced Shinzo Abe, who presided over a rocky, scandal-scarred one-year term and resigned suddenly in September.

"Our alliance is vital for peace and security," Bush said, standing at Fukuda's side in between morning meetings and the meal. "One of the things we've decided to do is to continue to make sure the U.S.-Japanese relationship is the cornerstone of security and peace."

Fukuda has struck a populist stance since taking office, a change from Abe's nationalist agenda that included revision of Japan's pacifist Constitution to give more freedom to the military, expansion of patriotic education, and an unapologetic view of his country's aggression before and during World War II. Fukuda has stressed warm relations with the rest of Asia and the importance of strong ties with the United States, which he called the "one and only ally for Japan."

He gave Bush something in return for all the hospitality — his expected promise to work to extend Japan's Indian Ocean refueling mission in support of U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan. The mission started in 2001 but expired Nov. 1 and ships have been called home. It is controversial in Japan, where discussions of military involvement are emotional, and renewal is expected to face strong resistance from the political opposition there.

Bush told Fukuda he hoped the refueling operations — nearly 800 times for ships from 11 countries — would resume soon.

"Japan and the United States should continue to work together with the international community in the fight against terrorism," Fukuda said, speaking through a translator. "I shall do my level best to achieve an early passage of a bill for the early resumption of the refuel act."

Tokyo places high importance on the abductee issue. Removal from the terror-sponsor list would be one of the benefits given to North Korea if it continues to meet its obligations under a nuclear disarmament deal with five other nations, the United States, Japan, China, Russia and South Korea.

Fukuda appeared pleased with Bush's promise not to let the abductees go forgotten. Returning empty-handed on this question could have had political consequences for his new administration, and thus for U.S.-Japanese ties.

Bush claimed "measurable results" in the six-nation talks to get North Korea to give up its nuclear-weapons programs and bombs. Still, he said much work remains to be done by North Korea, including the communist regime's promise to provide a full declaration of all its nuclear programs and proliferation activities by the end of this year.

Fukuda agreed.

"Japan and U.S. need to maintain close coordination with each other, in order to achieve complete abandonment of all nuclear weapons and programs by North Korea," he said.

The restrictions in Japan on American beef imports have strained relations between the two largest economies. So amid the gracious touches Friday, even the lunch menu became a negotiating tool.

"I hope we serve him some good U.S. beef, which is a good way to bring up the subject of beef," Bush said with a mischievous grin. "We hope we're able to have the Japanese market fully open to all U.S. beef and beef products, consistent with international guidelines."

Indeed, the White House chefs had coordinated their shopping list with the diplomatic agenda. Along with lobster sausage, a dish of leeks, turnips and celery, salad and goat cheese crostini, Fukuda was served Kobe beef short ribs — an adaptation of the extravagant, fatty Japanese specialty, taken from beer-fed cattle, but from Texas.

Japan banned American beef imports over mad cow fears more than three years ago. It has eased that restriction to allow imported meat from young cattle as long as certain bones and the spinal cord have been removed and the meat has been processed at selected plants. On that score, Fukuda promised nothing.

"We are addressing the beef issue on the basis of scientific findings," he said. "We are still in the process of our bilateral meetings."


AP article also in the Japan Times
Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007


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