Rice tries to soothe Japan outrage

February 27, 2008

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressed hope Wednesday that the arrest of a U.S. Marine on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old girl on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa would not damage Washington's relations with Tokyo.

Photo: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives at Tokyo International Airport on Wednesday.

The arrest and a series of other damaging criminal accusations against some of the 50,000 American troops based in Japan have stirred anger at the U.S. military presence, which critics blame for crime, noise and pollution.

"We certainly hope that there will not be lasting effects. It's a long-standing and strong alliance," she said.

"Our concern right now is to see that justice is done, to get to the bottom if it and our concern is for the girl and her family."

Japanese officials have demanded further step by U.S. forces to control their troops. The Americans last week restricted thousands of military personnel and their family indefinitely to bases, homes and work places, and pledged to review anti-sexual assault guidelines and training programs.

Photo: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Tuesday.

Earlier Wednesday, Rice ordered her top Asia diplomat to stay in China to look at fresh ways of unblocking the stalled effort to get North Korea to abandon nuclear weapons.

Rice instructed Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill to remain in Beijing to study with Chinese officials new ideas of moving the process ahead, instead of accompanying her to Japan.

"He's continuing the discussions that we had with the Chinese ... on how to make progress in the six-party talks, how to get to a place where everyone is executing the obligations that they have undertaken," she told reporters in Tokyo.

"We were having good discussions and it seemed like a good idea for Chris to stay behind and continue those discussions," Rice said, replying with a flat and firm "no" when asked if she would elaborate.

Hill had planned to travel with Rice on all three legs of her Asian tour that has been dominated by the North Korea issue. She has visited South Korea in addition to China and Japan.

The North Korea issue has dominated Rice's trip. U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters that Hill was working on proposals put forward Tuesday by Rice and Chinese President Hu Jintao to jump-start the denuclearization talks.

He refused to say what those ideas were. The six-party talks are hosted by China and include the United States, Japan, Russia and the two Koreas.

"We'll see if it leads somewhere," McCormack said.

Rice said Tuesday that China and the U.S. were looking at ways to "synchronize" the actions the North must take to meet its obligations and the benefits it is to receive for those measures.

Hill does not plan to meet directly with North Korean officials during his extended stay in Beijing, where he will remain for at least another day, McCormack said.

On Tuesday, Rice won assurances from China that it would use its influence on North Korea to help with the denuclearization process.

While in China, Rice reiterated Washington's demand that Pyongyang provide a "complete and full declaration" of its nuclear programs. North Korea says it has already provided such a list.

Although North Korea shut down its main nuclear reactor last year, U.S. researchers who visited the complex earlier this month reported that officials there said they had slowed the removal of fuel rods. They said that was because the United States and other nations have fallen behind in supplying aid promised under the disarmament deal.

While Pyongyang maintains a large diplomatic mission in Beijing, Rice ruled out talks with North Korean officials during her stay in China, saying such a meeting was neither warranted nor could be of any use in the current circumstances.