Hatoyama seeks to reassure Washington

By Daniel Dombey at the United Nations

Published: September 23 2009 18:51 | Last updated: September 23 2009 18:51

Yukio Hatoyama, Japan’s prime minister, on Wednesday promised more help for Afghanistan and struck a conciliatory stance in his first meeting with Barack Obama, US president, in an apparent bid to reassure Washington of his commitment to their alliance.

Some US analysts had voiced concerns that Mr Hatoyama’s election last month could weaken US-Japanese ties, not least because of an article in the New York Times in which he attacked “American-style free-market economics” and US unilateralism.

His party also has objections to both a US base in Okinawa and arrangements to provide refuelling naval ships in the Indian Ocean for the US and other countries fighting in Afghanistan.

But on Wednesday a Japanese spokesman emphasised that, at their 25-minute meeting in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, Mr Hatoyama had promised that Japan would step up its help for Afghanistan and had steered clear of any specific mention of Okinawa or the refuelling.

“In a nutshell, Mr Hatoyama said Japan will continue to further strengthen [and] reinforce its contribution . . . focusing mainly on nation-building support, focusing on civilians’ lives in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the spokesman said, arguing that it was in such capacities that Tokyo was most able to help.

Japanese officials add that the government will not “simply extend” the law to provide refuelling support when it expires at the end of January.

But they signal refuelling could continue under modified legislation, and note Tokyo’s willingness on other forms of assistance.

Highlighting his emollient message, Mr Hatoyama said Tokyo’s alliance with the US would continue to be the “key pillar of the security of Japan and Japanese foreign policy”.

He also praised Mr Obama for his stance on climate change. Earlier this week, Mr Hatoyama promised Japan would aim to reduce its carbon emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 – if the world’s other big economies also signed up to ambitious targets.