Hillary Clinton plays down Japanese friction

From: AP
January 14, 2010 12:00AM

HONOLULU: Hillary Clinton says the Obama administration feels assured of Japan's commitment to a security alliance, even as Tokyo weighs up whether to abandon a 2006 deal on a US marine air base.

"The Japanese government has explained the process they are pursuing to reach a resolution" on relocating the Futenma air station, "and we respect that", the US Secretary of State said yesterday after meeting Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

While Mr Okada apparently refused to promise Japan would not force Futenma off its territory entirely, he said Tokyo would determine the future of the air station by May, in a way that would have "minimal impact on the US-Japan alliance".

In a nod to Japanese sensitivities, Mrs Clinton said it was important for the US to maintain its role in contributing to stability in the Asia-Pacific region while keeping in mind the need to reduce the impact of jet noise and other inconveniences to local communities near US bases.

The US military views Futenma as critical to its strategy not only for defending Japan but also for reinforcing allied forces in the event of war on the Korean peninsula.

At her news conference with Mr Okada, Mrs Clinton played down the friction over Futenma, stressing the many other areas of longstanding co-operation between the two countries.

And she made clear that satisfying US needs for the base was equally in Japan's interest.

"We look to our Japanese allies and friends to follow through on their commitments, including on Futenma," she said.

"I know Japan understands and agrees that our security alliance is fundamental to the future of Japan and the region."

The Left-leaning Japanese government, which took office in September, is reassessing the US-Japan alliance. It is also investigating agreements long hidden in government files that allowed nuclear-armed US warships to enter Japanese ports, violating a hallowed anti-nuclear principle of postwar Japan.

The findings are due out this month, and US officials said prior to Mrs Clinton's arrival in Honolulu they expected Mr Okada to raise the matter in their talks yesterday.