U.S. Opinion Leaders See China as Most Important Asia Partner

June 1, 2010

Tokyo, June 1 (Jiji Press) -- U.S. opinion leaders increasingly regard China as their country's most important partner in Asia, a Japanese government survey showed Tuesday.

The percentage of those who cited China rose 14 percentage points from last year to 56 pct, while 36 pct cited Japan, down 8 points.

China exceeded Japan for the first time since 1985, reflecting stronger U.S.-China economic relations, the Foreign Ministry said.

The survey, which was conducted by U.S. polling service Gallup in February and March, covered 202 opinion leaders and 1,201 members of the general public aged 18 or older in the United States.

Among the general public, 44 pct said Japan is the most important partner, down 2 points, while 44 pct cited China, up 5 points.

(2010/06/01-16:46)

Roos pledges efforts to ease burden on Okinawa

June 1, 2010
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US Ambassador to Japan John Roos has promised the United States will work to ease the burden on Okinawa, following the agreement with Japan to relocate a US Marine airbase within the southern prefecture.

Roos spoke to NHK on Tuesday, 4 days after a joint Japan-US statement that the airbase will be moved to the US Camp Schwab area and adjacent waters in Nago, basically in line with a 2006 accord struck as part of the realignment of US forces in Japan.

The base will replace the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, which Japan and the US agreed in 1996 to close once alternative facilities are available.

Roos described the new agreement as a significant move in the right direction toward resolving many issues and strengthening the bilateral alliance.

He said there are many different views in Okinawa about US bases there, but stressed the importance of both governments continuing to work together to address the needs of Okinawans.

Roos pledged US cooperation in environmental technology, education and economic development in Okinawa. He said he would seek support from local communities for the relocation plan by visiting the southernmost prefecture himself.

2010/06/01 15:58(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)

Hatoyama seeks to build East Asia community

June 1, 2010

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has instructed his Cabinet ministers to step up efforts to materialize his vision of an East Asian community.

At an informal Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the government compiled specific steps to create an East Asia community that would have stable economic and security systems in the region.

The plans call for promotion of efforts for Japan to conclude Economic Partnership Agreements to strengthen regional economic ties. The government also proposes to use Japan's technologies to help other countries build infrastructure such as railways and roads, and to help them tackle environment problems.

Other plans call for improving a communication network for disaster information and infectious disease prevention in the region.

Hatoyama asked his ministers to use occasions such as a meeting in Japan later this year of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to implement the steps to advance his vision.

2010/06/01 14:05(JST)
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Nagashima: Japan wants to strengthen US alliance

June 18, 2010
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Japan's Parliamentary Secretary for Defense says the new government of Prime Minister Naoto Kan hopes to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance based on realistic diplomatic policies.

Akihisa Nagashima said in a speech in Washington on Thursday that the government is resolved to take the bilateral security alliance to a higher level. He said Prime Minister Kan thinks Japan's diplomatic and securities policies should be promoted based on a realistic stance. He said Kan stresses that the Japan-US alliance is an international public framework for securing stability and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region as well as the security of Japan.

Nagashima outlined specific plans for stepping up the alliance.

They included more joint drills between Japan's
Self-Defense Forces and the US military in the western Pacific region, and promoting joint use of military facilities. He added that Japan also plans to expand Self-Defense Forces participation in international activities.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Schiffer, who spoke at the same event, referred to the relocation of the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. Japan and US agreed last month that the air station be moved to another site in Okinawa.

Schiffer said the US hopes to confirm, by the end of August, the location and the construction method of the facility to take over Futenma functions, based on the accord. Schiffer added that the US understands the concerns of Okinawa's people over noise and safety, and will try to alleviate their burden of hosting US bases as much as possible.

2010/06/18 13:21(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)

Hatoyama rejects calls to step down

June 1, 2010
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Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has reiterated his resolve to stay on as Japan's leader.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, Hatoyama said that he would hold talks with Ichiro Ozawa, the secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party, to discuss how to face what he termed the current national crisis.

Hatoyama stressed that what matters are people's livelihoods, and that the new coalition led by the Democrats was launched to dramatically change policies. He indicated he wants to continue to rule in a way that fits the new government.

Hatoyama faces mounting calls to resign from within his Democratic Party after a junior partner, the Social Democratic Party, left the ruling coalition on Sunday over the relocation of a US military base in Okinawa.

2010/06/01 10:09(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)

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• Hatoyama goes on offensive after Cabinet ministers express support


• Marines' move to Guam from Okinawa may be delayed up to 5 yrs   (Kyodo News)


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Japan Times :: Tuesday, June 1, 2010

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• [NATIONAL NEWS]
  Hatoyama finds SDP joining his foes
  By ALEX MARTIN, Staff writer
  The Hatoyama administration finds itself in an increasingly tight spot after the Social Democratic Party signals it would side with a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet.
  http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20100601a2.html
  
  
• [NATIONAL NEWS]
  Marine move to Guam facing five-year delay
  WASHINGTON (Kyodo) Japan and the United States are considering postponing the transfer of about 8,000 marines from Okinawa to Guam by three to five years from the originally scheduled 2014, sources close to Japanese-U.S. ties said Monday.
  http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20100601a5.html
  
  
• [LIFE IN JAPAN]
  Futenma is undermining Japanese democracy
  By DEBITO ARUDOU
  Times are tough for the Hatoyama Cabinet. It's had to backtrack on several campaign promises. Its approval ratings have plummeted to around 20 percent. And that old bone of contention — what to do about American military bases on Japanese soil — has resurfaced again.
  http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20100601ad.html