ID :
143403
Fri, 09/24/2010 - 09:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/143403
The shortlink copeid
Clinton tells Maehara Senkaku subject to Japan-U.S. security pact
NEW YORK, Sept. 23 Kyodo -
The Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea are covered by the Japan-U.S.
security pact that allows for Washington to retaliate against a military strike
on Japanese territory, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Japanese
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara on Thursday amid rising tension between Japan
and China over the islands, Maehara said.
The Japanese minister told Clinton that he was grateful and encouraged to hear
the disputed isles administered by Japan, but claimed by both China and Taiwan,
are subject to Article 5 of the bilateral security treaty, a Japanese official
said.
The article authorizes the U.S. to protect Japan in the event of an armed
attack ''in the territories under the administration of Japan.'' The islands
are known in China as Diaoyu and in Taiwan as Tiaoyutai.
Bilateral ties between Japan and China have rapidly chilled following the Sept.
7 collisions between a Chinese trawler and two Japanese Coast Guard patrol
boats near the disputed islands.
The Chinese fishing boat captain was arrested on suspicion of obstructing the
official duties of the coast guard personnel by deliberately causing his vessel
to collide with one of the boats.
The arrest sparked protests from China, which has repeatedly called for the
captain's immediate release, and led to cancellations of travel, concerts and
other cultural and governmental exchanges between the two countries.
U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said after the talks that the
secretary's response to the minister's explanation on the issue was ''simply to
encourage dialogue and hope that the issue can be resolved soon since the
relations between Japan and China are vitally important to the regional
stability.''
Clinton and Maehara met in New York on the sidelines of U.N. General Assembly
meetings. Their meeting was held prior to summit talks between Japanese Prime
Minister Naoto Kan and U.S. President Barack Obama scheduled for later in the
day.
Crowley said Washington does ''not take a position on the sovereignty of the
Senkakus'' but expects ''the two mature countries are fully capable of
resolving'' the row.
''Our sense is neither side wants to see the situation escalate to the point
that it has a long-term regional impact. We're hopeful that this issue can be
resolved soon,'' he said.
The two also discussed a range of other issues such as the relocation of a U.S.
Marine base in Okinawa, deepening of the bilateral security treaty, how to deal
with North Korea and Iran in relation to their nuclear programs, support for
Afghanistan and Pakistan, and bilateral trade matters.
Maehara said he told Clinton the Japanese government will implement an accord
reached in May to transfer the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within
Okinawa and try to gain the understanding of local Okinawa residents of that
policy.
The two also agreed to move forward talks on deepening the security treaty,
which marks its 50th anniversary this year, with a view to responding to
regional and global challenges, the minister told reporters.
Clinton and Maehara reaffirmed that they will work closely to denuclearize the
Korean Peninsula. The Japanese minister told Clinton that Tokyo will closely
follow next Tuesday's convention of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and is
eager to hold strategic dialogue on North Korea with the United States,
according to the Japanese official.
The convention of party delegates is expected to elect a new leadership, a move
that may be linked to the succession of power from leader Kim Jong Il to his
third son and heir apparent Kim Jong Un, believed to be in his late 20s.
On economic issues, the two took up Japan's restrictions on U.S. beef imports
over mad cow disease. Maehara said he told Clinton that Tokyo is considering
the possibility of easing its ban on imports of U.S. beef from cattle aged over
20 months.
Maehara, who served as transport minister before being appointed to foreign
ministerial post last Friday, also said he conveyed to Clinton his eagerness to
export Japan's high-speed railway system to the United States to further boost
bilateral economic ties.
The minister said he asked Clinton to take a test ride on Japan's Shinkansen
bullet train system when she visits Japan in November to attend a meeting of
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
==Kyodo
The Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea are covered by the Japan-U.S.
security pact that allows for Washington to retaliate against a military strike
on Japanese territory, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Japanese
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara on Thursday amid rising tension between Japan
and China over the islands, Maehara said.
The Japanese minister told Clinton that he was grateful and encouraged to hear
the disputed isles administered by Japan, but claimed by both China and Taiwan,
are subject to Article 5 of the bilateral security treaty, a Japanese official
said.
The article authorizes the U.S. to protect Japan in the event of an armed
attack ''in the territories under the administration of Japan.'' The islands
are known in China as Diaoyu and in Taiwan as Tiaoyutai.
Bilateral ties between Japan and China have rapidly chilled following the Sept.
7 collisions between a Chinese trawler and two Japanese Coast Guard patrol
boats near the disputed islands.
The Chinese fishing boat captain was arrested on suspicion of obstructing the
official duties of the coast guard personnel by deliberately causing his vessel
to collide with one of the boats.
The arrest sparked protests from China, which has repeatedly called for the
captain's immediate release, and led to cancellations of travel, concerts and
other cultural and governmental exchanges between the two countries.
U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said after the talks that the
secretary's response to the minister's explanation on the issue was ''simply to
encourage dialogue and hope that the issue can be resolved soon since the
relations between Japan and China are vitally important to the regional
stability.''
Clinton and Maehara met in New York on the sidelines of U.N. General Assembly
meetings. Their meeting was held prior to summit talks between Japanese Prime
Minister Naoto Kan and U.S. President Barack Obama scheduled for later in the
day.
Crowley said Washington does ''not take a position on the sovereignty of the
Senkakus'' but expects ''the two mature countries are fully capable of
resolving'' the row.
''Our sense is neither side wants to see the situation escalate to the point
that it has a long-term regional impact. We're hopeful that this issue can be
resolved soon,'' he said.
The two also discussed a range of other issues such as the relocation of a U.S.
Marine base in Okinawa, deepening of the bilateral security treaty, how to deal
with North Korea and Iran in relation to their nuclear programs, support for
Afghanistan and Pakistan, and bilateral trade matters.
Maehara said he told Clinton the Japanese government will implement an accord
reached in May to transfer the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within
Okinawa and try to gain the understanding of local Okinawa residents of that
policy.
The two also agreed to move forward talks on deepening the security treaty,
which marks its 50th anniversary this year, with a view to responding to
regional and global challenges, the minister told reporters.
Clinton and Maehara reaffirmed that they will work closely to denuclearize the
Korean Peninsula. The Japanese minister told Clinton that Tokyo will closely
follow next Tuesday's convention of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and is
eager to hold strategic dialogue on North Korea with the United States,
according to the Japanese official.
The convention of party delegates is expected to elect a new leadership, a move
that may be linked to the succession of power from leader Kim Jong Il to his
third son and heir apparent Kim Jong Un, believed to be in his late 20s.
On economic issues, the two took up Japan's restrictions on U.S. beef imports
over mad cow disease. Maehara said he told Clinton that Tokyo is considering
the possibility of easing its ban on imports of U.S. beef from cattle aged over
20 months.
Maehara, who served as transport minister before being appointed to foreign
ministerial post last Friday, also said he conveyed to Clinton his eagerness to
export Japan's high-speed railway system to the United States to further boost
bilateral economic ties.
The minister said he asked Clinton to take a test ride on Japan's Shinkansen
bullet train system when she visits Japan in November to attend a meeting of
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
==Kyodo
