ID :
143520
Sat, 09/25/2010 - 13:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/143520
The shortlink copeid
Japan, U.S. to closely consult on island row with China+
NEW YORK, Sept. 23 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed Thursday that the two countries will closely consult on heightened tensions between Japan and China arising from a ship collision incident in the East China Sea, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Tetsuro Fukuyama said.
Kan and Obama, who met in New York on the fringe of U.N. meetings, also
confirmed the importance of the Japan-U.S. security alliance, saying it not
only stabilizes the Asia-Pacific region but also serves as a cornerstone for
global peace and prosperity.
With Kan describing the bilateral alliance as ''infrastructure'' for peace in
the Asia-Pacific region as well as in the world, the two leaders recognized the
need to closely monitor developments in their relations with China, Fukuyama,
who had attended the hour-long summit meeting, told reporters.
The two leaders met for the second time following their first encounter in
Toronto in June.
Tensions have been mounting between Japan and China following the Sept. 7
collisions between a Chinese trawler and two Japanese Coast Guard patrol boats
near the disputed Senkaku Islands, which are administered by Japan but claimed
by both China and Taiwan.
The Chinese fishing boat captain was arrested on suspicion of deliberately
causing his vessel to collide with one of the boats. The arrest sparked
protests from China, leading to cancellation of travel, concerts and other
cultural and governmental exchanges between the two countries.
Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured Japanese
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara that the Senkaku Islands are covered by the
Japan-U.S. security pact that allows Washington to retaliate against a military
strike on Japanese territory.
The disputed islands are known in China as Diaoyu and in Taiwan as Tiaoyutai.
On the relocation of a U.S. Marine base in Okinawa, Kan told Obama that his
government will implement a bilateral accord reached in May to transfer the
military facility within the southern Japanese prefecture.
Kan said Tokyo will try to gain the understanding of local Okinawa residents of
that policy by carrying out measures to ease base-hosting burdens on them.
Obama said he recognizes difficulties involved in the base issue, Fukuyama
said.
They also agreed to deepen the bilateral alliance not only in the area of
security but also in economic and cultural fields, he added.
The two leaders reaffirmed their unity in dealing with North Korea, saying they
need to see sincere and positive attitudes of Pyongyang before concerned
parties agree to resume six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean
Peninsula, he said.
Kan said North Korea must show its ''new stance'' on four issues -- the deadly
sinking of a South Korean ship in March, its nuclear ambition, missile program
and the past abductions of Japanese nationals.
The six-party dialogue involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the
United States have been stalled since December 2008. North Korea calls for the
reopening of dialogue, a move supported by China.
But Japan, South Korea and the United States are wary in the wake of the ship
sinking incident for which the North has been blamed. Pyongyang categorically
denies its involvement in the case.
Fukuyama said the two leaders did not have enough time to sufficiently address
economic issues, thus not touching upon the foreign exchange issue, despite
Japan last week making its first yen-selling intervention in the currency
markets in over six years.
Obama also said he is looking forward to visiting Yokohama in November to
attend a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
The president also said he expects to find ''ways that we can work together so
we can shape an architecture for economic development in the Pacific region,''
apparently referring to the future framework to spur regional trade and
investment.
Kan welcomed the planned U.S. participation in the East Asia Summit and said he
would like to lead an initiative to build an East Asian community involving the
United States, Fukuyama said. The idea was originally put forward by his
predecessor Yukio Hatoyama.
==Kyodo
Kan and Obama, who met in New York on the fringe of U.N. meetings, also
confirmed the importance of the Japan-U.S. security alliance, saying it not
only stabilizes the Asia-Pacific region but also serves as a cornerstone for
global peace and prosperity.
With Kan describing the bilateral alliance as ''infrastructure'' for peace in
the Asia-Pacific region as well as in the world, the two leaders recognized the
need to closely monitor developments in their relations with China, Fukuyama,
who had attended the hour-long summit meeting, told reporters.
The two leaders met for the second time following their first encounter in
Toronto in June.
Tensions have been mounting between Japan and China following the Sept. 7
collisions between a Chinese trawler and two Japanese Coast Guard patrol boats
near the disputed Senkaku Islands, which are administered by Japan but claimed
by both China and Taiwan.
The Chinese fishing boat captain was arrested on suspicion of deliberately
causing his vessel to collide with one of the boats. The arrest sparked
protests from China, leading to cancellation of travel, concerts and other
cultural and governmental exchanges between the two countries.
Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured Japanese
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara that the Senkaku Islands are covered by the
Japan-U.S. security pact that allows Washington to retaliate against a military
strike on Japanese territory.
The disputed islands are known in China as Diaoyu and in Taiwan as Tiaoyutai.
On the relocation of a U.S. Marine base in Okinawa, Kan told Obama that his
government will implement a bilateral accord reached in May to transfer the
military facility within the southern Japanese prefecture.
Kan said Tokyo will try to gain the understanding of local Okinawa residents of
that policy by carrying out measures to ease base-hosting burdens on them.
Obama said he recognizes difficulties involved in the base issue, Fukuyama
said.
They also agreed to deepen the bilateral alliance not only in the area of
security but also in economic and cultural fields, he added.
The two leaders reaffirmed their unity in dealing with North Korea, saying they
need to see sincere and positive attitudes of Pyongyang before concerned
parties agree to resume six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing the Korean
Peninsula, he said.
Kan said North Korea must show its ''new stance'' on four issues -- the deadly
sinking of a South Korean ship in March, its nuclear ambition, missile program
and the past abductions of Japanese nationals.
The six-party dialogue involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the
United States have been stalled since December 2008. North Korea calls for the
reopening of dialogue, a move supported by China.
But Japan, South Korea and the United States are wary in the wake of the ship
sinking incident for which the North has been blamed. Pyongyang categorically
denies its involvement in the case.
Fukuyama said the two leaders did not have enough time to sufficiently address
economic issues, thus not touching upon the foreign exchange issue, despite
Japan last week making its first yen-selling intervention in the currency
markets in over six years.
Obama also said he is looking forward to visiting Yokohama in November to
attend a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
The president also said he expects to find ''ways that we can work together so
we can shape an architecture for economic development in the Pacific region,''
apparently referring to the future framework to spur regional trade and
investment.
Kan welcomed the planned U.S. participation in the East Asia Summit and said he
would like to lead an initiative to build an East Asian community involving the
United States, Fukuyama said. The idea was originally put forward by his
predecessor Yukio Hatoyama.
==Kyodo
