ID :
147860
Fri, 10/29/2010 - 03:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/147860
The shortlink copeid
Japan, U.S. agree to seek more rare earth suppliers besides China+
HONOLULU, Oct. 28 Kyodo -
Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton said Wednesday that they have agreed to diversify rare earth suppliers
following China's de facto curb on exports of the minerals to Japan amid
bilateral tension.
On the security front, Clinton said the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands,
claimed by China, are subject to the Japan-U.S. security treaty and the United
States is ''committed to obligations to protect'' the group of islets in case
of foreign attack.
During their talks in Honolulu, Maehara and Clinton also agreed to strengthen
the bilateral security alliance amid the growing military presence of China in
the East Asian region.
In a joint press conference after their talks, Maehara said, ''We think it is
not appropriate that 97 percent of the world's rare earth minerals depend only
on China,'' adding Tokyo will work closely with Washington and pursue diplomacy
to diversify suppliers of resources.
Clinton said China's recent move on rare earths was ''a wake-up call'' for the
United States and other countries, and it is necessary to secure ''additional
sources of supply.''
China, the sole major supplier of rare earths which are vital for the
production of many high-tech goods, has denied imposing any official
restrictions on their export.
On the disputed islands in the East China Sea, Clinton said, ''Let me say
clearly that the Senkaku Islands fall into the scope of Article 5'' of the
Japan-U.S. security treaty, which allows for Washington to retaliate against a
military strike on Japanese territory.
It is the first time that the U.S. secretary of state has publicly stated that
the Senkaku Islands are subject to the bilateral security pact.
Her remarks were interpreted as signaling that Washington intends to maintain
its engagement in the East Asian region despite the growing military presence
of China.
Maehara responded that her remarks were ''encouraging'' and that Tokyo will
keep the islands under Japanese control ''from now on as it has been and it is
now.''
At the press conference, Clinton stressed that Japan is ''a cornerstone'' of
U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific region and described the bilateral security
alliance as ''absolutely imperative.''
She also described the Japan-U.S. alliance as one of the most important
alliances in the world.
The meeting, which came about a month after their previous talks in New York,
lasted nearly two hours, much longer than scheduled and covering a wide range
of bilateral, regional and global issues.
As for Japan's potential participation in a U.S.-backed trans-Pacific free
trade agreement being negotiated by nine countries, Clinton said, ''We will
encourage Japan's interest.'' Tokyo is considering taking part in the
negotiations.
But a Japanese official who briefed reporters about the bilateral meeting
declined to elaborate further on exchanges regarding the matter.
The U.S. government has informally told Japan of its concern about a possible
protracted delay in the negotiations on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership
agreement if Tokyo participates, according to Japanese and U.S. sources.
Among other issues, Maehara and Clinton reaffirmed the policy of working out
the details of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in
Okinawa Prefecture so that the replacement facility would be operationally
viable and politically sustainable.
The two also agreed to cooperate in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum. Japan is hosting this year's APEC meetings with summit talks
due to be held in Yokohama on Nov. 13 to 14, while the United States will take
its turn next year, holding the summit in Hawaii on Nov. 12 to 13, 2011.
They shared the view that China needs to play a constructive role in the
international community, the Japanese official said, adding that the two
countries will continue to closely observe the situation of North Korea,
including the transfer of power from the country's leader Kim Jong Il to his
youngest son Jong Un.
Maehara said he and Clinton also discussed the nuclear standoffs with Iran and
North Korea, assistance for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and reform of the U.N.
Security Council.
Their meeting came ahead of summit talks between Japanese Prime Minister Naoto
Kan and U.S. President Barack Obama to be held on the sidelines of the upcoming
APEC summit.
==Kyodo
Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton said Wednesday that they have agreed to diversify rare earth suppliers
following China's de facto curb on exports of the minerals to Japan amid
bilateral tension.
On the security front, Clinton said the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands,
claimed by China, are subject to the Japan-U.S. security treaty and the United
States is ''committed to obligations to protect'' the group of islets in case
of foreign attack.
During their talks in Honolulu, Maehara and Clinton also agreed to strengthen
the bilateral security alliance amid the growing military presence of China in
the East Asian region.
In a joint press conference after their talks, Maehara said, ''We think it is
not appropriate that 97 percent of the world's rare earth minerals depend only
on China,'' adding Tokyo will work closely with Washington and pursue diplomacy
to diversify suppliers of resources.
Clinton said China's recent move on rare earths was ''a wake-up call'' for the
United States and other countries, and it is necessary to secure ''additional
sources of supply.''
China, the sole major supplier of rare earths which are vital for the
production of many high-tech goods, has denied imposing any official
restrictions on their export.
On the disputed islands in the East China Sea, Clinton said, ''Let me say
clearly that the Senkaku Islands fall into the scope of Article 5'' of the
Japan-U.S. security treaty, which allows for Washington to retaliate against a
military strike on Japanese territory.
It is the first time that the U.S. secretary of state has publicly stated that
the Senkaku Islands are subject to the bilateral security pact.
Her remarks were interpreted as signaling that Washington intends to maintain
its engagement in the East Asian region despite the growing military presence
of China.
Maehara responded that her remarks were ''encouraging'' and that Tokyo will
keep the islands under Japanese control ''from now on as it has been and it is
now.''
At the press conference, Clinton stressed that Japan is ''a cornerstone'' of
U.S. engagement in the Asia-Pacific region and described the bilateral security
alliance as ''absolutely imperative.''
She also described the Japan-U.S. alliance as one of the most important
alliances in the world.
The meeting, which came about a month after their previous talks in New York,
lasted nearly two hours, much longer than scheduled and covering a wide range
of bilateral, regional and global issues.
As for Japan's potential participation in a U.S.-backed trans-Pacific free
trade agreement being negotiated by nine countries, Clinton said, ''We will
encourage Japan's interest.'' Tokyo is considering taking part in the
negotiations.
But a Japanese official who briefed reporters about the bilateral meeting
declined to elaborate further on exchanges regarding the matter.
The U.S. government has informally told Japan of its concern about a possible
protracted delay in the negotiations on the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership
agreement if Tokyo participates, according to Japanese and U.S. sources.
Among other issues, Maehara and Clinton reaffirmed the policy of working out
the details of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in
Okinawa Prefecture so that the replacement facility would be operationally
viable and politically sustainable.
The two also agreed to cooperate in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum. Japan is hosting this year's APEC meetings with summit talks
due to be held in Yokohama on Nov. 13 to 14, while the United States will take
its turn next year, holding the summit in Hawaii on Nov. 12 to 13, 2011.
They shared the view that China needs to play a constructive role in the
international community, the Japanese official said, adding that the two
countries will continue to closely observe the situation of North Korea,
including the transfer of power from the country's leader Kim Jong Il to his
youngest son Jong Un.
Maehara said he and Clinton also discussed the nuclear standoffs with Iran and
North Korea, assistance for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and reform of the U.N.
Security Council.
Their meeting came ahead of summit talks between Japanese Prime Minister Naoto
Kan and U.S. President Barack Obama to be held on the sidelines of the upcoming
APEC summit.
==Kyodo
