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Obama comes to Japan mulling Afghan war options
Source: Agencies |
November 13, 2009, Friday
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US President Barack Obama today aimed to shore up relations with a new Japanese government vowing to be more assertive with its US ally, even as he grapples with sending more US troops to Afghanistan.
While public remarks from Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama are expected to stress their countries' enduring alliance, Obama's visit comes at a time of uncertainty in relations. Hatoyama has promised to end Japan's Indian Ocean refueling mission that supports US-led forces in Afghanistan and to review an agreement on relocating American troops in Japan that Washington thought was settled three years ago.
Obama arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport today beginning a four-nation Asia trip, his first to the region as president.
Weighing on Obama was a pending decision on Afghan war strategy. Stopping off at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska on his way to Asia, Obama told a military audience he will only commit more forces to Afghanistan if it is vital to US interests and receives public support.
"I will not risk your lives unless it is necessary to America's vital interests," Obama told the troops.
"And if it is necessary," Obama added, "the United States of America will have your back. We'll give you the strategy and the clear mission you deserve. We'll give you the equipment and support you need to get the job done. And that includes public support back home."
In a pre-trip interview with Japan's NHK network, Obama sought to minimize any friction and likened the election of Hatoyama's and his Democratic Party of Japan after nearly 50 years of rule by another party to a "political earthquake."
"I think that it is perfectly appropriate for the new government to want to re-examine how to move forward in a new environment," Obama said. "I don't think anybody expects that the US-Japan relationship would be the same now as it was 50 years ago or 30 years ago or 20 years ago."
As part of an effort to shift focus away from difficult security issues, Obama and Hatoyama are expected to discuss and issue a statement on climate change, nuclear disarmament and other global issues. Attempts to coax nuclear-armed North Korea - which occasionally threatens Japan with fiery rhetoric - to return to disarmament negotiations are likely to feature prominently, as is Iran's nuclear program.
The stickiest issue in relations - the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa - is likely to be glossed over. Hatoyama has suggested moving Futenma off Okinawa while the US wants to move the base to a more remote location on the island, as part of a 2006 agreement on relocating 47,000 American troops in Japan.
Trying to relieve some of the strain on relations, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada agreed earlier this week to form a new committee to resolve the base issue. Tokyo also announced a new US$5 billion aid package for Afghanistan, even as it reaffirmed a pledge to end the Indian Ocean refueling mission in January.
Obama's visit would likely increase pressure on Japan to come up with a more rounded contribution to the Afghanistan war, Japanese media said.
"Counterterrorism in Afghanistan is the most important foreign policy for the Obama administration. The US expects Japan will present an alternative, which will replace Japan's naval refueling mission," said the liberal Asahi Shimbun, which ran a special page today that included a profile on Obama and his inauguration speech.
While public remarks from Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama are expected to stress their countries' enduring alliance, Obama's visit comes at a time of uncertainty in relations. Hatoyama has promised to end Japan's Indian Ocean refueling mission that supports US-led forces in Afghanistan and to review an agreement on relocating American troops in Japan that Washington thought was settled three years ago.
Obama arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport today beginning a four-nation Asia trip, his first to the region as president.
Weighing on Obama was a pending decision on Afghan war strategy. Stopping off at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska on his way to Asia, Obama told a military audience he will only commit more forces to Afghanistan if it is vital to US interests and receives public support.
"I will not risk your lives unless it is necessary to America's vital interests," Obama told the troops.
"And if it is necessary," Obama added, "the United States of America will have your back. We'll give you the strategy and the clear mission you deserve. We'll give you the equipment and support you need to get the job done. And that includes public support back home."
In a pre-trip interview with Japan's NHK network, Obama sought to minimize any friction and likened the election of Hatoyama's and his Democratic Party of Japan after nearly 50 years of rule by another party to a "political earthquake."
"I think that it is perfectly appropriate for the new government to want to re-examine how to move forward in a new environment," Obama said. "I don't think anybody expects that the US-Japan relationship would be the same now as it was 50 years ago or 30 years ago or 20 years ago."
As part of an effort to shift focus away from difficult security issues, Obama and Hatoyama are expected to discuss and issue a statement on climate change, nuclear disarmament and other global issues. Attempts to coax nuclear-armed North Korea - which occasionally threatens Japan with fiery rhetoric - to return to disarmament negotiations are likely to feature prominently, as is Iran's nuclear program.
The stickiest issue in relations - the relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the southern island of Okinawa - is likely to be glossed over. Hatoyama has suggested moving Futenma off Okinawa while the US wants to move the base to a more remote location on the island, as part of a 2006 agreement on relocating 47,000 American troops in Japan.
Trying to relieve some of the strain on relations, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada agreed earlier this week to form a new committee to resolve the base issue. Tokyo also announced a new US$5 billion aid package for Afghanistan, even as it reaffirmed a pledge to end the Indian Ocean refueling mission in January.
Obama's visit would likely increase pressure on Japan to come up with a more rounded contribution to the Afghanistan war, Japanese media said.
"Counterterrorism in Afghanistan is the most important foreign policy for the Obama administration. The US expects Japan will present an alternative, which will replace Japan's naval refueling mission," said the liberal Asahi Shimbun, which ran a special page today that included a profile on Obama and his inauguration speech.
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