WASHINGTON--Japan and the United States agreed Tuesday on new "common strategic objectives" to respond to China's military buildup and other regional issues, and reaffirmed a commitment to deepening and broadening the alliance.
At ministerial-level defense and security talks in Washington, the two countries also agreed to officially drop the 2014 deadline for relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.
The so-called two-plus-two talks, held for the first time in four years, was the first meeting under the Democratic Party of Japan-led government. The Japan-U.S. alliance has been on shaky ground since the DPJ took power in autumn 2009, but the two countries were able to finally make specific agreements to strengthen ties.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
In a joint statement released after the meeting, the four ministers pointed to "challenges posed by the increasingly uncertain security environment" in the Asia-Pacific region. To achieve global and regional stability, they listed 24 common strategic objectives.
The statement called for China's "adherence to international norms of behavior" and urged the country to "improve openness and transparency" of its growing military.
Japan's relations with China cooled last year following collisions between a Chinese fishing boat and Japan Coast Guard vessels near the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. More recently, frictions over territorial issues have increased between China and nations around the South China Sea.
According to government sources, the ministers expressed strong concerns about China's increasing naval activity during the meeting. They agreed to strengthen security and defense cooperation with Australia, India and South Korea, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Some observers said Tokyo and Washington have started seeking ways to build "a China containment network" centered around relations with regional allies.
According to the Foreign Ministry and other sources, Matsumoto wants Japan and the United States to take the initiative in creating guidelines with Southeast Asian and other countries, and was quoted as saying, "Cooperation under frameworks such as the ASEAN Regional Forum would also be effective."
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New Japan-U.S. goals focus on China's rise : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)
At ministerial-level defense and security talks in Washington, the two countries also agreed to officially drop the 2014 deadline for relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.
The so-called two-plus-two talks, held for the first time in four years, was the first meeting under the Democratic Party of Japan-led government. The Japan-U.S. alliance has been on shaky ground since the DPJ took power in autumn 2009, but the two countries were able to finally make specific agreements to strengthen ties.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
In a joint statement released after the meeting, the four ministers pointed to "challenges posed by the increasingly uncertain security environment" in the Asia-Pacific region. To achieve global and regional stability, they listed 24 common strategic objectives.
The statement called for China's "adherence to international norms of behavior" and urged the country to "improve openness and transparency" of its growing military.
Japan's relations with China cooled last year following collisions between a Chinese fishing boat and Japan Coast Guard vessels near the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. More recently, frictions over territorial issues have increased between China and nations around the South China Sea.
According to government sources, the ministers expressed strong concerns about China's increasing naval activity during the meeting. They agreed to strengthen security and defense cooperation with Australia, India and South Korea, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Some observers said Tokyo and Washington have started seeking ways to build "a China containment network" centered around relations with regional allies.
According to the Foreign Ministry and other sources, Matsumoto wants Japan and the United States to take the initiative in creating guidelines with Southeast Asian and other countries, and was quoted as saying, "Cooperation under frameworks such as the ASEAN Regional Forum would also be effective."
continue reading from ...
New Japan-U.S. goals focus on China's rise : National : DAILY YOMIURI ONLINE (The Daily Yomiuri)
