Japan PM, Obama to Discuss Afghan Support

In Early Test for Key U.S. Ally's New Left-Leaning Leader, Hatoyama May Seek Independence, But Reaffirm Ties

(AP)  Just five days in office, Japan's prime minister was leaving Monday for his debut on the world stage, where he is to meet with the leaders of the U.S., China and Russia and promote his ambitious plan to cut greenhouse gases in a speech at the U.N.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao after arriving in New York late Monday, then attend a climate summit at the U.N. that starts Tuesday.

But Hatoyama, whose left-leaning party defeated the long-ruling conservatives in last month's elections, faces his biggest diplomatic test Wednesday, when he meets with President Obama.

Japan has long been one of Washington's closest allies, but Hatoyama's new government has said it wants to pursue a more independent relationship with the U.S., and will not extend the refueling operations in the Indian Ocean in support of American troops in Afghanistan beyond January.

The U.S. is boosting troop levels in Afghanistan even as international support for the coalition wanes, and is loathe to lose the backing of an ally.

Hatoyama also has said he wants to review the U.S. military presence in Japan, where 50,000 American troops are stationed. But that will wait and he said he doesn't plan to bring up the contentious topic during his initial meeting with Mr. Obama, preferring to build "a relationship of trust" with the U.S. president.

Hatoyama is also planning to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in New York on Wednesday.

Discussion topics will include climate change, the global economy and North Korea's nuclear program, a Foreign Ministry official said.

At the United Nations on Thursday, Hatoyama is to address his government's goal of a 25 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 - among the most ambitious cuts proposed by an economic power.

He will then travel to Pittsburgh to attend the Group of 20 economic summit.

While Hatoyama has said he wants Japan to take a less passive role in its ties with the U.S., its main military ally and major trading partner, he also has been careful to reassure Japanese and Americans alike that the U.S. will remain the "cornerstone" of his government's foreign policy.

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Sunday that Japan is considering sending more financial aid to Afghanistan after the refueling mission ends. During an interview on TV Asahi, Okada said it was unlikely that Japan would send troops, even for a noncombat role as it did in Iraq. Japan's pacifist constitution prohibits offensive military operations.

Okada also was departing for New York to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton later Monday. He wants to reconfirm the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance during that meeting, the foreign ministry official said.

Last week, Clinton played down differences with Hatoyama's government, saying she expects new policies in Tokyo, just as the Obama administration has forged different approaches than the Bush administration.

[bubbadubba]

If I was the Japanese PM I would pat Obama on the back and say " we support the US in Afghanistan ".
As other countries pull out of that mess it is becoming increasingly obvious that the US will be left alone to let its men and women die for nothing in a war the US cannot win.

[steve54z]

Barack Obama settled nothing for the Victims of the Katrina Disaster. Why worry so much about Afghanistan? Americans deserve the first consideration. Natural catastrophes must be met with federal tax dollars for recovery. Obama rejected the plight of Pennsylvanians living in the Western half of the Commonwealth after devastating June floods.

[ffoulkes-2009]

Of course Obama won't help Katrina survivors or anyone in Western PA...aren't these both conservative areas?

[JTOlivar]

I sincerely doubt that Japan's prime minister is going to be a sucker for the Afghan war. Europe certainly isn't buying it.

I don't think anybody is interested in joining the frey for the glorious Obamessiah's glory.

The best thing anybody can do in Afghanistan is to pull the troops and just keep special forces there sending in the drones like Bush did to take out the Al Queda and Taliban leadership.

[readme19]

Still supporting the BUSH appeasement policies that allow those that attack to the US to establish safe havens while attacking those that DO NOT? These appeasements are policies you claim to condemn, Rowdy. How do you expect to spot the terrorists you wish to attack with drones without an possible location from which to operate the drones? More rants from the uninformed.