US and Japan vow to boost strained ties

Barack Obama and Japan’s new prime minister have pledged to revitalise their nations’ strained security alliance.
The American leader and Yukio Hatoyama met in Tokyo as their two countries try to adapt to China’s rising economy, which is set to overtake Japan as the world’s number two. But the heads of state left a feud over a US military base on Japan’s southern Okinawa island unresolved.

The matter is damaging Washington’s links with Japan’s new government, which has pledged to steer a diplomatic course less dependent on its ally and forge closer relations with Asia.

After their summit, Mr Hatoyama said: “I told him (Mr Obama) that the US-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of everything. But, given the changing times and global environment, I would like to deepen the alliance and create a new US-Japan alliance that is constructive and future-oriented.”

Mr Obama agreed: “Our alliance will endure and our efforts will be focused on revitalising that friendship so that it’s even stronger and more successful in meeting the challenges of the 21st century.” The president is on a nine-day tour of Asia that will also take him to Singapore for an Asia-Pacific summit, before talks in China on climate change and trade imbalances.