Maehara tasked with rebuilding U.S. ties / First overseas trip of 2011 to Washington; focus on security, Futenma relocation

Takeshi Kuroiwa and Satoshi Ogawa / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

WASHINGTON--Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara was tasked during his visit to the United States with rebuilding Japan-U.S. relations that have been strained over the planned relocation of a U.S. military air base in Okinawa Prefecture.

Maehara chose the United States as his first overseas destination this year.

"It's been four months since I became foreign minister, but this is my fourth meeting with Secretary of State [Hillary] Clinton. I've found it meaningful to have detailed discussions on various issues of security, which comprise the core of the Japan-U.S. alliance," Maehara said at a joint press conference with Clinton after their meeting in Washington.

Maehara left Tokyo on Thursday with the unavoidable mandate of repairing Japan-U.S. ties. His task was to move the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from its place at the center of Japan-U.S. bilateral talks, a source close to Maehara said.

Since the Democratic Party of Japan took power, the Japan-U.S. relationship has been particularly marred by the Futenma issue. The impasse was caused by former DPJ Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's attempt to scuttle the original agreement reached between the two countries in 2006 to relocate the base within the prefecture.

As last year marked the 50th anniversary of the revision of the bilateral security treaty, some people expected Maehara and Clinton to discuss specific ways to deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance.

However, a source familiar with Japan-U.S. diplomacy said: "The U.S. side has developed distrust toward Japan over the Futenma issue and said they're in a far-from-celebratory mood. The bilateral talks were downbeat."

Solving the Futenma issue as early as possible is vital to firm bilateral ties, but it has been difficult for the government of Prime Minister Naoto Kan to win understanding from local people on relocating the base within the prefecture.

Given the situation, Japan and the United States only sought ways of continuing bilateral talks as the next step toward breaking the impasse.

New joint strategy goals eyed

During Thursday's ministerial meeting, Japan and the United States also agreed to set new joint strategic goals to alleviate tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the East China Sea. Under the agreement, the two countries will draw up measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation for contingencies in neighboring areas that could pose a threat to Japan's peace and security, and then hold within a few months a so-called two-plus-two meeting of the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee comprising their foreign and defense ministers. Reaching an agreement to hold this two-plus-two meeting has significant implications.

In May, Japan and the United States agreed to use the committee to address technical matters surrounding the Futenma relocation. Holding the committee meeting before the two countries see progress in negotiations on the relocation means they have given up on an early solution to the Futenma issue.

"If the Futenma issue is separated from the agenda for Japan-U.S. bilateral negotiations, they can begin talks to deepen the alliance," a senior Foreign Ministry official said.

Late last year, China and Russia took a firm stance against Japan, apparently taking advantage of the worsened Japan-U.S. relationship. Japan now faces "three diplomatic battle fronts: China, North Korea and Russia," one Foreign Ministry source said.

To stabilize relations with these three countries, Maehara apparently believes Japan first should try to cement ties with the United States and regional neighbor South Korea. He apparently was treated well in the United States and appeared to have completed his first task this year.

Challenges remain

However, many challenges remain in terms of strengthening Japan-U.S. security cooperation, the main focus of talks to deepen bilateral ties.

When drawing up new guidelines for Japan-U.S. security cooperation in 1997, the Japanese and U.S. governments started making plans for the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military to deal with an emergency on the Korean Peninsula or other contingencies. But specific work, such as selecting and making available Japanese ports and airports for U.S. military use in times of emergency, has yet to be implemented out of concern that local people would oppose any such moves.

Japan also is likely to be urged by the United States to make international contributions when setting joint strategic goals in both Asia and elsewhere.

Ogawa is a correspondent based in Washington.