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Obama says U.S. will stand by treaty obligations to Japan Obama says U.S. will stand by treaty obligations to Japan
(about 2 hours later)
TOKYO — President Obama affirmed the fact that United States’ treaty obligations to Japan extend to a chain of contested islands in the East China Sea Thursday, even as he emphasized that Japan and neighboring China should seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute. TOKYO —
Speaking at a press conference with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Obama said the United States does not take a position “on final sovereignty over the islands,” which are called the Senkaku by Japan and the Diaoyu by China. But he noted a longstanding treaty dictates the U.S. would defend against any attack aimed at Japan. President Obama affirmed Thursday that U.S. treaty obligations to Japan extend to a chain of contested islands in the East China Sea, even as he emphasized that Japan and China should seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.
“Historically they have been administered by Japan and we do not believe that they should be subject to change unilaterally. What is a consistent part of the alliance is that the treaty covers all territories administered by Japan,” he said, adding, “It would be a profound mistake to continue to see escalation around this issue, instead of dialogue.” Speaking at a news conference with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Obama said the United States does not take a position “on final sovereignty over the islands,” which are called the Senkaku by Japan and the Diaoyu by China. But he noted that a long-standing treaty dictates the United States would defend against any attack aimed at Japan.
Obama emphasized the position he was articulating “is not new,” noting at one point, “The treaty between the U.S. and Japan preceded my birth, so obviously this isn’t the red line that I’m drawing.” “We don’t take a position on final sovereignty determinations with respect to Senkakus, but historically they have been administered by Japan, and we do not believe that they should be subject to change unilaterally,” he said. “And what is a consistent part of the alliance is that the treaty covers all territories administered by Japan.”
But the president’s statement highlighted a broader theme in his week-long trip here: the United States remains focused on Asia, and will deepen its economic and security ties here even as it contends with unrest in Ukraine and the Middle East. “At the same time,” Obama said, he has told Abe directly “that it would be a profound mistake to continue to see escalation around this issue rather than dialogue and confidence-building measures between Japan and China.”
Taylor Fravel, a political science professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote in an e-mail that other U.S. officials had articulated a similar position in the past, “but it is the first time ever that a U.S. president has made such a statement,” enhancing its signficance. Obama emphasized that the position he was articulating “is not new.” He noted at one point, “First of all, the treaty between the United States and Japan preceded my birth, so obviously, this isn’t a ‘red line’ that I’m drawing.”
Obama also confirmed that the U.S. has “teed up” additional sanctions against Russia, which it could impose unless Russian president Vladi­mir Putin does more to encourage pro-Russian militants to put down their arms in eastern Ukraine. But the president’s statement highlighted a broader theme in his week-long Asian trip: the United States remains focused on Asia and will deepen its economic and security ties in the region even as it contends with unrest in Ukraine and the Middle East.
“There’s always the possibity that tomorrow or the next day Russia takes another course,” he said. “Do I think they’re going to do that? So far the evidence doesn’t make me hopeful.” Taylor Fravel, a political science professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, wrote in an e-mail that other U.S. officials had articulated a similar position in the past, “but it is the first time ever that a U.S. president has made such a statement,” enhancing its significance.
Obama also said the United States has “teed up” additional sanctions against Russia and could impose them unless President Vladimir Putin does more to encourage pro-Russian militants to put down their arms in eastern Ukraine.
“There’s always the possibility, tomorrow or the next day, Russia reverses course and takes another approach,” he said. “Do I think they’re going to do that? So far, the evidence doesn’t make me hopeful.”
Abe, for his part, said “the Japan-U.S. alliance has been revived very strongly” by the president’s visit to Tokyo, adding that his confidence in America “became even stronger” as a result of their conversations.Abe, for his part, said “the Japan-U.S. alliance has been revived very strongly” by the president’s visit to Tokyo, adding that his confidence in America “became even stronger” as a result of their conversations.
When it came to the question of whether the U.S. would come to Japan’s aid if needed, Abe said, “On this point I fully trust President Obama.” When it came to the question of whether the United States would come to Japan’s aid if needed, Abe said: “We want to make this a peaceful region which values laws, and in doing this strengthening of our bilateral alliance is extremely important. On this point, I fully trust President Obama.”
Even as the president touted the historic alliance between America and Japan, he made it clear he looked forward to cooperating with China on issues ranging from climate change to the economy.Even as the president touted the historic alliance between America and Japan, he made it clear he looked forward to cooperating with China on issues ranging from climate change to the economy.
“We have strong relations with China. They are a critical country, not just to the region, but to the world,” he said. “We want to continue to encourage the peaceful rise of China.”“We have strong relations with China. They are a critical country, not just to the region, but to the world,” he said. “We want to continue to encourage the peaceful rise of China.”
Obama also defended his handling of foreign crises in the past, such as his decision not to take military action against Syria after the government used chemical weapons against its own people. He noted that 87 percent of the Syrian government’s chemical weapons cache had been taken out of the country. Obama also defended his handling of foreign crises in the past, such as his decision not to take military action against Syria after the government used chemical weapons against its own people. He said that 87 percent of the Syrian government’s chemical weapons cache has been taken out of the country.
“That’s as a consequence of U.S. leadership,” he said, adding it was “not a failure to uphold international norms, that’s a success.” “That’s as a consequence of U.S. leadership,” he said. “And the fact that we didn’t have to fire a missile to get that accomplished is not a failure to uphold those international norms; it’s a success.”
The two leaders also spoke of how they hoped to foster closer economic ties between their countries through adoption of the Trans-Pacific Partnership initiative, a massive trade deal involving 12 nations. But they acknowledged they had yet to reach a compromise on key obstacles to a final accord, such as how much Japan would open up its agricultural and automotive sectors to foreign competition.The two leaders also spoke of how they hoped to foster closer economic ties between their countries through adoption of the Trans-Pacific Partnership initiative, a massive trade deal involving 12 nations. But they acknowledged they had yet to reach a compromise on key obstacles to a final accord, such as how much Japan would open up its agricultural and automotive sectors to foreign competition.
Abe spoke of the prospect of creating a “21st century type of economic zone,” noting that before that happens, “The remaining issues must be overcome very quickly and resolved.” Abe spoke of the prospect of creating a “21st century type of economic zone.” Before that happens, he said, “the remaining issues must be overcome very quickly and resolved so that TPP as a whole can be concluded.”
Obama said for that to occur, “American manufacturers and farmers need to have meaningful access to markets, including here in Japan.” Obama said for that to occur, “I’ve been very clear and honest that American manufacturers and farmers need to have meaningful access to markets that are included under TPP, including here in Japan.”
And even as the president called for “bold steps” to reach an accord, he noted that both he and his Japanese counterpart faced domestic resistance to such a deal.And even as the president called for “bold steps” to reach an accord, he noted that both he and his Japanese counterpart faced domestic resistance to such a deal.
“Prime Minister Abe’s got to deal with his politics, I’ve got to deal with mine,” Obama said.“Prime Minister Abe’s got to deal with his politics, I’ve got to deal with mine,” Obama said.
Right after the news conference, the president met privately with three relatives of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea, a White House official confirmed, a move that underscored growing international concern over how to handle that regime’s human rights abuses. Sakie Yokota, the mother of a woman who was kidnapped by North Koreans in 1977 as she was headed home from badminton practice, was one of the meeting’s attendees. The case of her daughter, Megumi — one of 13 Japanese citizens the North Korean government has acknowledged abducting in the 1970s and 1980s — has been a source of friction between the two countries for years.
Obama also paid tribute to Japan’s technological innovation and culture, visiting the Meiji Shrine and playing soccer with a Japanese robot at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, or Mirikan. The technology event, which celebrated the renewal of a 10-year scientific collaboration agreement between the two countries, featured a prerecorded message from the International Space Station’s Japanese commander and two American flight engineers serving alongside him.
The president spoke to about 30 students about the potential of technological innovation to address issues ranging from climate change to disease, though he quipped that the robots were so advanced that they intimidated him.
“I have to say that the robots were a little scary; they were too lifelike,” he declared. “They were amazing.”