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Obama leaves for Asia trade drive Obama seeks to ease Japan tension
(about 17 hours later)
US President Barack Obama has flown out of Washington en route to Japan where he is to begin an eight-day Asian tour aimed at boosting economic growth. US President Barack Obama has been holding talks in Japan with the new Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, at a time of uncertainty in relations.
The first Asian tour of his presidency will also take him to Singapore, China and South Korea and includes an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Mr Hatoyama has signalled he wants closer ties with Asia and that he opposes plans to relocate a US military base on Okinawa.
He said before leaving that he would be pursuing a growth strategy "that is both balanced and broadly shared". Mr Obama's first Asian tour as US leader is aimed at boosting economic growth and reassuring key allies.
Earlier, he told Reuters news agency China was a "partner" as well as rival. He called for a growth strategy "that is both balanced and broadly shared".
In the same interview he warned of "enormous strains" in relations between the world's two most powerful nations if economic imbalances between them were not corrected. His eight-day tour will take him to Singapore, China and South Korea and includes an Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit.
OBAMA IN ASIA Friday 13 November: Arrives in JapanSaturday 14: Leaves Tokyo for Apec summit in SingaporeSunday 15: Has talks with Russia's President Medvedev among others at the summit before leaving for ChinaTuesday 17: Summit in Beijing with Chinese President Hu JintaoWednesday 18: Ends tour with visit to South KoreaOBAMA IN ASIA Friday 13 November: Arrives in JapanSaturday 14: Leaves Tokyo for Apec summit in SingaporeSunday 15: Has talks with Russia's President Medvedev among others at the summit before leaving for ChinaTuesday 17: Summit in Beijing with Chinese President Hu JintaoWednesday 18: Ends tour with visit to South Korea
Global climate change, the North Korean and Iranian nuclear disputes and US strategy in Afghanistan are also likely to figure on the agenda for his talks with Asian leaders. He told Reuters news agency China was a "partner" as well as rival but warned of "enormous strains" in relations between the world's two most powerful nations if economic imbalances between them were not corrected.
Barack Obama lived in Asia (Indonesia) as a child and is seen as the first president with an "Asia-Pacific orientation", the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Washington. Climate change and the North Korean and Iranian nuclear disputes are also likely to be on the agenda for his talks with Asian leaders.
He will try to capitalise on this as he seeks to build on and improve crucial relationships with allies and rivals across the Pacific, our correspondent adds. Jonathan Marcus, the BBC's diplomatic correspondent, says that while Mr Obama will push for increased Chinese co-operation in containing Iran and North Korea, his real challenge will be to allay the concerns of his non-Chinese hosts about the rise of Beijing's power in the region.
His message will be that the US is back as a player on the region's diplomatic chess board, our correspondent adds.
Friction with TokyoFriction with Tokyo
In Tokyo, the US president will deliver a key speech during which he is expected to reaffirm the strength of Washington's alliance with Japan. Mr Obama went into talks with Mr Hatoyama at the Japanese prime minister's residence in Tokyo shortly after arriving.
He will also meet Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. OKINAWA DISPUTE Most of the 47,000 US soldiers in Japan are based on the islandThe US military favours Okinawa as it is closer to China and Taiwan The US governed the island directly for nearly 30 years after World War IIThe US wants to move its airbase at Futenma away from residential areas to another location on the islandPollution from the US bases has angered local peopleA number of sexual assaults by US servicemen on Japanese civilians and accidents involving military hardware have fuelled opposition to the bases Japan's new PM has suggested moving Futenma off the island completely
There is some concern in the two countries about a drift in relations between the two strong allies. He is due to deliver a keynote speech on Saturday in which he is expected to reaffirm the strength of Washington's alliance with Japan.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama campaigned on a pledge to set a more independent course from the US and there has been friction over plans to relocate the US military base on Okinawa. Mr Hatoyama has promised to end Japan's Indian Ocean refuelling mission that supports US-led forces in Afghanistan.
Japanese peace activists demonstrated near the US embassy in Tokyo on Thursday against plans to move the base to another part of the island and also criticised Mr Obama for not taking time to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki on his first presidential visit to Japan. He also promised to review the Okinawa base agreement that Washington thought was settled three years ago.
Mr Obama said he would visit the sites of the first atomic bomb attacks later in his presidency. However, correspondents say the issue is likely to be downplayed during their talks.
Mr Hatoyama stressed on Friday that the Japanese-US alliance was a "cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy".
"There's no question about the need to maintain that," he added, speaking just before the US leader's arrival.
Japanese peace activists demonstrated near the US embassy in Tokyo on Thursday against plans to move the Okinawa base to another part of the island and also criticised Mr Obama for not taking time to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Mr Obama said he would visit the sites of the atomic bomb attacks on another occasion.
Japan has deployed about 16,000 police officers to provide security in Tokyo during the visit, which is expected to see further demonstrations.
Afghan pledge
China's growing economic and military power and its effect on relations with Washington are also concerns for some Japanese.China's growing economic and military power and its effect on relations with Washington are also concerns for some Japanese.
A Tokyo motorway stood empty after police closed it to traffic
Three days of the tour are being devoted to the Chinese leg during which Mr Obama hopes to discuss a revaluation of the Chinese currency.Three days of the tour are being devoted to the Chinese leg during which Mr Obama hopes to discuss a revaluation of the Chinese currency.
He is also set to discuss encouraging Chinese consumers to spend more and opening Chinese markets further to US goods. He is also set to discuss opening Chinese markets further to US goods and encouraging Chinese consumers to spend more.
China signalled on Wednesday that it might allow an appreciation of the yuan.China signalled on Wednesday that it might allow an appreciation of the yuan.
Mr Obama spent several years in Indonesia as a child and is seen as the first president with an "Asia-Pacific orientation", the BBC's Kim Ghattas reports from Washington.
He will try to capitalise on this as he seeks to build on and improve crucial relationships with allies and rivals across the Pacific, our correspondent adds.
Mr Obama stopped off in Alaska on his way, touching down at Elmendorf Air Force Base where he spoke to a military audience about his strategy in Afghanistan.
"I will not risk your lives unless it is necessary to America's vital interests," he told troops.
The US administration has been locked in an intense debate over a request from the American commander in Afghanistan for thousands of extra troops amid doubts over the competence and integrity of the Afghan government.
No decision on the surge request is expected during Mr Obama's visit to Asia, said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.
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