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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| US and Japan to renew alliance | US and Japan to renew alliance |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama have agreed on the need to renew their two countries' strained alliance. | US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama have agreed on the need to renew their two countries' strained alliance. |
| Mr Obama told reporters after talks in Tokyo that their bond was based on shared values and interests but should be renewed for the 21st Century. | Mr Obama told reporters after talks in Tokyo that their bond was based on shared values and interests but should be renewed for the 21st Century. |
| Mr Hatoyama said that, after 50 years, the alliance had to adapt to change. | |
| Mr Obama's first Asian tour as US leader is aimed at reassuring key allies and boosting economic growth. | Mr Obama's first Asian tour as US leader is aimed at reassuring key allies and boosting economic growth. |
| He has called for a growth strategy "that is both balanced and broadly shared". | He has called for a growth strategy "that is both balanced and broadly shared". |
| His eight-day tour will take him to Singapore, China and South Korea and includes an Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit. | 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 Korea | 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 Korea |
| He told Reuters news agency earlier that 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. | He told Reuters news agency earlier that 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. |
| Climate change and the North Korean and Iranian nuclear disputes are also likely to be on the agenda for his talks with Asian leaders. | Climate change and the North Korean and Iranian nuclear disputes are also likely to be on the agenda for his talks with Asian leaders. |
| 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. | 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. | His message will be that the US is back as a player on the region's diplomatic chess board, our correspondent adds. |
| Friction with Tokyo | Friction with Tokyo |
| Mr Hatoyama confirmed Japan would no longer refuel ships that supply forces in Afghanistan but he promised aid for Afghan civilian needs such as schools, agriculture and police. | |
| 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 Profile: Japan's Okinawa | 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 Profile: Japan's Okinawa |
| He also promised to work with the US to combat climate change and nuclear proliferation. | |
| On the dispute with the US over plans to keep a US air base on the island of Okinawa, albeit in a different location, he said only that the base was a "difficult issue". | |
| Washington thought the issue was settled three years ago but Mr Hatoyama, who came to power this year, has said he wants to review the agreement reached. | |
| Mr Obama said the US and Japan would work quickly to resolve the dispute. | |
| Japanese peace activists have 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. | 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. | 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 | 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 | 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 opening Chinese markets further to US goods and encouraging Chinese consumers to spend more. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | No decision on the surge request is expected during Mr Obama's visit to Asia, said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. |
| Are you in Asia? Will you try to see President Obama when he comes to your country? What do you think of his visit to the region? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Asia? Will you try to see President Obama when he comes to your country? What do you think of his visit to the region? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |