Japan’s new leader tells US he values alliance

September 03, 2009|Kelly Olsen, Associated Press

TOKYO - Japan’s incoming leader said yesterday that he told President Obama that the two countries’ security alliance is the “foundation’’ of his nation’s foreign relations, an apparent attempt to ease concerns his new government may try to distance itself from Washington.

Yukio Hatoyama, whose party won a resounding victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, and Obama spoke by telephone for about 12 minutes, Hatoyama’s Democratic Party of Japan said on its website.

“The Japan-US alliance is the foundation,’’ Hatoyama said he told Obama, adding that he “wants to build constructive, forward-looking Japan-US relations.’’

The White House said Obama expressed his “strong wish to work with Mr. Hatoyama and the Japanese government.’’ Obama mentioned cooperation on economic recovery, combating climate change, denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, antiterrorism, and building peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Hatoyama, a Stanford University PhD and grandson of a prime minister, has called for Japan and the United States to pursue a more equitable relationship and said Tokyo should strengthen ties with its Asian neighbors. That has raised concerns that a rift could develop between the allies.

The Democratic Party, which trounced the incumbent Liberal Democratic Party, is expected to form a new government and name Hatoyama, the party’s president, as prime minister on Sept. 16, replacing Taro Aso.

Under the LDP, Japan has pursued close relations with the United States.