Concern mounting in Washington over Obama`s Japan visit

In a rare move, the US National Security Council convened a special meeting Friday (October 30) to discuss policies toward the new Japanese government, which is at odds with Washington over the relocation of a US military facility in Japan, among other issues, according to sources.



The move apparently reflects the United States` growing distrust of the administration led by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, the sources said.



Washington is said to be increasingly concerned about its relationship with Tokyo, as the dispute over the relocation plan is unlikely to be settled before the scheduled visit by President Barack Obama to Japan on November 12-13, according to the sources.







On Thursday, the NSC held a meeting on the president`s visit to Asian countries later this month. But it decided to hold a separate meeting the following day to solely discuss US policies toward Japan. The meeting was attended by senior officials from government offices concerned.



Though the details are unknown, the NSC reportedly discussed long-term Japan-US relations now that Japan has a new government. Attendees also reportedly talked about specific issues connected with Obama`s visit to Japan.



When US defence secretary Robert Gates visited Japan in late October, he indicated a willingness to agree on moderate revisions to the relocation plan for US Marine Corps` Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, as requested by the prefectural government. While making such efforts to facilitate an environment to enable the Japanese government to accept the current plan, Gates demanded that Japan resolve the issue prior to Obama`s visit, arguing that the current relocation plan was the only feasible way forward.



However, in terms of settling the dispute, the Hatoyama administration has failed to coordinate opinions within the government.





By Satoshi Ogawa

The Yomiuri Shimbun/Asia News Network