Social Sciences

Put another shrimp on the barbie, Secretary Clinton to visit Australia

The State Department announced on Wednesday, that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to the Western Pacific January 11-19, 2010.

Secretary Clinton will deliver a major Asia policy speech in Honolulu, Hawaii at the East West Center on January 12th focused on Asia-Pacific multilateral engagement. She will also be consulting with the Pacific Command and hold a ministerial meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on the relocation of the Futenma Air Station.

From Hawaii the Secretary will travel to Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia, returning to the U.S. on the 19th.

Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell briefed the foreign press on the trip Thursday. He noted that Washington "want[s] the Japanese Government to support strongly a robust military and particularly Marine commitment on Okinawa and elsewhere, at the same time, we also recognize that this is a broader relationship, that so many things are in play, and I would just point out over the course of the last couple of months, several things have occurred that underscore the importance of Japan as a partner to the United States."

For an official State Department summary of Mr. Campbell's briefing see HERE.

The evening edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Campbell's statements a bit more stridently. Their Washington correspondent wrote:

Campbell pointed out that "the security alliance is the core of the Japan-U.S. relationship." He said: "The U.S. would like the Japanese government to provide strong support for robust troops in Okinawa, particularly for the presence of the Marines," demanding progress in the issue of the relocation of the USFJ's Futenma Air Station. He added, "Security issues are important in an Asia characterized by complexity and undergoing major changes. The U.S. wants a very clear declaration (from the Japanese side) of its intent to continue close cooperation with the U.S." He indicated that the U.S. will confirm this in the talks on deepening the alliance.

Campbell also stated: "The Japan-U.S. alliance provides the basis for economic development in Asia. Today, when the U.S. talks with its Asian friends, the first topic that comes up is: 'We want Japan and the U.S. to maintain a strong relationship'." He disclosed that Asian countries have expressed their concern about the present state of the Japan-U.S. relationship to the U.S. directly.

- Shintaro Ishihara In Washington This Week
Tokyo Press Conference March 23 (J) Ultra conservative Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara will be in Washington April 13-18. He will participate in Cherry Blossom Festival activities, talk at Georgetown University, give a public speech at the Heritage...

- This Week In Washington
BREAKING NORTH KOREA'S PROVOCATION CYCLE3/1 - 10:00am, 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Full committee hearing on "Breaking the Cycle of North Korean Provocations." Witnesses: Assistant Secretary of State for...

- Two Important Speeches
Building Cooperation in the US?China Military-to-Military Relationship, Speech by Michael Schiffer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, United States Department of Defense, IISS, 1/6/11. The framework that we have proposed is designed...

- Engaging Asia
This week ends with one hearing and two programs on that status of US policy toward Asia. Next Steps in Engaging the Asia-Pacific Region was the topic of Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell's speech to...

- Golden Opportunity To Reaffirm Vows, Editors Hope
The Japanese press is hoping the 50th anniversary of the signing of the US-Japan Security Treaty will be something to write home about. The major dailies were also encouraged by the announcement that Secretary Clinton and Foreign Minister Okada would...

Social Sciences