Hashimoto says U.S. presence in Asia required<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto
\ntold ASEAN leaders yesterday that the presence of American troops
\nin Asia and closer ties with China were crucial to promoting
\nregional security.<\/p>\n
\"We had a very candid exchange of views on security,\"
\nHashimoto told a news conference after unprecedented talks with
\nleaders from the nine-member Association of Southeast Asian
\nNations (ASEAN).<\/p>\n
\"It is necessary to secure the American presence in the Asia-
\nPacific region,\" he said. \"This is a must.\"<\/p>\n
The Japanese prime minister also highlighted the importance of
\nexpanding military dialog with China, which has objected strongly
\nto recent moves by Tokyo and Washington to expand the scope of
\ntheir 37-year-old security treaty to areas \"surrounding\" the
\nJapanese archipelago.<\/p>\n
\"Security dialogs are expanding both this year and next year.
\nMore dialogs between experts will erase as much as possible the
\nchances of any misunderstanding,\" Hashimoto said.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement released by the Japanese and ASEAN
\nleaders, the two sides said they \"recognized the importance of
\nenhancing political and security dialogs and exchanges\" as well
\nas \"close cooperation to promote regional peace and stability\".<\/p>\n
Such a security dialog between Japan and ASEAN countries is
\n\"unprecedented\", a Japanese official said.<\/p>\n
Several ASEAN countries, notably Singapore and the
\nPhilippines, still harbor bitter memories of Japan's wartime
\noccupation.<\/p>\n
In other countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia, however,
\nthe Japanese military is more fondly remembered for its role in
\nhelping to train indigenous people seeking to overthrow Dutch and
\nBritish colonial rule.<\/p>\n
During their talks on security cooperation and arrangements,
\nthe Japanese and ASEAN leaders \"confirmed their intention to
\nintensify cooperation at the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF),\" the
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
Set up three years ago as the first regional security body in
\nAsia, the ARF includes major powers such as the United States,
\nRussia, China and India as well as Japan and all nine members of
\nASEAN.<\/p>\n
The statement -- the first of its kind since then prime
\nminister Takeo Fukuda met leaders from the founding five ASEAN
\ncountries in the Malaysian capital in 1977 -- also welcomed the
\nSoutheast Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty signed by ASEAN in
\nBangkok in 1995.<\/p>\n
\"Several ASEAN leaders appreciated Japan's role in promoting
\nregional security and building confidence,\" said a senior
\nJapanese official who attended yesterday's summit meeting.<\/p>\n
The official specifically mentioned Ali Alatas, the Indonesian
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs representing President Soeharto who
\nwas unable to attend the East Asian summit due to illness.<\/p>\n
During a trip to Singapore in January this year, Hashimoto
\nproposed \"broader and deeper\" ties with ASEAN beyond trade and
\ninvestment an well as \"frank\" bilateral dialogs on regional
\nsecurity with each ASEAN member.<\/p>\n
At the time, the Japanese foreign ministry billed the
\ninitiative as the \"Hashimoto Doctrine\", recalling the so-called
\n\"Fukuda Doctrine\" launched at ASEAN's 10th anniversary in 1977,
\nwhen the visiting Japanese prime minister pledged $1 billion in
\naid to Southeast Asian countries.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hashimoto-says-us-presence-in-asia-required-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}