Cheney stands with Japan on abduction issue, gets support on Iraq

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney agreed Wednesday to boost bilateral alliance and cooperate to resolve the issue of North Korea's past abductions of Japanese citizens, while Tokyo gave reassurances over its support for U.S. policy on Iraq and its commitments to promoting missile defense and U.S. military realignment.

Cheney's visit to Tokyo came at a time when some concerns have recently arisen between the two close allies over policies on North Korea and Iraq in an otherwise strong bilateral security alliance.

The United States is in need of Japan's continued cooperation in Iraq under the new strategy adopted just weeks ago by the administration of President George W Bush. But Japanese Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma recently irked Washington with comments critical of U.S. policy.

In Tokyo, meanwhile, concerns persist that Japan may face isolation in the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programs due to its policy of not joining in providing energy aid to North Korea unless there is progress on the abduction issue. Under an agreement reached last week at the multilateral talks, Pyongyang is to receive energy aid in exchange for taking steps to abandon its nuclear programs.

In a brief photo session prior to his talks with Abe, Cheney said the United States wants to see a resolution to the abduction issue, and praised Tokyo for having played a "very important part" in the six-party talks.

Cheney reaffirmed "unwavering commitment" to the security of Japan and said the two countries are cooperating to deal with the proliferation of nuclear arms and ballistic missiles, while Abe stressed the need to "strengthen the bilateral alliance and mutual trust."

In separate talks earlier with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki and Foreign Minister Taro Aso, Cheney expressed his understanding of Japan's policy of not joining energy aid due to the abduction issue.

"I explained Japan's policy and he expressed understanding over it," Shiozaki told reporters after a breakfast meeting with Cheney, the vice president's first meeting in Tokyo during his three-day visit that began Tuesday.

Cheney will meet with the families of Japanese abductees on Thursday, a move Aso told Cheney would underline steadfast U.S. commitment to helping Japan resolve the abduction issue following Bush's White House meeting last April with Sakie Yokota, whose daughter Megumi was abducted in 1977 at age 13 and remains missing, Japanese officials said.

Both Shiozaki and Aso thanked Cheney for arranging the meeting. The vice president has fitted the meeting with the abductees' families into his tight schedule even through he is not holding talks with defense chief Kyuma.

While agreeing to deepen bilateral unity to press North Korea to implement the six-party accord on "initial" steps such as shutting down and sealing its Yongbyon nuclear complex, Cheney and the Japanese leaders also shared the view that China's role is important in the multilateral talks that also involve South Korea and Russia, the officials said.

Cheney and the Japanese leaders also agreed on the need to continue to seek stability in Iraq and Afghanistan and to promote cooperation on bilateral missile defense and realignment of the U.S. military presence in Japan, the officials said.

Aso told Cheney that Japan "understands and supports" the new U.S. strategy on Iraq, the officials said.

Shiozaki said he told Cheney that Japan will continue to make a "proactive contribution" over efforts to seek stability in Iraq and Afghanistan, referring to Japan's continued commitment to assisting in Iraq's rehabilitation, including the ongoing airlift operations by the Japan's Air Self-Defense Force.

Cheney explained the new Iraq policy, especially the plan to boost deployment of U.S. troops by more than 20,000.

Earlier in the day, Cheney visited the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk at the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Speaking before about 4,000 U.S. military personnel as well as dignitaries from both countries, Cheney said the United States will keep on with the fight against terrorism.

"We know that terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength; they are invited by the perception of weakness. We know that if we leave Iraq before the mission is completed, the enemy is going to come after us," he said.

"I want you to know that the American people will not support a policy of retreat," he added.

During an audience later with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, Cheney conveyed appreciation on behalf of the U.S. government over Japan's contributions on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Cheney last visited Japan in April 2004 and is holding his first meeting with Abe since Abe became prime minister last September.

The visit to Japan is part of a two-nation trip that also takes in Australia. Officials in Japan see the trip as highlighting Washington's interest in forging stronger cooperation with its two close Asia-Pacific allies.

So far, Cheney's itinerary includes no meeting with Kyuma, who about a month ago said Bush's decision to invade Iraq as "wrong" and later said the United States lacks understanding regarding talks with Okinawa Prefecture over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futemma Air Station within the prefecture.

Kyuma explained away the fact he wasn't meeting Cheney by saying it was due to the difference in rank between himself as defense minister and Cheney as vice president.

Aso has also made controversial remarks, describing Bush's policy on Iraq as "very naive."