05 November, 2009 10:48 AM

Japan Grapples With U.S. Base Plan Before Obama Visit


Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo in this September 17, 2009 file photo. REUTERS/Issei Kato/FilesBy Isabel Reynolds

TOKYO, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Japan struggled with the touchy issue of reorganising U.S. military bases on the southern island of Okinawa on Wednesday, just a week ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's first visit to Japan as leader.

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada cancelled a last-minute trip to Washington meant to smooth ties ruffled by a feud over bases, blaming his busy schedule, while Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama came under fire in parliament for his handling of the relationship, the core of security arrangements in the region.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell was due to meet Okada on Thursday, but it remained unclear whether a way could be found to keep the feud from spoiling Obama's visit.

Hatoyama, in office for less than two months, has pledged to build a more equal relationship with the United States and review bilateral security agreements, sparking concern among investors about the alliance.

He said before his August election victory that the Futenma U.S. Marine base should be moved off the island, an idea supported by 70 percent of Okinawa residents in a poll published this week by the Mainichi Shimbun and local paper Ryukyu Shinpo.

But Washington wants to push ahead with a 2006 plan to relocate it in a less heavily populated part of Okinawa.

Okada spelled out the dilemma facing the new government.

"We think that it is necessary to move things forward while accepting the feelings of the people in Okinawa," he said in response to a question in parliament.

"But, while we will respect the feelings of the people of Okinawa, this issue is also about the Japan-U.S. security alliance, which is relevant to the entire country. This gap is what always becomes the big problem," he added.

"DANGEROUS STATE"

Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Wednesday Japan was a "bedrock ally" and the Pentagon understood that a "new government is going to have new ideas."

But he said the 2006 base pact was part of "a very painful process that two countries agreed to ... and we're very anxious that both governments abide by that agreement."

Former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba of the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) took aim at Hatoyama's dealings with the United States in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday.

"Since the Democratic Party took power, the alliance has fallen into a crisis. It is in a very dangerous state," he said. Hatoyama led the Democratic Party to victory in a general election in August.

Ishiba cited disagreements from the base issue to possible cutbacks in the funding Japan provides for U.S. military bases and the likely end of a refuelling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of U.S.-led military activities in Afghanistan.

"Just saying 'no' to everything the United States wants is not the way to create a more equal partnership," he added, after quizzing Hatoyama over the issue in parliament.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano told reporters Okada's U.S. trip was cancelled because of scheduling difficulties and denied that would affect ties.

"The foreign minister himself thought of this as a way to make things even smoother, but I do not think the cancellation will affect relations with the United States," he added.

Obama is set to visit Japan for the first time as leader on Nov. 12-13, on the first leg of an Asian tour. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Japan during a visit last month to resolve the base dispute by then.

Hatoyama, who met Obama in New York on the sidelines of a U.N. meeting in September, has said he wants more time to review the plan and does not see the visit as a deadline for a decision.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the United States had not "set any kind of deadline."

"We believe that the agreement that we have is the best way forward, but look forward to continued dialogue with Japan," he told a news conference.

But the LDP'S Ishiba said alliance maintenance was "not just a question of avoiding a huge row."

"It's a question of mutual trust. It would be a great shame if he went away disappointed," he added.

Nicholas Szechenyi, a Japan expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said nobody in Washington expects Hatoyama to present Obama with a concrete Okinawa plan, but "he has to share some of his thoughts on what he wants to do and under what time frame."

"Absent any clear indication of where this is heading, we could end up with a vacuum and some drift in the alliance," he said.

Hirano said on Wednesday the Japanese government's plans to review the deal should not be seen negatively.

"Reviewing the agreement with the United States is meant to be a positive thing, looking to make the relationship deeper and multi-layered," he said.

© REUTERS 2009

Copyright REUTERS 2009.REUTERS text, photos, graphics and logos shall not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. REUTERS shall not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any REUTERS content, or for any actions taken in consequence