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April 24, 2014

Obama Warns Russia of New Sanctions, Backs Japan in Island Dispute 
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Speaking today on a visit to Japan, President Obama said Russia has
violated the spirit of last week's truce deal and warned it faces new
U.S. sanctions. Obama also offered public support for Japan in its spat
with China over a group of islands in the East China Sea. Obama said the
islands are covered by a defense pact between the U.S. and Japan.

President Obama: "And let me reiterate that our treaty commitment to
Japan's security is absolute, and Article 5 covers all territories under
Japan's administration, including the Senkaku Islands."

Japan is the first stop in Obama's four-country Asia tour. He is
expected to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a secretive deal
among Pacific Rim countries to establish a free-trade zone encompassing
nearly 40 percent of the global economy. Critics say the TPP would
further entrench the failures of the North American Free Trade
Agreement, which went into effect 20 years ago and caused mass
displacement in Mexico. Protests against the TPP intensified ahead of
Obama's visit, with several marches in the streets of Tokyo.

 

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