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Clinton to Meet Japanese FM in Hawaii

   The  two  sides are expected to discuss a dispute over a U.S. military
   base on Okinawa

     12 January 2010

   Hillary Clinton (file photo)

   U.S.  Secretary  of  State  Hillary Clinton is expected to discuss the
   dispute  over  a U.S. military base on Okinawa when she meets with her
   Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada in Hawaii Tuesday.
   Clinton  is  on  the  first  leg of Pacific tour that will take her to
   Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
   On  Monday,  Secretary  Clinton said she expects to focus the talks on
   the importance of the 50-year relationship between the U.S. and Japan,
   one of Washington's most important allies in the region.
   But  the  fate  of  the Futenma U.S. air base on Okinawa has dominated
   relations  lately.  Japan's  new  prime  minister, Yukio Hatoyama, has
   questioned a 2006 agreement to move the base from a crowded urban area
   to  a  less-populated  part of the island.  Some political factions in
   Japan have raised the possibility of moving it off Okinawa altogether.
   The White House wants to continue with the original plan.
   While  in  Hawaii,  Clinton  is  also  due to deliver a speech on U.S.
   security strategy in Asia.
   Speaking with reporters enroute to Hawaii, she said there is universal
   recognition  that  China  is  a  "rising  power  in  the 21st century.
   Clinton   insists   that   the  Obama  administration  seek  a  mature
   relationship  with  Beijing,  despite  differences about American arms
   sales  to  Taiwan  and  the  expected  meeting next month between U.S.
   President  Barack  Obama  and  the  Dalai  Lama,  the  exiled  Tibetan
   spiritual leader.
   She  also  said the stalled six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear
   program  are the best venue to discuss Pyongyang's call for talks on a
   permanent peace treaty.
   Later this week, Clinton will continue on to Papua New Guinea.  There,
   the  State  Department says she will meet with government officials as
   well  as civil society leaders to discuss environmental protection and
   women's empowerment.
   She will hold talks with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and other
   officials  in  Auckland.  She also will meet with U.S. and New Zealand
   veterans at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
   In  Australia, Clinton and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will
   meet  their  Australian counterparts in annual consultations on global
   and regional security challenges.
   Clinton is scheduled to return to the U.S. January 19.

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