Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


             Kerry, Hagel Meet with Japanese Counterparts in Tokyo

   The top diplomats and defense chiefs from the United States and Japan
   meet Thursday in Tokyo, where they are expected to discuss
   strengthening security ties.
   The U.S. State Department says the meeting represents the "next step in
   further strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance" and will help build on
   "already broad and comprehensive" ties.
   The U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee is expected to cover
   regional security issues such as the North Korean nuclear program and
   maritime disputes with China.
   The so-called "2+2" talks involve U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry
   and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, as well as Japan`s Foreign Minister
   Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera.
   Following a morning meeting between Hagel and Onodera, the Pentagon
   chief said the U.S.-Japan alliance is always changing in order to
   respond to new threats.
   "We have new challenges, new threats, that we need to deal with, and
   that is always requiring review of obligations and alliances. With two
   partners like Japan and the US, we have been able to always adjust and
   always find the right way forward, as we deal with these new
   21st-century threats."
   Kerry and Hagel are in the middle of a multi-day tour across Asia that
   U.S. officials have described as an effort to advance President Barack
   Obama`s new diplomatic and security focus on the Pacific.
   Ahead of the talks, a senior State Department official said a "central
   pillar" of the White House rebalance toward Asia is strengthening ties
   with U.S. allies, noting that Japan is at the "top of the list."
   Following the Tokyo meeting, Kerry and Hagel head to the Indonesian
   island of Bali on Friday for a ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific
   Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, which Washington sees as a premier
   forum for boosting regional trade and investment.
   President Obama is also scheduled to attend the APEC meeting, as well
   as a meeting next week of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
   (ASEAN).
   But those plans appeared to be in question, after President Obama on
   Wednesday cancelled the last two legs of his Asia trip to Malaysia and
   the Philippines in order to deal with the U.S. federal government
   shutdown.
   A White House statement says Kerry will instead lead the U.S.
   delegation to each country. It said Mr. Obama reaffirmed the close
   partnership and alliance the U.S. has with Malaysia and the Philippines
   and committed to travel to both countries later in his term.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-hagel-meet-with-japanese-counte
   rparts-in-tokyo/1761954.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-hagel-meet-with-japanese-counterparts-in-tokyo/1761954.html