28 October 2010

Clinton Praises U.S.-Japan Alliance

By MacKenzie C. Babb
Staff Writer

Washington — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara praised the U.S.-Japan alliance, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

“The partnership between the United States and Japan has endured because it is based on deep friendship between our people, on mutual respect, and on common goals and values,” Clinton said at a joint press conference with Maehara October 27.

The two met in Honolulu on the first day of Clinton’s seven-nation Asia-Pacific tour.

Maehara called the meeting “very fruitful,” and said the two “agreed to further step up Japan-U.S. cooperation on a broad range of issues,” including the implementation of U.N. Security Council resolutions regarding Iran.

Clinton praised Japan for imposing sanctions on Iran in September, the latest in a series of blocking moves from the international community aimed at countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“Joining like-minded nations around the world, Japan has emphasized the message that Tehran must meet its international responsibilities,” Clinton said.

She said talks also outlined plans for joint efforts in facing a variety of other global concerns.

Clinton called the bilateral alliance “the cornerstone of American strategic engagement in the Asia-Pacific,” adding the partnership has allowed for cooperation on a range of issues, including nuclear nonproliferation, climate change and combating violent extremism.

She commended the Japanese government for taking steps toward ratifying the Hague Convention on International Parental Child Abduction.

And in response to a recent Chinese restriction on exports of rare earth minerals, Maehara and Clinton agreed that developing new sources for those materials should become a global priority.

“Because of the importance of these rare earth minerals, I think both the minister and I are aware that our countries and others will have to look for additional sources of supply,” Clinton said.

China supplies about 97 percent of the world’s demand for the minerals, which are critical in emerging clean-energy technologies and in the production of computers and other electronics. Beijing curtailed exports in 2010, slashing quotas to 40 percent below 2009 levels in a move Clinton referred to as a “wake-up call” for other countries to diversify their sourcing of the minerals.

Chinese government officials have said the country is simply protecting its reserves from reckless exploitation, and Premier Wen Jiabao has insisted his country will not use the minerals as a “bargaining chip” or political weapon.

“We welcome the Chinese statement that it will resume normal trading in these materials, but I think the entire world has to seek additional supplies,” Clinton said.

Clinton will continue traveling until November 8, and is scheduled to visit Guam, Vietnam, China’s Hainan Island, Cambodia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Australia and American Samoa. The secretary’s trip overlaps with President Obama’s travel to India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan November 6–14.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)