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Obama to hold White House talks with Japan's Abe on Feb 22

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Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends a lower house plenary session at the parliament in Tokyo February 5, 2013. REUTERS/Issei Kato

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends a lower house plenary session at the parliament in Tokyo February 5, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Issei Kato

WASHINGTON | Fri Feb 15, 2013 1:00pm EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will host Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for talks in Washington on February 22, the White House said on Friday.

"The president looks forward to in-depth discussions with Prime Minister Abe on a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, including the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance, economic and trade issues, and deepening bilateral cooperation," Obama's press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement.

It will be the first meeting of the two leaders since Abe led his party back to power in December. A nuclear test by North Korea on Tuesday that drew international condemnation is sure to figure prominently in their talks.

(Reporting By Matt Spetalnick)
World
Japan
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Comments (2)
Free_Pacific wrote:
Either the US convinces Japan that it can still provide security, or several countries in the Asia-Pacific will have no choice but to develop nuclear weapons. Many of us already hold ‘break-out’ capabilities and the dreaded scenario of a nuclear pacific is moving closer. This will lay firmly at the feet of the security council members, some of whom are actively shielding or in some cases actively supporting states that have nuclear weapons capabilities. They are using these states to threaten and contain their enemies (Pakistan handed nukes by China to confront India. N.Korea shielded and recieves massive support so it can continue it’s nuclear programme, to threaten China’s other percieved enemies, the US, Japan, S Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand). And lets not forget Iran, who shields them? Like following bread crumbs.

Feb 16, 2013 9:07pm EST  --  Report as abuse
Pterosaur wrote:
Feb 22 talk is leading nowhere as Obama’s hand-picked Hagel is rejected by the Senate, a blow to Obama.

The US will not be committed to anything, except some lips-services to Japan. And common sense dictates that if Japan keeps provoking all of its neighbors like what it has done so far, no treaty can force the US to protect such a rogue-state as Japan.

Feb 18, 2013 6:18pm EST  --  Report as abuse
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