Reports: Japan to show support for U.S. missile system

July 20, 2000
Web posted at: 12:54 AM HKT (1654 GMT)

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Japan will express its understanding for Washington's proposed missile defense system when President Bill Clinton meets Japan's prime minister ahead of a leaders summit this week, domestic media said on Wednesday.

Tokyo has so far refrained from showing support for the controversial national missile defense (NMD) proposal, fearing it might spark criticisms from China and possibly upset a tentative warming in ties with North Korea.

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The evening edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, citing government sources, said Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori would express his "understanding" for the plan, intended to provide a shield against rogue rockets, when he meets Clinton.

But government spokesman Hidenao Nakagawa said no such show of support had been decided.

"Whether specific issues such as NMD or TMD (theatre missile defense system) will be taken up during the Japan-U.S. talks is yet to be decided," Nakagawa told a regular press conference.

"Since the issue of how to handle this is also being considered in the U.S., it is difficult for us to show a definite stance," he said. "We hope that the U.S. and Russia hold talks on this matter."

Russia has voiced its opposition to the idea and Washington's European allies have also raised concerns that a shield would undermine existing arms control agreements.

On Tuesday, Russia and China signed a joint statement opposing the NMD.

A meeting between Clinton and Russia's Vladimir Putin is expected to take place on the sidelines of the July 21-23 summit of leaders from the Group of Eight -- Japan, the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia.

Although Tokyo has refrained from voicing support for the NMD, it is studying with Washington a theatre missile defense (TMD) system, a variant of the NMD, aimed at shielding U.S. troops in Asia.

Tokyo decided to study the system after North Korea launched a ballistic missile over Japan in August 1998.

China opposes a regional missile system, partly out of fear it will be extended to include Taiwan, which it views as a renegade province.

Beijing has repeatedly accused Tokyo and Washington of exaggerating the North Korean threat as an excuse to project their dual military strength in the region, throw a protective arm around Taiwan and contain China's rise as a world power.

Putin visited North Korea on Wednesday on a first visit by a Russian or Soviet leader to Pyongyang, before travelling on to Okinawa on Friday.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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