Obama Disputed Islands

April 23, 2014 by staff

Obama Disputed Islands, Trade talks, territorial disputes and disagreements over war history await President Obama here in a long-delayed effort to reset U.S. policy in Asia.

Japan is Obama’s first stop in a four-nation tour in which he hopes to convince Asian allies and adversaries that the U.S. “pivot” to Asia is more than just rhetoric. He’ll also visit South Korea, the Philippines and Malaysia, but not China, the regional superpower.

The president was greeted upon his arrival late Wednesday afternoon by Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former president John Kennedy and now U.S. ambassador to Japan.

He then went to famous Tokyo sushi restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro with Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. On Thursday, Obama will meet the emperor and empress at the Imperial Palace and attend a formal state banquet.

Part of Thursday will be spent in a formal summit with Abe and his advisers, who hope to improve trade ties with the United States and are greatly concerned about the increasing aggressive moves of the Chinese military’s claims to territories and resources in the vast East China Sea.