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U.S. Envoy To Japan Backs Tokyo's Bid for Security Council Seat
Schieffer also discusses Six-Party Talks, urges end to U.S. beef ban
18 April 2005
The new U.S. ambassador to Japan says the United States backs Tokyo's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. U.S. Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer, speaking April 18 at his first press conference since taking up the post a week earlier, also stressed the importance of portraying history accurately -- an issue that is, in part, fueling current tensions between Japan and China.
Schieffer said he was "concerned" about the escalating tensions between the two countries and expressed hope that Japan and China will work out their differences quickly.
The United States hopes "that China and Japan will be able to work together for a more peaceful, stable Asia. And that's something that we are going to continue to hope will be the result of their interaction," he said.
Many Chinese are furious about a new series of Japanese textbooks they say glosses over atrocities that occurred during Japan's 1931-45 occupation of China and have expressed opposition to Tokyo's bid for a permanent seat alongside China on the U.N. Security Council.
Schieffer said the United States supports Japan's bid.
"We believe that Japan speaking with a louder voice in the world will actually increase the chances for peace and security," he said. He added that "Japan has to be on the Security Council for there to be any meaningful reform."
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is seeking to overhaul the United Nations and has urged members to agree by September on steps to reform the Security Council. The U.N. Security Council currently has five permanent members who hold veto powers: the United States, China, France, Russia and Great Britain.
In response to a question, Schieffer said he did not think the tension between China and Japan would affect the Six-Party Talks over North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
"I think that Japan, China, the United States, Russia, and South Korea all share a common goal, and that is that nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula are not in the interest of anyone, including North Korea," he said.
During the press conference, Schieffer also urged Japan to end its ban on imports of U.S. beef "as soon as possible."
"We would like for Japan and the Japanese public to look at the situation as it exists in the United States right now. We think that we can deliver safe beef to Japan on a daily basis, and we hope to convince the Japanese government and the Japanese public of that same thing," Schieffer said.
He said the United States plans to bring scientific experts to Japan next week to address concerns and questions.
Japan cut off imports of U.S. beef products in December 2003 after a sole case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad-cow disease, was found in a cow imported to the United States from Canada before that country adopted cattle feed-composition restrictions similar to those already in place in the United States.
Schieffer also addressed the issue of reducing the impact of the U.S. military presence in Japan on local communities.
"[A]t the end of the day, both governments share the same objectives, and that is to reduce the burden on each of our governments and each of our peoples with regard to the military that is positioned here" without sacrificing military capabilities, he said.
Schieffer also discusses Six-Party Talks, urges end to U.S. beef ban
18 April 2005
The new U.S. ambassador to Japan says the United States backs Tokyo's bid to become a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. U.S. Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer, speaking April 18 at his first press conference since taking up the post a week earlier, also stressed the importance of portraying history accurately -- an issue that is, in part, fueling current tensions between Japan and China.
Schieffer said he was "concerned" about the escalating tensions between the two countries and expressed hope that Japan and China will work out their differences quickly.
The United States hopes "that China and Japan will be able to work together for a more peaceful, stable Asia. And that's something that we are going to continue to hope will be the result of their interaction," he said.
Many Chinese are furious about a new series of Japanese textbooks they say glosses over atrocities that occurred during Japan's 1931-45 occupation of China and have expressed opposition to Tokyo's bid for a permanent seat alongside China on the U.N. Security Council.
Schieffer said the United States supports Japan's bid.
"We believe that Japan speaking with a louder voice in the world will actually increase the chances for peace and security," he said. He added that "Japan has to be on the Security Council for there to be any meaningful reform."
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is seeking to overhaul the United Nations and has urged members to agree by September on steps to reform the Security Council. The U.N. Security Council currently has five permanent members who hold veto powers: the United States, China, France, Russia and Great Britain.
In response to a question, Schieffer said he did not think the tension between China and Japan would affect the Six-Party Talks over North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
"I think that Japan, China, the United States, Russia, and South Korea all share a common goal, and that is that nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula are not in the interest of anyone, including North Korea," he said.
During the press conference, Schieffer also urged Japan to end its ban on imports of U.S. beef "as soon as possible."
"We would like for Japan and the Japanese public to look at the situation as it exists in the United States right now. We think that we can deliver safe beef to Japan on a daily basis, and we hope to convince the Japanese government and the Japanese public of that same thing," Schieffer said.
He said the United States plans to bring scientific experts to Japan next week to address concerns and questions.
Japan cut off imports of U.S. beef products in December 2003 after a sole case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad-cow disease, was found in a cow imported to the United States from Canada before that country adopted cattle feed-composition restrictions similar to those already in place in the United States.
Schieffer also addressed the issue of reducing the impact of the U.S. military presence in Japan on local communities.
"[A]t the end of the day, both governments share the same objectives, and that is to reduce the burden on each of our governments and each of our peoples with regard to the military that is positioned here" without sacrificing military capabilities, he said.
