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Japan FM calls off US visit

TOKYO: Japan’s foreign minister has called off a trip to Washington meant to smooth ties ruffled by a feud over military bases ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit next week, the top government spokesman said on Wednesday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano told reporters the cancellation was due to scheduling difficulties and denied it would affect ties, though investors have expressed concern about relations since the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) took power in August. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s pledge to forge a more independent diplomatic path and review security agreements with Washington has underscored differences, particularly over the relocation of a US Marine base on the southern island of Okinawa.

Hatoyama said before the election that the Futenma Marine base, a source of irritation for local residents, should be moved off the island, but Washington wants to push ahead with a 2006 plan to re-locate it in a less heavily populated part of Okinawa. The two governments have been unable to fix a time for Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, because of Okada’s busy schedule in parliament, Hirano said on Wednesday. reuters

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