Hatoyama meets world leaders in New York; US asks Tokyo for ¥1 billion to provide information regarding F-35; Prosecutors launch investigations into political donations scandal involving TPM Hatoyama
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    • TPM Hatoyama met a wide range of world leaders at the UN General Assembly meetings in New York. TIn a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on September 21, he called for the creation of an ‘East Asian Community’ along the lines of the European Union. The issue is expected to be discussed during a trilateral meeting between Hatoyama, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak on October 10 in Beijing1. TDuring talks with his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd in New York, Hatoyama underscored the imperative of imposing tougher sanctions if necessary againstTT TTNorth Korea to comprehensively solve its nuclear and missile problems, as well as the abduction issue2. Reports also noted that both the Tgovernments will finalise a new defence agreement that would deepen co-operation between their military forces in peacekeeping and international humanitarian operations3. TAt his meeting with TRussian PresidentTT TTMedvedev, both sides agreed to make renewed efforts to resolve the decades-old territorial dispute regarding the four Russian-administered islands off Hokkaido4. TPresident Obama on his part termed the over 50-years old TUS alliance with Japan a "cornerstone" of US diplomacy5.

    Reports noted that the US had asked Tokyo to pay around ¥1 billion for information on the capabilities of the F-35 fighter, which is a leading candidate to replaceT the country’s aTging fleet. Washington is also not expected to provide information on the plane’s radar-evading capabilities until Tokyo makes a decision to purchase it6.

    In domestic developments, reports noted that prosecutors had launched investigations into a political donations scandal involving TPM Hatoyama. Mr. Hatoyama on his part charged his former accountant of incorrectly recording donations worth over $200,000 under people who had not given that amount or people who were dead. Hatoyama's predecessor Ichiro Ozawa had to resign after being accused of accepting illegal donations in return for public works contracts7.

    Japan’s Foreign Ministry stated that the country will support reconstruction efforts inT TAfghanistan, including agricultural and vocational training, as an alternative to the Maritime Self-Defense Forces (MSDF) refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, which expires in January8. The US and other countries have urged the new government to continue the country’s anti-terrorism activities in and around Afghanistan9.

    In other developments, Japan’s Foreign MinistryTT TTannounced that a team would be formed to look into aspects relating to a purportedTT TTJapan-US secret nuclear pact, in an attempt to demonstrate enhanced transparency in government functioning. TThe investigations are expected to be finished by the end of November10.

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