U.S. Pres. Trump arrives in Japan

November 5, 2017

Tokyo- U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday morning arrived in Japan, the first stop on his five-nation Asia tour.

The president, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, flew to the U.S. military's Yokota base in western Tokyo aboard Air Force One, starting his first visit to Japan since he took office in January.

"Japan is a treasured partner and crucial ally of the United States," the president said in a speech to service personnel at the U.S. air base.

Speaking to reporters at his office in central Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he cordially welcomes Trump's "historic" visit to Japan.

"We'll make the bond of the Japan-U.S. alliance even stronger, building on our friendship and relationship of trust," Abe also said.

The two leaders will hold a meeting Monday to reconfirm their countries' cooperation in dealing with North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile development.

They will also discuss how the two countries will deepen their collaboration on economic affairs including trade and on international and regional issues.

In the speech at the Yokota base, Trump said, "No one, no dictator, no regime...should underestimate ever American resolve." He apparently had in mind North Korea.

He referred to the U.S. determination to fulfill the country's obligation to protect Japan under a security treaty.

The United States will partner with friends and allies to pursue a "free and open Indo-Pacific region," he also said.

After the speech, Trump flew by helicopter to a golf course in the neighboring prefecture of Saitama, where he was greeted by Abe. The two played golf with noted Japanese professional player Hideki Matsuyama in the afternoon.

On Monday, Trump will have meetings with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and relatives of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korean agents decades ago.

During the summit that day, Abe and Trump are expected to call on the international community including China to fully implement U.N. Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea and increase pressure on the country diplomatically and economically.

Last month, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence expressed his strong interest in starting bilateral free trade agreement talks to Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso during the second round of the two countries' bilateral economic dialogue.

Trump may talk about such an FTA and call for measures to reduce the U.S. trade deficit with Japan, in his meeting with Abe.

Trump is the first U.S. president to visit Japan since May last year, when then President Barack Obama attended the Group of Seven Ise-Shima summit in central Japan and traveled to Hiroshima.

Trump will stay in Japan until Tuesday, when he will move on to South Korea. He will also visit China, Vietnam and the Philippines. Jiji Press