HONOLULU, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's has begun a Pacific trip as tensions rise in U.S. relations with Japan and China, diplomatic observers said.
These challenges come on top continuing ones such as North Korea, The New York Times reported. Clinton is scheduled to visit Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
The tensions with Japan stem from a dispute over the relocation of a U.S. marine base in Okinawa, while those with China have been heightened by Washington's decision to sell Patriot missiles to Taiwan despite strenuous Chinese objections.
Clinton met with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in Honolulu Tuesday but the Times reported there was no breakthrough on the base issue. The new Japanese government of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama wants the base out of Okinawa or even out of Japan, but the United States has said there can be no changes in a 2006 agreement calling for relocating the air station to a different location within Okinawa.
"We look to our Japanese allies and friends to follow through on their commitments," Clinton told reporters in the company of Okada, the Times reported.
On China's test Monday of its first missile intercepting technology, Clinton said it was premature to comment. The test is seen by analysts as being timed by China to show its strong displeasure over the arms sales to Taiwan.
Next week will mark the 50th anniversary of the Japan-U.S. security alliance, which Clinton and Okada said remains strong. U.S. officials said they expect the two countries to reach a compromise on the base issue, the Times reported.
"America's future is linked to the future of this region, and the future of this region depends on America," Clinton said.
