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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Cheney set to hold US-Japan talks | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US Vice-President Dick Cheney has arrived in Tokyo at the start of a trip officials say is designed to bolster America's strategic alliances in Asia. | US Vice-President Dick Cheney has arrived in Tokyo at the start of a trip officials say is designed to bolster America's strategic alliances in Asia. |
| Mr Cheney is to hold separate talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the Foreign Minister, Taro Aso. | |
| The North Korean nuclear issue, ties with China and Japanese support for the US-led coalition in Iraq are expected to figure high on the agenda. | |
| Mr Cheney will also visit US troops in Tokyo before flying on to Australia. | |
| Japan and Australia are close friends of the United States - "probably two of the best allies we have anywhere in the world" - according to a senior official from the US administration. | |
| Japan sent troops to help with reconstruction efforts in Iraq and its self defence forces provide logistical support for the coalition in Afghanistan. | |
| Middle East role | Middle East role |
| Both sides say the talks in Tokyo will focus on security, not economic ties, with North Korea likely to be high on the agenda. | |
| Japan backed last week's six-party deal with North Korea under which Pyongyang agreed to start disarming in return for economic and energy aid. | |
| But Foreign Minister Taro Aso has linked the provision of aid to progress on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North in the 1970s and 80s. | |
| And according to a poll by Japanese newspaper Asahi, more than 80% of respondents back Mr Abe's stance towards Pyongyang. | |
| The US has key bases on the Japanese island of Okinawa | The US has key bases on the Japanese island of Okinawa |
| There will also be the question of Japan's continued support for US efforts in the Middle East and what kind of help will be needed in the coming months, the BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo says. | |
| Mr Cheney will brief Mr Abe on the decision to raise US troops numbers in Iraq by 21,500 for a security "surge", reports say. | |
| Japan's relations with its near-neighbour China are likely to be covered too. | Japan's relations with its near-neighbour China are likely to be covered too. |
| The Americans believe ties with Tokyo are stronger than ever, our correspondent says. Japan relies on the US to guarantee its security. | The Americans believe ties with Tokyo are stronger than ever, our correspondent says. Japan relies on the US to guarantee its security. |
| But analysts say Mr Abe will be seeking reassurances that setbacks in Iraq and elsewhere will not mean the US loses interest in trying to resolve the difficult issues in East Asia. | |
| Mr Cheney leaves Japan early on Thursday for Australia, where he will hold talks with Prime Minister John Howard. |