Image by IowaPolitics.com via FlickrDemocrat fall may turn Obama inward: officials | The Japan Times OnlineGovernment officials voiced concern Wednesday that the election defeat of the U.S. Democratic Party may make the administration of President Barack Obama more "inward-looking" and reluctant to pay attention to East Asia as well as nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament.
"From this point on, the Obama administration will have no alternative but to spend most of its energy in tackling internal problems," an official said.
Expectations are high in the government that Washington will extend its support to Japan, which has been troubled by strained ties with China and Russia, but the midterm election results may strip the Obama administration of much of its leeway to take further measures in support of Japan.
Most Japanese officials believe, meanwhile, the poll results will not affect the relocation of the Futenma base in Okinawa.
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WASHINGTON (Kyodo) Washington said Tuesday that while it recognizes Japan's sovereignty over the Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, they are not subject to the Japan-U.S. security treaty because they are not controlled by Japan.
The U.S. government "supports Japan and recognizes Japanese sovereignty over the (Russian-held islands)," State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told a news conference.
However, when asked whether Article 5 of the bilateral security pact covers the islands off Hokkaido, Crowley said it would not apply because they are "not currently under Japanese administration."
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