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Koizumi defends security links with U.S.

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on Tuesday hailed the newly-strengthened alliance with the United States as an "important" factor in the "global context."

Mr. Koizumi was speaking to reporters in Tokyo a day before a summit with U.S. President George W. Bush in Kyoto. Mr. Bush will later visit South Korea for a summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and China.

It is expected that Mr. Koizumi will reaffirm Japan's participation in the military operations in Iraq. Several hundred personnel belonging to the three wings of the Self-Defence Forces are in Iraq on a "humanitarian mission" of "non-combat duties." Mr. Koizumi's decision to send the troops was greeted with protests across Japan.

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