US Ambassador unhappy about Japan’s idea of East Asia FTA
Xinhua
U.S. Ambassador Unhappy about Japan’s Idea of East Asia FTA
2006-04-19
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer expressed concern on Wednesday about Japan’s idea to create a free trade zone in East Asia, claiming it could damage U.S. regional interests, Kyodo News reported.
Schieffer said the idea, which was proposed by Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai earlier this month, is to "exclude the United States from Asia" and makes his country "uncomfortable."
"We believe as a Pacific nation, we have tremendous interests in Asia and we want to be a part of Asia," the Ambassador was quoted as addressing a lecture meeting in Tokyo.
Nikai proposed earlier this month that Japan should ask the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand to consider launching in 2008 regional FTA talks, whose aim is to establish an East Asian economic community, and planned to include the idea in the ministry’s new global economic strategy.
