Japan backs East Asian role for US

       Japan yesterday backed a US role for the East Asian Community,telling Southeast Asian leaders Tokyo's alliance with Washington was at the heart of its diplomacy.
       Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said in talks with Asean leaders there should be some US involvement in the bloc,according to Kazuo Kodama, the spokesman for the Japanese delegation.
       It was unclear how a US role would work. But the comment may help allay concern in some countries that such a body would ultimately fail by shutting out the world's biggest economy.
       "It is too premature to discuss the membership of this long-term envisioned community," the spokesman said.
       In an interview with the Bangkok Post prior to his departure for the summit, Mr Hatoyama said the US-Japan alliance was the fundamental cornerstone of Japanese foreign policy.
       The message was repeated in yesterday's meeting with Southeast Asian leaders.
       The Japanese premier suggested that the proposed cooperation should include areas such as trade, investment finance,education, the environment, disaster management and maritime affairs.
       Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today will push another idea for a new,separate forum of Asia-Pacific nations to respond to regional crises. His idea also includes the United States.
       Washington has stepped up Asian diplomacy under President Barack Obama's administration and fears missing out on such groupings, especially as Japan considers redefining its US security alliance and Beijing expands its diplomatic and trade presence.
       Exactly how Washington would participate is as yet uncertain.
       Asked if Washington would be a member of the community, a Japanese government official said:"It remains unclear. We have to see how multilateral meetings will turn out today." The proposal wasn't elaborated upon, according to Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu."How the US participates-
       because the US is one of our dialogue partners - we need to think through," said Ms Pangestu.
       Japan used the 15th Asean summit to seek support on the East Asia Community and to promoted its readiness to enhance cooperation with Asean countries,especially those in the Mekong sub-region. Mr Hatoyama will host a meeting with leaders from the Mekong countries including Thailand,Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam in Japan between Nov 6 and 7 as he wanted to have a close discussion on the development of the sub-region, the spokesman said.
       Mr Hatoyama held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for the first time on the sidelines of the summit.
       The two leaders agreed that Japan and Thailand's economic partnership agreement was still an important tool in helping promote economic growth between the two countries.
       Japan pledged to provide financial assistance to small and medium business corporations of Thailand.