奧巴馬抵達日本開始亞洲四國之行

U.S. President Barack Obama has left for a four-nation tour of Asia, where he will try to convince allies that Washington is committed to its "rebalancing" in the Pacific.

Security concerns over China's territorial claims and North Korea's nuclear program will be a major focus of Mr. Obama's trip, which include stops in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The eight-day tour begins in Tokyo late Wednesday with a meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japan is embroiled in a growing dispute with Beijing over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.

Ahead of his visit, Mr. Obama told Japan's Yomiuri newspaper the United States opposes "any unilateral attempts to undermine Japan's administration of these islands." He also stressed the islands fall under a treaty that requires the U.S. to defend Japan if attacked.

Mr. Obama will also try to make progress with Japan on the long-delayed Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade deal. But many say Japan's reluctance to drop tariffs on agricultural products makes chances of a breakthrough slim.美國總統奧巴馬抵達日本，開始亞洲四國之行。在訪問期間，奧巴馬將爭取讓盟國相信華盛頓致力於推行亞太再平衡戰略。

中國領土要求引發的安全擔憂以及朝鮮核項目將是奧巴馬此次亞洲之行的重點。奧巴馬將訪問日本、韓國、馬來西亞和菲律賓。

奧巴馬的八天行程從星期三晚間抵達東京開始，他將在東京會見日本首相安倍晉三。日本與中國圍繞東海一組無人島嶼的主權爭議不斷升級。

奧巴馬在啓程之前對日本報紙《讀賣新聞》說，美國反對任何國家單方面試圖損害日本對有關島嶼的管理。他還強調，依照美日安保條約，如果有關島嶼受到攻擊，美國有義務提供防禦。

奧巴馬在訪問期間還將努力與日方一道推動拖延已久的跨太平洋戰略經濟夥伴關係協定。但很多人認爲，由於日本不願免除農產品關稅，取得突破的可能性很小。