“I’m confident in this man’s leadership ability,” Bush said at a news conference with Koizumi, whose declining popularity has raised questions over his ability to carry through reforms.
“I’m confident in his strategy, and I’m confident in his desire to implement that strategy,” Bush said.
Said Koizumi: “Ten years ago Japan perhaps was a little over-confident. Now we’ve lost confidence. But I would like to tackle structural reform with confidence and with hope.”
With Koizumi at his side, Bush also held fast to his “axis of evil” policy of targeting Iraq, Iran and North Korea as outlaw states that must be neutralised.
Bush said he still wanted to resolve peacefully US demands for ending Iraq, Iran and North Korea’s ability to acquire and spread weapons of mass destruction.
But he reiterated he was keeping “all options on the table” and was confident allies would go along with his strategy. “The leaders I’ve talked to fully understand, exactly, what needs to happen... We’re going to seize the moment, and do it.”
Bush asked for Japan’s support for US efforts to contain the three countries, particularly as a diplomatic channel to encourage moderate elements in Iran, US officials said.
The United States broke diplomatic relations with Iran in 1980 amid the US hostage crisis.
Although Japan has concerns over Bush’s harsh rhetoric and possible expansion of military operations, Tokyo provided rearguard support for US action in Afghanistan and hosted an international donors conference on Afghan aid last month.
On North Korea, Japan is walking a fine line, wanting to back the tough US stance without provoking its potentially volatile communist neighbour.
Koizumi’s comments were supportive. “We need to carry forward this fight against terrorism,” he said.
Later in the day, about 200 peace activists, carrying banners saying “War is not the answer”, marched in protest against Bush’s “axis of evil” remarks, while miles away another group handed out pamphlets condemning the US president.
Demonstrators in South Korea, Bush’s next stop on a three-nation Asian trip, protested a day ahead of his visit by occupying an office at the US Chamber of Commerce in Seoul and denouncing the US president as a “death merchant.”
DIFFERENCES: Koizumi appeared to differ with Bush over global warming policy and Bush’s rejection of the 1997 Kyoto climate treaty.
He called Bush’s alternative plan a “positive proposal,” but said Japan expected more US efforts to fight global warming and that environmental policy need not hurt the economy.—Reuters