奥巴马抵达日本开始亚洲四国之行

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.美国总统奥巴马抵达日本，开始亚洲四国之行。在访问期间，奥巴马将争取让盟国相信华盛顿致力于推行亚太再平衡战略。

中国领土要求引发的安全担忧以及朝鲜核项目将是奥巴马此次亚洲之行的重点。奥巴马将访问日本、韩国、马来西亚和菲律宾。

奥巴马的八天行程从星期三晚间抵达东京开始，他将在东京会见日本首相安倍晋三。日本与中国围绕东海一组无人岛屿的主权争议不断升级。

奥巴马在启程之前对日本报纸《读卖新闻》说，美国反对任何国家单方面试图损害日本对有关岛屿的管理。他还强调，依照美日安保条约，如果有关岛屿受到攻击，美国有义务提供防御。

奥巴马在访问期间还将努力与日方一道推动拖延已久的跨太平洋战略经济伙伴关系协定。但很多人认为，由于日本不愿免除农产品关税，取得突破的可能性很小。