U.S. nixes talks with Cheney, Kyuma

When U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney comes to Japan this month, he probably won't be meeting with Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma.

Government sources said Sunday that the United States has asked that no meeting between the two be scheduled, conveying strong displeasure over Kyuma's recent criticism of the Iraq war and the realignment of U.S. forces.

The request underlines that the two nations have yet to put Kyuma's controversial remarks behind them, although they appeared to have settled the flap when Washington lodged a protest through diplomatic channels.

Kyuma said Jan. 24 that President George W. Bush's decision to invade Iraq was "wrong." Three days later, he said the U.S. lacks understanding over the government's talks with Okinawa Prefecture on relocating Futenma Air Station.

After arriving in Tokyo on Feb. 20, Cheney is scheduled to visit the U.S. naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, the next day to meet with top U.S. and Self-Defense Forces officers.

Meeting with SDF officers but shunning talks with the defense minister would be highly unusual.

Later Feb. 21, Cheney will hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro Aso, and attend a dinner at the Prime Minister's Official Residence.