Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Bush Asia Tour

Aired October 17, 2003 - 06:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush arrives in Japan. He's on a seven-day Asian tour. It's a goodwill gesture, and as far as Japan is concerned, maybe a thank you for help in Iraq.
Let's head live to Tokyo and our bureau chief there, Rebecca MacKinnon.

Good morning -- Rebecca.

REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN TOKYO BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Carol.

It's evening here, and President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi are beginning their meeting, followed by a dinner. It's a very quick visit but, from the American point of view, very important to thank Japan for its strong support for U.S. policies in Iraq. Japan has pledged $1.5 billion to assist the U.S. with reconstruction efforts.

And Koizumi is expected to outline further measures to send non- combat troops to Iraq in the coming months. Now, this is somewhat controversial here in Japan, because Japan's military is forbidden from the constitution from waging war overseas. And therefore, Japan must be very careful not to allow these troops to get sucked into combat. Given the somewhat dicey security situation over there, there is a great deal of political opposition here in Japan and public opinion is not behind the idea of sending troops.

But Koizumi is determined to forge ahead with this plan, largely because of the U.S.-Japan alliance and the feeling that despite the fact that much of the Japanese public does not agree with U.S. policies in Iraq, the Japanese government must support those policies, because Japan depends on the United States for its defense with 47,000 U.S. troops based here, and really what Japan relies on in the event of any attack from another country, particularly North Korea, which has been threatening of late.

Back to you -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Rebecca MacKinnon reporting live from Tokyo, Japan this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired October 17, 2003 - 06:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush arrives in Japan. He's on a seven-day Asian tour. It's a goodwill gesture, and as far as Japan is concerned, maybe a thank you for help in Iraq.
Let's head live to Tokyo and our bureau chief there, Rebecca MacKinnon.

Good morning -- Rebecca.

REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN TOKYO BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Carol.

It's evening here, and President Bush and Prime Minister Koizumi are beginning their meeting, followed by a dinner. It's a very quick visit but, from the American point of view, very important to thank Japan for its strong support for U.S. policies in Iraq. Japan has pledged $1.5 billion to assist the U.S. with reconstruction efforts.

And Koizumi is expected to outline further measures to send non- combat troops to Iraq in the coming months. Now, this is somewhat controversial here in Japan, because Japan's military is forbidden from the constitution from waging war overseas. And therefore, Japan must be very careful not to allow these troops to get sucked into combat. Given the somewhat dicey security situation over there, there is a great deal of political opposition here in Japan and public opinion is not behind the idea of sending troops.

But Koizumi is determined to forge ahead with this plan, largely because of the U.S.-Japan alliance and the feeling that despite the fact that much of the Japanese public does not agree with U.S. policies in Iraq, the Japanese government must support those policies, because Japan depends on the United States for its defense with 47,000 U.S. troops based here, and really what Japan relies on in the event of any attack from another country, particularly North Korea, which has been threatening of late.

Back to you -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Rebecca MacKinnon reporting live from Tokyo, Japan this morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.