Clark to talk whaling, trade and tensions with Japan's leaders

TOKYO - Whaling, trade and tensions around North Asia will feature in Prime Minister Helen Clark's talks with Japanese leaders over the next two days.

Miss Clark arrived in Tokyo overnight (New Zealand time) for her first trip to New Zealand's third biggest trading partner since 2001.

While Japan is a close strategic and economic partner of New Zealand, the trip is likely to highlight differences over agricultural trade barriers and Japan's push to increase its whaling quota at this month's meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

Today Miss Clark will make a courtesy call on Emperor Akihto, speak to the Japanese New Zealand Business Council and meet with Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura.

Tomorrow she meets her Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi for wide ranging talks before heading to Nagoya to visit the World Expo.

Japan wants to increase the number of minke whales it kills from 600 to 900 and resume killing humpback and fin whales with a haul of 50 each a year.

New Zealand has opposed any increase in whaling numbers and some politicians have accused Japan of buying small countries votes at the IWC.

Japan in turn says anti-whaling countries are overly sentimental about the killing of whales in comparison to other animals and argue numbers have recovered so much they are now a threat to fisheries.

Miss Clark is unlikely to change Japanese views on whaling or on trade.

While Japan takes $3.34 billion worth of exports from New Zealand there are still significant barriers to agricultural and wood products.

Miss Clark is also unlikely to make any significant progress on trade issues because, although Prime Minister Koizumi is less reliant on rural support than many of his predecessors, the Japanese political system is still heavily weighted in favour of local agricultural interests that depend on trade barriers.

On international issues, Japan and New Zealand are more likely to see eye-to-eye.

Japan is likely to support New Zealand's bid for a seat at the table of the East Asian Summit to be held in Malaysia later this year and New Zealand has already declared it support of Japan's bid to be included as a permanent member if the United Nations Security Council is expanded.

Miss Clark's arrival in Japan coincides with its ongoing tense relationship with China.

The Chinese are angry that Mr Koizumi has visited the shrines holding the remains of many Japanese soldier who died in World War 2, including some acknowledged as war criminals.

Miss Clark said during her just completed visit to Beijing that China's leaders believed Japan had not done enough to atone for World War 2 as the world remembers the 60th anniversary of its end.

There have also been a large number of military manouverings in the Sea of Japan due to concerns over North Korea's nuclear programme and numerous disputes over territory in the region.

Miss Clark is expected to walk a diplomatic line on the issues calling for the world's super powers to find common ground over the disputes.

* Ian Llewellyn is in China with the assistance of the Asia: NZ Foundation.

- NZPA