US President George W. Bush pledged yesterday to defend South Korea against aggression, to keep a US military presence in Asia and to develop a missile defense system to protect its allies in the region.
Speaking to the Japanese parliament, the Diet, Bush warmly endorsed Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and voiced confidence that Japan would emerge from its third recession in a decade if it took "bold action" to revive its economy.
Wrapping up a three-day visit to Japan, Bush vowed to use "American power" to support Australia, Thailand and the Philippines, where US forces are already training the Philippine military to fight rebels suspected of being allied with accused Sept. 11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.
"We stand more committed than ever to a forward presence in this region," Bush said in a speech in the wood-panelled chamber, with the US and Japanese flags draped above him. "We will continue to show American power and purpose in support of the Philippines, Australia, and Thailand.
"We will deter aggression against the Republic of Korea," he added.
"And to help protect the people of this region, and our friends and allies in every region, we will press on with an effective program of missile defenses."
Bush made the relatively tough speech as he prepared to fly later in the day to South Korea, where small protests have erupted at his labeling of North Korea, Iran and Iraq as an "axis of evil" seeking weapons of mass destruction.
In Tokyo, about 100 leftist radicals staged a rally yesterday outside parliament, protesting against the US operation in Afghanistan and its possible expansion into Iraq.
"We oppose America's invasion of Afghanistan. Stop the expansion of the war into Iraq," the protesters, many wearing white face masks and sunglasses, chanted as Bush spoke inside.
"America is not simply fighting the war in Afghanistan, it is trying to expand it to Iraq, and we oppose that," said Tomoyuki Tashiro, a 25-year-old spokesman for the demonstrators.
Bush began his six-day Asian tour in Japan, where he has sought to nudge Koizumi to enact painful economic reforms to revive an economy whose recession threatens to drag down the rest of the region and to slow recovery in the US.
"Japan, thanks to my friend the prime minister, is on the path to reform," Bush said in his address -- a line that drew laughter from a few lawmakers in the chamber, reflecting growing doubts in some quarters about Koizumi's commitment to reform.
Bush recalled the US experience with its savings and loan financial sector crisis in the 1980s as a model for Japan to clean up the massive bad loans that plague its banking sector.
"We learned that in times of crisis and stagnation, it is better to move forward boldly with reform and restructuring than to wait, hoping that old practices will somehow work again," Bush said.
"Through bold action, we emerged a better and stronger economy, and so will you," he added.
As he has throughout his visit, Bush praised Koizumi -- whose popularity ratings have recently plunged -- comparing him to Ichiro Suzuki, the Seattle Mariners baseball star, who last year won the American League's Most Valuable Player award.
"I trust him. I enjoy his sense of humor," Bush said, drawing appreciative laughter from the lawmakers. "He reminds me of a new American star, Ichiro. The prime minister can hit anything you throw at him."
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