President Obama Announces Goal to Strengthen Ties with China

President Barack Obama spoke to spectators who were in attendance at Tokyo's Suntory Hall to declare his intention to strengthen America's ties with Beijing. During his speech, President Obama clarified that the United States does not fear China's emergence as a super-power since nations should no longer fear the success of other nations.

Throughout his speech, President Obama continuously harped on the concept of change from traditionalistic methods. An example of this is in Obama's statement that reads, "One of the important lessons this recession has taught us is the limits of depending primarily on American consumers and Asian exports to drive growth. We have now reached one of those rare inflection points in history where we have the opportunity to take a different path."

President Obama addressed the topic of North Korea in regards to their highly controversial nuclear ambitions as well as alleged kidnappings of Japanese citizens. While the president was insistent on maintaining our nation's strong alliance with Japan and hopeful that relations with China would continue to improve in the future, he focused on compliance from North Korea to the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, according to The New York Times.

Mr. Obama addressed current tension between Japan and North Korea by explaining that a return to normalcy would only begin if those who have been kidnapped were to be returned to Japan.