Chinese analysts believe it has always been the policy of the United States and Japan to work together to maintain primacy in regional security.

As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President George W Bush reaffirm their strong alliance during their summit meeting, analysts said the leaders of the two major powers will agree to continue to persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear program.

"For the US-Japanese alliance, Pyongyang's nuclear issue is something regional and one-off, while issues concerning China are long-lasting and of strategic importance," said Shen Dingli, director of the Centre for American Studies with the Shanghai-based Fudan University.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news conference on Thursday that Beijing hopes the Bush-Abe summit will come to correct conclusions if China issues are on the agenda.

Shen said though the goal of the Washington-Tokyo alliance is not to enlist the two in any anti-Chinese coalition, it is still worried about a growing China sharing their exclusive impact in the Northeast Asian region.

"Japan will remain a cornerstone of US policy toward Asia," he said.

While it has been common for Japanese prime ministers to visit the United States soon after taking office, Abe broke with tradition and went first to China and the Republic of Korea in October.

"This is Abe's strategy," Shen said, adding that the delay in the US trip will not change Japan's foreign policy toward its most important bilateral relationship partner.

Abe is making efforts to mend Japan's chilled ties with Asian countries as he realizes that modern "security", which has far more connotations than its traditional concept, also covers "economic security", Shen said.

Japanese government statistics show that the country's trade with China excluding Hong Kong, last year surpassed its trade with the United States for the first time. Shen said Abe has to consider the economic interests of his people when dealing with neighboring countries.

A report by Richard L Armitage and Joseph S Nye for the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, also emphasizes the US-Japan alliance while recognizing China's growing prominence.

(China Daily April 28, 2007)