USA explains defence system to Japanese

US deputy secretary of defence Richard Armitage met senior Japanese officials today to discuss President George W Bush’s plans to build a defence against missile attack.

Armitage, on a tour of Asia, held talks with Ryozo Kato, deputy vice minister for foreign affairs, and Shingo Shuto, director general of the Defence Agency’s Defence Policy Bureau, according to a Foreign Ministry official.

The Japanese officials said Tokyo ‘‘understands’’ the US desire to build a defence system to protect it and its allies from ballistic missile attack and will continue joint research to develop the system, said the official.

Japan welcomes Bush’s plan to reduce US nuclear weapons stockpiles while gathering opinions from allies as well as other countries such as China and Russia about the missile defence plan, the official said.

Armitage was to meet chief cabinet secretary Yasuo Fukuda later in the day.

‘‘He is here to give us a thorough explanation on a new missile defence system,’’ Fukuda said.

Bush said last week that he intends to move ahead with a nationwide system designed to shoot down missiles attacking US territory, describing the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Russia as outdated.

Russia says the treaty is a foundation of world security and should be preserved.

Armitage will hold talks in South Korea on Wednesday and Thursday followed by talks in India on Friday.