Senate OKs lawyer John Roos as next U.S. ambassador to Japan

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 Kyodo -
The Senate on Friday approved President Barack Obama's nomination of John Roos,
a California-based lawyer and one of his major fundraisers during the
presidential campaign, as the next U.S. ambassador to Japan.
Roos, 54, is expected to arrive in Tokyo later this month to take up the post,
which will have him serve as point man for U.S. policy on Japan, a key Asian
ally.
As Roos has had no diplomatic or security experience, some doubt has emerged
about his qualifications at a time North Korea's nuclear and missile threats
are major sources of concern.
He will also have to address another key issue that he may be unfamiliar with
-- overseeing a pact committing Japan and the United States to follow through
on the planned transfer of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam by 2014.
In Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said Saturday he expects Roos
to arrive in Japan around Aug. 18, adding, ''He is very close to President
Obama. We have expectations of Mr. Roos, who can speak directly with the
president in moving forth Japan-U.S. relations.''
Apparently trying to dispel concerns about Roos, Obama on Thursday underlined
the ''great importance'' he attached to the selection of the next U.S.
ambassador to Japan and voiced confidence that Roos will do a good job in the
position.
He said Roos is ''somebody who I'm confident is going to be able to help to
strengthen both the regional and the global relationship between the United
States and Japan.''
''He's somebody who will be able to advise me directly on issues that may arise
and opportunities that may arise in the U.S.-Japanese relationship. He is
somebody who is, I know, going to be working incredibly hard to make sure that
he is listening to and understanding the full scope of Japanese concerns,''
Obama added.
The remarks, made when Obama met with Roos at the White House, reinforce the
view that Obama chose Roos as they enjoy strong personal ties, similar to those
between former President George W. Bush and his envoy to Japan, Thomas
Schieffer.
Obama said at the beginning of the meeting that the partnership with Japan is a
cornerstone of U.S. security and economic prosperity, and that Roos will help
bolster the regional and global relationships between the nations.
''I think many of you are aware that a partnership between the United States
and Japan is one of tremendous interest,'' Obama said at the outset of the
talks. ''It's one of the cornerstones of our both security and economic
well-being.''
''We have an extraordinarily close relationship based on shared values and
shared interests,'' Obama said. ''There is enormous respect between the people
of Japan and the people of the United States.''
Roos seems to share the president's view of Japan.
During a Senate confirmation hearing late last month, Roos called the
Japan-U.S. alliance ''the cornerstone of security and stability in the East
Asia-Pacific region'' and pledged to work hard to solidify the ''special bond''
between the two nations if his nomination is confirmed.
Roos also said at the time that close bilateral relations will remain unchanged
even if the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan wrests power from the
long-governing Liberal Democratic Party in the Aug. 30 general election as
opinion polls indicate.
A graduate of Stanford Law School in 1980, Roos is currently chief executive
officer of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, a law firm in Silicon Valley.
Also Friday, the Senate confirmed Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman as ambassador to
China. Huntsman is a popular Republican seen as a potential candidate for the
presidency in 2012. He is also a fluent Chinese speaker with deep ties to
China.
==Kyodo