U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in Tokyo today. The two discussed the presence of U.S. troops in Okinawa and future Japanese support for the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.

The meeting followed recent announcement by Japan of the end of its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean backing up U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Gates says the United States wants to stick to a deal with Japan's previous government on realigning the presence of U.S. troops in Japan.

[Robert Gates, U.S. Defense Secretary]:
"The alliance between our countries remains a corner stone of U.S. security policy in Asia."

Investors have expressed concern that Japan's security alliance with the United States could suffer under the new government. It comes at a time when China's military power is growing and North Korea remains as unpredictable as ever.

However, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama from the Democratic Party has pledged to take a diplomatic stance less dependent on the United States.

[Robert Gates, U.S. Defense Secretary]:
"As your government exercises new responsibilities, I want you to know the United States stands with you. We are committed to advancing in implementing our alliance transformation agenda."

Central to the deal is a plan to relocate a U.S. Marine air base on Okinawa to a less crowded part of the southern island.

But Hatoyama has said he wants the base completely moved off the island. U.S. officials have ruled that out, saying it would undermine broader security arrangements that took 15 years to work out.

Gates will meet more members of the new Japanese government on Wednesday, October 21 for talks ahead of a trip to Japan next month by President Barack Obama.