WASHINGTON-A sense of crisis here regarding tensions between China and Taiwan was a major factor for Japan and the United States in spellout out for the first time a common strategic objective to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait.

The accord was reached here Saturday during ``two-plus-two'' talks.

There is also dissatisfaction among U.S. officials that Beijing is not doing enough to pressure Pyongyang on its nuclear arms development.

Washington wanted to raise the Taiwan issue in an effort to prod Beijing to exert more pressure on Pyongyang to resolve the nuclear issue. In the same context, Washington wants to contain China from using military force against Taiwan.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mentioned China many times during a joint news conference following Saturday's meeting.

She stressed that Beijing's influence was vital to resolve the North Korea issue.

She noted that Beijing has urged Pyongyang to return to six-party talks.

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said at the joint news conference, ``It is correct that the People's Republic of China has been increasing its military capabilities fairly significantly,'' and indicated that China was among the ``new and emerging threats'' in the Asia-Pacific region, as described in the joint statement.

He also said that ``modernization of military capabilities'' in the region requires attention.

Sources close to the bilateral meeting said that when defense officials drafted Saturday's joint statement, they wanted to clearly express concern about China's growing military power. But the White House said that a strong statement against China would not win agreement from Tokyo.

In February 2002, right after Pyongyang resumed operation of a nuclear power reactor at Yongbyon, China closed off a fuel supply through a pipeline to North Korea for three days, winning Washington's approval for its pressure on Pyongyang over its nuclear program.

This time around, however, Washington does not yet know what Beijing has done regarding Pyongyang's declaration of becoming a nuclear arms power.

South Korea has also shown no signs of exerting pressure on Pyongyang. Seoul has not rejected North Korean requests for additional fertilizer aid. It is even showing signs of supplying electricity for an industrial complex in North Korea.

Washington, therefore, has been unable to form an effective net around Pyongyang to force it to give up its nuclear weapons program.

It has become apparent from the ``two-plus-two'' meeting that Washington considers the cooperation of Tokyo to be more vital in resolving regional issues than it has in the past.(IHT/Asahi: February 21,2005)