Japanese polls show 40 percent of the public would like them to leave. Clinton and Prime Minister Miryama had planned to sign a declaration of support for the security arrangement, which they see as critical. Former Japanese diplomat Yukio Okamoto said the United States and Japan will have to reassure their peoples that their alliance is necessary. But without Clinton, U.S. and Japanese officials fear it will be much tougher to make a case to a skeptical Japanese public. Both sides were also hoping to iron out some wrinkles in their trading relationship.
Japan is one of the United States' fastest growing and most critical trade partners.
But the Clinton administration's push for freer market access has met with mixed results. Morton Abramowitz of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace says much more needed to be done. The administration is working to schedule another state visit as soon as possible, perhaps next spring. But officials admit the summit no-show will put a dent in the president's stature abroad, and embarrass an administration that has made Asia such a priority. External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.