US vice-president Dick Cheney appealed today to a divided Japanese public to get behind the US-backed mission there at a difficult time.
The country has been shocked over the kidnapping of three Japanese civilians in Iraq.
"We understand what is at stake . . . the world shares your outrage today at the barbaric kidnapping . . . and stands with you in your determination to bring your people home safe," Mr Cheney said in a speech at a symposium on Japan-US relations.
Mr Cheney, who later arrived in Beijing on the second leg of his east Asian tour, said it was essential not to retreat from commitments in Iraq despite threats from the hostage-takers and the worst violence since the fall of Saddam Hussein a year ago.
He praised Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for standing up to militants who have threatened to kill the hostages unless Japan withdraws its 550 non-combat troops from Iraq.
"We think that the position of the prime minister has been the correct one - that is to say it's important that our governments not be intimidated by threats or violence, that we not allow terrorists to change or influence the policies of our governments," he said.
Mr Cheney, whose four-day Tokyo trip was overshadowed from the start by the hostage drama, repeated his pledge to "do everything we can" to secure their release.
Mr Koizumi's decision to send troops to Iraq divided public opinion and he is under mounting domestic pressure to withdraw them to save the hostages' lives.