That is anathema to the Americans, who fear that any talk of time limits at Nago could trigger demands for similar deadlines at the Misawa and Yokota air bases and the Yokosuka naval station in mainland Japan.

ECONOMIST: How the Americans got their base

The company has already conquered the US, Japan, UK and Canada, and has even launched an ebook assault on the Chinese mainland.

ENGADGET

Japan-Hawaii-Guam is in recession, as is Japan to the mainland U.S. The revenue base is equivalent to AMR and it, too, earns over a billion.

FORBES: Market Trends: American Airlines: Buy it, don't fly it

It credits him for Taiwan's global competitiveness, strong trade ties with the mainland, a visa waiver scheme with the US and a fisheries agreement with Japan.

BBC: China media: Co-operation with India

Since last month, North Korea has repeatedly threatened to strike the U.S. mainland or its bases in the Asian-Pacific region, as well as South Korea and Japan, a move widely seen as an attempt to create anxiety and push South Korea and the U.S. into offering concessions such as aid and security guarantees.

WSJ: North Korea Reaffirms Commitment to Nuclear Program