May 13 - President Bush on May 12 extended his condolences to those injured and to the families of the victims of the earthquake in China's Sichuan Province, stating, "The United States stands ready to help in any way possible." [Full text]

May 13 - On May 12, USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore and Admiral Timothy J. Keating, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, accompanied the first airlift of USAID commodities from Thailand to Burma. Two additional flights are planned for May 13. Administrator Fore announced $13 million in additional aid to Burma on May 12, bringing the total value of assistance from the U.S. government to more than $16.3 million. [USAID webpage on the response to Cyclone Nargis]

May 12 - Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte met on May 9 with Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura. On May 10, the Deputy Secretary enjoyed a visit to the Perry and Harris exhibit at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, and a visit to the sumo association. [More photos]

Negroponte's remarks:

• After meeting Machimura • After meeting Koumura • Prior to departure at Narita airport

• At the start of the meeting with Ishiba • After meeting Ishiba

May 9 - Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte is traveling to the region May 7 to 12 for discussions with his counterparts in Seoul, Tokyo, and Beijing on a broad range of bilateral, regional, and global issues. He remarked upon arrival in Tokyo May 8, "I'm very happy to be back in a country that is such an important friend of the United States." [Full text]

May 8 - On May 6, USAID announced that it will provide an additional $3 million in assistance to the Burmese people in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, in part through the American Red Cross. [More] USAID's Disaster Assistance Response Team, currently pre-positioned in Bangkok, is awaiting permission to enter Burma. It is important that USAID disaster experts - along with experts from international and non-governmental organizations - be allowed access to affected areas to provide quick and efficient emergency relief assistance.

May 7 - The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), are providing emergency relief to those in Burma affected by Tropical Cyclone Nargis. The State Department issued a Travel Warning on May 5 to inform American citizens of the destruction caused by the cyclone, and to recommend that citizens in affected areas strongly consider departing Burma and that citizens outside of Burma defer non-essential travel to Burma. On May 6, President Bush signed a bill passed by Congressional leaders to honor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with the Congressional Gold Medal.

May 2 - On May 1 at the White House, President Bush celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and World Press Freedom Day, and then discussed food aid. He also made a statement on Burma and issued an executive order blocking property and prohibiting certain transactions related to Burma.

May 2 - U.S. law requires the Secretary of State to provide Congress, by April 30 of each year, a full and complete report on terrorism with regard to those countries and groups meeting criteria set forth in the legislation. The 2007 annual report, entitled "Country Reports on Terrorism," is now available to the public on the State Department website. [Briefing] [Full report]

May 1 - Chiba Lotte Marines Manager Bobby Valentine and the three filmmakers of the Tribeca/ESPN Film Festival documentary "The Zen of Bobby V" briefed journalists in New York and Tokyo May 1 through a digital video conference (DVC) set up by the Embassy and the State Department's New York Foreign Press Center. The film, which premiered at the April 23-May 4 festival, details a season in the life of the former Mets manager in Japanese baseball. Ambassador Schieffer, left, greeted Mr. Valentine at the Embassy.

May 1 - On April 21, the U.S. government submitted public comments to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry on proposed changes to the Japanese method for determination of asbestos in building materials. The United States supports the Japanese government in its effort to develop and implement an asbestos policy that takes full consideration of the potentially deadly nature of asbestos fibers. [Full text]