Cablegate: Media Reaction Q Abe Administration - Tokyo

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P 020230Z OCT 06
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UNCLAS TOKYO 005721

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION Q ABE ADMINISTRATION - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged
reports that final arrangements are underway for Prime
Minister Abe to visit Beijing on October 8 to meet with
Chinese President Hu. Mainichi and Yomiuri added that Abe
will also visit Seoul on October 9. However, Nikkei said
his visit to Seoul is being considered for either October
7 or 9.

1. "A Proposal for the Abe Administration" The business
daily Nihon Keizai editorialized (10/2): "...In his
inaugural speech at the Diet, Prime Minister Abe devoted
more time to the nation's diplomatic and national
security policies than any previous prime minister. His
speech was akin to President Bush's State of the Union
addresses, the thrust of which shifted from domestic and
economic policy to foreign affairs following 9/11.... The
biggest task for the Abe administration is the
reconstruction of Japan's Asia diplomacy. China and South
Korea rejected summits with Japan in protest of former PM
Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine....

2. "Relations with the US may be surprisingly difficult
for the Abe administration.... It has been reported that
a candidate critical of the relocation of MCAS Futenma to
Camp Schwab is leading in the Okinawa gubernatorial race.
Should this candidate win, the US-Japan accord on
realignment could again find itself up in the air."

DONOVAN

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