VZCZCXRO8261
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #2042 1280429
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 080429Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3372
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1004
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4556
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6934
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1646
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2999
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4188
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002042
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 - FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION -
TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged
Prime Minister Abe's monetary offering to Yasukuni Shrine
on the occasion of its annual spring festival in April.
Claiming that the premier took that action in lieu of a
visit, the dailies speculated that Beijing might strongly
react and that it might affect PM Abe's proposed trip to
China in the fall.
1. "Sarkozy's Diplomatic Ability Unknown" The liberal
Asahi editorialized (5/8): "...French President-elect
Sarkozy's diplomatic ability is still unknown. While
maintaining its alliance with the US, France has made
strict demands on the US from time to time, thus showing
its independent position. Nonetheless, Sarkozy has called
for improving France's relations with the US, while at
the same time criticizing outgoing President Chirac, who
opposed the war in Iraq. We would like to keep a close
watch on what sort of relations Sarkozy will establish
with the Bush administration, which is facing tough going
in Iraq, and how he will modify France's pro-Arab line of
the Chirac era."
2. "Will Sarkozy Show Leadership in Improving Ties With
US?" An editorial in the top-circulation, moderate
Yomiuri commented (5/8): "...France has many diplomatic
issues to tackle. One urgent task is getting the treaty
to establish an EU constitution back on track after it
was derailed by the failure of France and the Netherlands
to ratify it. It is worth watching how Sarkozy will
demonstrate leadership resolving the issue and regain
France's key role in the EU. It will also be important
for the pro-US Sarkozy to repair the nation's relations
with Washington, which cooled over Iraq.... France has
shown a positive stance toward lifting the EU ban on the
export of arms to China. An end to the ban would affect
the security environment surrounding Japan."
DONOVAN