Cablegate: Japan Responds to U.S.-India Nuclear Agreement

VZCZCXRO7750
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHKO #3515 2130829
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010829Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6039
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 8362
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA PRIORITY 0009
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 0184
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 0249
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY 0453
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5244

UNCLAS TOKYO 003515

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ISN/NESS ALEX BURKART
DEPT FOR EAP/J JESSICA WEBSTER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KTIA ETTC KNNP MNUC PARM PREL PGOV IAEA JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN RESPONDS TO U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

REF: STATE 104171

1. (U) This message contains an Action Request - see para. 4.

2. (SBU) EST and POL delivered the non-paper in reftel to
officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on July
30 and 31. MOFA Arms Control and Disarmament Division
Principal Deputy Director, Junichiro Otaka, noted that MOFA
is carefully watching the development of the U.S.-India
Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation, particularly in
light of Prime Minister Abe's scheduled trip to India at the
end of August. MOFA Southwest Asia Division India Desk
Officer, Naoshige Aoshima, had no additional response.

3. (SBU) Otaka had the following comments/questions:

-- Regarding the timing of an NSG Consultative Group meeting
on India, Otaka suggested that such a meeting may be better
timed for after India completes negotiations with the IAEA on
a safeguards agreement and Additional Protocol.

-- Otaka asked whether the U.S. could provide further
guidance on how the Agreement handles the issue of separation
between India's military and civilian nuclear programs.
Specifically, he asked how the Agreement will help to ensure
that reprocessing and other technologies are not transferred
from the civilian to the military sector.

-- Finally, Otaka asked for clarification on what steps would
be taken under the Agreement in the event of a nuclear test
by India. He noted that recent reports in the Indian press
had been unclear on this.

4. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: In response to GOJ comments in
para. 3, Post would be grateful for any further guidance the
Department can provide.
SCHIEFFER

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