VZCZCXRO2786
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1188 1220552
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010552Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3886
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
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 7552
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9939
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5922
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8147
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1231
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3090
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2257
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9105
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9609
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001188
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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - RUSSIA-GEORGIA TENSION
1. LEAD STORIES: All Thursday morning papers gave top
play to the passage in the Lower House on Wednesday of
a bill to reinstate gasoline surcharges and other road-
related taxes.
2. "Tension Rising Again in Georgia" The moderate
Yomiuri's correspondent report from Moscow said (5/1):
"Russian announced on Tuesday its intention to increase
its troops in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia. The tension
between Russia and Georgia is mounting, as the Russian
move will likely fan Abkhazia's desire for
independence. Russia's dissatisfaction with the U.S.
and European nations, which supported Kosovo's
declaration of independence in February, seems to be
increasing. Moscow's move against Georgia, which is
seeking NATO membership, appears to be aimed at
countering the U.S. and European nations."
3. "Russia Sending Additional Troops to Abkhazia and
South Ossetia" The conservative Sankei's report from
Moscow said (5/1): "Tension is building up between
Russia and Georgia following Moscow's decision on
Tuesday to send additional troops to Abkhazia and South
Ossetia, both of which have been seeking independence
from Georgia. Russia's intention to block Georgia's
participation in NATO appears to lie behind Moscow's
troop increase....It is almost certain that Russia and
Georgia will conduct a war of nerves."
SCHIEFFER