VZCZCXRO7147
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1234 1280841
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 070841Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4022
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 7644
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0029
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 6002
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8239
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1323
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3183
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2276
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9200
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9688
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001234
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 - WORLD FOOD CRISIS
1. LEAD STORIES: There were no papers published on
Wednesday morning due to a press holiday. Broadcasters
reported on Chinese President Hu Jintao's arrival in
Tokyo on Tuesday afternoon. NHK-TV and Kyodo News
reported early Wednesday morning that Deputy Secretary
of State Negroponte will visit South Korea, Japan, and
China starting Wednesday.
2. "U.S. Aggravating Food Crisis" The liberal Mainichi
editorialized (5/6): "...Food prices are surging around
the world. One of the causes is the increasing
production of bioethanol. Planting of wheat and
soybeans has been decreasing due to the rising
production of corn for bioethanol for car fuel. The
consumption of cereals in China, India, and other
emerging economies is growing, while Australia has just
had a poor crop. On top of these factors, the flood of
speculators into the grain markets is accelerating the
hike in food prices.... The U.S. is mainly responsible
for the two issues of bioethanol and speculation. The
U.S. should review its policy of giving preferential
treatment to bioethanol producers. The U.S. should
immediately move to calm the current turmoil in the
financial markets and create an environment in which
Japan and other nations can work together to end
speculation in the commodities market."
DONOVAN