VZCZCXRO0944
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1649 1690524
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170524Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5119
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 8406
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0781
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 6664
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8991
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2113
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3938
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2369
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9936
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0357
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001649
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 - JAPAN-TAIWAN RELATIONS
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning
included the aftermath of the major earthquake that hit
northern Japan on Saturday.
2. "Taiwan Should Act Responsibly" The liberal Mainichi
editorialized (6/17): "A protest ship carrying
Taiwanese activists claiming territorial rights on
Monday entered Japanese territorial waters near the
Senkaku Islands, which are effectively controlled by
Japan. Three Taiwanese patrol ships also entered the
area to protect the protest ship. In the past, there
have been cases of protest boats from Taiwan, Hong
Kong, and China approaching the islands and protesters
landing there. However, only private citizens were
involved. The participation this time by Taiwanese
patrol vessels could disturb relations between Japan
and Taiwan. We urge the Taiwanese authorities to
exercise self-restraint."
3. "Japan Should React Firmly and Calmly" The
conservative Sankei's editorial stated (6/17): "A
Taiwanese protest boat and accompanying patrol ships
briefly entered Japanese territorial waters near the
Senkaku Islands, which are Japanese territory. It was
the first time for official Taiwanese ships to do so.
Although Taipei claimed that the patrol ships
accompanied the protest boat in order to guard against
any contingency, their act was truly regrettable, given
that they ignored repeated warnings and violated
Japanese territorial waters. The Japanese government
should not make an easy compromise but should instead
maintain a firm position, as the incident involves a
territorial dispute between Tokyo and Taipei."
4. "Senkaku Issue Should Not Be Reignited" The liberal
Tokyo Shimbun editorialized (6/17): "...Among the
nations and territories that once experienced Japanese
colonial rule, Taiwan has been viewed as the
friendliest to Japan. It is shocking that anti-Japanese
sentiment is growing in Taiwan, given that Tokyo and
Taipei have enjoyed active cultural and economic
exchanges despite the absence of diplomatic relations.
If the dispute over the Senkakus reignites between
Japan and Taiwan, it might prompt China to restate its
own claim to the islands.... The Japanese government
should calm the situation as soon as possible by using
its personal connections with Taiwanese leaders that
have been nurtured for years."
SCHIEFFER