Cablegate: Japan Country Clearance for U.S.-China Economic

VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKO #2236/01 2270800
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140800Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6588
INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0889
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 7108

UNCLAS TOKYO 002236

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OTRA PREL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC
AND SECURITY REVIEW COMMISSION

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY.

1. (U) Embassy welcomes and grants country clearance for the
August 19-21, 2008, visit to Japan by the U.S.-China Economic
and Security Review Commission (USCC) delegation.

2. (U) Control Officer for the visit will be Political
Officer Mary Wilson. She can be reached at:

Office phone: (81-3)3224-5340
Home phone: (81-3)3224-6832
Mobile phone: 81-90-4168-4950
Fax: (81-3)3224-5322
E-mail: WilsonMT@state.gov (unclassified)

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Hotel Reservations
------------------

3. (U) Tokyo hotel reservations have been made at the Hotel
Okura 2-10-4 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8416, Tel:
(81-3) 3582-0111 Fax: (81-3) 3582-3707. Details as follows:

Ms. Carolyn Bartholomew
Arrive: 8/19
Depart: 8/21
Conf. No.: 644054

Mr. Peter Brooks
Arrive: 8/19
Depart: 8/21
Conf. No.: 644055

Mr. Jeffrey Fiedler
Arrive: 8/19
Depart: 8/21
Conf. No.: 644056

Mr. Patrick Mulloy
Arrive: 8/19
Depart: 8/21
Conf. No.: 644057

Mr. Dennis C. Shea
Arrive: 8/19
Depart: 8/21
Conf. No.: 644058

Mr. Daniel M. Slane
Arrive: 8/19
Depart: 8/21
Conf. No.: 644059

Mr. T. Scott Bunton
Arrive: 8/19
Depart: 8/21
Conf. No.: 644060

Mr. John D. Dotson
Arrive: 8/19
Depart: 8/21
Conf. No.: 644061

Ms. Shannon K. Knight
Arrive: 8/19
Depart: 8/21
Conf. No.: 644062

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Airport to Hotel Transportation
-------------------------------

4. (U) Control Officer will meet USCC delegation at the
arrival gate and assist to an embassy vehicle.

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Visa
----

5. (U) Holders of U.S. diplomatic or official passports must
have a Japanese visa to enter Japan. Travelers on a U.S.
tourist (blue cover) passport may enter Japan as a tourist
without a Japanese visa for up to 90 days. As of November
20, 2007, all foreign nationals entering Japan, with the
exemption of certain categories, are required to provide
fingerprints and a facial photograph at the port of entry.
This requirement does not replace any existing visa or
passport requirements. Official U.S. travelers will have to
submit to the photograph and fingerprinting requirement
unless they travel with a valid diplomatic or official visa

or a Note Verbale. The nature of the passport onto which the
visa is pasted is not relevant, i.e. a tourist passport
holder with a diplomatic or official visa will not have to
submit to the biometrics collection process. SOFA personnel
are exempt under SOFA Article 9 (2) from the new biometrics
entry requirements.

----------------------
Embassy Laptop Policy
----------------------

6. (U) The Embassy's electronic device (i.e. laptop,
removable storage, video equipment, test equipment, etc.)
policy states that absolutely no personal, non-government
owned electronic devices may enter the Embassy. Absolutely
no equipment, even government-owned, may be connected to the
Embassy network in any way without prior approval. TDY
employees are reminded that even government-owned equipment
may not enter the Embassy without prior RSO approval.
Absolutely no electronic device, even government-owned, may
enter the CAA unless special pre-approval is given by the
RSO, based on a compelling business need. Please be advised
that if the traveler does not have one of the following
BlackBerry models and a service contract with one of the
telecommunications companies (listing follows), then his/her
BlackBerry will not work in Japan. Japan has the most
advanced cellular industry in the world and BlackBerry
protocols are not as advanced as what are being used in Japan
today. (BlackBerry models: 8707G, H, V or U.S.
Telecommunications Companies with a NTT/DoCoMo roaming
agreement: Sprint/Nextel, ATT/Cingular, and T-Mobile)If you
would like to bring a U.S. government-owned electronic device
into the Embassy, please contact the RSO office (provide
make, model, serial number, and purpose) prior to your visit
for a briefing and approval.

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Threat Assessment
-----------------

7. (U) U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a
heightened state of alert. As the U.S. Government has
reported in public announcements over the last several
months, U.S. citizens and interests abroad may be at
increased risk of terrorist actions from extremist groups,
which may target civilians and include suicide operations.
The Department maintains information about potential threats
to Americans overseas which is available to travelers on the
internet at the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page:
http://www.travel.state.gov. The Embassy takes all threats
seriously. U.S. Embassy Tokyo can be contacted 24 hours a
day at 03-3224-5000 (locally) or 81-3-3224-5000
(internationally).

8. (SBU) The general threat from crime in Tokyo and
throughout Japan is low. Crime is at levels well below the
U.S. national average. Violent crime is rare, but does
exist. The Japanese National Police report continued
problems with pick-pocketing of foreigners in crowded
shopping areas of Tokyo. Although street crime is low,
common sense security measures are advised for all American
citizens traveling in Japan.

9. (U) Also be advised that under no circumstances may
weapons be brought into Japan. Carrying a pocketknife
(including Swiss Army-style knife, craft or hunting knife,
box cutter, etc.) in public is forbidden. Under Japanese
law, carrying any such item in public, with a size exceeding
8 cm in length, 1.5 cm in width or 2 mm in thickness, can
subject the person to arrest or detention.
SCHIEFFER

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