VZCZCXRO7553
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #3012 3030602
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290602Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8360
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 0661
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 3019
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 8730
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1234
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4444
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6094
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2581
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2091
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2319
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 003012
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 - U.S.-PAKISTAN RELATIONS
AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
1. LEAD STORIES: Lead stories on Wednesday morning
included the likelihood that the Bank of Japan will
shortly release a report projecting 0 percent growth in
fiscal 2008.
2. "U.S. Cross-Border Missile Strikes Creating Schism
over War on Terrorism" On repeated U.S. cross-border
missile strikes on al-Qaeda operatives in Pakistan, a
correspondent for the liberal Asahi reported from
Islamabad (10/29): "As the U.S. military attacks have
inflicted damage on anti-Taliban tribes that are
supported by the Pakistani government, the relationship
of cooperation between Islamabad and these tribes may
be affected. Given that the U.S. has refused to provide
additional aid to Pakistan, which has been hard hit by
the global economic crisis, there is concern that the
government might not be able to keep anti-American
sentiment in check.... With Democratic presidential
candidate Sen. Obama also calling for stepping up the
war on terrorism, including cross-border sorties in the
tribal areas, a dark cloud is hanging over
U.S.-Pakistan relations."
3. "Geopolitical Risk and IMF Assistance" The business-
oriented Nikkei editorialized (10/29): "The IMF struck
a provisional deal with Ukraine to provide it with up
to $16.5 billion in emergency loans. The international
organization has also entered negotiations with
Pakistan over similar lending. Special consideration is
necessary for these two countries, as geopolitical risk
will rise further if the political instability of these
nations is compounded by the financial crisis.... While
Pakistan has asked China and Saudi Arabia to provide
assistance, the balance of power in the region could be
upset if aid for Pakistan is mainly provided by such
countries. It is a matter of course for the IMF, which
consists of a large number of states, to play the
leading role in helping Pakistan."
4. "'Western Approach' Has Collapsed" In a front-page
commentary, the business-oriented Nikkei wrote (10/29):
"The IMF is still viewed as a benefactor for countries
overwhelmed by the financial crisis. However, it has
stopped being a 'tough-minded teacher' eager to
prescribe Western-style fiscal reconstruction and
democratization."
SCHIEFFER