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Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Obama Victory and Cross-

Published: Wed 5 Nov 2008 07:57 AM
VZCZCXRO3356
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #3081 3100757
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050757Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8550
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
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RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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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 0782
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 4567
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6206
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2592
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2202
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UNCLAS TOKYO 003081
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 - OBAMA VICTORY AND CROSS-
STRAIT RELATIONS
1. LEAD STORIES: All Wednesday morning papers gave
prominent top play to a set of recommendations on the
nation's pension system compiled by a GOJ panel, noting
that the proposal included a substantial increase in
the consumption tax to finance the social security
system.
2. "Shift to International Coordination" A
correspondent for the liberal Mainichi wrote from
Washington (11/5): "President-elect Obama's foreign
policy will focus on dialogue. From the Bush
administration's hard line, he has learned that trying
to isolate (a hostile state) will prompt it to go
nuclear. He appears to be determined to hold direct
talks with the Iranian government without any
preconditions. While his stance of prioritizing
international coordination is basically being welcomed
across the world, it remains to be seen how he will
ensure progress on the issue of the nuclear programs of
North Korea and other countries."
3. "Taiwan's Overture to China" The top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri reported from Taipei (11/5): "Behind
the agreement (on limited commerce and trade) between
Taiwan and China lies the desire on the part of the
Taiwanese government to stimulate its economy by
strengthening economic relations with the mainland.
However, concerns are mounting among Taiwanese about
the Ma administration's overture to Beijing in the
absence of a clear position on how to preserve Taiwan's
sovereignty."
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