VZCZCXRO7000
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #3411 3510157
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 160157Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9474
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 1450
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 3807
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 9426
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 2016
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 5241
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6846
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2652
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2847
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2948
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 003411
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 - WTO, COP14, AND
THAILAND
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Tuesday morning
included the start on Monday of the Japanese Air Self-
Defense Force's withdrawal from Kuwait following the
completion of its five-year airlift operation in Iraq.
2. "Fear about Possible Rise in Protectionism" The
conservative Sankei's editorial stated (12/16): "The
WTO Doha Round talks failed to break the deadlock and
gave up on its goal of reaching an agreement by the
year's end. This is very regrettable, as the trade
liberalization talks, in which 153 nations and regions
take part, were expected to help stop the deterioration
of the world economy that was hit by the financial
crisis."
3. "No Room to Halt Negotiation" The liberal Tokyo
Shimbun editorialized (12/16): "The COP14 meeting held
in Poznan, Poland, postponed an agreement on
international commitments to achieving a goal of post-
Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions cuts. As the deadline
for the negotiation is only a year ahead, no further
standstill is allowed... Eleven years have past since
the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol. Efforts until now
should not be spoiled."
4. "Poznan Conference Postpones Problems" The business-
oriented Nikkei said in an editorial (12/16): "... It
will not be easy to reach an agreement by the end of
next year by taking differing interests of about 190
nations into consideration. The end of the Bush
administration, which has been negative about the
environmental issues, will likely expedite the
negotiation. As well-versed experts are expected to
work on the climate change negotiation under the Obama
administration, the U.S. will likely announce its own
policy soon after the launch of the new
administration."
5. "Dialogue Needed for Conciliation" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (12/16): "As a democratic leader in
Southeast Asia, will Thailand be able to restore
stability? The new prime minister needs to take
immediate steps to reduce confrontation and hatred and
restore stability in the country through dialogue with
the Thai people."
SCHIEFFER