VZCZCXRO6342
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2335 2820538
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 090538Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6682
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 6815
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9159
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4104
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7328
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0632
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1311
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3048
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7972
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7525
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002335
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 - PRESIDENT OBAMA'S EAST ASIAN TOUR,
PAKISTAN, AND SAUDI-SYRIA RELATIONS
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Friday morning included the first
meeting on Thursday of a new GOJ tax panel created under the
Hatoyama administration.
2. "U.S. to Call Attention to Stronger Ties with China" On the White
House announcement concerning President Obama's upcoming trip to
East Asia, the business-oriented Nikkei wrote (10/9): "The announced
itinerary reflects the Obama administration's intention to enhance
relations in a range of areas with China, whose political and
economic presence is growing rapidly, as well as its desire to
remind North Korea of close coordination among the U.S., Japan,
China, and South Korea. On the economic front, attention will be
focused on how to rectify the [U.S.] trade imbalance with Japan,
China, and South Korea, which have run huge trade surpluses by
relying on the North American market."
3. "Opposition to U.S. Support Package Growing within Pakistani
Military" The liberal Mainichi stated (10/9): "The schism is
deepening between the Pakistani government and the Pakistan military
and opposition forces over legislation regarding a non-military aid
package that was approved by the U.S. Senate in September. This is
because the bill is asking Islamabad to allow Washington to have a
say in its nuclear policy and carry out joint military operations
aimed at combating armed insurgents in exchange for providing
Pakistan with $1.5 billion annually for the next five years. While
the Pakistani government welcomed the bill, its military and others
criticized the bill as a 'violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.' The
legislation runs the risk of having a negative impact on Pakistani
operations against armed radicals that the U.S. is asking for the
enhancement of, and unleashing political confusion [in Pakistan]."
4. "First Step toward Reconciliation, Stability in Middle East" On
Saudi King Abdullah's visit to Damascus, the top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri reported from Cairo (10/9): "This was the first
visit to Syria by the Saudi King, who assumed his post in 2005. It
left an impression of reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Syria,
which have opposed each other over such issues as Iran and Lebanon.
There are growing expectations that this rapprochement will lead to
unity among Arab states and have positive effects on the deadlocked
Lebanese situation and progress on Middle East peace."
ZUMWALT