Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - U.S.-Japan Relations

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PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2585 3130404
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 090404Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7396
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
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RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
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INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 7315
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9669
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4528
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7833
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1134
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RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3073
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8418
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7914
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 002585

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.-JAPAN RELATIONS

1. LEAD STORIES: There were no papers published on Monday morning
due to a press holiday. Most broadcasters reported on a mass rally
held on Sunday in Ginowan, Okinawa, to protest the current plan to
relocate MCAS Futenma to Camp Schwab.

2. "GOJ Should Work on Restructuring U.S.-Japan Alliance" The
moderate Yomiuri editorialized (11/7): "It is almost certain that
the issue of relocating MCAS Futenma in Okinawa will not be settled
before President Obama visits Japan on November 12. This will likely
have an adverse effect on U.S.-Japan relations. We think this is a
deplorable situation.... Prime Minister Hatoyama has said he will
'deepen the U.S.-Japan alliance in a multilayered manner,' looking
toward the 50th anniversary of the revision of the bilateral
security treaty next year. However, his remarks on putting off a
decision on the Futenma issue, halting the refueling operation, and
reducing host nation support for U.S. forces in Japan have all
served to undermine the alliance.... One of the reasons behind his
series of remarks is the presence of the Social Democratic Party
(SDP), a junior coalition partner, in the Hatoyama government. The
SDP is opposed to any attempts by the Hatoyama administration to
shift its policy on those issues. Easy compromises should not be
made on foreign and security issues that form the foundation of the
nation. Prime Minister Hatoyama must reason with the SDP to
restructure the U.S.-Japan alliance."

ROOS

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