VZCZCXRO7529
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2930 3632248
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 292248Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8398
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 8059
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0405
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5171
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8560
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1871
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2419
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3129
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9084
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8511
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002930
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 - FUTENMA RELOCATION
1. LEAD STORIES: Most papers on Tuesday morning front-
paged reports from New Delhi on press remarks on Monday
by Prime Minister Hatoyama, during which he reportedly
said that the coalition agreement on Futenma relocation
must not ignore the U.S.'s intentions.
2. "Sites Other Than Okinawa Must Be Seriously
Considered" The liberal Asahi editorialized (12/29): "A
working team of the GOJ and the ruling coalition was
launched to look for a new relocation site for MCAS
Futenma. This is a fresh start for the new
administration, which has been in disarray over the
issue during its first 100 days. Although the plan to
move the Futenma functions to Henoko, which was agreed
upon between the governments of the U.S. and Japan
three years ago, has not been rejected as an option,
the ruling parties must first explore extensively the
possibility of relocating the base out of Okinawa....
There is one important point, though. The power of
deterrence the U.S. Marines have provided for the
defense of Japan and the stability of the region must
be maintained in some form."
ROOS