VZCZCXRO9961
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0005 0040645
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 040645Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8501
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 8145
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0491
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5257
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8646
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1958
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2491
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3132
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9156
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8580
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000005
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 AND NUCLEAR
NONPROLIFERATION
1. LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers gave front-page play to
a GOJ decision on Sunday to double the credit line to be provided by
the state-owned Development Bank of Japan to struggling Japan
Airlines.
2. "Rebuild U.S.-Japan Alliance" The top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri editorialized (1/4): "This year marks the 50th
anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. However, the
bilateral relationship is facing a crisis of unprecedented
magnitude. This is an ironic and unfortunate development.... The
biggest problem in the Hatoyama administration's diplomacy is that
no concrete actions have been taken to follow up on its policy of
'making the U.S.-Japan alliance a central pillar.' The fundamental
cause for this situation is that the prime minister and his cabinet
ministers fail to understand and share the significance of the U.S.
military presence in Japan, which lies at the core of the
alliance.... The presence of the U.S. military in Japan contributes
not only to the defense of Japan but also to the peace and stability
of all of Asia as an 'international public asset.' The fact that
South Korea and Southeast Asian countries are concerned about a
schism in the U.S.-Japan alliance is evidence of this reality."
3. "Do Not Allow U.S.-Japan Alliance to Become Irrelevant" The
conservative Sankei argued in an editorial (1/4): "In order to
deepen the alliance to a level that enables it to fulfill the
requirements of the 21st century, it is imperative for the Hatoyama
administration to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective
defense and to augment its own defense efforts. Japan should take
the lead in assuming the risks involved in anti-piracy efforts and
the war on terrorism. It must not break the trend toward creating a
'U.S.-Japan alliance for the international community' that has been
set in motion through mutual cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan....
There is no guarantee that the stalemate over Futenma will not
become a harbinger of doom in the bilateral alliance."
4. "High Time to Embark on Elimination of Nuclear Weapons" An
editorial in the liberal Mainichi asserted
(1/4): "Judging from the Obama administration's diplomatic calendar
for this year [on the nuclear front], President Obama is giving top
priority to the prevention of nuclear terrorism while concurrently
moving forward with nuclear arms reduction. In particular, nuclear
arms reduction will be welcomed as a concrete first step toward the
abolition of nuclear arsenals.... Unless nuclear powers demonstrate
their sincere attitudes [during this year's NPT Review Conference],
discontent with the NPT system will continue to grow, making
international cooperation, which is essential for the prevention of
nuclear terrorism, impossible. Nothing is more important than the
formation of an international accord for the elimination of nuclear
weapons."
ROOS