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

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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000082

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 FOREIGN
MINISTERIAL IN HONOLULU

1. LEAD STORIES: All Thursday morning papers gave
prominent top coverage to yesterday's search by
prosecutors of the offices of DPJ Secretary General
Ozawa over alleged accounting irregularities in
connection with a questionable land purchase made in
2004 by Ozawa's fund management organization.

2. "Talks Should Reinforce Foundation of Alliance" On
Secretary of State Clinton's meeting with Foreign
Minister Okada, during which they affirmed the launch
of a bilateral discussion process to enhance the
security alliance, the liberal Asahi editorialized
(1/14): "Shared perceptions [of the security
environment in the Asia-Pacific region] will be helpful
in carrying out bilateral efforts to reach a settlement
of the Futenma stalemate. The planned alliance talks
will also provide an opportunity to deepen the Japanese
public's understanding of measures that have been taken
to support the alliance, including U.S. military
installations, the SOFA, and host nation support, and
to consider the appropriateness of such measures under
the new international environment.... It is true that
the Futenma issue is just one element of the U.S.-Japan
alliance. However, it will also be difficult for the
two parties to discuss the future of the alliance
without going through the difficult process of finding
a solution [on Futenma] that is satisfactory to both
sides."

3. "Futenma Issue Should Be Resolved First to Deepen
Alliance" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
asserted in an editorial (1/14): "There is no question
that the alliance talks should focus on security. If
the Hatoyama administration does not share the U.S.'s
view that the U.S. military presence has contributed to
peace and security in Japan and Asia, the alliance
talks will be meaningless."

4. "Settlement of Futenma by May Becomes Pledge" An
editorial in the liberal Mainichi wrote (1/14):
"Foreign Minister Okada told Secretary Clinton that the
GOJ will make a final decision on Futenma by May.
Therefore, the GOJ has made a formal commitment to the
USG that it will come up with a resolution by May....
In order to move forward with the alliance talks, this
commitment should be upheld."

5. "Deeper Alliance Should Go beyond Military Arena"
The liberal Tokyo Shimbun stated (1/14): "It is
desirable for the issue of Futenma relocation to be
examined in the alliance talks, given that this issue
clearly reflects the reality of the bilateral
alliance.... The alliance talks should be started with
the shared recognition between the U.S. and Japan that
the bilateral security arrangement is based on the
excessive burden imposed on Okinawa. The implementation
of the present agreement to move MCAS Futenma to a
different location in Okinawa will not result in a
reduction of the burden on Okinawa. The residents'
dissatisfaction will remain unresolved. The two
governments should be aware that an alliance that fails
to gain the understanding of the people will be
vulnerable."

TOKYO 00000082 002 OF 002

6. "Foreign Ministers Seek Stability in Alliance" The
business-oriented Nikkei argued (1/14): "The U.S. side
agreed to hold a foreign ministerial meeting and even
expressed the view that the U.S-Japan alliance is much
larger than any one particular issue such as Futenma.
It is naive for the Japanese side to view this U.S.
position as a diplomatic accomplishment.... Bilateral
relations will improve overnight if the 'thorn of the
alliance,' the Futenma issue, is removed. Prime
Minister Hatoyama is responsible for removing this
thorn, as he is the one who pushed it deep down
inside."

ZUMWALT

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