VZCZCXRO5754
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0224 0350228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 040228Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9198
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 8672
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 1013
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5725
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 9168
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2488
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2949
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3168
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9630
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9004
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000224
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.-CHINA TIES
1. LEAD STORIES: Most papers on Thursday morning led
with reports speculating that prosecutors decided on
Wednesday not to indict DPJ Secretary General Ozawa in
connection with a questionable land purchase made by
his fund management organization in 2004.
2. "Obama-Dalai Lama Meeting to Become Another Source
of Friction" The moderate Yomiuri wrote from Washington
(2/4): "Concerning the plan for the Dalai Lama to visit
the U.S. and meet with President Obama, White House
Deputy Press Secretary Burton said to reporters on
February 2 that there is no change in the plan to hold
the meeting. China will inevitably protest vehemently
if the meeting actually takes place, and it will be
difficult to prevent the issue from becoming another
source of friction in U.S.-China relations following
Google's possible withdrawal from China and the U.S.'s
decision on arms sales to Taiwan.... The repeated
warnings by the Chinese government appear to be
intended to take advantage of the need for the Obama
administration to ask for China's cooperation in such
issues as climate change and nuclear development by
Iran and North Korea. However, the President appears to
be determined to reject pressure from China by
demonstrating a stance of not compromising on the
issues of human rights and Taiwan."
3. "Another Source of Friction between U.S. and China"
The conservative Sankei reported from Washington (2/4):
"Another source of friction has been added to the
deteriorating U.S.-China relationship. The U.S. has
stated that there is no change in the plan for
President Obama to meet with the Dalai Lama, who plans
to visit the U.S. this month. In order to prevent the
meeting from happening, China has been issuing strong
warnings to the U.S. If the meeting takes place, the
friction between the U.S. and China that has built up
due to such issues as Google's possible pullout from
China and the U.S.'s announcement on arms sales to
Taiwan will likely escalate.... The U.S. believes that
dialogue with the Dalai Lama is necessary from the
standpoint of human rights and freedom of religion.
Criticism might emerge within the U.S. if the President
gives in to the warnings from China and cancels the
meeting."
ROOS