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PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0362 0550420
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240420Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9584
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
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RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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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 8974
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 1306
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5969
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 9460
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2792
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3214
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3192
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9895
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9236
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000362
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 RELATIONS, IRAN, AND
PALESTINIAN STATE
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Wednesday morning included Monday's
start of a congressional hearing on the Toyota recalls.
2. "China Monitoring Domestic Public Opinion" The business-oriented
Nikkei wrote from Beijing (2/24): "A formal decision by the Chinese
on retaliatory measures against the U.S. has been delayed. China was
set to take immediate retaliatory measures in the event that
President Obama held talks with Dalai Lama. However, a Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesperson stopped short of specifically
referring to such measures during Tuesday's press conference. It
appears that the Chinese chose not to decide on retaliatory measures
immediately out of concern for the possible negative effect on
China's ties with the U.S. on the political and economic fronts. For
the time being, the Chinese government is poised to monitor domestic
public opinion, which is markedly anti-American."
3. "Iran Needs to Make Efforts to Dispel Suspicion" The liberal
Mainichi editorialized (2/24): "It appears that Iran, just like
North Korea, has continued to take provocative actions in the
judgment that the international community would not be able to take
tough measures in response. With the Iranian citizens'
dissatisfaction with the presidential election last year still
lingering, trust in the Iranian leadership has declined sharply both
at home and abroad. Under the current circumstances, the U.S.,
Britain, and others have no choice but to consider a new UN Security
Council resolution.... If it is true that the foreign allegations
are unfounded, Tehran should be more cooperative (toward the
international community's efforts to check its nuclear programs).
Continuing to make provocative statements and actions will merely
deepen the international community's suspicion."
4. "France Envisions Palestinian State as 'Fait Accompli'" On French
Foreign Minister Kouchner's recent statement that he could envision
the recognition of a Palestinian state even before its borders are
set, a Paris correspondent for the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
stated (2/24): "His proposal is causing a stir in the stalemated
Middle East peace process. While the proposal was made in the
absence of coordination with the parties involved, expectations are
mounting among the Palestinians to use the proposal as a
justification for declaring 'unilateral independence.' Attention is
focused on whether the French idea will give a push to the Obama
administration, which has been slow in moving forward with Middle
East peace due in part to the stalled situation in Afghanistan."
ROOS