JAPAN ON BURMA: WE WANT A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TOO

C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000445

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV
COMMERCE FOR ITA JEAN KELLY
TREASURY FOR OASIA JEFF NEIL
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2013
TAGS: PREL ECON BM
SUBJECT: JAPAN ON BURMA: WE WANT A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP TOO

REF: A. TOKYO 1194


B. 02 RANGOON 1447

C. 02 RANGOON 1366

Classified By: COM CARMEN MARTINEZ FOR REASONS 1.5 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary: Minutes from a short meeting between the
Japanese Ambassador and the Burmese Minister of National
Planning and Economic Development emphasize the new
pro-engagement policy outlined by the Japanese at the recent
ICG meeting in Tokyo. The Ambassador's remarks give some
insight into Japan's vision of its policy in Burma, both
bilateral and as part of the larger Japan-ASEAN relationship.
End summary.

Japan Stresses its Independence


2. (C) In a meeting on February 21, the Japanese Ambassador
to Burma reiterated to the Minister of Economic Development
and National Planning, U Soe Tha, Japan's determination to
push ahead with a more ambitious policy of engagement with
Burma. According to classified GOB minutes of this meeting,
the Japanese Ambassador also gave the Minister a short
readout of the Tokyo Informal Consultative Group (ICG)
meeting that took place on February 15 (described in Ref A).


3. (C) The minutes record that the Ambassador reported the
ICG's conclusion that the United States, the United Kingdom,
and "western groups" have not been succesful in trying to
pressure Burma. Instead, the international community should
try a new "way" of extending more assistance to Burma. In
that spirit, the Ambassador told the Minister Japan will
provide more humanitarian assistance and advice on economic
reform and political development. He added that Japan will
begin to take action regardless of what other nations decide
to do. The Ambassador stressed that other countries and
international organizations are seeking their own ways to
start assisting Burma. However, even if the international
community does not join in, Japan will carry out its
intentions -- even if the Japanese government has to
"confront challenges" to do so.


4. (C) The Japanese Ambassador, according to the minutes,
went on to say that Japan must consider its relations with
Burma in the larger context of Japan-ASEAN ties, and
strengthening the influence of ASEAN. Somewhat more
cryptically, the minutes record the Japanese Ambassador
urging the Minister to ponder seriously the importance of
Burma's relations with India and the PRC.


5. (C) The Minister replied to the Ambassador quite
positively, complimenting him for his understanding of the
"true situation" in the country. He urged the Ambassador to
work hard to ensure the Japanese government would soon carry
out the policy that had been outlined.

Ties that Bind?


6. (C) The Ambassador's approach to the Minister dovetails
very well with the strong new position of engagement laid out
by the Japanese delegation at the ICG. The only disconnect
between the two was the mention of using greater engagement
to encourage political dialogue; a theme Japan supported at
the ICG, but which the Ambassador apparently failed to
mention during his meeting with U Soe Tha. The Ambassador's
assertion that Japan will act independently of other parties,
and his remarks on the importance of Japan's ties with ASEAN,
and thus Burma, might be interpreted as a reminder by the
Ambassador of Japan's importance as a regional power --
competing as it is with the aggressive diplomacy in Burma of
China and India.
Martinez