RP-JAPAN POLITICAL SECURITY TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANILA 001258

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/PMBS
DOD/ISA FOR BG ALLEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2013
TAGS: MARR PREL MOPS JA RP
SUBJECT: RP-JAPAN POLITICAL SECURITY TALKS

Classified By: (U) Political Officer Paul O'Friel
for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. The first-ever Philippine-Japanese
political security talks allowed both sides to exchange views
on China, North Korea, terrorism, and other issues. While
few concrete results emerged from the one-day discussions,
they did establish the framework for a continuing and
developing dialogue. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Department of Foreign Affairs Director for Northeast
Asia Monina Rueca, who participated in February 9
political-military discussions with Japanese defense and
foreign affairs counterparts, termed the talks "a positive
step," noting this was the first time the two countries had
engaged in such a dialogue. She said the primary element of
the one-day conference was an exchange of views at the
assistant secretary level on such issues as counterterrorism,
North Korea, China, the United States, and Southeast Asia.
Rueca expected the February 2005 security dialogue would
result in a series of regular semi-annual exchanges, but said
the two sides had not yet agreed on a fixed calendar.


3. (C) Japanese Defense Attache Colonel Yukio Yasunaga, who
also attended the talks, separately confirmed to poloff the
broad nature of the exchange. According to Yasunaga, the
Philippine side's brief on US-RP defense cooperation
highlighted the Philippine Defense Reform effort. Philippine
officials also discussed the impact of the U.S. Global
Posture Review (GPR). Noting the GPR's focus was on access
and not bases, the Filipinos had suggested the RP "could be
part of it" by hosting some (unspecified) U.S. activities.


4. (C) Philippine officials told their Japanese counterparts
the goal of RP-China defense talks was to create a framework
of cooperation whose scope would remain "quite modest,"
Yasunaga said. The Philippines hoped as well to reinvigorate
its defense relationships with Indonesia and Malaysia, and
enhance relations with Australia, South Korea, and Singapore.


5. (C) Discussion of the future direction of
Filipino-Japanese security relations touched on greater
defense cooperation, disaster preparedness and response, and
possible Japanese use of Filipino facilities. Yasunaga
indicated Japan intended to explore further with Philippine
counterparts joint disaster preparedness and response
training, but said it was premature to discuss use of the
former Crow Valley bombing range by Japanese Self-Defense
forces. He added the two sides had discussed in general
terms joint exercises between the Philippine Navy and the
Maritime Self-Defense Forces, and possible Japanese
participation in multi-lateral military exercises, similar to
the Japanese presence in Thailand's annual "Cobra Gold"
exercise.


6. (C) COMMENT: While general in nature, the
defense/security talks represent a step forward in the
Philippines, relations with its northern neighbor, in
keeping with President Arroyo's definition of the three
"realities" of Philippine policy: Japan, China, and the
United States. We note, however, the talks were relatively
low-level. Senior-level engagement will be needed to achieve
progress on more visible issues, such as joint training and
exercises.

Visit Embassy Manila,s Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
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