Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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05TOKYO1292 | 2005-03-04 09:11:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Tokyo |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001292 |
1. (C) Summary: During a March 2 meeting with visiting S/P Director Stephen D. Krasner, VFM Yachi said Japan supported the inclusion of Australia, New Zealand and India in the East Asia Summit and explained limitations to support from individual East Asian countries for greater U.S. involvement in that forum. He underscored the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance in developing an appropriate approach to an emerging China and in influencing China to play a productive role vis-a-vis North Korea. End Summary. East Asia Summit -------------------------- 2. (C) In a March 2 meeting, visiting S/P Director Stephen D. Krasner and S/P Member Evan Feigenbaum, accompanied by POLMIN, solicited Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi's views on a wide range of issues. On the East Asia Summit, proposed for December this year, VFM Yachi relayed Japan's desire to see Australia, New Zealand and India included. He acknowledged, however, that some East Asian nations, including China and Malaysia, just want the ASEAN Plus 3 to participate. While some ASEAN countries might view the United States as balancing their Chinese neighbor, support for U.S. involvement was not all that widespread. VFM Yachi explained that Japan wants the summit to focus on economic and possibly cultural issues rather than security questions. VFM Yachi and Krasner reviewed the stances of various ASEAN countries on the issue of participation. Some ASEAN countries, like Singapore and to a lesser extent Indonesia and possibly Thailand, might be more sympathetic to more active U.S. involvement. Nonetheless, this sympathy would not translate into support for anything more than "part membership" for the United States this year, he suggested. China -------------------------- 3. (C) Asked for his views on a productive approach to dealing with the emergence of China, VFM Yachi said that with significant markers like the Beijing Olympics and Shanghai Expo, China was at a crossroads, which would determine whether it developed into a responsible, stable power or an expansionist one. Whereas Japan in the 1960s and 1970s depended on U.S. security guarantees while it pursued economic development, China is currently focusing on economic development and is building up its military. China, however, faces enormous challenges managing its growth. It is important to maintain a strong U.S.-Japan alliance as China faces these challenges, VFM Yachi underscored. While the United States is an indispensable ally to Japan and is the world's only superpower, the United States cannot do everything alone. Japan, he said, can be a valuable ally to the United States in the Pacific. North Korea -------------------------- 4. (C) Addressing the effect of the U.S.-Japan relationship on China's handling of North Korea, VFM Yachi stated that the Chinese are quite frustrated by the North Korean issue. The United States plays a key role in encouraging China to be more productive in its handling of North Korea. China is only likely to heed Japan to the extent that it is speaking in unison with the United States. 5. (U) S/P Director Krasner cleared this message. MICHALAK |