NEW SCHEDULE FOR ASEAN SUMMITS

UNCLAS MANILA 005015 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECIN RP SUBJECT: NEW SCHEDULE FOR ASEAN SUMMITS REF: MANILA 4935 ¶1. (U) Following the December 8 announcement of the postponement of the ASEAN-related Summits in Cebu, citing typhoon threats (reftel),the Philippine Government now expects to host these events, again in Cebu, January 12-15. Most of the East Asia Summit leaders have already indicated their readiness to appear, including Japan, China, and Australia, with New Zealand and India expected to respond favorably soon. It looks like South Korea may send its prime minister rather than its president, however. Burma's Than Shwe again will not appear, but the other ASEAN leaders will. ¶2. (U) The new schedule is: January 12: EAS Foreign Ministers January 13: ASEAN Summit, ASEAN - China Summit January 14: ASEAN 3 Summit, ASEAN - Korea Summit, ASEAN - Japan Summit, and ASEAN - India Summit January 15: East Asia Summit ¶3. (SBU) According to the Japanese Embassy, the Philippines specifically moved the EAS from January 14 to January 15 in order to accommodate Prime Minister Abe's European travel schedule, so the Japanese decided they were obliged to attend, despite Prime Minister Abe's bilateral visit to Manila December 8-10 (septel). ¶4. (U) Pol/C will be present in Cebu for the summits, not as a participant but in order to indicate U.S. interest in the outcomes and for reporting purposes. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ KENNEY