UNCLAS TOKYO 001131

SIPDIS

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: MEDIA REACTION US-INDIA NUCLEAR PACT
- TOKYO


LEAD STORIES: Most Friday morning papers front-paged
President Bush's talks with Indian Prime Minister Singh
Thursday in New Delhi, at which the two leaders signed a
landmark civilian nuclear cooperation pact.


1. "The Risk of the US Approving of a Nuclear India" The
liberal Asahi editorialized (3/3): "... President Bush
made his first visit to India and reached an agreement
with Indian Prime Minister Singh concerning the peaceful
use of nuclear power. Under the accord, India will have
separate nuclear facilities for military and civilian
purposes and will accept IAEA inspections of its civilian
facilities. In return, the US will provide peaceful
nuclear technology and fuel.... India, which has an
independent nuclear policy, is not a signatory to the
Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty or the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, on the grounds that these
agreements, which allow only the US, Russia, Britain,
France, and China to possess nuclear arms, are
essentially unequal. India conducted two nuclear tests in
1998, prompting neighboring Pakistan to undertake its
own. The US, along with Japan and EU nations, criticized
both countries and temporarily imposed sanctions on them.


2. "This agreement represents a change in US policy and
Washington's virtual recognition of India as a nuclear
weapons state. There was no objection from France or
Russia, both of which are aiming to enter the market for
nuclear plants in India. For Japan, the only country in
history to have been on the receiving end of atomic
weapons, which has since been strongly opposed to nuclear
proliferation and has called for the abolition of nuclear
arms, this is unacceptable. It was the shock of 9/11 that
led to this change in US policy. Since then, the US has
attached greater importance to the 'war on terrorism'
than to the nonproliferation of weapons of mass
destruction. India, which is surrounded by Islamic
countries, has for the US become a 'front-line state in
the war on terror.'... The rise of China is another major
factor behind this policy turnabout. It is clear that the
US is trying to keep Beijing in check by bringing India
onto its side politically.... This agreement will
certainly result in growing dissatisfaction in Pakistan,
and neither Iran nor North Korea, both of which are under
strong pressure to halt their nuclear programs, will be
able to countenance it."

SCHIEFFER