MEDIA REACTION US NUCLEAR POLICY/THE

UNCLAS TOKYO 001178 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 NUCLEAR POLICY/THE PHILIPPINES - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged the opening of the National Peoples Congress Sunday in China. ¶1. "Don't Misread Change in US Nuclear Policy" The business daily Nihon Keizai editorialized (3/6): "The US has embarked on a major shift in its nuclear energy policy and its nonproliferation policy, steering both in the direction of realism. This shift is evident in the nuclear cooperation agreement reached with India, which is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Given that one of the aims of this nuclear accord is to hold China in check, we can say that the US is using its nuclear energy policy as a diplomatic card. From the standpoint of Japan, which hopes for the abolition of nuclear weapons, we cannot help but entertain skepticism about US moves to enshrine the status quo of the nuclear club and promote cooperation that could lead to the transfer of nuclear technology.... While it was concluding an accord with India, which is a nuclear weapons state, the US has been dealing harshly with NPT signatory Iran, revealing a double standard in Washington's nonproliferation policy and forcing observers to conclude that these moves represent opportunism on America's part. The US should urge India to give up its nuclear arms by using the nuclear cooperation accord as leverage to bring India into the international framework for nuclear nonproliferation and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty." ¶2. "The Folly of Depending on Authoritarian Measures" An editorial in the liberal Asahi commented (3/4): "A week- long state of emergency has been lifted in the Philippines. Although President Arroyo declared that she has contained moves to topple her government, the political situation has yet to return to normal. It has been 20 years since the 'people power' movement toppled the Marcos dictatorship. People power also forced the resignation of President Estrada five years ago. This time, as well, there were signs that a popular movement calling for President Arroyo's resignation would grow. President Arroyo, however, declared a state of emergency to head this off.... Even former President Ramos, who has served as an advisor to Arroyo, has said that she has taken 'excessive measures.'... The Arroyo administration was rocked by two scandals last year, including suspicions that she herself was improperly involved in the vote count for the 2004 presidential election.... The use of authoritarian measures alone cannot lead to an improvement of the situation. If President Arroyo does not go back to the issue of constitutional revision that she pledged to tackle and also provide clear explanations regarding the suspicions that dog her, political unrest will continue to smolder in the Philippines." SCHIEFFER