Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO1453
2006-03-20 02:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION US NATIONAL SECURITY

Tags:  OIIP KMDR KPAO JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4419
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #1453/01 0790254
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200254Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9937
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5216
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8359
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1223
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0940
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7410
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9374
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001453 

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 NATIONAL SECURITY
STRATEGY/TRILATERAL STRATEGIC DIALOGUE/THE IRAQ WAR THREE
YEARS ON - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged
Japan's victory Sunday over South Korea in the semifinals
of the World Baseball Classic.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001453

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 NATIONAL SECURITY
STRATEGY/TRILATERAL STRATEGIC DIALOGUE/THE IRAQ WAR THREE
YEARS ON - TOKYO

LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers front-paged
Japan's victory Sunday over South Korea in the semifinals
of the World Baseball Classic.


1. "US National Security Strategy: Has US Learned from
Iraq War?" The liberal Asahi editorialized (3/18): "The
National Security Strategy released recently by President
Bush represents a revision of the so-called Bush doctrine
that was put together in the aftermath of 9/11. At a time
when tensions were rising over Iraq and weapons of mass
destruction, the US in 2002 revealed a new strategy of
not hesitating to launch preemptive strikes in the war on
terrorism. Six months later, the US attacked Iraq. The
president said that this report does not represent any
change in America's basic strategy. Nevertheless, as it
emphasizes the need to prioritize diplomatic solutions
and multilateral coordination, this report is a step back
from the previous hard-line stance. We can see that a
subtle correction of course has been made following
America's failure in Iraq. It is a matter of course that
the three years of war there have profoundly influenced
the creation of a new diplomatic and military strategy."


2. "Trilateral Strategic Dialogue: Strengthening Unity
Important for Regional Stability" An editorial in the top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri commented (3/19):
"...Japanese Foreign Minister Aso, US Secretary of State
Rice, and Australian Foreign Minister Downer held the
first-ever Japan-US-Australia minister-level strategic
dialogue in Sydney. The rise of China and India is
bringing historic changes to the Asia-Pacific region. The
US has alliances with both Japan and Australia. Strategic
dialogue among these three countries, all of which share
the values of freedom and democracy, is critical for
regional peace and stability. The three nations looked
especially closely at China's military buildup, which is
backed by its rapidly growing economy.... China's
upgrading of its naval and air forces and its increased
production of ballistic missiles represent a major
destabilizing factor in the region. It is only to be
expected that the three nations called for 'constructive
engagement' with the region on Beijing's part.
Additionally, cooperation is needed not just among these
three countries but also with the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India."


3. "The Iraq War Three Years On" The top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri editorialized (3/20): "Three years have
passed since the start of the Iraq war. With chaos
reigning in Iraq, a shadow has fallen on US diplomacy.
According to a recent opinion poll in the US, support for
President Bush has dropped below 35 percent, the lowest
of his presidency. There is growing unease with the way
things are going in Iraq, and pessimism is becoming more
widespread. Rejecting such views, the president has
emphasized that there is a strategy for victory in Iraq,
namely that steady implementation of the democratization
process and the training of Iraqi security forces will
open the way for a reduction in the number of US troops
in the country. This roadmap is not wrong. No matter how
difficult the situation in Iraq may be, there is no other
way to bring stability to the country. Right now, the
more than 130,000 US troops in Iraq are an important
factor in preventing the country from sliding into civil
war. The US should continue to do everything it can to

TOKYO 00001453 002 OF 002


stabilize Iraq, and Japan should also not hesitate to
assist the US."

SCHIEFFER