Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO1509
2006-03-23 04:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION PUTIN-HU TALKS - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO8784 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #1509/01 0820453 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 230453Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0044 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 5270 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8417 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1278 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0943 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7468 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9422 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001509
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 PUTIN-HU TALKS - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: A front-page report from Washington in
Thursday morning's Sankei quoted a USG source as saying
that Deputy Secretary Zoellick and Under Secretary of
State for Arms Control and International Security Joseph
have informally asked the GOJ to suspend Japan's
development of Iran's Azadegan oil field, adding that US-
Japan relations could suffer serious friction depending
on how Tokyo reacts to Washington's request.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001509
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 PUTIN-HU TALKS - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: A front-page report from Washington in
Thursday morning's Sankei quoted a USG source as saying
that Deputy Secretary Zoellick and Under Secretary of
State for Arms Control and International Security Joseph
have informally asked the GOJ to suspend Japan's
development of Iran's Azadegan oil field, adding that US-
Japan relations could suffer serious friction depending
on how Tokyo reacts to Washington's request.
1. "Russia, China Aiming for Self-Interest and
Containment of US Domination" An editorial in the
business daily Nihon Keizai commented (3/23): "Russian
President Putin visited China Tuesday and agreed with
Chinese President Hu to strengthen bilateral economic
ties and seek peaceful solutions to the Iranian and North
Korean nuclear issues. China and Russia are strengthening
their relations in the hope of containing US unipolar
rule and pursuing their respective self-interests in such
areas as energy development. Although there is no need to
worry about the revival of their one-time military
alliance, the US and Japan should keep a close watch on
future China-Russian ties and step up their involvement
with both countries...."
2. "Although Russia and China are making their
relationship out to be a 'honeymoon,' their ties are
focused on self-interest and are businesslike in tone....
At the individual level, Russians remain wary of
China.... The Russian government is not selling to China
weapons that could threaten the security of Russia.
Russia and China are not as 'monolithic' as they were
during the Cold War, but if Western nations band together
to take a hard-line stance against the two countries,
they may seek to further strengthen their ties. The West
should take a 'carrot and stick' approach depending on
the issue."
3. "Russia and China Should Not Forget Their
Responsibilities as Major Powers" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (3/23): "Russian President Putin visited
Beijing for talks with Chinese President Hu. It was Mr.
Putin's fourth visit to the Chinese capital since he
became president six years ago, while Mr. Hu has visited
Russia twice.... President Bush recently visited India
and Pakistan, while Secretary of State Rice visited
Sydney for a trilateral meeting with the Japanese and
Australian foreign ministers. Given these developments in
the 'great game,' it is hardly surprising that Russia and
China would seek to deepen their relationship. Self-
interest is the driving force behind the ties between
Beijing and Moscow.
4. "China needs Russian oil and natural gas to meet its
growing energy needs and Russian arms to modernize its
military. Russia, meanwhile, can benefit economically by
providing these things while also shoring up its position
in Asia.... A second factor is the United States. It is
difficult for any one country to stand up to the world's
sole superpower. As both Russia and China are permanent
members of the UN Security Council, they can join hands
to bolster their influence and resist the US. In fact,
the two nations' interests regarding the US may be
closely aligned in a number of areas. Russia, for
instance, would like to see an end to the US military
presence in central Asia that resulted from the Afghan
war and to head off any US interference in the Chechen
conflict, while China is also eager to keep the US from
interfering with the Taiwan issue."
TOKYO 00001509 002 OF 002
SCHIEFFER
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 PUTIN-HU TALKS - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: A front-page report from Washington in
Thursday morning's Sankei quoted a USG source as saying
that Deputy Secretary Zoellick and Under Secretary of
State for Arms Control and International Security Joseph
have informally asked the GOJ to suspend Japan's
development of Iran's Azadegan oil field, adding that US-
Japan relations could suffer serious friction depending
on how Tokyo reacts to Washington's request.
1. "Russia, China Aiming for Self-Interest and
Containment of US Domination" An editorial in the
business daily Nihon Keizai commented (3/23): "Russian
President Putin visited China Tuesday and agreed with
Chinese President Hu to strengthen bilateral economic
ties and seek peaceful solutions to the Iranian and North
Korean nuclear issues. China and Russia are strengthening
their relations in the hope of containing US unipolar
rule and pursuing their respective self-interests in such
areas as energy development. Although there is no need to
worry about the revival of their one-time military
alliance, the US and Japan should keep a close watch on
future China-Russian ties and step up their involvement
with both countries...."
2. "Although Russia and China are making their
relationship out to be a 'honeymoon,' their ties are
focused on self-interest and are businesslike in tone....
At the individual level, Russians remain wary of
China.... The Russian government is not selling to China
weapons that could threaten the security of Russia.
Russia and China are not as 'monolithic' as they were
during the Cold War, but if Western nations band together
to take a hard-line stance against the two countries,
they may seek to further strengthen their ties. The West
should take a 'carrot and stick' approach depending on
the issue."
3. "Russia and China Should Not Forget Their
Responsibilities as Major Powers" The liberal Asahi
editorialized (3/23): "Russian President Putin visited
Beijing for talks with Chinese President Hu. It was Mr.
Putin's fourth visit to the Chinese capital since he
became president six years ago, while Mr. Hu has visited
Russia twice.... President Bush recently visited India
and Pakistan, while Secretary of State Rice visited
Sydney for a trilateral meeting with the Japanese and
Australian foreign ministers. Given these developments in
the 'great game,' it is hardly surprising that Russia and
China would seek to deepen their relationship. Self-
interest is the driving force behind the ties between
Beijing and Moscow.
4. "China needs Russian oil and natural gas to meet its
growing energy needs and Russian arms to modernize its
military. Russia, meanwhile, can benefit economically by
providing these things while also shoring up its position
in Asia.... A second factor is the United States. It is
difficult for any one country to stand up to the world's
sole superpower. As both Russia and China are permanent
members of the UN Security Council, they can join hands
to bolster their influence and resist the US. In fact,
the two nations' interests regarding the US may be
closely aligned in a number of areas. Russia, for
instance, would like to see an end to the US military
presence in central Asia that resulted from the Afghan
war and to head off any US interference in the Chechen
conflict, while China is also eager to keep the US from
interfering with the Taiwan issue."
TOKYO 00001509 002 OF 002
SCHIEFFER