LDP AND KOMEITO SECRETARIES GENERAL APPEAL FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001654

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL OVIP JA
SUBJECT: LDP AND KOMEITO SECRETARIES GENERAL APPEAL FOR
HELP ARRANGING HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS


Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) During a March 29 courtesy call on the Ambassador,
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Takebe and Komeito
Secretary General Fuyushiba requested the Ambassador's

SIPDIS
assistance in securing meetings with Vice President Cheney,
Secretary Rice, Secretary Rumsfeld and the leaders of the

SIPDIS
Democratic and Republican parties during their April 5-7 U.S.
visit Asked for advice on what topics to raise during their
trip, the Ambassador encouraged them to share their thoughts
on Prime Minister Koizumi's successor, beef and coalition
dynamics. End Summary.


2. (SBU) During a March 29 courtesy call on the Ambassador,
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Tsutomu
Takebe and Komeito Secretary General Tetsuzo Fuyushiba
discussed their upcoming visit to the United States. Takebe
shared that the ruling coalition had just passed the FY06
budget on March 27, freeing them to turn to other issues.
Takebe has yet to visit the United States in his current
capacity, and he and Fuyushiba are looking forward to the
opportunity. Their current travel dates to Washington, D.C.
are April 5-7.

Need to Bolster Ties
--------------


3. (C) Prime Minister Koizumi and the President enjoy a
close friendship, but Koizumi will be stepping down this
year, Takebe stated. Japanese politicians would like to
reaffirm bilateral relations and strengthen their contacts
with U.S. officials. The U.S.-Japan relationship has been
great for the last 60 years, Takebe observed. Even when our
alliance has been tested, we have always shared important
commonalities such as baseball, the U.S.-Japan Security
Treaty and our belief in freedom and democracy. The United
States is considered the "sheriff of freedom and democracy,"
Takebe continued, and in the post-WWII era, Japan has learned
the importance of democracy. Together, we faced down the
Soviet Union threat, and now we are up against North Korea.
China is trying to create hegemony in Asia, Takebe warned,
and we should consider the U.S.-Japan Treaty when we think of
China. Our relationship is broad and deep, and our parties
and Diet must play a lead role, Takebe emphasized.

Travel Plans and Meeting Requests
--------------


4. (SBU) Takebe said he and Fuyushiba would like to meet
with Vice President Cheney, Secretary Rice, Secretary
Rumsfeld and the leaders of the Democratic and Republican
parties during their trip. Since his childhood he has been
impressed by former President Lincoln and Takebe would like
to visit Civil War battlegrounds, he shared. The Vietnam
Memorial is also on his must-see list. The delegation will
travel to Branson, Missouri, to see Shoji Tabuchi, a popular
Japanese performer. Takebe -- who has already visited
Branson twice and knows Tabuchi well -- and Koizumi agreed to
give Tabuchi the Foreign Ministry Award for his role in
fostering bilateral ties. Takebe, Fuyushiba and Japan's
Ambassador to the United States Ryozo Kato will travel to
Missouri to present the award to Tabuchi.


5. (C) The Ambassador welcomed their visit to the United
States and assured the secretaries general that we will try
to accommodate their requests. The Vice President will be
out of town for two of the three days that Takebe and
Fuyushiba are visiting, the Ambassador explained, which is a
complicating factor. Nevertheless, everyone is well aware of
the importance of the trip. The Ambassador assured them that
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe and Foreign Minister Taro
Aso had also appealed for help in securing their high-level
meetings.


6. (C) Fuyushiba noted that the LDP and Komeito have been in
coalition since 1999 and Takebe is the sixth LDP Secretary
General with whom he has worked. Takebe has been in place
now for one and a half years and Fuyushiba said he is looking
forward to finally traveling together with him to the United
States. He had visited the United States with then-Secretary
General Abe in April 2004, Fuyushiba shared, and had had a
great time. The Ambassador observed that when Abe traveled
to the United States, he established such a high bar for
high-level meetings that we are finding it hard to duplicate
it for successor delegations.

Suggested Discussion Topics
--------------


7. (C) Now is an important time for U.S.-Japan relations,
Takebe observed. Asked for advice on what to discuss while

in the United States, the Ambassador encouraged the two
leaders to share their view of possible successors to Koizumi
and their assessments of various candidates. The beef issue
remains a top priority and there is great interest in what is
required to reopen the Japanese market. The Ambassador
hinted that opinions on defense issues might differ between
Komeito and the LDP and suggested they explain that dynamic
to their interlocutors. The Ambassador clarified that no one
would try to negotiate with them on these issues.


8. (SBU) Fuyushiba offered that there is little difference
between Komeito and the LDP on defense issues. Together,
they passed emergency laws and the Special Measures Law
against terrorism and supported the Self-Defense Force
dispatch to Afghanistan and Iraq. He and Takebe had traveled
to Samawah and rode Black Hawk helicopters, a memorable
experience, Fuyushiba observed. Takebe added that the
coalition with Komeito has helped to form a consensus among
the Japanese public on various issues. Before the coalition
was established, it was not possible to even talk about
revising the Constitution. Now, the coalition is considering
a national referendum bill. Takebe and Fuyushiba thanked the
Ambassador for his ideas, and for his help in arranging
high-level meetings.
SCHIEFFER