Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO2054
2006-04-17 04:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION IRAN/JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO4561 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #2054 1070436 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 170436Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1020 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 5729 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8906 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1776 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0972 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7942 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9831 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 002054
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 IRAN/JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS
- TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Sankei front-paged
Beijing's failure to inform Tokyo that China had banned
navigation around the Japan-China median line in the East
China Sea near a gas exploration site.
UNCLAS TOKYO 002054
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 IRAN/JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS
- TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Sankei front-paged
Beijing's failure to inform Tokyo that China had banned
navigation around the Japan-China median line in the East
China Sea near a gas exploration site.
1. "The Iranian Issue: Not the Time for Mutual
Intimidation" The liberal Asahi editorialized (4/16):
"Iran is pushing ahead with its nuclear development in
defiance of the UN Security Council. Although Tehran
insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful
purposes, the gap between Iran and the international
community continues to widen.... Iran's announcement was
surely timed to coincide with the visit of IAEA Director-
General ElBaradei to Tehran in a bid to persuade the
Iranians to suspend uranium enrichment activities, a move
evoking the cat-and-mouse game that Iraq and the UN once
played over inspections for banned weapons.
2. "Iranian President Ahmadinejad has repeatedly made
statements intended to fan the flames of Persian
nationalism. This can only be called an irresponsible,
dangerous game. So long as Iran continues to ignore the
UN and take a provocative stance, its insistence on its
right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy will never
win the understanding of the international community. The
Gulf Arab states, which had previously refrained from
criticism, are now clearly expressing concerns about
Tehran's nuclear development. With Iraq no longer a
counterweight to Iran's military power, these Arab
nations are becoming more sensitive to the possibility of
a nuclear Iran. If Tehran announces ballistic missile
tests and acquires the ability to enrich uranium, further
instability in the Middle East will be unavoidable."
3. "Japan, China Should Work Harder to Stabilize
Bilateral Ties" An editorial in the business daily Nihon
Keizai commented (4/16): "It has been one year since
China was roiled by large-scale anti-Japanese
demonstrations. Due to the concerted efforts by Chinese
authorities to prevent a recurrence, however, major
cities like Beijing and Shanghai have remained calm, and
there has been no major adverse impact on China's
economic relations with Japan. Nevertheless, political
relations remain strained, and there are no grounds for
optimism with regard to future ties.... Merely mouthing
slogans of 'friendship' will not be enough to resolve the
increasingly complicated friction that is growing between
the two countries over such issues as history, territory,
and Taiwan.... Resolving mutual differences through
dialogue is of paramount importance."
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 IRAN/JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS
- TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Sankei front-paged
Beijing's failure to inform Tokyo that China had banned
navigation around the Japan-China median line in the East
China Sea near a gas exploration site.
1. "The Iranian Issue: Not the Time for Mutual
Intimidation" The liberal Asahi editorialized (4/16):
"Iran is pushing ahead with its nuclear development in
defiance of the UN Security Council. Although Tehran
insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful
purposes, the gap between Iran and the international
community continues to widen.... Iran's announcement was
surely timed to coincide with the visit of IAEA Director-
General ElBaradei to Tehran in a bid to persuade the
Iranians to suspend uranium enrichment activities, a move
evoking the cat-and-mouse game that Iraq and the UN once
played over inspections for banned weapons.
2. "Iranian President Ahmadinejad has repeatedly made
statements intended to fan the flames of Persian
nationalism. This can only be called an irresponsible,
dangerous game. So long as Iran continues to ignore the
UN and take a provocative stance, its insistence on its
right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy will never
win the understanding of the international community. The
Gulf Arab states, which had previously refrained from
criticism, are now clearly expressing concerns about
Tehran's nuclear development. With Iraq no longer a
counterweight to Iran's military power, these Arab
nations are becoming more sensitive to the possibility of
a nuclear Iran. If Tehran announces ballistic missile
tests and acquires the ability to enrich uranium, further
instability in the Middle East will be unavoidable."
3. "Japan, China Should Work Harder to Stabilize
Bilateral Ties" An editorial in the business daily Nihon
Keizai commented (4/16): "It has been one year since
China was roiled by large-scale anti-Japanese
demonstrations. Due to the concerted efforts by Chinese
authorities to prevent a recurrence, however, major
cities like Beijing and Shanghai have remained calm, and
there has been no major adverse impact on China's
economic relations with Japan. Nevertheless, political
relations remain strained, and there are no grounds for
optimism with regard to future ties.... Merely mouthing
slogans of 'friendship' will not be enough to resolve the
increasingly complicated friction that is growing between
the two countries over such issues as history, territory,
and Taiwan.... Resolving mutual differences through
dialogue is of paramount importance."
SCHIEFFER