TIMING OF ALLIANCE TRANSFORMATION LEGISLATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002375 SIPDIS SIPDIS SECDEF FOR OSD/ISA/AP - LAWLESS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/15/2016 TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL JA SUBJECT: TIMING OF ALLIANCE TRANSFORMATION LEGISLATION Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, A.I. JOE DONOVAN FOR REASON 1.4B/D ¶1. (C) BEGIN SUMMARY: Tokyo newspapers ran stories this weekend quoting Prime Minister Koizumi as saying that it might be difficult to include implementing legislation for the alliance transformation agreement in the present Diet session ending June 18. Koizumi, who leaves office in September, was described saying that his government needed to "study" and "discuss" realignment plans. A number of interlocutors confirmed today that the legislation's timing now seems likely to slip into the October Diet session, but maintain that this should not affect the implementation of bilateral agrements on alliance transformation. During recent negotiations, Japanese officials have stressed the need to finalize a Security Consultative Committee agreement by the first week of May in order that it might be tabled during the current Diet session. Koizumi's reported comments seem to indicate he wants time to lobby Diet members for approval. END SUMMARY ¶2. (SBU) With many key security policy decision makers in Washington for the Defense Policy Review Initiative implementation and Security Consultative Committee meetings and Prime Minister Koizumi and his staff traveling to Africa and Europe, Embassy Tokyo approached the Cabinet Office to try and obtain an informed perspective. Cabinet Office official Kanno confirmed that the legislation probably would not be tabled soon as much work needed to be done before the implementing legislation was ready could be taken to the Diet. He assured us that a delay in tabling the legislation should not, however, delay implementation of Security Consultative Committee agreements on Alliance transformation. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futabashi, who is in charge of putting the implementing legislation forward, told us the reports of a possible delay were accurate. He repeated Kanno's assurance that this would not delay implementation of Security Consltative Committee agreements. ¶3. (C) Describing the issue as "rather subtle" JDA Policy Bureau Assistant Director Kanno said it was now difficult to predict when the implementing legislation might be submitted to the Diet. Japan Defense Agency's "internal attitude is very clear," that the legislation should be submitted immediately, said Kanno. He indicated that although Japan Defense Agency, which has had the lead role in transformation discussions, would like to see the legislation immediately brought forward, JDA officials realize that this might not happen as not all in the Cabinet Office and other Ministries share this view. ¶4. (SBU) Foreign Ministry interlocutors view the issue as being the prerogative of legislative officials rather than TOKYO 00002375 002 OF 002 bureaucrats. "Koizumi will decide" whether to submit the legislation now, call a special Diet session or leave it to his successor, said one interlocutor, characterizing it as a "highly political" decision. DONOVAN