S/P KRASNER'S MAY 10 MEETING WITH MOFA DG KAWAI ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002638

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2026
TAGS: PREL MARR XF IN CH RS JA
SUBJECT: S/P KRASNER'S MAY 10 MEETING WITH MOFA DG KAWAI ON
U.S.-JAPAN COOPERATION ON GLOBAL CHALLENGES

REF: A. TOKYO 2609

B. TOKYO 2610

C. TOKYO 2612

D. TOKYO 2637

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan. Reason: 1.4 (b)(d)
.


1. (C) Summary. In a May 10 meeting between S/P Director
Stephen D. Krasner and MOFA DG for North American Affairs
Kawai, DG Kawai:

-- expressed appreciation for the successful completion of
2 2 talks, and called for focusing U.S-Japan efforts now on
implementation of the DPRI agreement;

-- stated that Japan is ready to assume a greater role in
world affairs, and that he hoped Japan's improving economic
situation would make the Japanese people more comfortable
about more activism and global engagement;

-- cited India, Central Asia and the Middle East as areas
where Japan could usefully pursue enhanced coordination with
the United States; and

-- said that MOFA has just begun planning for the June summit
between President Bush and PM Koizumi, suggesting that
because Koizumi's term would end in September, he would not
likely be proposing new U.S.-Japan strategic initiatives
during the visit. End Summary.


2. (C) In a May 10 meeting with visiting S/P Director Stephen

D. Krasner, MOFA Director General for North American Affairs
Chikao Kawai began by expressing his appreciation for the
successful 2 2 meeting and called for the U.S. and Japan to
focus now on implementing the DPRI agreement, saying "paper
is just paper; now is the time for implementation."


3. (C) Krasner suggested that the U.S. and Japan think more
ambitiously and globally about policy coordination and joint
action. He asked whether Japan sees itself playing a more
ambitious global role in the future. Kawai said that, in
general, Japan is increasingly ready to assume a greater
global role. Budgetary constraints, however, brought on by
years of a sluggish economy and an aging population have
created an unfavorable atmosphere for a more ambitious
Japanese foreign policy. Nonetheless, the economy now
appears to be recovering, he said, adding that he hopes a
stronger economy will make the Japanese people feel more
comfortable about a more active role for their country.
Kawai said that compared to 10-20 years ago, the Japanese
realize that Japan should play a greater role globally, not
just on security issues but also in areas such as economics
and the environment. As an indication of changing attitudes,
Kawai pointed to recent opinion polls showing that a majority
of Japanese view favorably the Self-Defense Force mission in
Iraq. Rather than merely sitting back and watching public
sentiment swing from one direction to another, Kawai said he
hopes Japan will develop a strategy for assuming a greater
global role.


4. (C) When asked where Japan could become more engaged --
and where the U.S. and Japan might act jointly -- Kawai noted
that Japan has been paying more attention to India, citing FM
Aso's January strategic talks in New Delhi. Japan is also
trying to become more involved in Central Asia, not only to
help foster a strategic balance to China and Russia, but also
to increase cooperation on areas of functional concern for
Japan such as counter-terrorism. Kawai said Japan also pays
close attention to the Middle East, but suggested Japan's
interests in the region were primarily economic and less
diverse than those of the United States.


5. (C) Asked whether Japan planned any new proposals or
initiatives for nest month's summit between President Bush
and PM Koizumi, Kawai remarked that MOFA had just begun
preparations for PM Koizumi's trip. Kawai stated that he did
not feel PM Koizumi would want to start any new agendas at
the summit because of the short time he has remaining in
office. Nonetheless, Japan wants to discuss regional
architecture during the upcoming Trilateral Strategic
Dialogue with Under Secretary Burns. Kawai said he believes
U.S. involvement is indispensable to "everything in Asia."

Participants
--------------


6. (U) Participants in the meeting included:

United States
--------------

Stephen D. Krasner, Director, Policy Planning Staff
Joe Donovan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy Tokyo
Evan Feigenbaum, S/P Member
Joel Ehrendreich, Political Officer, Embassy Tokyo (notetaker)
David Wolff, Political Officer, Embassy Tokyo

Japan
--------------

Chikao Kawai, MOFA Director General for North American
Affairs
Takuma Kajita, MOFA North American Affairs Division


7. (U) S/P Director Krasner cleared this message.
DONOVAN