Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO3638
2006-06-30 02:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION Q PM KOIZUMI IN THE US - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO5429 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #3638 1810245 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 300245Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3847 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 6991 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0273 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3067 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1109 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9216 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0972 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 003638
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 Q PM KOIZUMI IN THE US - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: All six Friday morning papers gave top play
to the summit between President Bush and PM Koizumi at
the White House Thursday.
UNCLAS TOKYO 003638
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 Q PM KOIZUMI IN THE US - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: All six Friday morning papers gave top play
to the summit between President Bush and PM Koizumi at
the White House Thursday.
1. There were no immediate editorials concerning the Bush-
Koizumi meeting.
2. "Bush, Koizumi Play up Strong Relations" Washington
correspondents Yoshiyama and Igarashi of the top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri commented (6/30):
"Thursday's summit between President Bush and PM Koizumi
became an occasion to play up the close working
relationship of the two leaders. Because of the
likelihood that this will be their last formal summit,
they used the occasion to wrap up the five-year
'honeymoon' in US-Japan relations. Nevertheless,
uncertainties are looming after PM Koizumi steps down in
September.... For example, Japan, which holds a stake in
the development of Iran's Azadegan oil field, is at odds
with the US over Tehran's nuclear development. Former NSC
Senior Asia Director Michael Green, meanwhile, voices
strong expectations that Japan will improve ties with
China and South Korea."
3. "President Bush Calls Koizumi 'My Friend'" The
business-oriented Nihon Keizai's Washington correspondent
Marutani observed (6/30): "At a welcome ceremony Thursday
at the White House, President Bush greeted PM Koizumi by
saying, 'Welcome back to America, my friend.' During the
ceremony held under a blue sky after five days of heavy
rain, the prime minister replied, 'The weather has also
welcomed me,' while expressing his full confidence in the
president. The president concluded his remarks by joking
that the 'true purpose of Koizumi's visit to the US is to
see Graceland.' In contrast with the friendly banter
between the two, there were no friendly words exchanged
between President Bush and Chinese President Hu when he
visited the US in April."
4. "US-Japan Military Cooperation Deepening" The liberal
Tokyo Shimbun's Washington correspondents Toyoda and
Oguri commented (6/30): "...The new US-Japan alliance for
the 21st Century is designed to expand US-Japan military
cooperation globally. The intent to do so was declared in
a joint statement issued Thursday. PM Koizumi, attending
a joint press conference with the president, stated that
Japan prioritized the US-Japan alliance and international
cooperation in the past, prioritizes them at present, and
will continue to do so in the future. It is likely,
however, that the future will bring US demands for
Japan's participation in collective defense and the
expanded use of US military bases in Japan for missions
beyond the Far East. Japan cannot go along due to
restrictions under Article 9 of the Constitution. If the
US-Japan alliance is to further deepen, Japan will have
no choice but to amend the Constitution. Will the people
agree to this?"
DONOVAN
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 Q PM KOIZUMI IN THE US - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: All six Friday morning papers gave top play
to the summit between President Bush and PM Koizumi at
the White House Thursday.
1. There were no immediate editorials concerning the Bush-
Koizumi meeting.
2. "Bush, Koizumi Play up Strong Relations" Washington
correspondents Yoshiyama and Igarashi of the top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri commented (6/30):
"Thursday's summit between President Bush and PM Koizumi
became an occasion to play up the close working
relationship of the two leaders. Because of the
likelihood that this will be their last formal summit,
they used the occasion to wrap up the five-year
'honeymoon' in US-Japan relations. Nevertheless,
uncertainties are looming after PM Koizumi steps down in
September.... For example, Japan, which holds a stake in
the development of Iran's Azadegan oil field, is at odds
with the US over Tehran's nuclear development. Former NSC
Senior Asia Director Michael Green, meanwhile, voices
strong expectations that Japan will improve ties with
China and South Korea."
3. "President Bush Calls Koizumi 'My Friend'" The
business-oriented Nihon Keizai's Washington correspondent
Marutani observed (6/30): "At a welcome ceremony Thursday
at the White House, President Bush greeted PM Koizumi by
saying, 'Welcome back to America, my friend.' During the
ceremony held under a blue sky after five days of heavy
rain, the prime minister replied, 'The weather has also
welcomed me,' while expressing his full confidence in the
president. The president concluded his remarks by joking
that the 'true purpose of Koizumi's visit to the US is to
see Graceland.' In contrast with the friendly banter
between the two, there were no friendly words exchanged
between President Bush and Chinese President Hu when he
visited the US in April."
4. "US-Japan Military Cooperation Deepening" The liberal
Tokyo Shimbun's Washington correspondents Toyoda and
Oguri commented (6/30): "...The new US-Japan alliance for
the 21st Century is designed to expand US-Japan military
cooperation globally. The intent to do so was declared in
a joint statement issued Thursday. PM Koizumi, attending
a joint press conference with the president, stated that
Japan prioritized the US-Japan alliance and international
cooperation in the past, prioritizes them at present, and
will continue to do so in the future. It is likely,
however, that the future will bring US demands for
Japan's participation in collective defense and the
expanded use of US military bases in Japan for missions
beyond the Far East. Japan cannot go along due to
restrictions under Article 9 of the Constitution. If the
US-Japan alliance is to further deepen, Japan will have
no choice but to amend the Constitution. Will the people
agree to this?"
DONOVAN