MEDIA REACTION Q BUSH-KOIZUMI TALKS/G-8 FOREIGN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003683 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 BUSH-KOIZUMI TALKS/G-8 FOREIGN MINISTERIAL - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Monday's liberal Mainichi front-paged a nationwide telephone survey showing that 42 percent of respondents said GOJ apologies and remorse for WWII were insufficient, while 24 percent disapproved of the nation's "light-armed, economy-oriented" policy over the past 60 years. ¶1. "The Finale of the US-Japan Honeymoon" The business daily Nihon Keizai editorialized (7/1): "Was there any red carpet treatment greater than the one President Bush rolled out for visiting Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi? It was not just because both the president and the prime minister personally hit it off. During the Bush-Koizumi honeymoon of the past five years, the GOJ sent MSDF ships to the Indian Ocean and GSDF troops to Iraq respectively to strengthen the US-Japan alliance. A joint statement at the end of the Bush-Koizumi summit disclosed that the two leaders declared the formation of a new US-Japan alliance to cooperate in the global context in the 21st century, thus confirming the expansion of the functions of the alliance.... ¶2. "Although the US and Japan are not necessarily at one on matters related to India and Myanmar, the two allies are in agreement over most other issues, suggesting that bilateral ties are approaching a mature relationship. It is pointed out, however, that US-Japan relations at working levels have become somewhat hollow.... The 'Bush- Koizumi honeymoon' will come to an end with PM Koizumi expected to resign in September. Is this current point the pinnacle of US-Japan relations? Are bilateral ties still continuing to grow? These are the issues to be discussed together with Japan's post-Koizumi politics." ¶3. "US-Japan Alliance and Danger" An editorial in the liberal Asahi commented (7/1): "Both President Bush and PM Koizumi praised the US-Japan relationship as being historically one of the most mature bilateral ties. It was necessary for PM Koizumi to maintain Japan's close relations with the US in order to sustain his government for more than five years. The prime minister has been a 'dependable friend' for President Bush, who stumbled during the Iraq war. The prime minister's visit to Washington was the finale of the five-year Bush-Koizumi honeymoon.... ¶4. "Although it is naturally important for Japan to maintain close relations with the US, bilateral ties would become even stronger if they were utilized as a basis for Japan's multilateral diplomatic strategy. We are concerned that PM Koizumi's strengthening of Japan's alliance with only the US will narrow down the width of Japan's diplomacy. It is regrettable that the prime minister is ignorant of this fact." ¶5. "Neither Iran Nor North Korea Should be Allowed to Buy Time" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (7/3): "The international community should not allow either Iran or North Korea to buy any more time. The world needs to apply further pressures on these nations to suspend their nuclear development programs. A chairman's statement at the end of a G-8 foreign ministerial held in Moscow urged Iran to respond to a comprehensive collateral plan in return for Iran's suspension of uranium enrichment during a meeting Wednesday with EU representatives.... Iran remains adamant on its position of responding to the collateral TOKYO 00003683 002 OF 002 plan by August 22. If Tehran is allowed to prolong its response, it is will also have more time to improve its technology to enrich uranium. ¶6. "Calls are rising in the US for imposing sanctions on Iran in the event it turns down the comprehensive plan.... North Korea's moves to launch a Taepodong long- range ballistic missile are also seen as brinkmanship aimed at bringing the US to a bilateral summit and having Washington lift its financial sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.... Japan should work more closely with the US and other G-8 nations in order to tighten an iron ring around the North over nuclear and missile issues. It is also necessary for the G-8 nations to create a system at the coming St. Petersburg summit to address the abductions by North Korea of foreign nationals." SCHIEFFER