Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO4395
2006-08-04 08:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN PLAYS DOWN MARINE SURVEY IN LIANCOURT ROCKS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #4395 2160809 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 040809Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5026 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3602 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 1174 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 9741 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 6076 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RUACAAA/COMUSKOREA INTEL SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004395
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
TAGS: PREL EWWT MARR PBTS PHSA KS JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN PLAYS DOWN MARINE SURVEY IN LIANCOURT ROCKS
EEZ
REF: A. TOKYO 02221
B. TOKYO 02159
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004395
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
TAGS: PREL EWWT MARR PBTS PHSA KS JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN PLAYS DOWN MARINE SURVEY IN LIANCOURT ROCKS
EEZ
REF: A. TOKYO 02221
B. TOKYO 02159
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
1. (C) Asked on August 3 about press reports that Japan would
soon be conducting maritime research in areas near the
disputed Liancourt Rocks, MOFA Northeast Asia Division Deputy
Director Yo Takaba suggested that the reports were not
entirely accurate. According to Takaba, shortly after the
ROK conducted its marine survey on July 5, the Japanese
government sent a note verbal to ROK authorities (and issued
a public announcement) stating that Japan "will conduct
maritime research at an appropriate time" in the disputed
region. Takaba described the move as a "countermeasure" to
express to the Japanese public the government's intent to do
research in the future. He claimed, however, that the note
verbal did not mention any particular research effort, and
did not contain a specific date for conducting a survey.
Takaba said that Japanese authorities still have not made a
formal decision on when, if at all, a survey would be
conducted.
2. (C ) While a formal decision has yet to be made, Takaba
acknowledged that Japanese officials have advised their ROK
counterparts that a marine research survey, which would
include checks for underwater radioactivity, will be
conducted this year. According to Takaba, Japan conducts
operations every year to conduct undersea mapping, perform
water temperature surveys, and check radioactive
contamination from a Russian submarine that sank in the area
over 10 years ago. Noting that it is impractical to conduct
maritime surveys in the area after Nov. 1, and based on the
timing of last year's survey (August - October),Takaba
speculated that media have "added one and one" and decided,
on their own, that the "radioactivity survey" is the only
undertaking that can take place this year in accordance with
the government's publicly announced intention to conduct
ocean research in the Liancourt EEZ.
3. (C ) Takaba insisted, however, that a formal decision to
conduct the survey had not been made, and would take into
account numerous factors, including the overall Japan-ROK
relationship, public opinion, and the importance of the
research. He noted that Japanese authorities have repeatedly
raised with the ROK the need for a prior notification regime,
similar to one in place with the PRC. They raised the issue
most recently, he said, at the July 27 ARF in Kuala Lumpur.
4. (C ) COMMENT: Takaba delivered a carefully measured
response designed to preserve, as much as possible, maximum
maneuverability for the Japanese government. Takaba refused
to be pinned down about when Japanese authorities would make
a final decision: he didn't want to admit that Japan would
conduct the survey, but also couldn't admit that authorities
were not likely to do so. It seems clear that Japanese
officials, boxed in by their public statements and public
expectations, want to avoid a confrontation and would be
happy to find some amicable way out - despite the posturing
by some mid-level bureaucrats.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016
TAGS: PREL EWWT MARR PBTS PHSA KS JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN PLAYS DOWN MARINE SURVEY IN LIANCOURT ROCKS
EEZ
REF: A. TOKYO 02221
B. TOKYO 02159
Classified By: Ambassador J.Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D)
1. (C) Asked on August 3 about press reports that Japan would
soon be conducting maritime research in areas near the
disputed Liancourt Rocks, MOFA Northeast Asia Division Deputy
Director Yo Takaba suggested that the reports were not
entirely accurate. According to Takaba, shortly after the
ROK conducted its marine survey on July 5, the Japanese
government sent a note verbal to ROK authorities (and issued
a public announcement) stating that Japan "will conduct
maritime research at an appropriate time" in the disputed
region. Takaba described the move as a "countermeasure" to
express to the Japanese public the government's intent to do
research in the future. He claimed, however, that the note
verbal did not mention any particular research effort, and
did not contain a specific date for conducting a survey.
Takaba said that Japanese authorities still have not made a
formal decision on when, if at all, a survey would be
conducted.
2. (C ) While a formal decision has yet to be made, Takaba
acknowledged that Japanese officials have advised their ROK
counterparts that a marine research survey, which would
include checks for underwater radioactivity, will be
conducted this year. According to Takaba, Japan conducts
operations every year to conduct undersea mapping, perform
water temperature surveys, and check radioactive
contamination from a Russian submarine that sank in the area
over 10 years ago. Noting that it is impractical to conduct
maritime surveys in the area after Nov. 1, and based on the
timing of last year's survey (August - October),Takaba
speculated that media have "added one and one" and decided,
on their own, that the "radioactivity survey" is the only
undertaking that can take place this year in accordance with
the government's publicly announced intention to conduct
ocean research in the Liancourt EEZ.
3. (C ) Takaba insisted, however, that a formal decision to
conduct the survey had not been made, and would take into
account numerous factors, including the overall Japan-ROK
relationship, public opinion, and the importance of the
research. He noted that Japanese authorities have repeatedly
raised with the ROK the need for a prior notification regime,
similar to one in place with the PRC. They raised the issue
most recently, he said, at the July 27 ARF in Kuala Lumpur.
4. (C ) COMMENT: Takaba delivered a carefully measured
response designed to preserve, as much as possible, maximum
maneuverability for the Japanese government. Takaba refused
to be pinned down about when Japanese authorities would make
a final decision: he didn't want to admit that Japan would
conduct the survey, but also couldn't admit that authorities
were not likely to do so. It seems clear that Japanese
officials, boxed in by their public statements and public
expectations, want to avoid a confrontation and would be
happy to find some amicable way out - despite the posturing
by some mid-level bureaucrats.
SCHIEFFER