MEDIA REACTION Q JAPANQS RELATIONS WITH CHINA

UNCLAS TOKYO 004732 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 JAPANQS RELATIONS WITH CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Top stories Friday morning included Japan's dispatch of a senior vice foreign minister to Moscow for talks regarding Wednesday's shooting of a Japanese fisherman by the Russian Border Guard. ¶1. "After Koizumi's Yasukuni Visit: China and South Korea Look to Improve Relations with Next Prime Minister" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun carried a front-page commentary jointly written by Beijing and Seoul correspondents, which said (8/18): "...China's reaction to Prime Minister Koizumi's visit on August 15 to Yasukuni Shrine was quick and organized, illustrating that the government there is aware of the strong anti-Japanese sentiment among the public and is looking for an opportunity to improve relations with Tokyo. Speaking to visiting leaders of Japan-China friendship associations in March, President Hu called for 'efforts that would allow China to move forward.' China's economy continues to post 10-percent growth every year, and this is supported by Japanese investment.... China is forced to rely on Japanese technology to solve its environmental problems... The Chinese government is carefully controlling anti-Japanese sentiment in order to keep the door open to improving relations with Tokyo after Koizumi steps down. One leading academic downplayed the April visit to Yasukuni by Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe, Koizumi's likely successor, saying, 'Whether or not he visited in the past, we would welcome him if he does a good job.' However, another expressed concern over Abe, saying that he has yet clarified whether he would visit Yasukuni after taking office. ¶2. "Meanwhile, Japan-ROK relations have cooled rapidly since last spring over such issues as Takeshima/Dokdo and history textbooks. Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni last October put a permanent end to relations between the two countries' leaders. Seoul had already given up on Koizumi and viewed his shrine visit this week as no surprise. According to an ROK official, 'Yasukuni has not been a high priority within the government.' South Korea's policy has been to put its efforts into resolving the Takeshima/Dokdo and textbook issues and let Beijing take the lead on Yasukuni.... Prime Minister Koizumi seems to have inflated Yasukuni as an issue all by himself... Seoul appears to be waiting to see what the next Japanese prime minister will do." SCHIEFFER