Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO5139
2006-09-08 05:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL MEETING WITH MOFA
how-toVZCZCXRO4516 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHNH RUEHPB DE RUEHKO #5139 2510528 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 080528Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6170 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 7975 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 0533 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 1317 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 9072 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 005139
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016
TAGS: PREL JA
SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL MEETING WITH MOFA
DIRECTOR GENERAL ATSUMI
Classified By: AMBASSADOR J. THOMAS SHIEFFER. REASONS 1.4 (B)(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 005139
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016
TAGS: PREL JA
SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL MEETING WITH MOFA
DIRECTOR GENERAL ATSUMI
Classified By: AMBASSADOR J. THOMAS SHIEFFER. REASONS 1.4 (B)(D)
1. (C) Summary. Assistant Secretary Hill and MOFA Director
General Atsumi agreed September 5 on the importance of
strengthening ties with the nations of Southeast and
Southwest Asia and playing up the cooperative nature of U.S.
and Japanese efforts to take on a more active role in the
region. A/S Hill reiterated the U.S. hope that new pan-Asian
groupings not supplant APEC and urged Atsumi to visit the
United States to gain a better sense of U.S. views. End
summary.
2. (C) Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary of State for
East Asia and Pacific Affairs, met with newly appointed MOFA
Director General for Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs,
Chihiro Atsumi, on September 5. Assistant Secretary Hill
noted that despite the demands on his time posed by managing
North Korea (DPRK) issues, he was very interested in working
to strengthen U.S. ties with nations in Southeast and
Southwest Asia. He cited Secretary Rice's appearance at the
ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur in the midst of the recent
hostilities in Lebanon as an important symbol of U.S.
interest in the region. Director General Atsumi pointed out
that MOFA had just recently created the Southeast and
Southwest Asian Affairs Bureau to reflect the importance that
Japan attaches to the region.
3. (C) While the U.S. is not a party to the ASEAN plus Three
or ASEAN plus Six formulations, A/S Hill observed, the United
States is looking for ways to expand activities in the region
within the context of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). He
mentioned recent discussions with Admiral Fallon on expanding
humanitarian assistance exercises with Indonesia to include
other ARF nations as an example of something the United
States and Japan could do together to take a more active role
in the ARF. Economic assistance programs, such as a small
project currently underway in Aceh, were another way for the
two countries to work together within the ASEAN region, he
said. Director General Atsumi agreed that a cooperative
project in Indonesia would send a positive message to the
Muslim world, and promised to give consideration to joint
economic assistance projects in the future.
4. (C) A/S Hill told DG Atsumi many Americans tended to
measure regional initiatives, such as ASEAN and the East Asia
Summit, against the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
From that perspective, Japan's sudden announcement of the
ASEAN plus Six formulation in Kuala Lumpur had taken many in
the United States by surprise and left them wondering whether
this new regional grouping might work to weaken the APEC
forum. A/S Hill reiterated U.S. support for Japan taking a
more active role in the region, but hoped that the various
new pan-Asian groupings would not supplant existing
structures for trans-Pacific cooperation. The United States
did not really see ASEAN plus Six as a threat to APEC, but
was still considering how to deal with the East Asia Summit.
He stressed the importance of communicating better in the
future to avoid misunderstandings and suggested that DG
Atsumi try to visit Washington soon to gain a better sense of
Washington's thinking on regional cooperation issues.
5. (C) DG Atsumi indicated he was aware of such concerns in
the United States, but assured A/S Hill that the U.S. and
Japan's goals for regional cooperation were the same, even if
opinions on the appropriate architecture occasionally
differed. Japan never intended to alienate the United States
or downgrade the importance of APEC with the ASEAN plus Six
proposal, he said. While Japan, too, was still trying to
sort out how to make the best use of these different regional
fora, finding a greater role for the East Asia Summit and
integrating other regional players, such as Australia, New
Zealand, and India, were definitely priorities.
6. (U) A/S Hill has cleared on this message.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016
TAGS: PREL JA
SUBJECT: ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL MEETING WITH MOFA
DIRECTOR GENERAL ATSUMI
Classified By: AMBASSADOR J. THOMAS SHIEFFER. REASONS 1.4 (B)(D)
1. (C) Summary. Assistant Secretary Hill and MOFA Director
General Atsumi agreed September 5 on the importance of
strengthening ties with the nations of Southeast and
Southwest Asia and playing up the cooperative nature of U.S.
and Japanese efforts to take on a more active role in the
region. A/S Hill reiterated the U.S. hope that new pan-Asian
groupings not supplant APEC and urged Atsumi to visit the
United States to gain a better sense of U.S. views. End
summary.
2. (C) Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary of State for
East Asia and Pacific Affairs, met with newly appointed MOFA
Director General for Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs,
Chihiro Atsumi, on September 5. Assistant Secretary Hill
noted that despite the demands on his time posed by managing
North Korea (DPRK) issues, he was very interested in working
to strengthen U.S. ties with nations in Southeast and
Southwest Asia. He cited Secretary Rice's appearance at the
ASEAN meeting in Kuala Lumpur in the midst of the recent
hostilities in Lebanon as an important symbol of U.S.
interest in the region. Director General Atsumi pointed out
that MOFA had just recently created the Southeast and
Southwest Asian Affairs Bureau to reflect the importance that
Japan attaches to the region.
3. (C) While the U.S. is not a party to the ASEAN plus Three
or ASEAN plus Six formulations, A/S Hill observed, the United
States is looking for ways to expand activities in the region
within the context of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). He
mentioned recent discussions with Admiral Fallon on expanding
humanitarian assistance exercises with Indonesia to include
other ARF nations as an example of something the United
States and Japan could do together to take a more active role
in the ARF. Economic assistance programs, such as a small
project currently underway in Aceh, were another way for the
two countries to work together within the ASEAN region, he
said. Director General Atsumi agreed that a cooperative
project in Indonesia would send a positive message to the
Muslim world, and promised to give consideration to joint
economic assistance projects in the future.
4. (C) A/S Hill told DG Atsumi many Americans tended to
measure regional initiatives, such as ASEAN and the East Asia
Summit, against the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
From that perspective, Japan's sudden announcement of the
ASEAN plus Six formulation in Kuala Lumpur had taken many in
the United States by surprise and left them wondering whether
this new regional grouping might work to weaken the APEC
forum. A/S Hill reiterated U.S. support for Japan taking a
more active role in the region, but hoped that the various
new pan-Asian groupings would not supplant existing
structures for trans-Pacific cooperation. The United States
did not really see ASEAN plus Six as a threat to APEC, but
was still considering how to deal with the East Asia Summit.
He stressed the importance of communicating better in the
future to avoid misunderstandings and suggested that DG
Atsumi try to visit Washington soon to gain a better sense of
Washington's thinking on regional cooperation issues.
5. (C) DG Atsumi indicated he was aware of such concerns in
the United States, but assured A/S Hill that the U.S. and
Japan's goals for regional cooperation were the same, even if
opinions on the appropriate architecture occasionally
differed. Japan never intended to alienate the United States
or downgrade the importance of APEC with the ASEAN plus Six
proposal, he said. While Japan, too, was still trying to
sort out how to make the best use of these different regional
fora, finding a greater role for the East Asia Summit and
integrating other regional players, such as Australia, New
Zealand, and India, were definitely priorities.
6. (U) A/S Hill has cleared on this message.
SCHIEFFER