Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO5629
2006-09-28 06:10:00
SECRET
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

INR A/S FORT'S SEPTEMBER 25 MEETINGS WITH DG KAWAI

Tags:  PREL PINR AS CH JA 
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DE RUEHKO #5629 2710610
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 280610Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6867
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4351
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1798
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 8126
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 0474
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 6148
RHMFISS/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T TOKYO 005629 

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2026
TAGS: PREL PINR AS CH JA
SUBJECT: INR A/S FORT'S SEPTEMBER 25 MEETINGS WITH DG KAWAI


Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Joseph R. Donovan. Reason: 1.4 (b)(d)
.

S E C R E T TOKYO 005629

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2026
TAGS: PREL PINR AS CH JA
SUBJECT: INR A/S FORT'S SEPTEMBER 25 MEETINGS WITH DG KAWAI


Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Joseph R. Donovan. Reason: 1.4 (b)(d)
.


1. (S) SUMMARY: MOFA leadership is convinced that the
Japanese government's stove-piped system of intelligence
sharing must be reformed, MOFA Director General for North
American Affairs Kawai told visiting INR Assistant Secretary
Fort September 25. Top-level political leadership would be
needed to make this happen, he said, and he was confident
Prime Minister Abe saw this as a priority. Kawai suggested
holding meetings between INR and DOS regional bureau
representatives and their Japanese counterparts to share
analysis on regional issues, starting with a discussion of
China. A/S Fort agreed that this was a good idea and said he
would endeavor to arrange meetings of this type. END SUMMARY.


2. (S) The Japanese government "definitely" needs to improve
its inter-agency intelligence-sharing, MOFA Director-General
for North American Affairs Kawai told visiting INR Assistant
Secretary Randall Fort in a meeting September 25. Top-level

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political leadership would be needed to change the current
arrangement, in which intelligence is stove-piped between
four different organizations in MOFA, JDA, the Cabinet
Office, and the National Police Agency. Foreign Minister Aso
was keen to solve this problem; fortunately, Kawai said,
incoming Prime Minister Abe also seemed to share this
priority.


3. (S) U.S.-Japan intelligence-sharing was evolving at a
welcome pace, said A/S Fort; it was important to keep the
progress going. A deep-rooted intelligence relationship
could -- and should -- become part of the bedrock of the
U.S.-Japan alliance, just as it was with our British and
Australian allies, he said. Japan had the potential to
become a major intelligence player, and a significant partner
in this arena for the United States, particularly if it
tapped the "underutilized assets" represented by the
worldwide network of Japanese businesses and trading
companies.


4. (S) Insights from open sources such as the business
community, if aggregated and analyzed, had immense value.
U.S. intelligence agencies, he noted, had staff specifically
tasked with liaison with the U.S. business community. Japan,
with its economic and diplomatic presence in countries like
Iran, could draw on insights that would be of great interest
to the United States. Kawai replied that this was an
intriguing idea, and encouraged A/S Fort to raise it with
Japanese intelligence officials.


5. (S) Kawai proposed arranging regular meetings between the
intelligence and regional bureaus of State and MOFA to
"compare notes" on regional subjects, such as China and
Central Asia (and the efforts of other countries to expand
their influence there). A/S Fort agreed that this was a good
idea and said he would endeavor to set up a first meeting
involving INR, EAP and Japanese counterparts in which they
could exchange views on China and where it was headed in the
next five years.


6. (S) Trilateral intelligence-sharing between U.S., Japanese
and Australian officials under the Trilateral Strategic
Dialogue (TSD) umbrella had been very fruitful and should be
expanded, said Kawai. Trilateral cooperation was not
directed against China, he noted, but reflected common
interests held by the U.S., Japan and Australia as leading
regional democracies and free market economies. Increasing
cooperation with India was also a focus of great interest for
Abe and Aso, he said.


7. Assistant Secretary Fort cleared this message.
DONOVAN