Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO6081
2006-10-19 02:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION Q RICE VISIT TO TOKYO - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO3506 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #6081 2920201 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 190201Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7582 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8513 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1892 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4601 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1304 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0716 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2300 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 006081
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 RICE VISIT TO TOKYO - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: All six Thursday morning papers front-paged
Secretary of State Rice's talks with Foreign Minister Aso
SIPDIS
following her arrival in Tokyo Wednesday afternoon.
UNCLAS TOKYO 006081
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 RICE VISIT TO TOKYO - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: All six Thursday morning papers front-paged
Secretary of State Rice's talks with Foreign Minister Aso
SIPDIS
following her arrival in Tokyo Wednesday afternoon.
1. "Now Is the Time to Demonstrate the Deterrence of US-
Japan Alliance" An editorial in the business-oriented
Nihon Keizai commented (10/19): "Amid reports that the
DPRK will conduct a second nuclear test, Secretary of
State Rice visited Japan Wednesday afternoon for talks
with Foreign Minister Aso and other GOJ officials, during
which she stated that the US remains firmly committed to
the defense of Japan.... North Korea, which has said that
it will take countermeasures in response to the
resolution adopted by the UN Security Council (UNSC),
poses a real threat to Japan. Demonstrating the
effectiveness of the US-Japan alliance and coordinating
closely on policy will serve as diplomatic pressure on
Pyongyang.... The inspection of North Korean cargo, which
is stipulated in UNSC Resolution 1718, will be a matter
of discussion for the immediate future. While the US,
Britain, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are
expected to take part in maritime inspections, Japan and
South Korea will be pressed to make a decision. While the
specifics have yet to be nailed down, it is a matter of
course that Japan, which is directly threatened by North
Korea, should play a meaningful role."
2. "Deterrence of US Nuclear Umbrella Reaffirmed" The top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (10/19):
"Japan must ensure the viability of the US nuclear
umbrella to deal with North Korea's nuclear arms.
Secretary of State Rice, who arrived in Tokyo Wednesday
SIPDIS
afternoon, told Foreign Minister Aso that the US has 'the
will and the capability to meet the full range of its
deterrent and security commitments to Japan' under the US-
Japan Security Treaty. Secretary Rice emphasized the
deterrent function of the US nuclear umbrella, indicating
that US forces will lead the defense of Japan in the
event of a North Korean nuclear attack. Rice apparently
made the statement to try not only to bring North Korea
under control but also send a strong message to China
that Beijing should press Pyongyang more strongly to
abandon its nuclear program. The US nuclear umbrella is
the only protection for Japan, which does not possess
nuclear arms.... To ensure that it functions as a
reliable deterrent, constant efforts to strengthen the US-
Japan alliance are needed. One such effort is Japan's
active participation in inspections of North Korean cargo
based on UNSC Resolution 1718."
SCHIEFFER
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 RICE VISIT TO TOKYO - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: All six Thursday morning papers front-paged
Secretary of State Rice's talks with Foreign Minister Aso
SIPDIS
following her arrival in Tokyo Wednesday afternoon.
1. "Now Is the Time to Demonstrate the Deterrence of US-
Japan Alliance" An editorial in the business-oriented
Nihon Keizai commented (10/19): "Amid reports that the
DPRK will conduct a second nuclear test, Secretary of
State Rice visited Japan Wednesday afternoon for talks
with Foreign Minister Aso and other GOJ officials, during
which she stated that the US remains firmly committed to
the defense of Japan.... North Korea, which has said that
it will take countermeasures in response to the
resolution adopted by the UN Security Council (UNSC),
poses a real threat to Japan. Demonstrating the
effectiveness of the US-Japan alliance and coordinating
closely on policy will serve as diplomatic pressure on
Pyongyang.... The inspection of North Korean cargo, which
is stipulated in UNSC Resolution 1718, will be a matter
of discussion for the immediate future. While the US,
Britain, France, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are
expected to take part in maritime inspections, Japan and
South Korea will be pressed to make a decision. While the
specifics have yet to be nailed down, it is a matter of
course that Japan, which is directly threatened by North
Korea, should play a meaningful role."
2. "Deterrence of US Nuclear Umbrella Reaffirmed" The top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (10/19):
"Japan must ensure the viability of the US nuclear
umbrella to deal with North Korea's nuclear arms.
Secretary of State Rice, who arrived in Tokyo Wednesday
SIPDIS
afternoon, told Foreign Minister Aso that the US has 'the
will and the capability to meet the full range of its
deterrent and security commitments to Japan' under the US-
Japan Security Treaty. Secretary Rice emphasized the
deterrent function of the US nuclear umbrella, indicating
that US forces will lead the defense of Japan in the
event of a North Korean nuclear attack. Rice apparently
made the statement to try not only to bring North Korea
under control but also send a strong message to China
that Beijing should press Pyongyang more strongly to
abandon its nuclear program. The US nuclear umbrella is
the only protection for Japan, which does not possess
nuclear arms.... To ensure that it functions as a
reliable deterrent, constant efforts to strengthen the US-
Japan alliance are needed. One such effort is Japan's
active participation in inspections of North Korean cargo
based on UNSC Resolution 1718."
SCHIEFFER