Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO660
2006-02-07 03:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION US-JAPAN ALLIANCE - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO7757 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #0660 0380301 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 070301Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8336 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 4458 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7520 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0447 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0855 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 6630 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8719 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000660
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 US-JAPAN ALLIANCE - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: The business-oriented Nihon Keizai front-
paged a report from Washington on President Bush's
submission of the fiscal 2007 budget to Congress. The
report said that defense spending in the new budget
totals 439.3 billion USD, a 6.9 percent increase from a
year ago.
UNCLAS TOKYO 000660
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 US-JAPAN ALLIANCE - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: The business-oriented Nihon Keizai front-
paged a report from Washington on President Bush's
submission of the fiscal 2007 budget to Congress. The
report said that defense spending in the new budget
totals 439.3 billion USD, a 6.9 percent increase from a
year ago.
1. "QDR: Heighten the Effectiveness of the US-Japan
Alliance" The conservative Sankei editorialized (2/7):
"The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) put together by the
Department of Defense not only reveals the future
approach to the war on terrorism but also reexamines the
fundamental nature of Japan's security policy. While
calling the war on terror a long-term conflict, the QDR
paints a picture of a US military capable of responding
swiftly and flexibly to any sort of attack. This QDR is
noteworthy in that it explicitly expresses concern over
the Chinese military, describing China as the country
with the greatest potential to become a military
competitor.... Plans to shift the focus of naval forces
to the Pacific and to constantly deploy at least six
aircraft carriers in the region are aimed at raising
deterrence with regard to China, as well as to the area
called the arc of instability, which extends from the
Middle East to the Korean Peninsula.
2. "One point of interest is the fact that the QDR cited
America's allies in the Pacific in the order of Japan,
Australia, and South Korea, and also hailed bilateral
ties with Japan and other allies as being instrumental in
maintaining the security of the international
community.... Dealing with the arc of instability is a
national concern that is directly related to Japan's
peace and security. The US and Japan are compelled to
join hands to handle international terrorism and groups
that threaten regional security. The US and Japan issued
a joint statement at a meeting of foreign and defense
ministers last February urging China to settle the Taiwan
issue peacefully. Japan also made clear that it would not
tolerate the use of force against Taiwan. In this sense,
it is more incumbent on Japan than the US to heighten the
effectiveness of the US-Japan alliance.... The US and
Japan have agreed to compile a final report on US force
transformation and base realignment in March. The idea of
boosting deterrence should not be overlooked. Are Japan's
defense capabilities up to the task of responding to
these threats? Japan should flexibly review the final
report from this standpoint."
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 US-JAPAN ALLIANCE - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: The business-oriented Nihon Keizai front-
paged a report from Washington on President Bush's
submission of the fiscal 2007 budget to Congress. The
report said that defense spending in the new budget
totals 439.3 billion USD, a 6.9 percent increase from a
year ago.
1. "QDR: Heighten the Effectiveness of the US-Japan
Alliance" The conservative Sankei editorialized (2/7):
"The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) put together by the
Department of Defense not only reveals the future
approach to the war on terrorism but also reexamines the
fundamental nature of Japan's security policy. While
calling the war on terror a long-term conflict, the QDR
paints a picture of a US military capable of responding
swiftly and flexibly to any sort of attack. This QDR is
noteworthy in that it explicitly expresses concern over
the Chinese military, describing China as the country
with the greatest potential to become a military
competitor.... Plans to shift the focus of naval forces
to the Pacific and to constantly deploy at least six
aircraft carriers in the region are aimed at raising
deterrence with regard to China, as well as to the area
called the arc of instability, which extends from the
Middle East to the Korean Peninsula.
2. "One point of interest is the fact that the QDR cited
America's allies in the Pacific in the order of Japan,
Australia, and South Korea, and also hailed bilateral
ties with Japan and other allies as being instrumental in
maintaining the security of the international
community.... Dealing with the arc of instability is a
national concern that is directly related to Japan's
peace and security. The US and Japan are compelled to
join hands to handle international terrorism and groups
that threaten regional security. The US and Japan issued
a joint statement at a meeting of foreign and defense
ministers last February urging China to settle the Taiwan
issue peacefully. Japan also made clear that it would not
tolerate the use of force against Taiwan. In this sense,
it is more incumbent on Japan than the US to heighten the
effectiveness of the US-Japan alliance.... The US and
Japan have agreed to compile a final report on US force
transformation and base realignment in March. The idea of
boosting deterrence should not be overlooked. Are Japan's
defense capabilities up to the task of responding to
these threats? Japan should flexibly review the final
report from this standpoint."
SCHIEFFER