MEDIA REACTION - BOLTON RESIGNATION - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 006866 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 - BOLTON RESIGNATION - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Wednesday morning's economic daily Nihon Keizai front-paged a report that the FRB and other US authorities will likely punish the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by year's end for the alleged failure of the banking group's New York branch to take sufficient measures to prevent money laundering. ¶1. "Bolton Resignation: Time for US to Change Its UN Diplomacy" The liberal Asahi editorialized (12/6): "US Ambassador to the UN Bolton has decided to resign. As a neocon, Bolton was known for pursuing a form of diplomacy at the UN that prioritized US national interests over international cooperation.... With Defense Secretary Rumsfeld having announced his resignation to take responsibility for the spiraling chaos in Iraq, the Bush administration is now losing its man at the UN, exemplifying the president's receding authority.... Just as Rumsfeld's resignation has prompted a review of US strategy in Iraq, Bolton's resignation should be seized as an opportunity to shift toward a track that attaches importance to international cooperation.... Bolton worked with Japan to get a resolution passed unanimously by the UNSC condemning North Korea's nuclear test.... On UNSC reform, though he voiced support for Japan's bid to become a permanent member, that did not translate into action, as he was unenthusiastic about a plan to expand UNSC membership." SCHIEFFER