LAWLESS/ISHIHARA ON YOKOTA, FCLP, AND US

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 007010

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2016
TAGS: MARR PREL JA
SUBJECT: LAWLESS/ISHIHARA ON YOKOTA, FCLP, AND US
COMMITMENT TO DEFENDING JAPAN


Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, Reasons 1.4 B/D


1. (C) Summary: During a Friday, December 1 meeting with
Under Secretary of Defense For Asian and Pacific Security
Affairs Richard Lawless, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara:
referenced the recent Abe-Bush discussion on civil-military
dual-use of Yokota Air Base; explained his rationale for
requesting dual-use; and offered that Tokyo,s outer island,
Miyakeshima, be considered as a candidate for Field Carrier
Landing Practice. Lawless: underscored the continued
strategic military value of Yokota Air Base; confirmed U.S.
commitment to the Yokota civil-military Dual-Use Feasibility
Study in government-to-government channels; reminded Ishihara
that once the study is complete, there will be additional
government-to-government discussions before a final decision
is made on whether to pursue dual-use of Yokota Air Base; and
explained that the U.S. has already committed to address many
Japanese requests for adjustments in its posture. End
Summary.

Pressing for Dual Use of Yokota
--------------


2. (C) Ishihara expressed his appreciation of the recent
Abe-Bush Yokota discussions at APEC, which he characterized
as Abe,s confirmation that he shares Koizumi,s position
(which he did not characterize) on civil-military dual-use of
Yokota. Ishihara also expressed appreciation for the effort
to facilitate civilian aircraft through Yokota,s airspace
and the planned reductions of airspace. He offered four
arguments to support civil-military dual-use of Yokota Air
Base: 1) Yokota can offer the surrounding population of 10
million an alternative to ground transportation in an area
otherwise too mountainous for airport construction; 2)
increasing competition with the rising Chinese economy
necessitates expansion of commercial airline slots in the
Tokyo area; 3) U.S. corporate jet arrivals deserve a faster
processing time than the already congested Japanese airports
can deliver; and, 4) Yokota has not been used much since its
service repatriating dead U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam
War.


3. (C) Lawless responded that the U.S. is committed to the
bilateral study on civil-military dual-use of Yokota Air
Base, as first raised in the May 2003 Bush-Koizumi
discussions at Crawford and as described in Cabinet-level
alliance transformation agreements. Lawless put the study in
the broader context, explaining that the regional security
situation has evolved and Yokota Air Base, as an important
Alliance capability, is more critical than ever. He added
that the decision to bring Japan,s Air Self-Defense Forces
onto Yokota confirms that both the U.S. and Japanese
governments appreciate the value of Yokota to the Alliance.
Lawless said that nothing is pre-ordained, reminding Ishihara
that the study is one stage in a multi-stage process: once
the study is complete, the two governments will then discuss
the results and then decide how to proceed.

Offering Up Miyakeshima
--------------


4. (C) Ishihara mentioned a recent discussion with Hiroshima
Governor Fujita in which he learned that the local
communities surrounding Iwakuni, which will receive the
Atsugi-based Airwing, are completely against Field Carrier
Landing Practice (FCLP) in their region, citing possible
desecration of a national shrine at Fukushima. As an
alternative, Ishihara then offered Miyakeshima as a candidate
FCLP site. While residents had previously rejected the idea,
the intervening volcano and population flight have reduced
their economic prospects so drastically that the only way the
island could be viable is by accepting night landing
practice. Ishihara stated his desire to have the Japanese
central government consult with him about this proposal.


5. (C) Lawless replied that FCLP permanent relocation is a
major issue within the alliance transformation framework that

TOKYO 00007010 002 OF 002


both governments are committed to resolve, hopefully by the
end of 2007.

Not Just Yokota
--------------


6. (C) Lawless emphasized that Yokota needed to be seen in
the context of the political and military commitments of
alliance transformation, which reflect both governments,
decisions about the capabilities needed for the alliance. He
pointed to planned deployment to Yokosuka of the U.S.S.
George Washington, a "national strategic asset," as visible
proof of our strong faith in the alliance. In that context,
the move of the carrier air wing from Atsugi to Iwakuni was a
burden that the U.S. accepted in response to a Government of
Japan request in order to ensure the continued forward
deployment of the carrier in Japan. He told Ishihara that
"everywhere we can adjust without sacrificing critical
capabilities, we,ve adjusted." Lawless added that the GOJ
aggressively represented local communities throughout the
numerous and often heated discussions and, as a result, the
U.S. has committed to a lot.

Ishihara,s China Specter
--------------


7. (C) Ishihara admitted to suspicions that the U.S.-Japan
alliance might not withstand all China-related war scenarios.
He predicted problems in the Chinese economic after the
Beijing Olylmpics, which could lead to military adventurism.
Since this would coincide with a new U.S. administration with
little appreciation of regional dynamics, he expressed
concern about the consequences for Japan.


8. (C) In response, Lawless reminded him that the U.S. has
made sacrifices when it needs to, as it did for Korea, and
that it stands ready to fulfill its commitments for Japan.
SCHIEFFER