Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07OSAKAKOBE70
2007-03-23 05:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Consulate Osaka Kobe
Cable title:
JAPANESE CONSERVATIVES: USING THE NUCLEAR CARD
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OSAKA KOBE 000070
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT. PASS TO INR-B
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV PARM PREL KN JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE CONSERVATIVES: USING THE NUCLEAR CARD
WITH THE U.S.?
Classified By: Consul General Daniel Russel, reasons 1.4 (B)(D)
------------
Introduction
------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 OSAKA KOBE 000070
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT. PASS TO INR-B
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV PARM PREL KN JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE CONSERVATIVES: USING THE NUCLEAR CARD
WITH THE U.S.?
Classified By: Consul General Daniel Russel, reasons 1.4 (B)(D)
--------------
Introduction
--------------
1. (C) Former Cabinet Security Chief Atsuyuki Sassa, an
influential member of the conservative Japanese
establishment, in remarks to a large gathering in Osaka
called for Japan to periodically use its potential "nuclear
weapons card" to shore up security assurances from the United
States and to intimidate North Korea and China. Sassa was
also markedly critical of USG policy in East Asia in his
remarks to the closed audience of opinion makers in western
Japan. The speech, sponsored by the conservative newspaper
Sankei Shimbun, was covered in highly edited form by the
Sankei--minus the more controversial comments. Sassa,
repeatedly saying he was going off the record, spoke freely
in front of the all-Japanese audience, which included a
ConGen Osaka FSN. His comments are a glimpse of what some
Japanese conservatives are saying about the U.S. when they
think we are not listening.
--------------
The Nuclear Card
--------------
2. (C) Sassa praised last year's remarks by LDP Policy
Research Committee Chairman Soichi Nakagawa in support of
Japanese possession of nuclear weapons. Although Sassa
clearly stated that Japan has no intention to actually
possess nuclear weapons per se, he emphasized that Japan
benefitted from using the idea of nuclearization as a
negotiating tactic with neighboring countries, "in particular
the United States." He pointed out that after Nakagawa's
remarks, Secretary of State Rice immediately came to Japan to
reconfirm the U.S. basic policy of protecting Japan under its
nuclear umbrella. In his view this was a tremendously
successful gambit for the GOJ. At the same time, Sassa
emphasized that Japan should continue to develop its own
independent defense system to guard itself against foreign
missile attacks while under U.S. protection. He also favored
brandishing the prospect of a nuclear Japan to bolster
Japan's defensive posture vis-a-vis the DPRK and China.
3. (C) Another theme of Sassa's speech was that if the Korean
peninsula were to reunify, even under ROK control, Japan must
strengthen its independent defense capacity. Sassa said PM
Abe was currently undertaking that effort. He felt that the
amendment of the Japanese Constitution was critical to Japan
improving its own defenses and maintaining its "honorable
position" in the international community.
--------------
Critical of Rice, Hill
--------------
4. (C) Sassa also lamented the "expulsion" of pro-Japanese
figures from the Bush Administration, naming James Kelly,
Michael Green, Richard Armitage, and Colin Powell. He made
disparaging remarks about Secretary Rice for having "no
knowledge or constructive opinions on East Asian matters."
Sassa also strongly criticized EAP A/S Chris Hill as being a
patsy for the North Koreans--meeting with them frequently
without much to show for it.
5. (C) Bio Note: Sassa, a member of a Japanese government
advisory National Security Committee (Kokka Anzen Iinkai),
was the first Director of the Cabinet Security Office,
established by former Prime Minister Nakasone. He is a
prominent speaker and writer on crisis managment and defense
issues. He is famous for spearheading the operation against
the Japanese Red Army in 1972 as a police official. As such,
his remarks carry weight among mainstream conservative
Japanese figures. End Bio Note.
6. (C) Comment: Against the backdrop of increased diplomatic
activity between the USG and the DPRK,and given Rep. Honda's
OSAKA KOBE 00000070 002 OF 002
nonbinding resolution in Congress criticizing Japan on the
so-called comfort women issue, a growing number of
conservative political interlocutors are telling ConGen they
fear that the U.S.-Japan alliance has begun to drift. ConGen
is hearing from these interlocutors that they are
increasingly doubtful that America would come to Japan's aid
if attacked by North Korea or China. End Comment.
RUSSEL
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT. PASS TO INR-B
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/15/2017
TAGS: PGOV PARM PREL KN JA
SUBJECT: JAPANESE CONSERVATIVES: USING THE NUCLEAR CARD
WITH THE U.S.?
Classified By: Consul General Daniel Russel, reasons 1.4 (B)(D)
--------------
Introduction
--------------
1. (C) Former Cabinet Security Chief Atsuyuki Sassa, an
influential member of the conservative Japanese
establishment, in remarks to a large gathering in Osaka
called for Japan to periodically use its potential "nuclear
weapons card" to shore up security assurances from the United
States and to intimidate North Korea and China. Sassa was
also markedly critical of USG policy in East Asia in his
remarks to the closed audience of opinion makers in western
Japan. The speech, sponsored by the conservative newspaper
Sankei Shimbun, was covered in highly edited form by the
Sankei--minus the more controversial comments. Sassa,
repeatedly saying he was going off the record, spoke freely
in front of the all-Japanese audience, which included a
ConGen Osaka FSN. His comments are a glimpse of what some
Japanese conservatives are saying about the U.S. when they
think we are not listening.
--------------
The Nuclear Card
--------------
2. (C) Sassa praised last year's remarks by LDP Policy
Research Committee Chairman Soichi Nakagawa in support of
Japanese possession of nuclear weapons. Although Sassa
clearly stated that Japan has no intention to actually
possess nuclear weapons per se, he emphasized that Japan
benefitted from using the idea of nuclearization as a
negotiating tactic with neighboring countries, "in particular
the United States." He pointed out that after Nakagawa's
remarks, Secretary of State Rice immediately came to Japan to
reconfirm the U.S. basic policy of protecting Japan under its
nuclear umbrella. In his view this was a tremendously
successful gambit for the GOJ. At the same time, Sassa
emphasized that Japan should continue to develop its own
independent defense system to guard itself against foreign
missile attacks while under U.S. protection. He also favored
brandishing the prospect of a nuclear Japan to bolster
Japan's defensive posture vis-a-vis the DPRK and China.
3. (C) Another theme of Sassa's speech was that if the Korean
peninsula were to reunify, even under ROK control, Japan must
strengthen its independent defense capacity. Sassa said PM
Abe was currently undertaking that effort. He felt that the
amendment of the Japanese Constitution was critical to Japan
improving its own defenses and maintaining its "honorable
position" in the international community.
--------------
Critical of Rice, Hill
--------------
4. (C) Sassa also lamented the "expulsion" of pro-Japanese
figures from the Bush Administration, naming James Kelly,
Michael Green, Richard Armitage, and Colin Powell. He made
disparaging remarks about Secretary Rice for having "no
knowledge or constructive opinions on East Asian matters."
Sassa also strongly criticized EAP A/S Chris Hill as being a
patsy for the North Koreans--meeting with them frequently
without much to show for it.
5. (C) Bio Note: Sassa, a member of a Japanese government
advisory National Security Committee (Kokka Anzen Iinkai),
was the first Director of the Cabinet Security Office,
established by former Prime Minister Nakasone. He is a
prominent speaker and writer on crisis managment and defense
issues. He is famous for spearheading the operation against
the Japanese Red Army in 1972 as a police official. As such,
his remarks carry weight among mainstream conservative
Japanese figures. End Bio Note.
6. (C) Comment: Against the backdrop of increased diplomatic
activity between the USG and the DPRK,and given Rep. Honda's
OSAKA KOBE 00000070 002 OF 002
nonbinding resolution in Congress criticizing Japan on the
so-called comfort women issue, a growing number of
conservative political interlocutors are telling ConGen they
fear that the U.S.-Japan alliance has begun to drift. ConGen
is hearing from these interlocutors that they are
increasingly doubtful that America would come to Japan's aid
if attacked by North Korea or China. End Comment.
RUSSEL