PM ABE ASSURES PACOM OF FULL SUPPORT FOR SECURITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001679

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/12/2017
TAGS: PREL POL PREL PGOV MARR CH JA
SUBJECT: PM ABE ASSURES PACOM OF FULL SUPPORT FOR SECURITY
ALLIANCE

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons
1.4 (b,d)


1. (S) Summary. During an April 12 meeting, Prime Minister
Abe assured Commander of the US Pacific Command, Admiral
Timothy Keating, that he regards the US-Japan Alliance as
critical to Japan's security. Abe stated that in view of
China's rapid military build-up and the threat posed by North
Korea's nuclear and missile programs, extended US nuclear and
conventional deterrence had become increasingly important to
Japan's security. Abe commented that these threats had
shaped Japanese public views to be more supportive of the US
presence and had diminished the Japanese "nuclear allergy."
Abe said he was committed to implementing the DPRI force
realignment agreement and was confident that the supporting
legislation would soon pass the Diet, along with the Iraq
Special Measures bill. Admiral Keating thanked the PM for
Japan's contributions to OIF and the war on terrorism. He
emphasized that the US presence in Japan was critical to
regional stability and that implementation of DPRI was in the
common interest of both nations. End Summary.

Full Support
--------------


2. (C) Prime Minister Abe met with Commander of the US
Pacific Command Admiral Timothy Keating for 30 minutes on
April 12 during which Abe stressed his intention to further
strengthen the US-Japan security relationship. To illustrate
his point, Abe noted that one of his first accomplishments
after becoming Prime Minister was to raise the Japan Defense
Agency to full Ministry status. He declared that the basis
of the US-Japan relationship was trust, and promised Japan
would continue to maintain that trust.

China and North Korea
--------------

3. (C) Significantly, Abe began the meeting by expressing
concern about the danger North Korea and China pose for
Japan. Abe noted that China has increased its military
spending by double-digit numbers for the past nine years and
recently conducted a test of an anti-satellite missile.
China, he continued, has not been transparent regarding its
intentions. In such a context, Abe continued, the US
deterrence, including the extended deterrence represented by
the US nuclear umbrella, was increasingly important to
Japan's security. (Note: Abe raised these concerns about
China on the same day he met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao,
who also was visiting Japan.)

Japan's Nuclear Allergy Waning
--------------


4. (S) Abe declared that because of North Korea's nuclear and
missile tests, the Japanese public was becoming more
accepting of the strategic importance of US forces
forward-deployed to Japan. He suggested that the altered
strategic circumstances have offset Japan's "allergy" towards
nuclear weapons and even nuclear power. This change in
attitude was evidenced by the relatively mild opposition to
the upcoming replacement of the USS Kitty Hawk with the
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington.


5. (C) Admiral Keating agreed that the United States and
Japan shared a fundamental understanding of our common
strategic interests. The ability to project power into
Northeast Asia if necessary -- but only if necessary -- is
critical to stability in the region and is what keeps North
Korea engaged diplomatically in the Six Party Talks, he said.
Admiral Keating stressed that the fact he chose Japan for
his first visit to the region since taking command of PACOM
was intended to send a clear message of his intention to
strengthen US-Japan security relations. The DPRI agreement,
the Admiral continued, was firmly grounded on a common
assessment of the strategic context and implementing the
force posture changes envisioned in the agreement would be
among his highest priorities. A second priority, he said,
would be to further develop complementary and integrated
ballistic missile defense systems. Admiral Keating also
pledged that US forces in Japan would continue to work to
build close ties with their host communities.

DPRI and Iraq Legislation

TOKYO 00001679 002 OF 002


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6. (C) Abe recognized that DPRI had further deepened the
alliance and affirmed that he intended to steadily implement
the DPRI force posture realignments. He told Admiral Keating
the DPRI realignment enabling legislation is now being
considered in the Diet and that he expected it to pass soon.
(Note: DPRI legislation passed the Diet's Lower House on
April 13 but is not expected to be considered by the Upper
House until May.) Abe said he also expects the Iraqi Special
Measures Bill to pass the Diet although the opposition was
strongly against another extension of Japan's contributions
to OIF and OEF.

Middle East and Bilateral Operations
--------------


7. (C) Admiral Keating thanked Abe for Japan's efforts in the
Middle East and praised Japan's Self Defense Forces personnel
for their steadfast support of the US and coalition forces in
the area. Admiral Keating mentioned his discussions with
Chief of Staff Joint Staff Office Admiral Takashi Saito about
joint exercises and training as the importance he attached to
the fullest possible sharing and protection of
defense-related information.


8. (C) PM Abe concluded the discussion by commenting that he
attached the highest importance to showing the people of
Japan and the world that the alliance with the US was "rock
solid."


9. (U) Admiral Keating has cleared this message.
SCHIEFFER