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 -------------- ¶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