ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY MULL MEETS MOD DIRECTOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001712 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/17/2017 TAGS: PREL PINS MARR AS JA SUBJECT: ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY MULL MEETS MOD DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR DEFENSE POLICY Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Both the United States and Japan are looking forward to the Trilateral Security and Defense Cooperation Forum (SDCF) meeting to be held April 12 between Japan, Australia, and the United States, Acting Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Mull agreed with MOD Director General for Defense Policy Ofuru during an April 11 meeting. Ofuru confirmed that Prime Minister Abe has appointed a committee to provide an interpretation of "collective self defense" that will enable Japanese Self Defense Forces (JSDF) to take action under certain defined circumstances. Japan and the United States both look forward to increased Japanese cooperation with NATO, agreed Ofuru and EUR/RPM Director Gary Robbins. Acting A/S Mull told Ofuru the United States has serious concerns about the recent leak of sensitive information on the Aegis system and that a joint assessment must be completed to determine what damage has been done. Ofuru stated that the Special Measures Agreement should be discussed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and that Japan would welcome a delegation to forge a common position on the Norwegian initiative regarding cluster munitions. END SUMMARY. -------------- PREVIEW OF TRILATERAL SDCF MEETING -------------- ¶2. (C) The evolution Japan has undergone in the past five to ten years to become a more active participant in global security issues has strengthened its partnership with the United States, Acting Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Stephen Mull told MOD Director General for Defense Policy Kazuo Ofuru on April 11. The fact that he chose to visit Japan on his first overseas trip in his new position indicates the importance the United States places on its security relationship with Japan. The United States is looking forward to the inaugural Trilateral Security and Defense Cooperation Forum (SDCF) meeting to be held April 12 with Japan and Australia, he stated. Mull briefed Ofuru on what the United States hopes to accomplish at the talks, noting: -- Humanitarian operations: The USS Peleliu will soon be conducting a four-month humanitarian mission providing medical assistance in the Southeast Asia region. The U.S. hopes the Japanese and Australians will be able to provide personnel; -- Global Air Mobility Seminar: The United States hopes the Japanese and Australians will participate in this seminar to be hosted at Yokota Air Base in May; -- Ballistic Missile Defense: The United States hopes to chart a way forward in the BMD relationship and to establish a mechanism to do so; -- Intelligence Cooperation: The United States wishes to discuss a P-3 capabilities exercise as well as collaboration in the field of high altitude long endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles; -- Maritime Security: The United States plans to discuss ideas on joint maritime security operations; -- Peacekeeping Operations: The United States is looking forward to discussing how the three countries can cooperate in peacekeeping operations and the upcoming Khaan Quest peacekeeping exercise in Mongolia. ¶3. (C) Ofuru thanked Mull for the preview and said he basically agreed with the points made. On the subject of humanitarian assistance, he noted the successful collaboration between the United States, Australia, and Japan following the tsunami disaster two years ago, adding that Japan is anxious to build upon this relationship. Noting that the USS Peleliu was named after a World War II battle, he said Japan is happy to welcome it to the region on its mission of peace and medical assistance. ¶4. (C) Concerning BMD, Ofuru said Japan appreciates the support of the United States on its BMD projects and looks forward to further close work on the operational aspects of these systems as they relate to the defense of Japan. He noted that Australia has not yet decided on the practical aspects of missile purchases, so the discussion of this subject at the SDCF would be in general terms only. Ofuru further noted that there are "certain" limitations to Japan's ability to share classified information with Australia. ¶5. (C) Japan understands the Australians have decided to purchase the Global Hawk UAV system, said Ofuru. For its part, Japan has yet to decide whether to purchase a foreign made system or develop its own. If it were to buy an existing system, the choice would be between the Global Hawk and the Predator. Japan is currently deciding how it wants to update its UAV capabilities, although this analysis is not being carried out on an immediate basis. When asked, Ofuru stated he does not believe there are any institutional or legal barriers to sharing information on UAV programs, but cautioned that Japan would not be prepared to discuss the practical aspects of UAV operations at the SDCF meeting. When the time comes, Japan will ask the United States for help in providing information on UAV systems. -------------- COLLECTIVE SELF DEFENSE -------------- ¶6. (C) The United States understands Japan is conducting a review of how to define the concept of "collective self defense" that might allow Japan to participate in a wider range of humanitarian, peacekeeping, and other types of operations, Mull noted. He asked Ofuru what he expected from the process. Ofuru explained that the United Nations Charter gives each nation the right to individual and collective self-defense. However, Japan's constitution, while recognizing its right to collective self-defense, prohibits Japan from exercising this right. But this should not mean that Japan must refrain from assisting the United States if the two countries are engaged in a joint operation for the purpose of defending Japan and if the U.S. forces are in danger or in need of help. ¶7. (C) The constitution prohibits Japan from acting if it is not under attack, Ofuro continued, so if another country is under attack, Japan can do nothing. But this notion has come under criticism from those who realize that today no country can protect itself alone, and that, consequently, Japan now has security cooperation activities with countries in other parts of the world. Therefore, it is "mistaken" to say that Japan can take action only if it is physically attacked. Another example of the constraints Japan faces is the recent deployment of its Ground Self Defense Forces in Iraq. Although these forces were deployed near British and other forces, the Japanese would have been prohibited from coming to their aid if they were attacked because the constitution prohibits the use of force to resolve international disputes. However, had the neighboring forces been attacked by a non-state entity, such as a "burglar or thief" Japan would be able to assist. The problem is, in today's environment, the identity of an attacker is not always immediately clear. ¶8. (C) As a result of these questions, said Ofuru, Prime Minister Abe wants to define circumstances in which force can be used under the Japanese interpretation of permissible collective self-defense. He cautioned that we should not believe what we read in Japanese newspapers about this debate, as the media has gotten it wrong in the past. -------------- COOPERATION WITH NATO -------------- ¶9. (C) Prime Minister Abe's recent speech at NATO was historic, said Mull. Increased Japanese engagement with NATO opens up the possibility of cooperation between European and Asian defense relationships. EUR/RPM Director Gary Robbins pointed out that his presence in Japan for the SDCF meeting was the first time anyone in his position at the State Department's European Bureau had visited Japan. NATO's Global Partnership Initiative, as developed at the Riga Summit, should be guided by what the participants view as important, so the United States thanks Japan for participating. Following up on Prime Minister Abe's speech, the United States is eager to develop Japanese use of the available toolbox. For example, grassroots projects would allow the use of Japanese funds to help support Provincial Reconstruction Teams in Afghanistan. There are also new possibilities for information sharing between NATO and Japan. Robbins invited Ofuru's thoughts on Japanese cooperation with NATO. ¶10. (C) Japan's prior relationship with NATO had always been administrative and superficial in nature, replied Ofuru. But following the Prime Minister's speech and the outcome of the Riga Summit, Japan anticipates a deeper relationship with NATO. In terms of information sharing, Ofuru noted that Japan already has bilateral arrangements with many of the larger countries in NATO and would like to promote a similar arrangement with the alliance, but this is a subject that needs to be discussed in further detail. Robbins noted that during a recent visit to Tokyo by NATO officials this issue had been discussed, and that the United States will follow these developments with interest, recognizing that it is a bilateral NATO - Japan relationship, not to be confused with other existing bilateral relationships. -------------- INFORMATION SECURITY -------------- ¶11. (C) The United States is very concerned about recent reports that highly sensitive information concerning the Aegis weapons system has been compromised by a member of the Japanese Self Defense Forces, Mull told Ofuru. The United States knows that the Japanese are taking this incident, which could threaten the security of both our countries, very seriously. In order to completely assess the possible damage, the United States would like to cooperate in the Japanese investigation and together make a joint assessment of the damage done. ¶12. (C) Ofuru noted the case is currently under criminal investigation and what the "administrative side" knows is limited. However, he believes that everything known by the Japanese authorities about the incident has been shared with the U.S. Navy. He affirmed the Japanese are taking this very seriously and acknowledged that very sensitive information about a very sensitive system had ended up in the hands of a member of the JSDF who had no reason to have it. That said, at this point it does not appear that the information has been further compromised to outside parties. -------------- SPECIAL MEASURES AGREEMENT -------------- ¶13. (C) The United States urges Japan to approve a three-year roll over of the current Special Measures Agreement, explained Mull. Ofuru replied that this is an issue to be addressed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. -------------- CLUSTER MUNITIONS -------------- ¶14. (C) Mull informed Ofuru that the United States shares Japan's concerns about the Oslo Process on banning cluster munitions and would like to send an official inter-agency delegation to Tokyo later this month to chart a coordinated response. Ofuru said Japan would welcome the delegation and a deeper discussion of this topic. ¶15. (U) This cable has been cleared by AA/S Mull. SCHIEFFER