AA/S MULL MEETING WITH MOFA DG FOR NORTH AMERICAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001713

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR AS JA
SUBJECT: AA/S MULL MEETING WITH MOFA DG FOR NORTH AMERICAN
AFFAIRS SHINICHI NISHIMIYA


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


1. (C) Summary: Missile defense cooperation, radar and
PAC-3 implementation, and the May 2006 Alliance
Transformation Roadmap have strengthened our robust security
partnership and it is important to keep marching forward,
MOFA North American Affairs Director-General Shinichi
Nishimiya told Acting Assistant Secretary for
Political-Military Affairs Stephen Mull on April 11. Prime
Minister Abe is committed to expanding security relations
with new partners like Australia, but it may be slow going,
due to unforeseen barriers and constraints on the Japanese
side, Nishimiya cautioned. Stepping up information sharing,
while preventing leaks, and boosting interoperability are
important goals, agreed Nishimiya and Mull. Mull raised the
possibility of renewing the Special Measures Agreement (SMA)
next year, and expressed concern over the Oslo Process on
cluster munitions. End Summary.


2. (C) Moving forward on ballistic missile cooperation,
radar and PAC-3 deployment, and implementing the landmark May
2006 Alliance Transformation Roadmap demonstrate the
increased strength of the alliance, MOFA DG for North
American Affairs Shinichi Nishimiya told AA/S Mull on April

11. Prime Minister Abe is committed to strengthening the
U.S.-Japan alliance and is focused on expanding security
relations with new partners like Australia, he added. Mull
thanked Japan for its hard work in Iraq and Afghanistan,
welcomed Tokyo's partnership with NATO, and noted that PM
Koizumi and PM Abe worked very hard to accomplish things that
would have been impossible ten years ago.


3. (C) Japan is committed to stepping up information sharing
with the United States and is seeking to improve its ability
to exploit and best utilize shared information, Nishimiya
explained. He acknowledged the recent information leaks and
said Mull should "feel free to bash MOD over the head" for
leaking the information. MOFA has not been entirely free
from compromising classified information, but has a long
track record of protecting sensitive information, he added.
However, the lack of legislative recourse undermines Japan's
ability to protect sensitive information, he explained. The
General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)
will be a major step forward in protecting classified
information, Nishimiya noted. Introducing an NSC law will be
the springboard for developing tough standards for all
Japanese government agencies involved in the handling of
classified information. After the July Upper House election,
the Abe administration will begin moving forward on this, he
explained.


4. (C) Deploying the Self-Defense Forces overseas for
Southeast Asia tsunami relief efforts deepened their
experience working with other partners, including Australia,
Nishimiya noted. The SDF's participation marked the first
time Japanese air, naval, and land forces cooperated
together. Pursuing joint operations between U.S. and
Japanese forces in an effort to enhance interoperability
remain important objectives, agreed Mull and Nishimiya. Mull
requested Japan participate in Pacific Global Air Mobility
Seminars (PGMS) by sending a CH-47 helicopter and hoped Japan
and Australia would participate in the upcoming Peleliu
humanitarian operation. Nishimiya asked for U.S. patience on
accelerating trilateral defense cooperation because Japan may
face unforeseen barriers and constraints. Japan's lack of an
official alliance with Australia will impede Tokyo's ability
to significantly deepen cooperation, he cautioned. Mull
acknowledged concern on all sides regarding agreements on
sharing sensitive information and protecting classified
information. The United States understands Japanese and
Australian reluctance to participate in trilateral exercises
as they seek to identify what information they are authorized
to share with each other, but it is important to maintain
momentum on this.


5. (C) Turning to the Special Measures Agreement (SMA),the
United States hopes it will be renewed next year, for at
least another three years, Mull emphasized. We understand
Japanese domestic political pressure to cut SMA contributions
is rising, but if SMA negotiations are reopened, there will
be new demands from Washington due to the difficult
atmosphere surrounding defense spending, Mull cautioned.
Tokyo's official response on extending the agreement is "No
chance" Nishimiya responded, though he privately admitted
that he could not envision SMA disappearing. Realignment is

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very unpopular since there is no immediate short-term
"deliverable" for Okinawa. Consequently, it is important to
maintain a low profile on any requests for an increase in
Japanese contributions. The opposition parties in the Diet
often attack the ruling coalition on SMA, and while no one
seriously is considering eliminating SMA payments, it is
becoming more difficult to provide the financial resources to
pay for it, Nishimiya emphasized. Nishimiya joked that "we
should enjoy our summer vacation, because the next time we
meet, it will be to discuss SMA, and I won't be smiling."


6. (C) Mull raised cluster munitions and said Washington is
concerned the Oslo Process will get in the way of the
legitimate use of this weapon, which could affect NATO
defense capabilities. A diplomatic military team will come
to Japan at the end of April to begin discussions on this, he
added.


7. (U) AA/S Mull has cleared this cable.
SCHIEFFER