PACFLEET COMMANDER MEETS WITH MOFA AND MOD

S E C R E T TOKYO 001848 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL JA SUBJECT: PACFLEET COMMANDER MEETS WITH MOFA AND MOD Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Joe Donovan, Reasons 1.4 (B) (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: During April 18 meetings with PACFLT Admiral Gary Roughead, MOFA North American Affairs Director General Shinichi Nishimiya and Ministry of Defense (MOD) Administrative Vice Minister Takemasa Moriya lauded the current atmosphere of cooperation between the U.S. and Japan. Both Nishimiya and Moriya reaffirmed the seriousness of the recent AEGIS data leak and pledged to make appropriate policy changes. Both understood that the strong relation between the U.S. Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) is the cornerstone of the alliance. They also welcomed the arrival of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier U.S.S. George Washington in 2008 as a symbol of the U.S. commitment to Japan,s defense. End Summary. Nishimiya: CVN, PSI and Humanitarian Cooperation -------------- --- ¶2. (U) During an April 18 meeting with Pacific Fleet Commander Gary Roughead, MOFA Director General for North American Affairs Shinichi Nishimiya said that he is looking forward to the arrival of the U.S.S. George Washington in ¶2008. The continued cooperation between the city of Yokosuka, the Japanese central government and the U.S. Navy is a model for base/community interaction and bodes well for the carrier. Nishimiya commented that the public acceptance of the U.S.S. George Washington indicates a shift in attitudes towards the presence of the U.S. military. ADM Roughead agreed with Nishimiya and suggested the George Washington is a tangible example of the commitment the U.S. Navy and Japan have to peace and security in the region. ¶3. (C) Exercises between the JMSDF and the U.S. Navy are an important element of the good relationship the two countries maintain, Roughead noted. The ability of the U.S. and Japanese navies to cooperate together while also bringing in the Indian navy in a recent trilateral exercise demonstrated the maturity of the U.S.-Japan Navy-to-Navy ties. Nishimiya expressed his appreciation for the deployment of AEGIS-capable ships like the U.S.S. Shiloh. He affirmed that the stationing of AEGIS ships, like the forward deployment of the George Washington, is a clear demonstration of the U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan. ADM Roughead pointed out that of the eighteen U.S. Navy BMD capable AEGIS ships that will be in service by the end of the year, 16 of them will be in the Pacific region. The presence of those AEGIS ships in the region also means that the U.S. Navy boasts a strong SM-3 capability. ¶4. (C) ADM Roughead encouraged MOFA to dedicate Japanese medical and engineering personnel to Navy humanitarian missions. The upcoming tour of the U.S.S. Peleliu is one such mission that the U.S. hopes to see enthusiastic Japanese participation. Nishimiya agreed to look into the event and said that the U.S.S. Peleliu and missions like it are an excellent way to show the Japanese public the importance of the military role in humanitarian relief. ¶5. (S) Nishimiya touched on the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Nishimiya said that he has seen a shift in the last couple of months in the international community,s support of PSI activities. After Japan and the United States clarified their expectations of PSI, other countries have warmed to the idea. There is still some reluctance in certain quarters, but as these countries come to understand the law enforcement aspects of PSI they will accept it as a sound strategy. Moriya: AEGIS disclosure, realignment funding -------------- ¶6. (S) ADM Roughead met with Administrative Vice Minister for Defense Takemasa Moriya. The call on Moriya followed on the heels of a meeting with Maritime Staff Office (MSO) Chairman, Admiral Eiji Yoshikawa where the AEGIS information mishandling was discussed (SEPTEL). Moriya expressed his regret over the incident and assured ADM Roughead that the Japanese Government is reevaluating procedures and policies to ensure classified material is correctly protected. Moriya stressed the Government of Japan is taking the incident seriously. He added that the Japanese public is very interested in the AEGIS system and their trust in the security of that system must be maintained. Moriya noted that he would leave for a meeting on the AEGIS disclosure at the Cabinet Office immediately following the end of his meeting with ADM Roughead. ¶7. (C) On U.S. Forces realignment, Moriya pointed out that the bill to fund realignment recently passed the Diet,s Lower House and should be enacted into law during the current session. The bill is important not only because of what it does but because it demonstrates the health of the U.S.-Japan alliance. Such measures, he suggested, would have been impossible ten years ago. Moriya said that the bill will not solve all the challenges of realignment but will be a significant step in the right direction. ¶8. (C) Turning to cooperation with third country navies, Both Moriya and Roughead agreed that more engagement with China is needed. Roughead suggested that China may be interested in cooperating with the American and Japanese navies on disaster relief training and that such an opportunity may help with the transparency of the PLA Navy. Moriya noted his desire for more PLA transparency, especially because of concerns with domestic Chinese stability and the rapidly expanding PLA defense budget. In terms of Southeast Asia Roughead and Moriya agreed that continued training with Singapore and Malaysia is important and that increasing outreach to Indonesia is desirable. ¶9. (U) This cable was cleared by Admiral Roughead. DONOVAN