CHARGE URGES INCREASED COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001857 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV JA SUBJECT: CHARGE URGES INCREASED COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION REF: SECSTATE 46221 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Joe Donovan, reasons 1.4(b),(d) . ¶1. (C) Summary. Charge discussed a list of specific areas for enhanced bilateral and trilateral counterterrorism cooperation with MOFA Ambassador for Counterterrorism Cooperation, Akio Suda, on April 24. Using reftel points, the Charge raised initiatives aimed at improving: access to terrorism screening information; airport security and passenger screening procedures; cooperation on container security; and trilateral counterterrorism cooperation. Ambassador Suda did not provide definitive responses on the points covered, but noted that the demarche would provide a useful opportunity to follow up with the relevant ministries and agencies. The Charge was accompanied by Tokyo DHS representative Mike Cox. End summary. ¶2. (C) Charge delivered reftel demarche to MOFA Ambassador for Counterterrorism Cooperation Akio Suda and International Counterterrorism Cooperation Division Director Rokuichiro Michii on April 24. Based on the results of the November 2006 trilateral counterterrorism meeting in Tokyo, Charge explained that the U.S. Government wished to convey more specifically the types of bilateral and trilateral cooperation we are seeking with Japan. The Charge presented a nonpaper listing the initiatives outlined reftel, divided into four categories: access to terrorism screening information; airport security and passenger screening procedures; cooperation on container security; and trilateral counterterrorism cooperation. Suda noted that some of the proposals appeared to be new, while others had already been discussed and were in various stages of development. Several times during the discussion, he thanked the Charge for bringing the proposals to his attention, noting that this would provide a good opportunity to follow up with the relevant ministries and agencies responsible for actual implementation. Access to Terrorism Screening Information -------------- ¶3. (C) Japanese officials have already engaged in interagency discussion on streamlining the information flow between the United States and Japan, Suda noted. He pointed to weekly data exchanges on missing passports and fingerprint sharing on certain criminal cases as examples of positive cooperation. He said he did not know what more could be �0A;done, given the reluctance of Japanese immigration authorities to provide information for purposes not related to immigration. Department of Homeland Security representative Mike Cox told Suda it was important to exchange more detailed information, and in "real time." He emphasized that the U.S. Government appreciated cooperation on individual cases, but was seeking to move the process to the next level -- a full and open exchange of databases, including fingerprint and biometric data. Cox reminded Suda that both sides were close to an agreement one year ago, until Japanese immigration authorities balked over providing information to U.S. agencies for purposes unrelated to immigration. The Charge expressed hope that the Japanese government would revisit the issue. Suda agreed on the need to continue internal discussions, citing similar U.S. arrangements with other key allies, such as Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Cox stressed the need to overcome competition among different Japanese government agencies, and work toward combining Japan's myriad databases into a single system. Airport Security and Passenger Screening Procedures -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) The Charge noted considerable improvements in transit lounge security, which Suda credited to "simple" measures, such as more frequent patrols. Cox also called attention to the role played by joint efforts under the Immigration Advisory Program (IAP),which have disrupted five attempts by Chinese criminal gangs to smuggle individuals into the United States. Suda responded that Japanese agencies were not always well informed on IAP activities. He did not think there was any problem with continuing the program, but called for additional internal and bilateral discussions on what form a permanent program should take. Suda seemed troubled by U.S. suggestions for Japanese legislative changes. He did not think it would be easy, for example, to change the laws to allow Japanese immigration officials to detain a suspected terrorist while U.S. authorities sought to obtain an arrest warrant. He cited the recent passage of a law allowing Japan to deport suspected terrorists in certain situations as constituting a major step forward. Suda was unfamiliar with the Regional Movement Alert System (RMAS),but promised to look into the APEC initiative. Cox encouraged more regular participation by Japanese law enforcement agencies in U.S.-based air marshal training, a suggestion to which Suda appeared receptive. Cooperation on Container Security -------------- ¶5. (C) Japan has completed the installation of neutron detection units at 19 different fixed container inspection stations in 16 ports, Suda said. (Note: We have called the equipment upgrades "miniports," not "megaports." Japan has, however, agreed to participate in the Megaports initiative, which seeks to scan all shipping containers without regard to targeting. End note.) Suda was unfamiliar with any exchange programs with the U.S. Coast Guard involving Japanese port officials, but promised to pass reftel points to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, which oversees the Japanese Coast Guard. The Charge and Suda pronounced U.S.-Japan cooperation on the Container Security Initiative a success. Trilateral Counterterrorism Cooperation -------------- ¶6. (C) The Charge applauded existing cooperation on counterterrorism, but stressed the need to maintain an ongoing dialogue to identify new bilateral and U.S.-Japan-Australia trilateral initiatives to deepen that cooperation. He urged Japan to undertake a review of reftel points before the next Trilateral Counterterrorism Dialogue, and to encourage even grater engagement on a trilateral basis by Japan's embassies in Southeast Asia. Suda cited the Adopt-a-Port program in the southern Philippines as a notable success for trilateral cooperation, and hoped that other new proposals could be reviewed at the next Dialogue. He agreed on the value of trilateral discussions at the local level for raising awareness on counterterrorism issues, even if they do not result in concrete initiatives. ¶7. (C) At the same time, Suda cautioned, it is not realistic to believe that we can continue to come up with new "showcase" initiatives. Instead, he said, we should look at existing programs in each of the three countries and find ways to cooperate on those. For example, MOFA has sponsored several seminars for ASEAN countries to share knowledge and to facilitate their accession to the UN counterterrorism conventions and protocols. Japan would welcome even greater U.S. and Australian participation in these. The idea of building on existing programs also allows each country to contribute based on its own strengths and weaknesses. The Charge did not disagree, but added that continuing changes in the nature of the terrorist threat and the development of new technologies means there will always be new areas for cooperation. DONOVAN