MEDIA REACTION - PM ABE'S VISIT TO US - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 001864 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - PM ABE'S VISIT TO US - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Thursday morning's business daily Nihon Keizai front-paged the formal establishment of a GOJ blue- ribbon panel on collective defense. ¶1. "Abe's Visit to US: Close Gaps in US-Japan Alliance" The conservative Sankei editorialized (4/26): "PM Abe Abe begins a two-day visit to the US on Thursday, his first since his inauguration last September.... Certainly, the US-Japan alliance is more mature than it has ever been. But the alliance is also showing signs of strain over such issues as the Iraq situation, criticism of the US by Japanese cabinet ministers, the Republican Party's defeat in the midterm elections, the US shift to a flexible stance to North Korea, and the 'comfort women' issue. With such gaps emerging, the Bush-Abe summit is an important one. As is the case in marriage, maintaining an alliance requires effort on the part of both partners. Because the relationship between the two countries is mature, Abe should convey Japan's concerns to the US in a frank manner, deepen his understanding of US concerns, and be prepared to close the gaps to ensure an unshakable alliance. In this respect, many Japanese have high hopes for US understanding and cooperation on the abduction issue.... We want the US to exercise caution in delisting North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. Should Washington shunt the abduction issue aside, the Japanese people would harbor a strong sense of dismay toward America, leading to a crisis in the bilateral alliance." DONOVAN