JAPAN, CHINA, PRESS FORWARD WITH MEETINGS, BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002619 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/08/2017 TAGS: PREL SENV KTIA CH KS JA SUBJECT: JAPAN, CHINA, PRESS FORWARD WITH MEETINGS, BUT SUBSTANTIVE PROGRESS SLOW Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The importance of the Six-Party Talks, the need to resolve problems associated with the transfer of funds from the Banco Delta Asia to North Korea, and Chinese concerns over former President of Taiwan Lee Teng-hui's June visit to Japan topped the agenda during the June 3 meeting between Japan's Foreign Minister Aso and China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, MOFA China Division Principle Deputy Director Endo told Embassy Tokyo Political Officer on June 6. MOFA will make no official comment on Lee's June 7 visit to Yasukuni Shrine because Lee's visit to Japan is nonofficial, Endo added on June 7. Even though China recently presented its own national climate change strategy, Abe will emphasize there is still room for joint cooperation on environmental issues during his June 8 summit with China's President Hu, Endo stated. End summary. FM's Aso, Yang Meet Second Time -------------- ¶2. (C) No surprises or new developments resulted from the 30-minute meeting between Foreign Minister Aso and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, held on the sidelines of the Japan-China-ROK trilateral in Cheju on June 3, MOFA China Division Principal Deputy Director Kazuya Endo told Embassy Tokyo Political Officer on June 6. FM Aso began by expressing Japan's condolences over the June 2 death of Chinese Vice Premier Huang Ju. On North Korea, Aso and Yang agreed on the importance of the Six-Party Talks process and exchanged views on the need to resolve problems associated with the transfer of funds from the Banco Delta Asia (BDA). The controversy over resources in the East China Sea was not discussed. Abe-Hu Summit on June 8 -------------- ¶3. (C) Apart from topics discussed by Aso and Yang, Endo noted, Prime Minister Abe will also raise Japan's plan on combating climate change with Chinese President Hu during their 30-minute Summit on Friday, June 8. Abe is pushing to create a post-Kyoto Protocol global framework, with a target of halving global carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, and is seeking Chinese participation. Even though China recently presented its own national climate change strategy, Abe will emphasize to Hu that there is still room for joint cooperation on environmental issues. China will likely raise Taiwan and the East China Sea energy dispute, Endo surmised. While the fact that the two leaders are meeting is important in and of itself, given the short timeframe for the meeting, significant progress on remaining obstacles in Japan-China relations is unlikely, Endo shared. Former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's Visit -------------- ¶4. (C) Turning to Taiwan, Yang had reiterated to Aso China's concern over former Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui's June visit to Japan, Endo related. Aso assured Yang that Lee would not participate in political activities since the visit was a non-official trip, explained Endo. (Note: Lee subsequently visited Yasukuni Shrine on June 7 to pay respects to his enshrined brother, who died while serving in the Japanese navy in 1945, MOFA contacts confirmed. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki told reporters that same day that since Lee's trip to Japan is personal visit, the Japanese government would not comment on the shrine visit. MOFA is not planning to make a comment on the visit at this time, confirmed Endo on June 7. When asked on June 6 about rumors Lee planned to visit the shrine, Endo told Embassy Political Officer that Professor Nakajima was handling Lee's schedule, and stated that Nakajima had denied Lee would visit the shrine. Endo reiterated that since Lee's visit to Japan is nonofficial, MOFA is maintaining a "subtle distance." End note.) SCHIEFFER