AMBASSADOR AND DEFENSE MINISTER DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 003184 SIPDIS SIPDIS SECDEF FOR OSD/APSA SHINN/SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA; COMUSJAPAN FOR J00/J01/J2/J4/J5; USPACOM FOR J00/J5/POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/12/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV PINR JA SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND DEFENSE MINISTER DISCUSS INFORMATION ASSURANCE, DPRI, FX Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer; Reasons: 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: During a July 11 introductory call with Ambassador Schieffer, Defense Minister Yuriko Koike listed information protection, alliance transformation, and the selection of a new fighter (FX) as her three major priorities. Koike said that the Ministry of Defense (MOD) is working in parallel tracks to ascertain the full facts regarding the disclosure of Aegis operational data and to consider broader enhancements to Japan's information protection infrastructure. The Ambassador noted that concerns over the Aegis disclosure and larger information assurance issues are shared at senior levels across the U.S. government. On U.S. base realignment, Koike urged the U.S. to maximize land returns at Camp Foster and to consider the opinions of local residents in the process of constructing the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF). The Ambassador emphasized the need to move quickly on both the FRF and Guam in order to meet the timetable set out in the 2006 Alliance Transformation Roadmap. The Ambassador and Koike agreed that Japan should select its next generation fighter based on which aircraft would best maximize future alliance capabilities. End Summary. ¶2. (C) During a July 11 introductory call by Ambassador Schieffer, newly appointed Defense Minister Yuriko Koike said she hoped to further expand bilateral cooperation on Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) and broader regional security. She added that she would use her new position to reinforce to the public, including on Okinawa, the basic fact that everything the U.S. and Japan are doing in the alliance is aimed to enhancing peace and security for Japan and the region. At the same time, she said it is important for both sides to acknowledge that Japan's media often misses the big picture and dwell on the day-to-day details. Koike listed as her three immediate priorities implementation of the May 1, 2006 Alliance Transformation Roadmap, enhancing information security, and selecting a next generation fighter aircraft for the Air Self-Defense Forces (ASDF). Realignment -------------- ¶3. (C) Koike said it was important for the U.S. and Japan to listen to local concerns in Okinawa as the two countries implement the U.S. base realignment package, both in relation to the FRF project and the consolidation of bases south of Kadena Air Base. On the latter point, Koike said that the Japanese government seeks the return of as much of Camp Foster as possible. Koike added that the Japanese public will also need a clear explanation of Japan's decisions on financing future housing on both Guam and Okinawa. ¶4. (C) Ambassador Schieffer praised Koike for her clear public statements on the importance of implementing the realignment agreement as quickly as possible. He noted that during the negotiations, both sides considered local concerns very carefully. While it is still important to understand local views, the Ambassador stressed that progress on realignment cannot be held hostage to every mayor or election. The FRF and construction of facilities on Guam are part of a single package. There will be no relocation of Marines to Guam unless all of the pieces of this package are addressed. TOKYO 00003184 002 OF 003 Information Assurances -------------- ¶5. (S) Koike said that MOD is pushing on two tracks in response to the unauthorized disclosure of Aegis data by Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) personnel. MOD's first priority is to establish the full facts of the Aegis case. The MSDF's Military Police is working closely with the Kanagawa Prefectural Police (KPP) on the criminal investigation. At the same time, the Maritime Staff Office (MSO) is conducting an administrative inquiry into the matter. Koike promised maximum transparency with U.S. counterparts on the investigation, and praised cooperation between the MSDF and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) on the analysis of data found on the hard drive containing the data. ¶6. (C) At the same time, MOD is turning its attention to fixing broader information assurance problems. Koike said that she would adopt the twin slogans of "moral and morale" to encourage a change in attitudes within her ministry. "Moral" would refer to the need to abide by the ministry's regulatory and ethical rules, including on protecting classified information. "Morale" will represent the importance of taking pride in the work of the MOD and SDF to defend the country from potential threats. Citing her success as Environment Minister in introducing "Cool Biz" (no-tie) attire among government bureaucrats to save energy, Koike asserted that people respond well to easy-to-understand concepts. ¶7. (S) The Ambassador stated that information security was an extraordinarily important issue for the United States government. MOD Administrative Vice Minister Takemasa Moriya probably has a better sense of the seriousness with which we take the problem after his recent visit to Washington. For the United States, it is less important to determine what happened within MOD regarding the Aegis data than to establish what happened to the data itself. At this stage, we must assume that China has obtained the information. FX -- ¶8. (S) Koike commented that in light of the increasingly uncertain regional security environment, Japan's choice for a replacement fighter aircraft for its aging F-4 fleet is critically important to the alliance. She asked for the Ambassador's cooperation in helping Japan decide on the appropriate aircraft. The Ambassador remarked that it is inconceivable that Japan would engage in military operations in the coming decades without the United States. For this reason, any decision Japan makes should complement U.S. assets. Rather than deciding first on a specific airframe, the Ambassador emphasized that the United States and Japan should start by assessing which capabilities Japan could add to the alliance to best enhance long term peace and stability of the region. In this context, the Ambassador credited the work of the bilateral Capabilities Assessment Group (CAG) for taking a strategic approach to the issue. Comprehensive Security -------------- ¶9. (C) Koike noted that before being "abruptly" appointed to TOKYO 00003184 003 OF 003 the Defense Minister post, she was responsible in the Prime Minister's Office for not only defense policy but all aspects of Japan's national security, including foreign affairs and even issues like China's protection of intellectual property rights. Koike said that she hoped to bring this comprehensive approach to her current position, while relying on the defense specialists within her ministry for guidance on security matters. Koike added that she hoped to visit Washington soon after the July 29 Upper House election. She also requested the Ambassador's assistance in arranging a phone call with Secretary of Defense Gates. Koike commented that she had recently met Secretary Gates at the Shangri-La conference in Singapore. SCHIEFFER