JAPAN RESPONDS TO U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR AGREEMENT

UNCLAS TOKYO 003515 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/NESS ALEX BURKART DEPT FOR EAP/J JESSICA WEBSTER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTIA ETTC KNNP MNUC PARM PREL PGOV IAEA JA SUBJECT: JAPAN RESPONDS TO U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR AGREEMENT REF: STATE 104171 ¶1. (U) This message contains an Action Request - see para. 4. ¶2. (SBU) EST and POL delivered the non-paper in reftel to officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on July 30 and 31. MOFA Arms Control and Disarmament Division Principal Deputy Director, Junichiro Otaka, noted that MOFA is carefully watching the development of the U.S.-India Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation, particularly in light of Prime Minister Abe's scheduled trip to India at the end of August. MOFA Southwest Asia Division India Desk Officer, Naoshige Aoshima, had no additional response. ¶3. (SBU) Otaka had the following comments/questions: -- Regarding the timing of an NSG Consultative Group meeting on India, Otaka suggested that such a meeting may be better timed for after India completes negotiations with the IAEA on a safeguards agreement and Additional Protocol. -- Otaka asked whether the U.S. could provide further guidance on how the Agreement handles the issue of separation between India's military and civilian nuclear programs. Specifically, he asked how the Agreement will help to ensure that reprocessing and other technologies are not transferred from the civilian to the military sector. -- Finally, Otaka asked for clarification on what steps would be taken under the Agreement in the event of a nuclear test by India. He noted that recent reports in the Indian press had been unclear on this. ¶4. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: In response to GOJ comments in para. 3, Post would be grateful for any further guidance the Department can provide. SCHIEFFER