HIGH-LEVEL DIPLOMACY CONTINUES JAPAN-PRC WARMING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 004280 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2017 TAGS: PREL CH TW JA SUBJECT: HIGH-LEVEL DIPLOMACY CONTINUES JAPAN-PRC WARMING TREND TOKYO 00004280 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister SHINZO ABE met with Chinese President Hu Jintao twice on the sidelines of APEC to discuss ways to strengthen economic, environmental, and security ties. Marked more by warm atmospherics than progress on substantive issues, the informal talks signal the warming trend in Sino-Japan ties is continuing. In addition, Japan is gearing up for Chinese Communist Party member Jia Qinglin's September 12-18 visit to Japan. As China's fourth highest-ranking official, Jia's trip is being characterized as an important step forward in bilateral relations and was expected to help pave the way for ABE to visit China before year-end, according to MOFA and PRC Embassy contacts. Prime Minister Abe's sudden announcement of his resignation on September 12 leaves these plans unclear. End Summary. Abe and Hu Chat over Dinner -------------- ¶2. (C) Increasing trade, energy cooperation, and stepping up efforts on environmental protection will strengthen bilateral ties, Hu told ABE over dinner on September 8, according to Embassy Tokyo contacts at MOFA. ABE agreed and explained that Japanese technology can play a key role in helping achieve mutual environmental goals, according to MOFA China and Mongolia Division Principal Deputy Director Kazuya Endo. Boosting mutually beneficial regional cooperation and expanding cultural, educational, economic, and technological ties are also crucial, Hu noted. Continuing high-level official visits, including military exchanges, benefits not just the people of Japan and China, but also the international community as a whole, agreed Hu and Abe. Abe's planned visit to China before the year's end will be another opportunity to improve ties, Hu stated (although Abe's sudden resignation calls in question whether Japan's still undecided next Prime Minister will follow through with these plans). Turning to regional cooperation, the East Asia Summit is a good way to expand regional cooperation, ABE noted. In addition, Japan looks forward to maintaining close cooperation with China, through the Six-Party Talks process, in effort to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, ABE told Hu. ¶3. (C) ABE raised the importance of reaching an agreement on joint gas development in the East China Sea with Hu, PRC Embassy Political Officer Chen Zhiwen told Tokyo Embassy Political Officer on September 12. ABE and Hu agreed to "leave this problem at the working-level for now." Foreign Minister Machimura and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on September 6 agreed to hold working-level talks in Beijing on September 21, but the deadlock will be tough to resolve, and substantive progress in the near-term is unlikely, she noted. Abe and Hu Meet Second Time -------------- ¶4. (C) ABE and Hu reiterated their commitment to boosting economic, environmental, and regional cooperation during a second ten-minute meeting on September 9, Endo shared. Hu updated ABE on preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and noted that stadium construction is progressing smoothly. Turning to civil aviation, ABE noted that chartered flights between Haneda and Shanghai's Hongqia airport will help facilitate cooperation. (Comment: Japan and China agreed to establish regular civil passenger charter flights between these two airports during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's April 11-13 to Japan. Japan was disappointed Beijing was unwilling to set a start date for the new aviation routes to take effect, but understood Beijing needed to resolve technical obstacles first. Endo previously told Embassy Tokyo that Beijing is committed to increasing aviation routes, but due to its "cumbersome bureaucracy" will need time to cut through the red tape necessary to equip Hongqiao, which only handles domestic traffic at present, for international flights. End Comment.) Jia Qinglin's September 12-18 Visit to Japan -------------- ¶5. (C) As China's fourth-highest ranking official, Chinese Communist Party member Jia Qinglin's September 12-18 visit to Japan signals the warming trend in bilateral ties is TOKYO 00004280 002.2 OF 002 continuing. Jia's visit is being characterized as an important step forward in bilateral relations by Japanese diplomats, but it is expected to be marked more by friendly atmospherics rather than specific agreements, Endo explained. Jia's visit will help to maintain momentum on the stream of bilateral government exchanges, Endo explained. ¶6. (C) That said, domestic political constraints, coupled with the short lead time, are making it difficult for MOFA officials to plan Jia's schedule, Endo continued. Senior government and ruling party leaders will meet with Jia, but it is difficult for other politicians to meet with foreign visitors because they are reluctant to be away from the Diet session at this time, Endo explained. Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa promised to meet with Jia, and the Chinese Embassy is still waiting to see if he will be available, Chen noted. Chen echoed the scheduling difficulties that Endo relayed, and commented that with only a two-week notice lead time, the Chinese Embassy was still nailing down appointments with Japanese politicians (a situation that will be further complicated by Japan's current domestic political uncertainty). ¶7. (C) Jia, and an entourage of 70 accompanying Chinese officials, will spend two days in Tokyo before heading to Osaka and Kobe for two days to attend the ninth World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention on September 15. Jia will also visit Hokkaido for two days, in preparation for the 2008 G-8 summit, and will depart for China on the September 18. MOFA is still arranging the agenda for the trip, but most meetings will focus on promoting cultural, sports, and student exchange activities. Jia will also visit local schools and businesses, Chen said. ¶8. (C) Abe's resignation will not derail China's improved relations with Japan, Chen said. Beijing has good relations with all of the major political parties in Japan, and even if the next Prime Minister is not from the Liberal Democratic Party, the warming trend in Sino-Japan relations will continue. Beijing is seeking to strengthen ties with Tokyo, and will continue to do. Beijing's unwillingness to cooperate with Koizumi was due to his stance on history, and the way he insisted on hurting the feelings of the Chinese people by visiting Yasukuni Shrine. As long as the next Japanese Prime Minister does not repeat those mistakes, Beijing will continue efforts to improve ties with Japan, Chen asserted. Schieffer