Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO452
2007-02-01 03:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION - DEFENSE MINISTER KYUMA'S
how-toVZCZCXRO4293 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #0452 0320301 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 010301Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0252 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 9730 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 3198 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5663 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1491 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1748 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3155 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000452
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 - DEFENSE MINISTER KYUMA'S
REMARKS - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers front-paged an
agreement Wednesday at the meeting in Tokyo of the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas to cut catches of bluefin tunas in the Eastern
Atlantic and Mediterranean by 23 percent over four years
through 2010.
UNCLAS TOKYO 000452
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 - DEFENSE MINISTER KYUMA'S
REMARKS - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers front-paged an
agreement Wednesday at the meeting in Tokyo of the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas to cut catches of bluefin tunas in the Eastern
Atlantic and Mediterranean by 23 percent over four years
through 2010.
1. "The Responsibility of Defense Minister Kyuma" Guest
commentator Naoyuki Agawa, a Keio University professor
and former minister at the Japanese Embassy in
Washington, wrote in the conservative Sankei (2/1):
"...Meeting the press on January 24 at the Japan National
Press Club in Tokyo, Defense Minister Kyuma made remarks
critical of President Bush's decision to launch the Iraq
war. Kyuma also criticized Bush for failing to come up
with plans to bring an end to the chaos in that
country.... Kyuma is neither a scholar nor a commentator.
He is in charge of Japan's national defense, which rests
upon the US-Japan security system. His criticism of a
decision made by the president of Japan's closest ally
thus carries unusual weight. Japan, of course, does not
necessarily support every US policy.... But when it comes
to key US policies, particularly on issues that directly
concern Tokyo, Japan as an ally should voice support as a
matter of courtesy.... That was why although the Koizumi
cabinet had counseled caution prior to the opening of the
Iraq war, it offered support to the Bush administration
once the decision was made.... The Bush administration
never - not even once - publicly rebuked then PM Koizumi
when he was the target of criticism from China and South
Korea for his visits to Yasukuni Shrine. Had then Defense
Secretary Rumsfeld said that the prime minister should
SIPDIS
not visit the shrine, how would Japan have reacted? US-
Japan relations would have been badly damaged. Kyuma has
made very serious remarks that could shake the foundation
of trust between the two allies, including his criticism
of the US regarding the relocation of MCAS Futenma."
SCHIEFFER
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 - DEFENSE MINISTER KYUMA'S
REMARKS - TOKYO
LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers front-paged an
agreement Wednesday at the meeting in Tokyo of the
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas to cut catches of bluefin tunas in the Eastern
Atlantic and Mediterranean by 23 percent over four years
through 2010.
1. "The Responsibility of Defense Minister Kyuma" Guest
commentator Naoyuki Agawa, a Keio University professor
and former minister at the Japanese Embassy in
Washington, wrote in the conservative Sankei (2/1):
"...Meeting the press on January 24 at the Japan National
Press Club in Tokyo, Defense Minister Kyuma made remarks
critical of President Bush's decision to launch the Iraq
war. Kyuma also criticized Bush for failing to come up
with plans to bring an end to the chaos in that
country.... Kyuma is neither a scholar nor a commentator.
He is in charge of Japan's national defense, which rests
upon the US-Japan security system. His criticism of a
decision made by the president of Japan's closest ally
thus carries unusual weight. Japan, of course, does not
necessarily support every US policy.... But when it comes
to key US policies, particularly on issues that directly
concern Tokyo, Japan as an ally should voice support as a
matter of courtesy.... That was why although the Koizumi
cabinet had counseled caution prior to the opening of the
Iraq war, it offered support to the Bush administration
once the decision was made.... The Bush administration
never - not even once - publicly rebuked then PM Koizumi
when he was the target of criticism from China and South
Korea for his visits to Yasukuni Shrine. Had then Defense
Secretary Rumsfeld said that the prime minister should
SIPDIS
not visit the shrine, how would Japan have reacted? US-
Japan relations would have been badly damaged. Kyuma has
made very serious remarks that could shake the foundation
of trust between the two allies, including his criticism
of the US regarding the relocation of MCAS Futenma."
SCHIEFFER