JAPAN STILL UNDECIDED ABOUT APDP, DEPENDS ON PM

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 004969 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EAP/J, G - JOHN KACHTIK E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MG JA SUBJECT: JAPAN STILL UNDECIDED ABOUT APDP, DEPENDS ON PM FUKUDA REF: A. TOKYO 2431 ¶B. STATE 131552 Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). (C) Japan needs more time to determine how it will participate in the Asian Pacific Democracy Partnership, MOFA Asian and Oceanian Affairs Regional Policy Division Principal Deputy Director Yasuhiro Kobe told Embassy Tokyo Political Officer during an October 23 meeting. Kobe said he "assumes" that Japan will participate in Bamako, but MOFA officials are unwilling to make a decision without approval from the Prime Minister. Japan would probably not have been active in the APDP under the Abe administration, Kobe stated, explaining that the former prime minister preferred to address regional democracy and human rights issues within the U.S.-Japan-Australia-India "quadrilateral" framework. Although the Fukuda administration is more amenable to cooperative frameworks like the APDP, it remains to be seen whether Fukuda's desire to engage neighboring countries "as close friends" will trump the former government's emphasis on "value-based diplomacy," which included democracy and human rights promotion. MOFA has submitted the proposal to the Prime Minister's office for a decision, and expects an answer in two weeks, finished Kobe, apologizing for the long delay. SCHIEFFER