MEDIA COVERAGE OF OCTOBER 31 COALITION

UNCLAS TOKYO 005096 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR EAP/J, EAP/PD, EAP/K, EAP DAS - ARVIZU INFO FOR DATT/DAO AND PAO/PAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO KMDR KN KS JA SUBJECT: MEDIA COVERAGE OF OCTOBER 31 COALITION BRIEFING ON OEF FOR JAPANESE DIET MEMBERS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 31, the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo hosted a briefing for Japanese Diet members focusing on the international nature of OEF Coalition efforts in the Indian Ocean to combat global terrorism, as well as on the importance of Japan's contribution to OEF. Approximately 100 Diet members attended the briefing, as did representatives of 11 coalition countries, including Ambassador Schieffer. Although closed to the media, the briefing, as well as Ambassador Schieffer's remarks to journalists immediately afterwards, garnered top coverage October 31 and November 1. Overall, coverage was detailed, balanced, and substantive, enabling the Coalition ambassadors to reach over skeptical opposition lawmakers and carry our message on the importance of Japan's continuing contribution to the fight against terrorism to a much larger public audience. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On October 31, the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo hosted a briefing for Japanese Diet members on OEF Coalition efforts to combat global terrorism in the Indian Ocean and on the importance of Japan's contribution to OEF. Representatives of 11 coalition countries, including Ambassador Schieffer, were present for the briefing, which was attended by approximately 100 Diet members from almost all political parties. Although the briefing was closed to the media, AP, Reuters, and Kyodo News ran long reports on it and on the suspension of JMSDF OEF support on October 31 and November 1. Kyodo's November 1 report on the briefing also quoted extensively from Ambassador Schieffer's comments to journalists after the briefing. Reuters and AP carried similar reports, quoting Chief Cabinet Secretary (CCS) Machimura as calling the suspension SIPDIS "regrettable," and adding that "Japan must rejoin the international team to fight terrorism as soon as possible by enacting new legislation." The Reuters piece noted Ambassador Schieffer's comment that a permanent halt to Japan's participation in OEF would send "a very bad message" to the international community and to terrorists. ¶3. (U) Evening editions of the Asahi and Mainichi newspapers on October 31 gave front-page play to the OEF briefing, while Yomiuri, Tokyo Shimbun, and business-oriented Nikkei ran long page-2 reports. (Nikkei's article featured a color photo of the ambassador talking with journalists after the briefing.) Mainichi called the briefing an "unusual move," adding that the bulk of the participants were from the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),and that only six DPJ members attended. Yomiuri said that Ambassador Schieffer told the press afterward: "I hope that members of the Diet, after today, will have a better understanding of the MIO." Mainichi and Asahi quoted the Ambassador as telling the press, "I hope DPJ President Ozawa will accept the fact that OEF is an international undertaking, and I hope he will support it in the end." According to Yomiuri, DPJ Lower House legislator Takemasa complained that the briefing provided no new information and that there was no clear answer to the question as to whether terrorists have been apprehended through the MIO. Tokyo Shimbun quoted DPJ lawmaker Iwakuni as telling the press that what was most displeasing about the briefing was that the information was not provided until now. ¶4. (U) Reports on the noon news broadcasts by NHK-TV and most commercial TV broadcasters October 31 quoted extensively from Ambassador Schieffer's meeting with journalists right after event. NHK also quoted a US military officer as saying during the briefing that he hopes for the swift enactment of a new antiterrorism bill because it would contribute to the war on terrorism. It also featured Ambassador Schieffer's comment that, "OEF is not a matter between just the U.S. and Japan, and it is not a matter for a partisan debate." NHK also noted the U.S. explained once again that the fuel provided by Japan was never diverted for use in US operations in Iraq. ¶5. (U) On November 1 all TV broadcasters reported the upcoming expiration at midnight of Japan's Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. NTV quoted Defense Minister Ishiba in Diet deliberations as saying he was "disappointed and saddened" by the fact that the MSDF operation would soon "vanish." The network added that as the new antiterrorism bill is unlikely to be enacted in the current Diet, the outlook is dim for a resumption of the MSDF refueling operation. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: The briefing at the Canadian Embassy provide Japanese lawmakers with detailed information on OEF and the significance of the MSDF's refueling support in a context that also emphasized the international nature of the Coalition effort. The critical comments of opposition lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Japan and the Communist Party were expected. However, the extensive and generally favorable media coverage generated by the briefing allowed the Coalition ambassadors to reach over skeptical opposition lawmakers and carry our message on the importance of Japan's continuing contribution to the fight against terrorism to a much larger public audience. END COMMENT. SCHIEFFER