Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO5235
2007-11-14 10:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MINISTRY OF FINANCE OBJECTS TO SMA OFFER
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKO #5235 3181027 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 141027Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9539 INFO RHMFISS/USFJ RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 005235
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOD FOR OSD/APSA SHINN/SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA; STATE FOR
PM/SNA MCDONALD; USFJ FOR J00/J01/J4/J5
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV JA
SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF FINANCE OBJECTS TO SMA OFFER
Classified By: CDA Joseph R. Donovan; Reasons: 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 005235
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOD FOR OSD/APSA SHINN/SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA; STATE FOR
PM/SNA MCDONALD; USFJ FOR J00/J01/J4/J5
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV JA
SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF FINANCE OBJECTS TO SMA OFFER
Classified By: CDA Joseph R. Donovan; Reasons: 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) The Japanese government was surprised by the contents
of a November 13 proposal from Deputy Secretary of Defense
Minister England to Japanese Ambassador Kato to extend for
the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) two years, according to
MOFA Security Treaty Division Director Kazuhiro Suzuki.
Suzuki said that the proposal contained in the non-paper was
significantly different than what was discussed between
Ambassador Schieffer and MOFA Vice Minister Shotaro Yachi on
November 8 in Tokyo. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will make a
decision on whether to accept or reject the U.S. initiative
and a formal response will be provided to Washington on
November 14.
2. (C) Suzuki commented that MOFA was optimistic that the
Prime Minister would accept the two-year rollover proposal
before seeing the non-paper. However, the non-paper's
explicit reference to bilateral agreement on changes to the
Facilities Improvement Program (FIP) and other non-SMA Host
Nation Support (HNS) initiatives and more ambiguous
discussion of Japan's overall defense spending may have given
the Ministry of Finance (MOF) ammunition to scuttle the deal.
3. (C) Suzuki asserted that Minister of Finance Fukushiro
Nukaga has been in repeated contact with the Prime Minister
throughout the day urging the rejection of the proposal.
Nukaga's arguments have centered on the difficulties in
explaining the proposed deal to the Diet and public. At
working levels, Suzuki said, MOF officials are threatening
radical cuts in the SMA in response to the November 13
proposal.
4. (C) Separately, Ministry of Defense (MOD) Facilities
Planning Division Director Masayoshi Tatsumi said that MOD
expects that if the Prime Minister does accept the U.S.
proposal, MOF will reduce funding from equipment procurement
or other areas of the defense budget equal to its original
target for HNS cuts (approximately USD 90 million).
DONOVAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DOD FOR OSD/APSA SHINN/SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA; STATE FOR
PM/SNA MCDONALD; USFJ FOR J00/J01/J4/J5
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR PGOV JA
SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF FINANCE OBJECTS TO SMA OFFER
Classified By: CDA Joseph R. Donovan; Reasons: 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) The Japanese government was surprised by the contents
of a November 13 proposal from Deputy Secretary of Defense
Minister England to Japanese Ambassador Kato to extend for
the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) two years, according to
MOFA Security Treaty Division Director Kazuhiro Suzuki.
Suzuki said that the proposal contained in the non-paper was
significantly different than what was discussed between
Ambassador Schieffer and MOFA Vice Minister Shotaro Yachi on
November 8 in Tokyo. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will make a
decision on whether to accept or reject the U.S. initiative
and a formal response will be provided to Washington on
November 14.
2. (C) Suzuki commented that MOFA was optimistic that the
Prime Minister would accept the two-year rollover proposal
before seeing the non-paper. However, the non-paper's
explicit reference to bilateral agreement on changes to the
Facilities Improvement Program (FIP) and other non-SMA Host
Nation Support (HNS) initiatives and more ambiguous
discussion of Japan's overall defense spending may have given
the Ministry of Finance (MOF) ammunition to scuttle the deal.
3. (C) Suzuki asserted that Minister of Finance Fukushiro
Nukaga has been in repeated contact with the Prime Minister
throughout the day urging the rejection of the proposal.
Nukaga's arguments have centered on the difficulties in
explaining the proposed deal to the Diet and public. At
working levels, Suzuki said, MOF officials are threatening
radical cuts in the SMA in response to the November 13
proposal.
4. (C) Separately, Ministry of Defense (MOD) Facilities
Planning Division Director Masayoshi Tatsumi said that MOD
expects that if the Prime Minister does accept the U.S.
proposal, MOF will reduce funding from equipment procurement
or other areas of the defense budget equal to its original
target for HNS cuts (approximately USD 90 million).
DONOVAN