TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - US-JAPAN SUMMIT

UNCLAS TOKYO 005277 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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - US-JAPAN SUMMIT LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning included Sunday's mayoral election in Osaka, in which an opposition candidate defeated the incumbent, who was backed by the ruling coalition. ¶1. "Solid Alliance Must Be Maintained" The top- circulation, moderate Yomiuri argued (11/19): "Prime Minister Fukuda and President Bush in their first summit agreed to reinforce the US-Japan alliance. Each hoped to ease the doubts of the other, which, if unaddressed, could undermine the bilateral alliance. Specifically, the interruption of the MSDF refueling operation in the Indian Ocean and the potential delisting of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism were the paramount issues facing the two leaders.... During the summit, they also discussed such pressing items as US force realignment in Japan, host nation support for the US military, and the beef trade. These issues must be steadily resolved in order to strengthen the alliance." ¶2. "Policy Coordination for the Future" The liberal Asahi insisted (11/19): "The US-led 'war on terrorism' is grinding to a standstill around the world, including in Iraq. Some presidential candidates in the US are openly calling for a pullout of troops from Iraq. The division in Japan over a resumption of the refueling mission is related with such sentiment. As for North Korea, some have welcomed Washington's positive approach toward Pyongyang, while others have voiced concern that the US might be moving too fast. These gaps must be bridged through summits and other means, but being an ally in and of itself does not mean that the US and Japan have identical interests on all issues.... Each side, while focusing on its own national interest, cooperates with the other in order to seek common ground. That should be the goal of mature US-Japan relations." ¶3. "Lack of Post-Summit Press Conference Signals Decline of US-Japan Relations" The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (11/19): "The fact that President Bush and PM Fukuda left the podium without answering reporters' questions is symbolic.... Even though the US- Japan alliance has a long history with many accomplishments, the two leaders and the diplomatic authorities of both countries apparently decided against holding a joint press conference out of concern that they might face questions about minor differences in their positions. They may have worried that answering questions would expose such differences and make them bigger. This demonstrates the seriousness of the situation in the security arena, an area that has always been solid and has formed the foundation of US- Japan relations." DONOVAN