Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO5278
2007-11-19 04:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
SUBJECT: PRC EMBASSY ON BOOSTING JAPAN COOPERATION
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 005278
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: PREL JA BM CH KN
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: PRC EMBASSY ON BOOSTING JAPAN COOPERATION
TOKYO 00005278 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Joe R. Donovan
Summary
----------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 005278
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: PREL JA BM CH KN
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: PRC EMBASSY ON BOOSTING JAPAN COOPERATION
TOKYO 00005278 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Joe R. Donovan
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Despite failure to make progress on the East China Sea
energy dispute, Beijing and Tokyo are moving forward with
plans for Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda to visit Beijing
before year's end, Chinese Embassy Political Officer Zhiwen
Chen told Embassy Tokyo on November 16. A significant
breakthrough on the East China Sea is unlikely before Premier
Wen visits Japan next April because "Tokyo continues to
insist that China be the one to compromise." Even though
Fukuda is hailed as being friendly toward China, Beijing will
not sacrifice its national interests as a reward to him. The
East China Sea dispute will not impede other areas of
bilateral cooperation and Premier Wen Jiabao will discuss
ways to boost bilateral and regional cooperation during
summit talks in Singapore on November 20. On North Korea,
the Japanese abduction issue is separate from progress on
North Korea denuclearization and it should not impede the
Six-Party Talks process. The Japanese abduction issue should
not be a barrier to the United States removing North Korea
from its State Sponsors of Terrorism List, Chen added.
East China Sea Dispute
--------------
2. (C) Barring an extension of the current Diet session into
January, Prime Minister Fukuda will visit Beijing before the
year-end, Chen stated. Even though Chief Cabinet Secretary
Machimura hinted that a failure to make progress on the East
China Sea dispute could affect the Prime Minister's plans to
visit the PRC, Beijing and Tokyo are moving forward with
plans for the visit and East China Sea talks will not derail
his visit. The failure to reach an agreement during the 11th
round of talks on November 14 was no surprise, and there is
unlikely to be significant progress made at the next round of
discussions to be held in late November or early December.
While not ruling out the possibility of a breakthrough before
Premier Wen's visit to Japan in April, it is unlikely that
significant progress will be made, Chen suggested.
3. (C) Fukuda hails from the "China School" and his
reputation for being "China friendly" will hinder his ability
to budge on the East China Sea dispute since he cannot afford
the political cost from Japanese voters, Chen observed. As
long as Japan continues to insist that China be the one to
comprise, a resolution will be unlikely because China will
not sacrifice its national interests "as a present" to
Fukuda.
Upcoming Japan-China Summit Meeting in Singapore
-------------- ---
4. (C) On November 20, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will meet
with Japanese Prime Minster Fukuda in Singapore on the
sidelines of ASEAN Plus Three and the East Asia Summit to
discuss ways to boost bilateral and regional cooperation.
Fukuda will likely be more effective than Abe in stepping up
bilateral ties, Chen stated. Since Fukuda has publicly
stated he will not visit Yasukuni Shrine, Wen Jiabao will not
raise history issues during the meeting, Chen explained. Wen
Jiabao and Fukuda are not expected to raise new initiatives
and will most likely repeat previous statements on their
commitment to strengthening "mutually beneficial cooperation"
on energy, environmental protection, economics ties,
security, and cultural exchanges.
North Korea and Abduction Issue
--------------
5. (C) Beijing sees the Japanese abduction issue as separate
from progress on DPRK denuclearization and the Six Party
Talks, Chen noted. China understands the political
sensitivity over the abductions in Japan, but views it as a
bilateral problem between Japan and North Korea that does not
TOKYO 00005278 002.2 OF 002
require third-country intervention. Tokyo repeatedly
requests help on resolving the abduction issue, but since
Japan does not discuss its North Korean bilateral ties with
China, it is difficult for Chinese officials to know how they
can provide support, Chen said.
DONOVAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: PREL JA BM CH KN
SUBJECT: SUBJECT: PRC EMBASSY ON BOOSTING JAPAN COOPERATION
TOKYO 00005278 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Charge D'Affairs Joe R. Donovan
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Despite failure to make progress on the East China Sea
energy dispute, Beijing and Tokyo are moving forward with
plans for Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda to visit Beijing
before year's end, Chinese Embassy Political Officer Zhiwen
Chen told Embassy Tokyo on November 16. A significant
breakthrough on the East China Sea is unlikely before Premier
Wen visits Japan next April because "Tokyo continues to
insist that China be the one to compromise." Even though
Fukuda is hailed as being friendly toward China, Beijing will
not sacrifice its national interests as a reward to him. The
East China Sea dispute will not impede other areas of
bilateral cooperation and Premier Wen Jiabao will discuss
ways to boost bilateral and regional cooperation during
summit talks in Singapore on November 20. On North Korea,
the Japanese abduction issue is separate from progress on
North Korea denuclearization and it should not impede the
Six-Party Talks process. The Japanese abduction issue should
not be a barrier to the United States removing North Korea
from its State Sponsors of Terrorism List, Chen added.
East China Sea Dispute
--------------
2. (C) Barring an extension of the current Diet session into
January, Prime Minister Fukuda will visit Beijing before the
year-end, Chen stated. Even though Chief Cabinet Secretary
Machimura hinted that a failure to make progress on the East
China Sea dispute could affect the Prime Minister's plans to
visit the PRC, Beijing and Tokyo are moving forward with
plans for the visit and East China Sea talks will not derail
his visit. The failure to reach an agreement during the 11th
round of talks on November 14 was no surprise, and there is
unlikely to be significant progress made at the next round of
discussions to be held in late November or early December.
While not ruling out the possibility of a breakthrough before
Premier Wen's visit to Japan in April, it is unlikely that
significant progress will be made, Chen suggested.
3. (C) Fukuda hails from the "China School" and his
reputation for being "China friendly" will hinder his ability
to budge on the East China Sea dispute since he cannot afford
the political cost from Japanese voters, Chen observed. As
long as Japan continues to insist that China be the one to
comprise, a resolution will be unlikely because China will
not sacrifice its national interests "as a present" to
Fukuda.
Upcoming Japan-China Summit Meeting in Singapore
-------------- ---
4. (C) On November 20, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will meet
with Japanese Prime Minster Fukuda in Singapore on the
sidelines of ASEAN Plus Three and the East Asia Summit to
discuss ways to boost bilateral and regional cooperation.
Fukuda will likely be more effective than Abe in stepping up
bilateral ties, Chen stated. Since Fukuda has publicly
stated he will not visit Yasukuni Shrine, Wen Jiabao will not
raise history issues during the meeting, Chen explained. Wen
Jiabao and Fukuda are not expected to raise new initiatives
and will most likely repeat previous statements on their
commitment to strengthening "mutually beneficial cooperation"
on energy, environmental protection, economics ties,
security, and cultural exchanges.
North Korea and Abduction Issue
--------------
5. (C) Beijing sees the Japanese abduction issue as separate
from progress on DPRK denuclearization and the Six Party
Talks, Chen noted. China understands the political
sensitivity over the abductions in Japan, but views it as a
bilateral problem between Japan and North Korea that does not
TOKYO 00005278 002.2 OF 002
require third-country intervention. Tokyo repeatedly
requests help on resolving the abduction issue, but since
Japan does not discuss its North Korean bilateral ties with
China, it is difficult for Chinese officials to know how they
can provide support, Chen said.
DONOVAN