MEDIA REACTION - CHENEY VISIT - TOKYO

UNCLAS TOKYO 000779 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: MEDIA REACTION - CHENEY VISIT - TOKYO LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's conservative Sankei front- paged a report that the Ministry of Defense is planning to establish a center for international peace cooperation activities, tentatively called the Japanese Peacekeeping Operation Center, to enable SDF personnel to better participate in UN peacekeeping missions abroad. ¶1. "Cheney-Abe Meeting: Did PM Abe Show 'Assertive' Diplomacy?" The moderate Tokyo Shimbun editorialized (2/23): "During talks with visiting Vice President Cheney Wednesday at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, Prime Minister Abe promised Japan's continued support for Iraq. However, if he had wanted to demonstrate his 'assertive' diplomacy, Abe should have first of all asked Cheney about the details of the new US policy in Iraq, which centers on the dispatch of more than 20,000 additional troops.... In the end, the meeting left the impression that Cheney told Abe the US would side with Japan on the abduction issue in return for a promise to continue the Air Self-Defense Force airlift operations in Iraq." ¶2. "Concern over Kyuma's Absence from Talks with Cheney" An editorial in the liberal Mainichi commented (2/23): "During their respective meetings, Vice President Cheney agreed with Prime Minister Abe and Foreign Minister Aso to further strengthen the US-Japan alliance.... It is praiseworthy that these leaders confirmed close US-Japan cooperation in dealing with North Korea. The main purpose of Cheney's visit to Japan had been to discuss security issues with Japanese leaders. Nonetheless, there was no meeting between Cheney and Defense Minister Kyuma. We cannot help but be concerned about this. Kyuma has made remarks critical about the US start of the Iraq war and called the US stance on the relocation of the functions of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to Camp Schwab in Okinawa 'arrogant.'... The US and Japanese foreign and defense ministers have not held a 2+2 meeting since Kyuma became defense minister. Efforts should be made to hold one as soon as possible and dissolve the awkwardness in the bilateral relationship." SCHIEFFER