Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TOKYO779
2007-02-23 05:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION - CHENEY VISIT - TOKYO
how-toVZCZCXRO5496 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #0779 0540536 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 230536Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0969 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 9981 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 3467 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5892 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1525 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1985 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3355 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
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.
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
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