CHINA-JAPAN STRATEGIC DIALOGUE: FOCUS ON BILATERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000668 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2028 TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD ENRG CH JN SUBJECT: CHINA-JAPAN STRATEGIC DIALOGUE: FOCUS ON BILATERAL ISSUES Classified By: Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carls on. Reasons 1.4 (b/d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The eighth China-Japan Strategic Dialogue, held in Beijing, focused on bilateral issues including President Hu Jintao's upcoming April trip to Japan, food safety, and the dispute over gas exploration rights in the East China Sea. According to an MFA official, the dialogue was "fruitful," especially in boosting "strategic mutual trust." Despite urging from the Chinese, the Japanese did not issue a new statement on the Taiwan UN referendum. End Summary. ¶2. (C) During the eighth round of the China-Japan Strategic Dialogue February 22-23, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi and newly-appointed Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka, focused on bilateral issues, including President Hu Jintao's planned trip to Japan, food safety, and the East China Sea resource dispute. (Note: While it is Yabunaka and Wang's first time participating in the dialogue, they know each other from their previous work on Six-Party Talks.) Chinese Emphasize "Strategic Mutual Trust" -------------- ¶3. (C) The talks were "fruitful," and the main accomplishment of the dialogue was building "strategic mutual trust" between the two countries, according to PRC MFA Asian Affairs Department Japan Division Deputy Director Lu Guijun. Lu emphasized that both sides had renewed their commitment to quickly resolve the East China Sea dispute. Lu underscored the importance of President Hu's visit to Japan. Japanese on Food Safety, East China Sea -------------- ¶4. (C) According to Japanese Embassy Political Counselor Hiroyuki Namazu, the talks were general in nature with both sides mostly "reviewing basic policy stances." Embassy First Secretary Akira Yokochi said the two sides had detailed SIPDIS discussions about President Hu's visit, expected in April. The Chinese stressed the importance of a successful visit to the development of bilateral relations, said Yokochi. Wang and Yabunaka also discussed food safety issues in light of the recent dumpling poisoning incident. Yokochi noted that the Japanese Deputy Head of Police, who was originally scheduled to visit Beijing for law enforcement discussions, will have discussions on food safety with Chinese counterparts during his February 25-27 visit. ¶5. (C) Even though Wang and Yabunaka discussed East China Sea resource issues at length, there were no breakthroughs, said Namazu. Yokochi said he did not believe that the Chinese approached the resolution of the East China Sea dispute with the same urgency as the Japanese since the Chinese were "unwilling to compromise." According to Yokochi, the Japanese believe that a resolution well in advance of President Hu's visit is imperative for a successful visit. Otherwise, the Japanese fear that the Japanese and Chinese media will fixate on the lack of an agreement and that this will overshadow the visit. Taiwan -------------- ¶6. (C) MFA's Lu noted that the two sides discussed Taiwan in the context of "understanding mutual interests." Yokochi said the Taiwan issue was "touched upon briefly" when the Chinese asked Japan to make a clear and unequivocal statement to oppose Taiwan's UN referendum bid. Vice Minister Yabunaka deferred to Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda's December statement on Taiwan's referendum. RANDT