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
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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"
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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
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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

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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
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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