Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO1219
2008-05-02 08:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
CHINA TO ENDORSE SECTORAL APPROACH IN JOINT
how-toVZCZCXRO3781 OO RUEHHM RUEHPB DE RUEHKO #1219 1230852 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 020852Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3963 INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA IMMEDIATE 7606 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA IMMEDIATE 9990 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE IMMEDIATE 1285 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO IMMEDIATE 8201 RHMCSUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001219
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR G, OES, EEB, AND EAP/J AND C
NSC FOR JSHRIER, KTONG, AND PBROWN
STATE PASS CEQ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2018
TAGS: ENRG SENV KGHG CH JA
SUBJECT: CHINA TO ENDORSE SECTORAL APPROACH IN JOINT
CLIMATE STATEMENT WITH JAPAN
REF: A. TOKYO 1075
B. TOKYO 1138
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Joseph R. Donovan, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001219
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR G, OES, EEB, AND EAP/J AND C
NSC FOR JSHRIER, KTONG, AND PBROWN
STATE PASS CEQ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2018
TAGS: ENRG SENV KGHG CH JA
SUBJECT: CHINA TO ENDORSE SECTORAL APPROACH IN JOINT
CLIMATE STATEMENT WITH JAPAN
REF: A. TOKYO 1075
B. TOKYO 1138
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Joseph R. Donovan, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (C) Japanese officials confirmed press reports that Japan
and China continue to negotiate the text of a joint statement
on climate change to be issued by Chinese President Hu Jintao
and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda during the former's
visit to Tokyo on May 7. Several major news outlets reported
the statement will include China's characterizing Japan's
proposed sectoral approach to reducing greenhouse gas
emissions as an "important step." Media reports also said
the statement will include Chinese appreciation for Japan's
USD 10 billion fund for clean energy technologies and
adaptation to climate change in developing countries. For
its part, the GOJ will praise China's plan to cut energy
consumption by 20 percent from 2005 levels by 2010 and will
include language that Japan is "ready to help China's
efforts," according to a front page article in the May 2
Mainichi Shimbun. However, the statement will not mention
country specific emissions reduction targets, due to Chinese
opposition, according to the article.
2. (C) While Foreign (MOFA) and Environment (MOE) ministry
officials refused to confirm details of the draft statement
that had been leaked to the press, a Ministry of Economy,
Trade, and Industry (METI) official gave Econoff background
on China's apparent change of stance regarding Japan's
sectoral approach proposal. METI Global Environmental
Affairs Deputy Director Susumu Okamoto, who said he was
involved in negotiating the joint statement, said high level
METI and Chinese officials had positive discussions on the
sectoral approach at the Paris MEM. He speculated comments
in favor of the sectoral approach by a number of countries
had led higher-level Chinese officials to overrule the
lower-level Chinese climate negotiators who had opposed the
sectoral approach.
3. (C) The climate change statement is separate from a joint
communique on bilateral relations that is also under
negotiation (refs),according to a May 2 Nikkei article.
However, Okamoto's comments and the contents of the climate
statement leaked to the press indicate considerable agreement
between Japan and China on the issue; as opposed to the joint
communique, which is bogged down over Taiwan (ref B).
DONOVAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR G, OES, EEB, AND EAP/J AND C
NSC FOR JSHRIER, KTONG, AND PBROWN
STATE PASS CEQ
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2018
TAGS: ENRG SENV KGHG CH JA
SUBJECT: CHINA TO ENDORSE SECTORAL APPROACH IN JOINT
CLIMATE STATEMENT WITH JAPAN
REF: A. TOKYO 1075
B. TOKYO 1138
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Joseph R. Donovan, reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)
1. (C) Japanese officials confirmed press reports that Japan
and China continue to negotiate the text of a joint statement
on climate change to be issued by Chinese President Hu Jintao
and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda during the former's
visit to Tokyo on May 7. Several major news outlets reported
the statement will include China's characterizing Japan's
proposed sectoral approach to reducing greenhouse gas
emissions as an "important step." Media reports also said
the statement will include Chinese appreciation for Japan's
USD 10 billion fund for clean energy technologies and
adaptation to climate change in developing countries. For
its part, the GOJ will praise China's plan to cut energy
consumption by 20 percent from 2005 levels by 2010 and will
include language that Japan is "ready to help China's
efforts," according to a front page article in the May 2
Mainichi Shimbun. However, the statement will not mention
country specific emissions reduction targets, due to Chinese
opposition, according to the article.
2. (C) While Foreign (MOFA) and Environment (MOE) ministry
officials refused to confirm details of the draft statement
that had been leaked to the press, a Ministry of Economy,
Trade, and Industry (METI) official gave Econoff background
on China's apparent change of stance regarding Japan's
sectoral approach proposal. METI Global Environmental
Affairs Deputy Director Susumu Okamoto, who said he was
involved in negotiating the joint statement, said high level
METI and Chinese officials had positive discussions on the
sectoral approach at the Paris MEM. He speculated comments
in favor of the sectoral approach by a number of countries
had led higher-level Chinese officials to overrule the
lower-level Chinese climate negotiators who had opposed the
sectoral approach.
3. (C) The climate change statement is separate from a joint
communique on bilateral relations that is also under
negotiation (refs),according to a May 2 Nikkei article.
However, Okamoto's comments and the contents of the climate
statement leaked to the press indicate considerable agreement
between Japan and China on the issue; as opposed to the joint
communique, which is bogged down over Taiwan (ref B).
DONOVAN