TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - CYCLONE RELIEF EFFORTS

UNCLAS TOKYO 001422 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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - CYCLONE RELIEF EFFORTS IN BURMA AND SURGING OIL PRICES ¶1. LEAD STORIES: All Friday morning Japanese national dailies front-paged a major foreign policy speech given by Prime Minister Fukuda on Thursday, in which he called for enhanced economic and disaster relief cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. ¶2. "Junta Plays up International Coordination" A Bangkok correspondent of the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri wrote (5/23): "The acceptance by the Burmese junta of a visit to the country by UN Secretary General Ban was aimed at playing up its cooperative stance with the UN and deflecting international criticism of its slow response to Cyclone Nargis. However, as Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein effectively rejected a call by Ban to accept a larger number of relief personnel, the junta's position of prioritizing material assistance over human support from abroad appears to remain unchanged. By displaying its 'superficial coordination' with the international community, the junta apparently hopes to assure substantial aid pledge in the international disaster relief conference scheduled for Sunday in Rangoon." ¶3. "Energy Conservation Needed to Deal with Rising Oil Prices" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (5/23): "In order to prevent a further surge in petroleum prices, oil consumers need to make extra efforts for energy conservation and development of alternative energy sources.... In order to curb the inflow of speculative money into the oil trading market, some call for a hike in commissions on selling and purchasing oil future products. While there may be technical difficulties involved, such an approach is worth being studied." SCHIEFFER