Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO1547
2008-06-06 06:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

CLIMATE CHANGE: FURTHER GOJ THOUGHTS ON KOBE AND

Tags:  SENV ENRG KGHG JA 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001547 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G, E, OES, EEB
CEQ FOR JAMES CONNAUGHTON
NSC FOR PAUL BROWN AND JONATHAN SHRIER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2018
TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG JA
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE: FURTHER GOJ THOUGHTS ON KOBE AND
UPCOMING MEETINGS

REF: A. TOKYO 1476


B. TOKYO 1496

C. STATE 56636

D. STATE 59076

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, reasons 1.4 b/d

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001547

SIPDIS

STATE FOR G, E, OES, EEB
CEQ FOR JAMES CONNAUGHTON
NSC FOR PAUL BROWN AND JONATHAN SHRIER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2018
TAGS: SENV ENRG KGHG JA
SUBJECT: CLIMATE CHANGE: FURTHER GOJ THOUGHTS ON KOBE AND
UPCOMING MEETINGS

REF: A. TOKYO 1476


B. TOKYO 1496

C. STATE 56636

D. STATE 59076

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, reasons 1.4 b/d


1. (C) Summary: Foreign Ministry Director-General for Global
Issues, Koji Tsuruoka, told EMIN Japanese Prime Minister
Fukuda and Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura are now
concerned that the U.S. is focused on the Major Economies
Meeting at the expense of the G8. At the same time they are
asking what the top levels of the USG are doing with other
governments to ensure the MEM realizes U.S. objectives.
Tsuruoka noted Fukuda's recent direct engagement with
Chinese, Brazilian, and South African leaders and that they
were not showing movement toward the desired positions on
greenhouse gas cuts. Tsuruoka stressed the need for progress
at the upcoming MEM in Seoul if the goals the U.S. and Japan
had shared for the MEM in Hokkaido are to be realized, but he
expressed concern that the Koreans may not be able to produce
the needed progress and that the time remaining before the
July MEM leaders' meeting may be too short. End Summary.


2. (C) EMIN followed-up with MOFA Director-General for
Global Issues Koji Tsuruoka June 5 regarding U.S.
disatisfaction with the outcome of the G8 Environment
Ministerial and the Ambassador's May 30 meeting with Chief
Cabinet Secretary Machimura (refs B and C). Tsuruoka said
the GOJ was surprised by the ref C demarche and the
seriousness with which the U.S. views the situation.
According to Tsuruoka, Machimura had not read the Chair's
Summary coming out of the Environment Ministerial until just
before his meeting with the Ambassador. Tsuruoka also stated
the GOJ does not think statements such as that issued at Kobe
have much impact and that Japan looks at the G8 ministerial
meetings as independent and separate from the Summit.
Preparations for the G8 Summit agenda take place solely
through the sherpa process, he said.


3. (C) Casting his words as his "personal response,"
Tsuruoka said the U.S. demarche had focused Prime Minister
Fukuda and Machimura on the issue. However, the PM and CCS
are also now wondering whether the U.S. is interested only in
the MEM, and not in the success of the G8. EMIN noted one
reason for the demarche was to help prevent problems at the
G8. Tsuruoka then noted Fukuda had personally engaged with
the leaders of China, South Africa and Brazil in recent weeks
to bring them on board for a successful statement on climate
at the ME Leaders Meeting. The Prime Minister and Machimura
are asking, however, about the personal engagement of top
U.S. leaders to advance the MEM. Tsuruoka said he needed
information regarding U.S. high-level engagement with foreign
leaders to advance the MEM in order to assure Fukuda the U.S.
was "doing all its homework" for a successful ME Leaders
Meeting. When EMIN noted examples of the President's and
other USG officials' statements and work in the MEM, Tsuruoka
suggested what the Kantei is looking for is information
regarding U.S. officials' behind-the-scenes or other
diplomatic engagement with key senior figures in other major
economies on climate change.


4. (C) Comment -- Tsuruoka's comments on top GOJ attitudes
on the current state of play in international discussions on
climate change do not track with Machimura's remarks last
week to the Ambassador and Senator Lieberman (refs A and B).
In those meetings, Machimura asked for U.S. flexibility on
climate change at the G8. One possible reason for the
discrepancy -- Tsuruoka has been at his job too long and is
too steeped in the issue to be this off-message -- is that
MOFA is looking for additional information on U.S. efforts in
order to influence the discussions that are underway in the

GOJ.
SCHIEFFER