U/S BURNS MEETS WITH JAPAN'S DEPUTY FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 001626

SIPDIS

P FOR MAREN BROOKS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2018
TAGS: PREL XE CH RS IR AS JA
SUBJECT: U/S BURNS MEETS WITH JAPAN'S DEPUTY FOREIGN
MINISTER

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d
)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan believes care must be taken to avoid
pushing China too hard on the Tibet issue, Deputy Foreign
Minister Kenichiro Sasae told visiting Under Secretary for
Political Affairs Bill Burns June 9, and suggested that a
statement made on the subject by the G-8 Foreign Ministers
accentuate the positive (opening of dialogue with the Dalai
Lama) rather than focus solely on the negative. China's
military buildup is also a concern to Japan, and Sasae
suggested the possibility of closer consultations to
coordinate. In the wider region, Sasae termed the proposed
Northeast Asia Peace and Security Mechanism (NEAPSM) "a long
shot" and said that although there is hesitation at the
political level to launching a mechanism at this time, the
Japanese are willing to discuss principles. Sasae touched
upon Japan's concerns about the rising influence of Russia in
the Far East and also asked about Iran. In both cases, he
again suggested it would be worthwhile to have closer
consultations at higher levels to coordinate our responses to
these issues. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) DFM Sasae hosted a one-hour bilateral meeting with U/S
Burns in Tokyo June 9. Sasae was accompanied by Principal
Senior Foreign Policy Coordinator Takehiro Funakoshi, First
North America Division Director Kanji Yamanouchi, and First
North America Divison Deputy Director Takeomi Yamamoto.
Deputy Chief of Mission Joe Donovan, EAP-J Director-designate
Danny Russel, and Embassy notetaker also attended.

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CHINA
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3. (C) The G-8 countries need to be careful about how to
proceed on the subject of Tibet, Sasae said. He believes
that nationalism is rising in China, and after the Olympics
-- successful or not -- this will be even more true. The
younger generation is growing proud of China and is behind
the government one hundred percent on Tibet. Although China
is not a democracy, the government must nevertheless be
mindful of public sentiment. Sasae believes care must be
taken not to further provoke this growing nationalism on
Tibet by being too critical of China's policy. Accordingly,
the G-8 Foreign Ministers, while expressing concern, should
also clearly note the positive steps the Chinese are taking,
such as resuming talks with the Dalai Lama's representatives,
who say they appreciate the dialogue, even if substance is
not yet being discussed.


4. (C) The Chinese, continued Sasae, are very concerned about
what the G-8 Foreign Ministers will say about Tibet, or about
whether they plan to form a contact group to address the
subject, and have been demarching Tokyo hinting that Hu
Jintao will not come to the Hokkaido summit if this is true.
The Japanese, he said, have been encouraging the Chinese to
clearly explain their intentions concerning the resumption of
dialogue, telling them that as G-8 president, Japan will be
able to convince the others of China's position only if it is
very clear and transparent.


5. (C) U/S Burns replied that he understands Sasae's
concerns, and noted that the President, while directly
addressing our concerns on Tibet, has also been careful to
always steer the parties toward a dialogue. Accordingly, we
will be sensitive to the need for the Foreign Ministers to
strike a balance.


6. (C) With regard to the recent earthquake, Sasae said that
while tragic, the Chinese also realize that it has helped
divert attention away from Tibet. He believes the central
government and the army have responded well to the disaster,
thus bolstering their standing, while attempting to focus any
blame on local officials and governments. Sasae was

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concerned about reports of possible damage to Chinese nuclear
facilities and asked U/S Burns to share any information we
might have on this.


7. (C) Over the medium to long term, China's military buildup
continues to be a concern to Japan, said Sasae. He noted the
initiation of a U.S.-PRC dialogue to address this and said
Japan will resume its own security dialogue with China in
July. Japan would like to see the Europeans continue to
observe the arms embargo and is worried they will resume arms
sales if they perceive improvements in the human rights
situation. For Japan, this is a matter of national security,
not human rights. Russia, he continued, also thinks arms
sales to China are "no big deal." Sasae and Burns agreed on
the need for continued dialogue to discuss China's military
buildup, the role the Russians and Europeans are playing in
this, and the effect of the recent elections in Taiwan and
the need to help develop confidence building measures across
the Strait.

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ASIA
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8. (C) The Northeast Asia Peace and Security Mechanism
(NEAPSM) initiative is a "long shot", Sasae asserted.
Recognizing that "we need to sort this out sooner or later,"
he said that while there is hesitation at the political level
to kicking off a formal structure, Tokyo is willing to
discuss principles at this point, thus leaving the U.S. "a
clear way out."


9. (C) The fact that Secretary Rice is going to Singapore is
a very important positive step, said Sasae, as is the recent
appointment of a U.S. Ambassador to ASEAN. He expressed a
desire to work closely with the U.S. and Singapore to work on
an APEC strategy. Sasae also mentioned the visit to Japan of
Australian Prime Minister Rudd, predicting that his new, more
liberal government will want to make drastic suggestions
about reforming Asian architecture. Predicting that the
Australians will "give us a lot of homework", Sasae said he
believes it would be useful to have in depth consultations
with the U.S. on this prior to the end of the year and the
end of the current administration.

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RUSSIA
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10. (C) Japan perceives that Russia is reasserting itself in
the east, said Sasae. Problems with European relationships,
the need to compete with China, and a desire to attract
Japanese investment are all motivating Moscow to seek to play
a more active role in Asia. Japan must be careful about this
and develop a strategy to engage Russia in a constructive
way. Recognizing that there are some tensions with the
Russians over G-8 issues, Sasae urged caution to avoid
exacerbating the relationship.

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IRAN
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11. (C) It does not appear the Iranians will give up their
nuclear program anytime soon, said Sasae. In addition,
Tehran's wider involvement in the region, including in
Lebanon, is very troubling. Javier Solana will go to Tehran
shortly, but no one really expects a breakthrough. Sasae
asked how the U.S. plans to proceed if the Iranians continue
to move forward with their nuclear program. He said that
increasing pressure may be necessary, but that ultimately
there has to be some kind of dialogue. He noted that Japan
has an ongoing relationship with Iran, particularly as it
relates to the importation of oil, and that Tokyo would be
concerned by any sanctions that might somehow impede its

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supply of oil. He said the Iranians are very frustrated with
the Japanese and call them the "sons of the United States."
The Japanese, for their part, try to tell the Iranians that
they must overcome their "image problem" if they want to be
taken seriously by the rest of the international community.


12. (C) U/S Burns replied that Iran is a serious, long-term
problem and that Japan is correct to be concerned about the
rising pattern of dangerous Iranian behavior in Lebanon,
Iraq, and Afghanistan - as well as its nuclear ambitions.
The United States recognizes that Iran is a regional power,
but has deep concerns about how that power is being used.
When Solana goes to Tehran, he will be prepared to adress the
proposal put forth by the Iranians, but will keep the focus
on the EU-3 plus 3 package. The United States remains fully
committed to trying to solve this impasse through diplomacy.


13. (U) Under Secretary Burns has cleared this message.
SCHIEFFER