JUSTICE MINISTER DISCUSSES BIOMETRICS, ESTA, CHILD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 001627 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2018 TAGS: CVIS CMGT JA SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER DISCUSSES BIOMETRICS, ESTA, CHILD PORN WITH DHS DEPUTY SECRETARY SCHNEIDER Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, reasons 1.4(b),(d). ¶1. (C) DHS Deputy Secretary Schneider and Justice Minister Hatoyama met on June 12 in Tokyo to discuss: -- Japan's new biometric immigration system, developed with assistance from the United States, which has already captured data on 4.5 million travelers and identified 150 as malafide; -- the possibility of structuring an agreement to share biometric data; -- Japanese concerns over ESTA, based on a misunderstanding of the 72-hour notification requirement; and -- progress on a revision to Japan's child pornography laws that will criminalize simple possession and is expected to pass in the fall. -------------- -------------- Japan Appreciates U.S. Assistance With Biometrics -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Department of Homeland Security Deputy (DHS) Secretary Paul Schneider held a 20-minute bilateral meeting with Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama on the margins of the G-8 Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial in Tokyo on June 12. Minister Hatoyama expressed his appreciation for the information and experiences shared by the United States in developing Japan's new biometric immigration system. In just six months, he said, approximately 4.5 million people have entered Japan and provided biometric data. Not one has refused to furnish fingerprints. As a result of the information contained in the database, approximately 150 travelers have been refused entry. Some of those refused entry have attempted to re-enter Japan after changing their personal data, or obtaining new or forged passports, but have been stopped again at the port of entry, he noted. -------------- U.S. Interested in Sharing Biometric Data -------------- ¶3. (C) Deputy Secretary Schneider raised the issue of structuring a mutual immigration agreement with Japan to ensure that biometric information can be shared between the United States and Japan. He described his own experiences working closely with Japan's Self-Defense Forces to develop missile defense systems as a very good example of the sort of cooperative agreement he hoped to see on immigration. The United States already maintains such agreements with several other countries, he noted, and they have proven highly effective. A cooperative agreement with Japan is the "logical next step," he added. -------------- Japanese Concerns Over ESTA Addressed -------------- ¶4. (C) Minister Hatoyama expressed concern that the United States is implementing a system that will require all travelers from Visa Waiver countries such as Japan to inform DHS of their travel plans and receive approval at least 72 hours in advance. Deputy Secretary Schneider assured Minister Hatoyama that DHS recognizes that the 72-hour requirement, while ideal, is not practical, particularly in the case of business travelers, and is working to structure the system to accommodate last-minute travel. The United States is currently engaged in an intensive communications effort to correct any misunderstandings or misinterpretation of the new requirements, he added. Deputy Secretary Schneider acknowledged that the United States had not done as good a job as it could have done in explaining the new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA),leading to a great deal of confusion. In fact, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) had raised the same concerns in his morning meeting with them, he noted. Ultimately, he pointed out, ESTA will replace the old paper system and make life easier for people who want to visit the United States. -------------- -- U.S. Applauds Progress on Child Pornography Law -------------- -- TOKYO 00001627 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) Minister Hatoyama recounted how the Op-Ed piece on criminalization of the possession of child pornography authored by Ambassador Schieffer had stimulated a quesiton to him in the Diet which "set things moving in a positive direction." The United States Government is very supportive of Japan's efforts to criminalize possession of child pornorgraphy, Deputy Secretary Schneider replied, noting the importance of the issue at home. Minister Hatoyama explained that the ruling coalition parties had submitted a draft bill calling for the penalization of simple possession of child pornography to the Diet on June 10. He said he expected the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (of which his brother, Yukio Hatoyama, is Secretary General) to challenge the bill, but believes it will be passed into law in the next Diet session, slated to begin in August or September. ¶6. (U) This message was cleared by Deputy Secretary Schneider. SCHIEFFER