Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO1688
2008-06-19 03:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO2811 PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #1688 1710359 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 190359Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5239 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8469 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0844 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 6730 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 9054 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2192 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4002 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2379 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9997 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0413 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 001688
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 - JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS
AND TRUCE IN GAZA
UNCLAS TOKYO 001688
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 - JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS
AND TRUCE IN GAZA
1. LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers led with
a formal agreement between Japan and China for the
former to finance two natural gas field development
projects in the East China Sea currently being
unilaterally undertaken by China.
2. "Realistic Compromise Made" On the accord between
Beijing and Tokyo concerning joint development of
undersea natural gas fields in the East China Sea, the
liberal Asahi editorialized (6/19): "The two sides did
not touch on the issue of determining the boundary of
their exclusive economic zones; their positions on the
matter remain unchanged. Nonetheless, a compromise was
possible (over gas field development) thanks to the
political decision by Prime Minister Fukuda and Chinese
President Hu. They concluded that each side would
benefit more from improving bilateral ties, even at the
expense of making partial concessions."
3. "Failure to Contain Hamas Prompts Compromise" On the
ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza,
the liberal Mainichi's correspondent reported from
Jerusalem (6/19): "Israel decided to agree on a
ceasefire with Hamas, which does not recognize Israel's
right to exist, because it concluded that a certain
degree of compromise is unavoidable in view of the
apparent failure of its policy of encircling Gaza with
the aim of weakening Hamas. However, given that past
ceasefires have failed soon after their effectuation,
it is questionable whether the latest one will lead to
a breakthrough in Gaza."
4. "Israel Changes Policy of Isolating Hamas" A
Jerusalem-based reporter for the top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri wrote (6/19): "The truce represents an
effective change in Israel's policy of considering
Hamas as a terrorist group and isolating it.... The
reason Israel decided on a truce is that Prime Minister
Olmert needed to present to the Israeli people tangible
policy accomplishments in order to restore his grip on
power in response to mounting criticism from within the
ruling coalition over his alleged involvement in a
scandal (connected to the privatization of a national
bank)."
SCHIEFFER
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 - JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS
AND TRUCE IN GAZA
1. LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers led with
a formal agreement between Japan and China for the
former to finance two natural gas field development
projects in the East China Sea currently being
unilaterally undertaken by China.
2. "Realistic Compromise Made" On the accord between
Beijing and Tokyo concerning joint development of
undersea natural gas fields in the East China Sea, the
liberal Asahi editorialized (6/19): "The two sides did
not touch on the issue of determining the boundary of
their exclusive economic zones; their positions on the
matter remain unchanged. Nonetheless, a compromise was
possible (over gas field development) thanks to the
political decision by Prime Minister Fukuda and Chinese
President Hu. They concluded that each side would
benefit more from improving bilateral ties, even at the
expense of making partial concessions."
3. "Failure to Contain Hamas Prompts Compromise" On the
ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza,
the liberal Mainichi's correspondent reported from
Jerusalem (6/19): "Israel decided to agree on a
ceasefire with Hamas, which does not recognize Israel's
right to exist, because it concluded that a certain
degree of compromise is unavoidable in view of the
apparent failure of its policy of encircling Gaza with
the aim of weakening Hamas. However, given that past
ceasefires have failed soon after their effectuation,
it is questionable whether the latest one will lead to
a breakthrough in Gaza."
4. "Israel Changes Policy of Isolating Hamas" A
Jerusalem-based reporter for the top-circulation,
moderate Yomiuri wrote (6/19): "The truce represents an
effective change in Israel's policy of considering
Hamas as a terrorist group and isolating it.... The
reason Israel decided on a truce is that Prime Minister
Olmert needed to present to the Israeli people tangible
policy accomplishments in order to restore his grip on
power in response to mounting criticism from within the
ruling coalition over his alleged involvement in a
scandal (connected to the privatization of a national
bank)."
SCHIEFFER