TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - SECRETARY RICE'S

UNCLAS TOKYO 001798 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 - SECRETARY RICE'S NORTHEAST ASIA TOUR AND SUDAN ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Tuesday morning's Mainichi gave top play to the finding that a GSDF staffer last February lost a USB memory device containing a unit deployment chart for a U.S.-Japan defense exercise. ¶2. "Secretary Rice Calls for Closer Coordination for DPRK Denuclearization" The liberal Mainichi's correspondent reported from Beijing (7/1): "During her Northeast Asia tour, Secretary Rice urged enhanced coordination toward the abolition of all of North Korea's nuclear programs and made arrangements for convening a six-party foreign ministerial aimed at enhancing the six-party framework.... In addition to holding consultations on issues related to the six-party talks, the Secretary also spent many hours exchanging opinions on security cooperation in the region. She held such extensive discussions from a long- term standpoint with the goal of enhancing the functions of the six-party framework." ¶3. "International Community Should Take Firm Position" The conservative Sankei insisted in an editorial (7/1): "...The response (to the Zimbabwean presidential election) by the UN and the international community has been slow. What must not be forgotten is the presence of China, which has supported Mugabe by citing the principle of 'noninterference in the internal affairs of another state.'... China should be aware of its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council tasked with maintaining peace and security for the international community.... In order to press Mugabe to change course, the G8 summit and the UNSC need to come up with firm measures, including sanctions." ¶4. "Undemocratic Election in Zimbabwe" The business- oriented Nikkei editorialized (7/1): "No presidential election has been as roundly condemned internationally as the one just held in Zimbabwe. President Mugabe was reelected after a campaign rife with institutional violence and blackmail directed toward supporters of his opponent. It should be denounced as an undemocratic election.... The African Union held a summit in Egypt with President Mugabe attending. Nothing is more important for African leaders than to clearly criticize Mugabe." SCHIEFFER