Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO1885
2008-07-09 04:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - G8 SUMMIT
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UNCLAS TOKYO 001885
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 - G8 SUMMIT
UNCLAS TOKYO 001885
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 - G8 SUMMIT
1. LEAD STORIES: All Wednesday morning papers gave
prominent top coverage to Tuesday's adoption of a G8
summit declaration calling for a 50-percent reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
2. "Unimpressive G8 Accord on Emissions Cut" The
business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (7/8): "...The
50-percent reduction is not a G8 commitment. It was
written (in the summit declaration) as a G8 call for
the world to share. It can be said that the accord was
compiled in deference to the Bush administration, which
has called for the participation of China and India.
Prime Minister Fukuda may say that he did a good job in
winning over the U.S., which had been negative about a
long-term reduction goal, but the magnitude of the
issue does not warrant terming the reaffirmation of a
40-year, nonbinding target as 'progress.'... It is
believed that the EU made a concession to the U.S. in
order not to slow ongoing UN negotiations on global
warming. PM Fukuda may have done well to play the role
of a bridge between the G8 and the UN."
3. "How Will China Respond?" The liberal Asahi wrote
(7/8): "The U.S. had long been hesitant about endorsing
a 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2050 as a
target. Against this backdrop, the matter has now been
passed to the UN. It can be said that Japan and Europe
outperformed the Bush administration in order to make
sure that the UN takes the lead (in negotiations over
emissions cuts)."
4. "U.S. Compromise Constitutes Progress" The liberal
Tokyo Shimbun asserted (7/8): "It can be said that a 50-
percent reduction was formally recognized as a shared
worldwide goal. The declaration also expressed the G8's
understanding for setting a mid-term reduction goal by
saying that member states, where applicable, will
implement ambitious economy-wide mid-term goals. This
can also be judged as progress.... As a major emitter,
each G8 member state should swiftly draw up a mid-term
goal and exercise leadership in reducing emissions."
5. "Responsibility of Advanced Nations Remain Unclear"
The liberal Mainichi contended (7/8): "The worst-case
scenario was averted, as the summit came up with
specific figures and as the U.S. endorsed them. The
summit declaration, however, did not state that the G8
agreed on halving emissions by 2050. It did not
specifically state to what extent the advanced
countries are willing to fulfill their own
responsibilities. On the contrary, the G8 position is
premised upon the participation of all the major
economies. The developed countries are urged to reduce
emissions more than the global target in order to
ensure the participation of developing nations.
Considering this, it is questionable that this
agreement is strong enough to give a boost to
reductions under a post-Kyoto Protocol framework."
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 - G8 SUMMIT
1. LEAD STORIES: All Wednesday morning papers gave
prominent top coverage to Tuesday's adoption of a G8
summit declaration calling for a 50-percent reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
2. "Unimpressive G8 Accord on Emissions Cut" The
business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (7/8): "...The
50-percent reduction is not a G8 commitment. It was
written (in the summit declaration) as a G8 call for
the world to share. It can be said that the accord was
compiled in deference to the Bush administration, which
has called for the participation of China and India.
Prime Minister Fukuda may say that he did a good job in
winning over the U.S., which had been negative about a
long-term reduction goal, but the magnitude of the
issue does not warrant terming the reaffirmation of a
40-year, nonbinding target as 'progress.'... It is
believed that the EU made a concession to the U.S. in
order not to slow ongoing UN negotiations on global
warming. PM Fukuda may have done well to play the role
of a bridge between the G8 and the UN."
3. "How Will China Respond?" The liberal Asahi wrote
(7/8): "The U.S. had long been hesitant about endorsing
a 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2050 as a
target. Against this backdrop, the matter has now been
passed to the UN. It can be said that Japan and Europe
outperformed the Bush administration in order to make
sure that the UN takes the lead (in negotiations over
emissions cuts)."
4. "U.S. Compromise Constitutes Progress" The liberal
Tokyo Shimbun asserted (7/8): "It can be said that a 50-
percent reduction was formally recognized as a shared
worldwide goal. The declaration also expressed the G8's
understanding for setting a mid-term reduction goal by
saying that member states, where applicable, will
implement ambitious economy-wide mid-term goals. This
can also be judged as progress.... As a major emitter,
each G8 member state should swiftly draw up a mid-term
goal and exercise leadership in reducing emissions."
5. "Responsibility of Advanced Nations Remain Unclear"
The liberal Mainichi contended (7/8): "The worst-case
scenario was averted, as the summit came up with
specific figures and as the U.S. endorsed them. The
summit declaration, however, did not state that the G8
agreed on halving emissions by 2050. It did not
specifically state to what extent the advanced
countries are willing to fulfill their own
responsibilities. On the contrary, the G8 position is
premised upon the participation of all the major
economies. The developed countries are urged to reduce
emissions more than the global target in order to
ensure the participation of developing nations.
Considering this, it is questionable that this
agreement is strong enough to give a boost to
reductions under a post-Kyoto Protocol framework."
SCHIEFFER