Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO1995
2008-07-18 05:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO UPDATING ARF ON REGIONAL
how-toVZCZCXRO0431 PP RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHKO #1995 2000540 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 180540Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5942 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 8929 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 1303 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 2658 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 9512
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001995
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/RSP KEVIN SHEIVES AND ISN/RA CHARLES
MAHAFFEY.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID ARF ASEAN PARM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO UPDATING ARF ON REGIONAL
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
REF: STATE 074383
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001995
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/RSP KEVIN SHEIVES AND ISN/RA CHARLES
MAHAFFEY.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID ARF ASEAN PARM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO UPDATING ARF ON REGIONAL
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
REF: STATE 074383
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (C) USAID Counselor and Political Officer delivered Reftel
nonpaper to MOFA Foreign Policy Bureau National Security
Policy Division Principal Deputy Director Shingo Miyamoto and
Deputy Director Kazutoshi Hayashi on July 16. Miyamoto and
Hayashi thanked Embassy Tokyo and agreed on the need to
enhance ARF's efforts on disaster preparedness. Miyamoto
stated that Japan agrees in principal with the nonpaper but
expressed concerned about the text on SOFA.
2. (C) Miyamoto subsequently told AID Counselor on July 17
that Singapore is currently circulating its "draft chairman's
summary" and noted that it contains all of the elements from
the USG nonpaper but is briefer. Miyamoto noted that the
Singapore summary contains the phrase "explore feasibility of
temporary ARF/SOFA template." Since the Singapore Chairman's
summary text does not note that the SOFA arrangement would be
temporary and applied bilaterally, it will be difficult for
ARF members to reach consensus, Miyamoto predicted. MOFA
recommends changing it to "arrangements for using status of
forces agreements in natural disaster assistance." In
addition, MOFA is cautious about using the term "SOFA" due to
domestic media sensitivity, Miyamoto stated. Miyamoto also
stated that the statement was so brief it lacked clarity and
this brevity will likely cause other countries the same
concerns that MOFA expressed.
3. (C) Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura will head the
Japanese delegation. Other Japanese participants will
include MOFA Foreign Policy Director-General Chikao Kawai,
National Security Policy Director Takeo Mori, Deputy Director
Kazutoshi Hayashi and Mayumi Kobayashi.
ZUMWALT
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO EAP/RSP KEVIN SHEIVES AND ISN/RA CHARLES
MAHAFFEY.
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/17/2018
TAGS: PREL EAID ARF ASEAN PARM JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO UPDATING ARF ON REGIONAL
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
REF: STATE 074383
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).
1. (C) USAID Counselor and Political Officer delivered Reftel
nonpaper to MOFA Foreign Policy Bureau National Security
Policy Division Principal Deputy Director Shingo Miyamoto and
Deputy Director Kazutoshi Hayashi on July 16. Miyamoto and
Hayashi thanked Embassy Tokyo and agreed on the need to
enhance ARF's efforts on disaster preparedness. Miyamoto
stated that Japan agrees in principal with the nonpaper but
expressed concerned about the text on SOFA.
2. (C) Miyamoto subsequently told AID Counselor on July 17
that Singapore is currently circulating its "draft chairman's
summary" and noted that it contains all of the elements from
the USG nonpaper but is briefer. Miyamoto noted that the
Singapore summary contains the phrase "explore feasibility of
temporary ARF/SOFA template." Since the Singapore Chairman's
summary text does not note that the SOFA arrangement would be
temporary and applied bilaterally, it will be difficult for
ARF members to reach consensus, Miyamoto predicted. MOFA
recommends changing it to "arrangements for using status of
forces agreements in natural disaster assistance." In
addition, MOFA is cautious about using the term "SOFA" due to
domestic media sensitivity, Miyamoto stated. Miyamoto also
stated that the statement was so brief it lacked clarity and
this brevity will likely cause other countries the same
concerns that MOFA expressed.
3. (C) Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura will head the
Japanese delegation. Other Japanese participants will
include MOFA Foreign Policy Director-General Chikao Kawai,
National Security Policy Director Takeo Mori, Deputy Director
Kazutoshi Hayashi and Mayumi Kobayashi.
ZUMWALT