CODEL TAUSCHER MEETS WITH DEFMIN ISHIBA, TALKS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000203 SIPDIS SIPDIS USFJ FOR J00/J01/J5 E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018 TAGS: OVIP PGOV PREL JA SUBJECT: CODEL TAUSCHER MEETS WITH DEFMIN ISHIBA, TALKS MISSILE DEFENSE Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (S) Summary: U.S.-Japan cooperation on Ballistic Missile Defense was the focus of meetings between Japanese Minister of Defense Ishiba and a Congressional Delegation led by Rep. Ellen Tauscher. In light of the recent successful test of a Japanese AEGIS system aboard the Kongo, Minister Ishiba assured Rep. Tauscher that Japan remains dedicated and eager to expand missile defense cooperation with the United States. Ishiba suggested further bilateral simulations in order to refine the system and explore command and control issues. Both Minister Ishiba and Vice Minister Masuda told the CODEL that Japan must work through the constitutional obstacles that prevent collective self defense. End Summary. ¶2. (C) In a January 10 meeting, House Armed Services Committee members Ellen Tauscher, Todd Akin, Rick Larsen and Trent Franks met with Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Vice Defense Minister Kohei Masuda to discuss Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD). CODEL Tauscher congratulated Ishiba and Masuda for the recent successful BMD test aboard the Japanese ship Kongo, and for the Ministry of Defense's one-year anniversary as a full ministry. The CODEL also emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance to the region and expressed their desire for a "further maturation" of the relationship, especially on BMD-related matters. ¶3. (C) Defense Minister Ishiba noted that he takes BMD very seriously and is dedicated to cooperation with the U.S. Traditional deterrence measures are often not adequate in this day of asymmetrical threats and the modernization of Japanese BMD assets is increasingly important, he said. While noting that Secretary Rice has emphasized the U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan, Ishiba underscored the Japanese desire to have their own credible missile defense. He pledged his support for continued funding for improving U.S.-Japan BMD cooperation, saying that the Kongo BMD test is a good first step to an even more capable system. Representative Tauscher agreed that the Kongo test is an example to the world of the effectiveness of BMD. ¶4. (C) Japan will need to confront the collective self defense question sooner, rather than later, Defense Minister Ishiba continued. He noted that if the U.S. were attacked and Japan had the opportunity to stop the attack, but did nothing, then the alliance would end. Representative Tauscher agreed that the American people do not expect the Japanese BMD system to be "one-sided." To avoid that situation, Japan must address its "unique" collective self defense question to allow for "a limited right for collective defense," Ishiba said. When this occurs, the U.S.-Japan alliance will transform into a more "balanced" relationship. Instead, Ishiba clarified, Japan's shared values with the U.S. will be what bind the two countries together, and the Japanese Government will support the option of stationing U.S. troops rather than be under the obligation to do so. ¶5. (S) In terms of command and control, Ishiba and Masuda both expressed their confidence in the Japanese ability to react to a ballistic missile attack, but noted that there are many legal issues that still must be worked out. The Air Self Defense Force, through the Air Defense Command, has overall command of Japanese BMD assets, VDM Masuda said, though it will be the Prime Minister who will make the final decision to intercept an incoming ballistic missile. Both Ishiba and Masuda repeatedly emphasized the Japanese desire to share as much information as possible between the countries and perform joint simulations with the U.S. Masuda underscored the desire for information TOKYO 00000203 002 OF 002 sharing by characterizing it as the "most important" next step to the development of Japanese BMD. ¶6. (U) CODEL Tauscher has cleared this message. SCHIEFFER