Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO203
2008-01-25 06:19:00
SECRET
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

CODEL TAUSCHER MEETS WITH DEFMIN ISHIBA, TALKS

Tags:  OVIP PGOV PREL JA 
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VZCZCXRO0802
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0203/01 0250619
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 250619Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1244
INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7373
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5704
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 8098
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9369
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6310
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SEOUL KOR
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
RUEHKO/USDAO TOKYO JA
RHMFISS/USFJ
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
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).

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