Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO2136
2008-08-05 02:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - CHINA - ATTACK IN
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UNCLAS TOKYO 002136
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 - CHINA - ATTACK IN
KASHGAR
UNCLAS TOKYO 002136
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 - CHINA - ATTACK IN
KASHGAR
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning
included a Xinhua report saying that Chinese security
police received intelligence that the East Turkistan
Islamic Movement was planning terrorist attacks in the
week before the Olympics ahead of the attack in Kashgar
on Monday.
2. "Concern about Terrorism Ahead of Olympics" The
liberal Mainichi's correspondent report from Beijing
said (8/5): "The terrorist attack in Kashgar on Monday
dealt a severe blow to the government of President Hu
Jintao.... Although the Chinese government wants the
Olympics to be a symbol of reconstruction after the
major earthquake in Sichuan, the fight against
terrorism has become an important element that will
determine the success of the Olympics."
3. "Tension Mounting in Beijing" The moderate Yomiuri
ran a correspondent report from Beijing (8/5): "A
terrorist attack targeting police officers took place
in Xinjiang, China. Beijing is on the highest alert in
the week before the Olympics. In addition to terrorism,
public anger and democracy and patriotic rallies had
already been the targets of vigilance. The Chinese
Communist Party, which finds itself under siege, will
have to walk a tightrope as it prepares to host the
Olympics."
4. "Shadow Hanging over Olympics" The business-oriented
Nikkei wrote (8/5): "The attack in Kashgar will likely
cast a shadow over the Olympics, which open on Friday.
The incident was a great blow to the Hu government,
which failed to prevent it despite its earlier
acquisition of intelligence pointing to a possible
terrorist attack. Although Chinese authorities plan to
step up security, they will face a crucial test, as it
will be difficult to completely prevent such attacks."
5. "Ethnic Conflict Becoming Radical" The conservative
Sankei wrote (8/5): "Monday's attack in Kashgar appears
to have been carried out by an ethnic Uygur group
seeking independence, a group that Chinese authorities
deemed 'the greatest threat to the Olympics.' The
attack appears to have been aimed at drawing
international attention to the ethnic conflict in the
Uyghur area following unrest in Tibet. Although the
Chinese government has been taking maximum security
measures, its goal of making the Olympics a success
story of unity, friendship, and peace looks distant, as
ethnic conflict in the nation is becoming increasingly
radical."
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 - CHINA - ATTACK IN
KASHGAR
1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning
included a Xinhua report saying that Chinese security
police received intelligence that the East Turkistan
Islamic Movement was planning terrorist attacks in the
week before the Olympics ahead of the attack in Kashgar
on Monday.
2. "Concern about Terrorism Ahead of Olympics" The
liberal Mainichi's correspondent report from Beijing
said (8/5): "The terrorist attack in Kashgar on Monday
dealt a severe blow to the government of President Hu
Jintao.... Although the Chinese government wants the
Olympics to be a symbol of reconstruction after the
major earthquake in Sichuan, the fight against
terrorism has become an important element that will
determine the success of the Olympics."
3. "Tension Mounting in Beijing" The moderate Yomiuri
ran a correspondent report from Beijing (8/5): "A
terrorist attack targeting police officers took place
in Xinjiang, China. Beijing is on the highest alert in
the week before the Olympics. In addition to terrorism,
public anger and democracy and patriotic rallies had
already been the targets of vigilance. The Chinese
Communist Party, which finds itself under siege, will
have to walk a tightrope as it prepares to host the
Olympics."
4. "Shadow Hanging over Olympics" The business-oriented
Nikkei wrote (8/5): "The attack in Kashgar will likely
cast a shadow over the Olympics, which open on Friday.
The incident was a great blow to the Hu government,
which failed to prevent it despite its earlier
acquisition of intelligence pointing to a possible
terrorist attack. Although Chinese authorities plan to
step up security, they will face a crucial test, as it
will be difficult to completely prevent such attacks."
5. "Ethnic Conflict Becoming Radical" The conservative
Sankei wrote (8/5): "Monday's attack in Kashgar appears
to have been carried out by an ethnic Uygur group
seeking independence, a group that Chinese authorities
deemed 'the greatest threat to the Olympics.' The
attack appears to have been aimed at drawing
international attention to the ethnic conflict in the
Uyghur area following unrest in Tibet. Although the
Chinese government has been taking maximum security
measures, its goal of making the Olympics a success
story of unity, friendship, and peace looks distant, as
ethnic conflict in the nation is becoming increasingly
radical."
SCHIEFFER