TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - RUSSIA/OSSETIA AND U.S.-

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002195

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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 - RUSSIA/OSSETIA AND U.S.-
INDIA NUCLEAR PACT


1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning included
another terrorist attack on Sunday apparently carried
out by Muslim separatists on a local government complex
in the city of Kuqa in west central Xinjiang, China.


2. "Prevent Conflict from Getting Out of Control" The
liberal Tokyo Shimbun insisted (8/11): "What is
necessary for the Saakashvili administration is to
conduct balanced diplomacy while acknowledging that it
neighbors with an enemy. Meanwhile, Russia should also
stop viewing former Soviet republics as under the
influence of its sphere of interest and stop treating
them as subordinates."


3. "Immediate Ceasefire Should Be Given Foremost
Priority" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri claimed
(8/11): "Granted that a large majority of people in
South Ossetia is pro-Russia, a stark reality is that
the region is still a Georgian territory. If Russian
support for Osseatian separation is justified, Russia
should also accept separating Chechnya."


4. "Russia Called upon to Exercise Restraint" The
conservative Sankei argued (8/10): "As South Ossetia is
close to Chechnya, the conflict between Russia and
Georgia could light a fire on an 'ammunition dump.'...
Russia should reflect one more time on the consequences
of its military action on its neighbor. Meanwhile, the
U.S. and Europe should issue a clear message of support
for Georgia, which has just initiated steps toward
becoming a democratic country, because regional
stability can be assured only when national integration
of Georgia is preserved."


5. "Use of Force Cannot Settle Conflict" The liberal
Asahi contended (8/10): "The U.S. should step in as an
intermediary.... As the U.S. has supported President
Saakashvili, who has become more anti-Russian, it
should be held partly responsible for the conflict....
The use of force to settle the dispute would inevitably
unleash the breakout of ethnic conflicts across Russia
and its neighboring countries. There are no options for
the two warring parties other than giving up arms and
come to the negotiating table."


6. "Prevent Russia-Georgia Conflict from Spreading Out
of the Borders (of Georgia)" The business-oriented
Nikkei asserted (8/10): "The UN Security Council has
not been able to issue a statement calling for a truce
due to differing views between the U.S. and Russia. The
current conflict, as if reminding one of the return of
the Cold War, cannot be accepted. In order to prevent
it from spreading out of the borders (of Georgia),
swift efforts are called upon for an immediate
ceasefire."


7. "Danger of According India Special Treatment" On the
U.S.-India civilian nuclear cooperation accord, the
liberal Mainichi editorialized (8/11): "It is crystal
clear that giving India special treatment would prompt
Pakistan to demand similar privilege.... A nuclear deal
with an economically-emerging India must be tempting
for the U.S. However, India cannot be regarded as a
sufficiently stable country, given the possibility of
rekindling a conflict with Pakistan. Iran, which is
reportedly keen about being on an equal footing with
India and Pakistan, is also a source of concern.... The

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Bush administration should be doing its utmost to deal
with the North Korean nuclear problem. It is not very
comfortable knowing that Washington appears to be
preoccupied with allowing India to be accepted as a
nuclear power. The U.S. at present should focus on
denuclearizing North Korea."

SCHIEFFER