JAPAN SUPPORTS U.S./INDIA CIVIL NUCLEAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002240 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2018 TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC AORC JA SUBJECT: JAPAN SUPPORTS U.S./INDIA CIVIL NUCLEAR COOPERATION INTIATIVE BUT EXPECTS TO HAVE QUESTIONS IN RUN-UP TO NSG MEETING REF: SECSTATE 85948 Classified By: AMBASSADOR J. THOMAS SCHIEFFER REASONS 1.4 b and d ¶1. (U) Please see action request in paragraph 6. ¶2. (SBU) EMIN met with MOFA Deputy Director General for Nonproliferation and Science, Akihiko Nakajima Aug. 13 and delivered the points concerning August 21-22 Nuclear Suppliers Group meeting (ref). Nonproliferation Division Director Tomiko Ichikawa and EconOff also participated. ¶3. (C) Responding to the points and also referring to the August 8 meeting in Tokyo between Nonproliferation and Science DG Sano and visiting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Boucher on the issue, Nakajima stressed that the GOJ understands the need for the initiative due to India,s increasing energy demand and growing population. While the GOJ supports the agreement, it is vital that it not undermine the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The GOJ, he continued, has two major concerns regarding the exception paper: 1) India should ban nuclear testing and 2) sensitive technology, such as enrichment and reprocessing, should not be transferred to India. There should be a monitoring mechanism for India, Nakajima stated, that insures it abides by the IAEA SAFEGUARDS and guidelines. He also raised concerns about inviting India to Vienna before the meeting, stating this may have an adverse effect. The GOJ believes there has to be a clear distinction between NSG discussions and informative meetings for GOI. It is highly inappropriate to include non-NSG member states, including India, in the discussion. Ichikawa noted the GOJ is still reviewing the new draft of the exception paper received August 8 and considering how events might unfold in the upcoming NSG meeting. She noted the GOJ may have further, more specific questions once that review is complete. ¶4. (C) Nakajima noted domestic Japanese concerns over nonproliferation are particularly high at the moment. He noted MOFA had received around 200 petitions - around eight times as many as in previous years around the anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings - and that many of them specifically expressed misgivings over the agreement. The Mayor of Nagasaki had raised it in the peace petition he read August 9, an event the PM (and also Nakajima) had attended. There have also been press editorials expressing concerns over the arrangement. Nakajima also anticipates "severe questioning" from the Diet when the session begins, probably in September, especially from opposition parties, over whether the NSG exemption undermines international disarmament efforts. ¶5. (C) Currently, the GOJ is considering how to increase public understanding/support and would like GOI to make positive public statements to reassure the international community. Nakajima urged that the USG encourage India to make such public statements as well. The Japanese Government could then use these statements as a mechanism to reduce public backlash. ¶6. (C) Action requests: Nakajima said DG Sano would like to have breakfast with Acting U/S Rood August 21 in Vienna prior to the plenary meeting. Ichikawa will arrive in Vienna August 19 and would like to meet with the U.S. del, either the evening of the 19th or 20th, but prior to Sano,s arrival. Nakajima said the request is also being passed through the Japanese Embassy in Washington. Mission requests Department please advise if such meetings would be possible and the contact points for arranging such discussions. SCHIEFFER