TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - U.S-INDIA NUCLEAR PACT,

UNCLAS TOKYO 002959 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 - U.S-INDIA NUCLEAR PACT, NORTH KOREA, AND CHINA. ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page items on Thursday morning included a USG announcement on Wednesday that the U.S. will host an emergency financial summit on November 15 in Washington. ¶2. "U.S.-India Pact to Endanger NPT Regime" The liberal Mainichi's correspondent in Vienna wrote (10/23): "Last month's lift of a 30-year-old nuclear trade ban on India now allows the nation, which is not a signatory to the NPT and has conducted nuclear tests, to import nuclear-related technology and material. This is a crisis for the NPT regime, as the international community has effectively accepted India as a nuclear power by overlooking its possession of nuclear arms. Accordingly, the move will discourage nations earnestly working on nuclear nonproliferation and encourage North Korea and Iran, which are suspected of developing nuclear weapons, to ignore international calls." ¶3. "Japan Should Stick to Its Principles on North Korea" The conservative Sankei stated in an editorial (10/23): "Regarding six-party energy aid to North Korea, which comes in return for Pyongyang's nuclear disablement, the idea has emerged of having other nations cover Japan's share.... The idea that Japan will lose its influence or be isolated in the six-party talks is incorrect. Since Pyongyang admitted its involvement in the abductions, Japan has maintained its principle of seeking a comprehensive settlement of the nuclear, missile, and abduction issues, and Tokyo has stood firm on not providing energy aid without progress on those issues. The other members of the six-party talks understand Japan's position.... Unless North Korea fulfills its commitment to reinvestigate the abduction cases, which was made at the recent Japan-DPRK talks, the Japanese government should stick to its principles." ¶4. "Will China Be Able to Support World Economy?" The liberal Asahi editorialized (10/23): "As the U.S.- originated financial crisis spreads worldwide, the economy of China, which is considered 'the world's factory,' has begun to decline. The extent of the economic slowdown in China is worrisome, as the nation is one of the pillars that have supported the global economy." SCHIEFFER