Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO3045
2008-10-31 07:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

HOW MANY LEGIONS DOES THE DALAI LAMA HAVE? JAPAN

Tags:  PHUM PREL PREF PNAT JP 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 310718Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8445
INFO AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL CHENGDU PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 
AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003045 


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL PREF PNAT JP
SUBJECT: HOW MANY LEGIONS DOES THE DALAI LAMA HAVE? JAPAN
IS A SEMI-SUBMERGED ONE

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Schieffer for reasons 1.4b,d

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003045


E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018
TAGS: PHUM PREL PREF PNAT JP
SUBJECT: HOW MANY LEGIONS DOES THE DALAI LAMA HAVE? JAPAN
IS A SEMI-SUBMERGED ONE

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Schieffer for reasons 1.4b,d


1. (C) SUMMARY. There is broad pro-Tibetan sentiment in
Japan, but most keep expressions of support low-key to avoid
alienating China. The Diet,s Tibet Support League has 50-60
members, 140 leading Japanese cultural figures support
meaningful direct talks between the Dalai Lama and PRC, and
Tibet-related artistic and academic events are frequently
packed by young people. In both the parliamentary league and
the cultural figures group, most of the members keep support
private, while continuing to maintain relationships with
China. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Representative Yukio
Edano is head of the Parliamentary League to Study the Tibet
Problem. Edano told Embassy Tokyo that there are now 50 to
60 Diet members who are in the group, but that most prefer to
remain anonymous "in order to maintain their ability to work
with China." The group,s make-up spans the political
spectrum from conservative to liberal. Conservative support
for Tibet has always been strong as part of an ideological
anti-Communist and anti-China bent. According to Edano, the
increase in political support for Tibet can be attributed to
three causes: an increased recognition of China,s human
rights problems, a lingering sense of distrust of China, and
a sense of fatigue at China,s frequent criticisms of
Japan,s WWII era excesses. Edano says one of his main goals
while leader of the group is to increase the number of
members who are both pro-China and critical of China,s
actions in Tibet.


3. (C) Jin Tatsumura, a prominent Japanese film director,
paints a similar picture of strong support for the Tibetan
cause by leading Japanese cultural figures and intellectuals,
although not all of it is above ground. "We have about 140
quite well known cultural figures in our group, but only
about 56 signed the petition sent to the Chinese government
in April. The rest want at present to be quietly supportive,
so as to be able to keep their ties with China." Quiet
support in Japan is also not limited to the artistic
community: Tatsumura noted that Kazuo Inamori, Honorary
Chairman of Kyocera, is an example of a prominent business
figure who is supportive of the Tibetan cause, but feels the
need to be discreet because of business interests in China.
Tatsumura stated that the main goal of the group at the
moment is to better educate Japanese media about the true
nature of the Tibet problem.


4. (C) Japanese support for the Tibetan cause is tempered
by the importance that its leaders -- political, cultural and
economic -- put on the relationship with China. For example,
although the Dalai Lama arrives on October 31st for his 16th
visit to Japan since 1967, there do not appear to be any
official plans for him to meet with any senior government
figures. Nevertheless, popular support here for the Tibetan
cause is steady, as judged by the standing room only
attendance at Tibet-related artistic and academic events in
recent months. As the head Abbott of Gokokuji Temple said at
the opening of the "Missing Peace" exhibit in Tokyo recently,
"We support the Dalai Lama,s use of non-violent means. We
believe that the cluster bombs of Buddhism will explode in
the hearts of people across the planet, and even the Chinese
will change."


SCHIEFFER