S/P DIRECTOR GORDON MEETS WITH JAPANESE FOREIGN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003092 SIPDIS DEPT FOR S/P, EAP-J, AND NEA/IR E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018 TAGS: PREL NK CH IR JA SUBJECT: S/P DIRECTOR GORDON MEETS WITH JAPANESE FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During his visit to Tokyo October 28-30 to attend Trilateral Policy Planning talks with Japanese and South Korean counterparts, S/P Director David Gordon also met with several former senior Japanese government officials who now are active in academic or advisory capacities. Gordon heard from them concerns about Japan's largely negative reaction to and perception of the U.S. decision to remove North Korea from our State Sponsors of Terrorism list, and of Japanese opposition to the creation of a Northeast Asia Peace and Security Mechanism. They also urged closer U.S. engagement with China and Iran. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) S/P Director Gordon exchanged views October 29 on a range of foreign policy issues with Okazaki Institute Director Hisahiko Okazaki (former Japanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Thailand),Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) Senior Fellow Hitoshi Tanaka (former Deputy Foreign Minister),and Center for International Public Policy Studies (CIPPS) President Naoki Tanaka (former Chairman of the Postal Services Privatization Committee and advisor to former Prime Minister Koizumi). Also attending were S/P Staff member James Green, Embassy Tokyo Political Minister Counselor Mike Meserve, and Embassy Tokyo Political-Military Affairs officer Simon Lee (notetaker). -------------- NORTH KOREA -------------- ¶3. (C) All three Japanese expressed concern that the U.S. and Japanese governments do not appear to be coordinating well in dealing with North Korea. Recognizing that the Six-Party process is a step-by-step approach toward the final goal of denuclearizing the DPRK, JCIE's Tanaka cautioned that the apparent willingness of the U.S. Government to deal directly with the DPRK and China without consulting or coordinating with Japan leads many people in Japan to be suspicious toward U.S. motives. The move to establish a regional security mechanism out of the Six-Party process -- which Okazaki claims "no Japanese official supports" -- also heightens anxiety among the Japanese people. Japanese skepticism toward such multilateral security framework stems in part from Japan's failed multilateral approach after ending the Anglo-Japanese alliance, but mostly from strong doubts that North Korea would ever abandon its nuclear weapons. Moving forward with such security dialogue while turning a blind eye to a nuclear-armed DPRK is "absurd," Okazaki said. -------------- CHINA -------------- ¶4. (C) On China, the policy experts stressed the need for closer engagement by both the United States and Japan. China has much to gain by following international norms and acting as a responsible stakeholder. The United States and Japan should, therefore, persuade China to follow the rules, JCIE's Tanaka noted. China's ability to engage and influence rogue states, such as Burma, DPRK, and Iran, also makes it a useful partner. Okazaki pointed out, however, that U.S. and Japanese focus on human rights at the expense of realpolitik has given China inordinate levels of influence over Burma. Burmese leaders have more positive feelings toward Japan than toward China, which gives Japan a potential advantage over China in dealing with the Burmese junta. As realists, however, the junta accepts grudgingly Chinese assistance as Japan remains unable to assist from U.S. opposition and Japan's own political constraints. -------------- IRAN -------------- ¶5. (C) The three experts all urged the United States to TOKYO 00003092 002 OF 002 engage comprehensively with Iran. Drawing parallels with the U.S. approach toward the DPRK's nuclear program, they noted the inconsistency toward Iran despite the latter's relatively benign nuclear development stage. CIPPS' Tanaka pointed out that Iran -- even under Ahmadinejad -- was willing to accept an international monitoring scheme that would have given the international community some ability to track Iran's nuclear program. Policies aimed at containing and isolating Iran are ineffective. The United States should, rather, create an environment that allows Iran to abandon its nuclear program, JCIE's Tanaka asserted. ¶6. (U) S/P Director Gordon has cleared this cable. SCHIEFFER