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).

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NORTH KOREA
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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.

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CHINA
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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.

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IRAN
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5. (C) The three experts all urged the United States to

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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