AMBASSADOR, DEFMIN DISCUSS NEW ADMINISTRATION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 003255 SIPDIS DOD FOR OSD/APSA SHINN, SEDNEY, HILL, BASALLA; PACOM FOR J00, J01, J4, J5; USFJ FOR J00, J01, J4, J5, J7; NSC FOR WILDER/FRASER; JOINT STAFF FOR J5 E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR JA SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR, DEFMIN DISCUSS NEW ADMINISTRATION, DPRI, AFGHANISTAN, INFORMATION SECURITY, AND BMD Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, Reasons: 1.4 (b/d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The Ambassador stressed that Alliance initiatives should continue into the next U.S. administration without substantial changes and urged the Japanese government to appropriate significant amounts of money in 2009 to begin construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) during his November 26 courtesy call on Defense Minister Hamada. He pointed out that Japan should go beyond OEF refueling operations in its contributions to Afghanistan and underscored the importance of continued bilateral efforts to strengthen Japan's information security framework. Hamada said he will do his best to ensure completion FRF by 2014 despite press reports stating the contrary. The Japanese government will work toward passing the OEF renewal bill before the end of the year and then discuss how Japan can expand its contribution to Afghanistan. Hamada assured the Ambassador that Japan remains committed to bilateral ballistic missile defense (BMD) cooperation. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada warmly received the Ambassador during his November 26 courtesy call at Hamada's office. The Ambassador congratulated Hamada on his appointment and offered his view that the efforts by both countries in the past eight years to deepen and broaden our security relationship will carry over into the next U.S. administration. He stated that U.S. foreign policy is nonpartisan, and that he does not believe the Alliance relationship would change in any significant way under President Obama. -------------- REALIGNMENT -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador underscored the importance of maintaining momentum on the implementation of the Defense Policy Review Initiative (DPRI) agreement as the U.S. Government transitions into the new administration. In particular, both governments need to secure and allocate a sizeable amount of money in 2009 in order for both sides to remain on track with the 2014 target completion date for the construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF). Budgetary problems exist for both governments, but they should remain cognizant of the spirit of the agreement and work together toward implementation. The agreement -- which was reached following long and difficult negotiations -- requires sacrifices from all parties, the Ambassador said. ¶4. (C) Hamada responded that he is under instruction from the Prime Minister to make strengthening the Alliance his top priority and will "do his utmost" to ensure completion of FRF by 2014 per agreement. He told the Ambassador that, despite recent press reports portraying FRF completion by 2014 as unlikely, he is working hard in his capacity as Defense Minister to overcome the budgetary issues. -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶5. (C) Hamada stated that the Japanese government is exploring ways to enhance its contribution to Afghanistan's stability and reconstruction. However, most of its efforts are focused on the passage of the new anti-terror special measures law authorizing Japan's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Although the bill is stuck in the Diet, the Japanese government intends to reach resolution on the bill before the end of the year. ¶6. (C) The Ambassador offered his advice -- as a friend of Japan -- that the Japanese government should approach the new administration with concrete plans on how it would increase its contribution to Afghanistan. The refueling law is important and should be passed as soon as possible, but more should be done for Afghanistan. This step, the Ambassador noted, would be the strongest possible gesture toward closer relations with the United States and would be well-received by the new administration and the international community. Doing so would send a strong message to the international community about Japan's willingness to step into a leadership role commensurate with its global stature. -------------- INFORMATION SECURITY -------------- ¶7. (C) The Ambassador urged the Japanese government to continue to work toward passing an official secrets act to help augment its information security regime and allow the United States and Japan to expand their bilateral relationship on intelligence matters. The Bilateral Information Security Task Force (BISTF) is an important, ongoing undertaking by both governments that has gone beyond dealing with the 2007 leak on the Aegis weapons system to a stage where both sides are making substantive progress toward improving our ability to share and protect classified information. ¶8. (C) Hamada said he understands the limits of the Japanese government's information security capabilities in the absence of a new legislation and will work closely with relevant government officials and politicians to deepen their understanding on the need to establish an effective legal framework for information security. Hamada added that the issue is being discussed in the ruling party's intelligence committee. -------------- BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE -------------- ¶9. (C) The Ambassador offered his congratulations on the performance of the crew of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Aegis destroyer JS Chokai during the recent ballistic missile defense (BMD) test off of Hawaii. The interceptor's failure to hit the target ought not be construed as a failure of the entire test itself, because both sides learn more with each test on how we can improve our BMD capabilities. The Ambassador emphasized that both governments should continue BMD cooperation as it is an important aspect of our overall security relationship. Hamada assured the Ambassador that BMD is an essential part of Japan' defense policy and the Japanese government will continue BMD cooperation with the United States. SCHIEFFER