TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - TIBET

UNCLAS TOKYO 003544 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 - TIBET ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Lead items on Wednesday morning included the U.S. Treasury Department's announcement on Monday that it will pump $5 billion into GMAC LLC. ¶2. "It's Time for Dialogue" The liberal Asahi editorialized (12/31): "... French President Sarkozy, the current chair of the EU, received strong opposition from China when he met with the supreme Tibetan leader Dalai Lama earlier this month... China, which had repeatedly urged Sarkozy not to meet with Dalai Lama, cancelled a planned summit with the EU leader. It is very regrettable that the summit was not realized between China and the EU, which are expected to play roles in rebuilding the world economy, when the financial crisis is affecting the real economy... China should engage in dialogue with Dalai Lama, who is widely supported by the Tibetan community." ZUMWALT