MINISTRY OF DEFENSE DG TAKAMIZAWA ON FORCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000363

SIPDIS

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USFJ FOR J00/J01/J5/J7,
OSD JAPAN DESK FOR SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2018
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF DEFENSE DG TAKAMIZAWA ON FORCE
REALIGNMENT

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Joe Donovan per 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: MOD Defense Policy Bureau Director General
Takamizawa reviewed the status of realignment with CDA
Donovan during a lunch meeting on February 8. Takamizawa
said that he was optimistic that the Japanese government
would manage to avoid significant delays in the Futenma
Relocation Facility (FRF) environmental impact study
timeline. In regards to a recent informal Japanese
suggestion of possibly delinking the FRF from the Marine
relocation to Guam, Takamizawa stated that MOD seeks to
ensure that each project can continue even if the other is
delayed. Takamizawa also noted that the Japanese Cabinet
Secretariat will remain involved in the realignment

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discussions in unhelpful ways. The Charge emphasized that
the U.S. and Japanese governments must stay committed to
moving ahead on all parts of the realignment package,
especially FRF and Guam, or risk derailing the entire
initiative. Takamizawa said that leasing Self Defense Force
(SDF) helicopters for Operation Enduring Freedom is a
"non-starter," however he agreed to look into possibly
deploying SDF assets into Afghanistan and requested further
information on operational requirements for helicopter lift.
End Summary.


2. (C) In a February 8 lunch, Ministry of Defense (MOD)
Bureau of Defense Policy Director General Nobushige
Takamizawa, Senior Coordinator for Realignment Hiroshi Marui,
Local Cooperation Planning Division Director Yukinari Hirose,
Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation Division Director Kiyoshi
Serizawa, and Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation Division Deputy
Director Kyoskue Matsumoto met with CDA to review progress on
realignment initiatives.

A Double-edged Sword, Okinawa's Role
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3. (C) DG Takamizawa opened the lunch by noting comments by
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima at a February 7 Okinawa
Consultative Committee underscored the shared desire by the
Okinawan Government and the Japanese Central Government to
implement the FRF plan. Okinawa Governor Nakaima's support
for the environmental impact assessment at the Futenma
Replacement Facility (FRF) is essential to avoiding any
significant delays. However, Takamizawa tempered this
enthusiasm by saying that Governor Nakaima continues to
expect concessions on the runway location before approving
the landfill permit.


4. (C) DG Takamizawa noted the Government of Japan's desire
to be seen by the Okinawan people as listening to their
concerns, especially since Governor Nakaima is essential to
the final approval of FRF's environmental impact survey and
landfill order. Despite Tokyo's softening approach towards
Okinawa, Takamizawa asked for the U.S. to "remain tough" on
statements regarding realignment.

Cabinet Secretariat Unhelpful
--------------


5. (C) DG Takamizawa said that Chief Cabinet Secretary (CCS)
Nobutaka Machimura is involved in the realignment process in
an unhelpful manner. He noted his concern over statements
that CCS Machimura made to hold another Okinawa Consultative
Committee meeting around April 1. Takamizawa added that he
does not believe Nago City will have enough time to make
substantial realignment progress by April 1 to qualify for
cooperation subsidies. Setting such an early date could
raise unrealistic expectations that Nago City will be added
to the list of cooperating municipalities without offering
any significant concessions.

Delinking the FRF and Guam?
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6. (C) DG Takamizawa underscored the need by the Japanese
Government, especially the Ministry of Finance, to have Guam
funding remain a priority in both Japan and the U.S. despite
any possible delays to the FRF or other projects. If the FRF
is delayed, he said, Guam needs to take on "added emphasis"
and continue as normal so that Japanese funding is not lost.
Takamizawa also noted that the Japanese Government wants to
see a full financial exam of both Guam and the FRF to lay
clear markers for further planning.


7. (C) CDA expressed concerns over the idea to delink the
development of the FRF with the movement of Marines to Guam.
Delinking the two projects would undermine the entire DPRI
process, he said. Takamizawa responded by saying that he
expects the FRF and Guam projects to have "normal delays" in
reaching their timelines. Takamizawa said that by suggesting
delinking the FRF and Guam he hoped to create "insurance" for
the two projects so that if one faces a delay, the other can
stay on track. CDA said that the United States does not want
to create the mistaken impression that moving Marines off of
Okinawa is possible without finishing the FRF and emphasized
the need to keep both projects on track.


8. (C) Because FRF is a "key trigger" to USG funding for
Guam, significant delays could lead to that funding falling
through or being sent elsewhere, especially with a U.S.
change of administration coming, CDA said. He also noted if
Japan seeks to reopen the FRF plan, some on the U.S. side may
seek additional changes, thereby delaying the implementation
even further. Opening discussions to modify the current plan
could be "disastrous" in terms of delaying the project as
both U.S. and Japanese parties are forced to renegotiate the
entire plan. Takamizawa agreed that getting the project
started as soon as possible will ensure its long-term
success.

Possible SDF Support in Afghanistan
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9. (C) When asked about possible leasing of Japanese Self
Defense Force (SDF) helicopters for Operation Enduring
Freedom, Takamizawa made it clear that the Japanese
Government is not interested. He said that leasing
helicopters to the U.S. would be "too risky" and is
ultimately a "non-starter." However, he added that deploying
limited SDF helicopter assets into Afghanistan may be
possible at some future time and requested clarification for
the operational requirements.
SCHIEFFER