Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TOKYO387
2008-02-13 09:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN WELCOMES DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED GOVERNMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO6680 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #0387 0440915 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 130915Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1714 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 4393 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000387
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD TH JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN WELCOMES DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED GOVERNMENT
IN THAILAND
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000387
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD TH JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN WELCOMES DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED GOVERNMENT
IN THAILAND
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
1. (C) Japan welcomes the newly elected democratic
government in Thailand and will work closely with the new
government to strengthen bilateral ties, MOFA Principal
Deputy Director told Embassy Tokyo on February 8. The return
to power of a democratic government is a welcome change, but
it is too early to assess the potential influence deposed
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra might have on the new
government, particularly following his expected return to
Thailand in May. Japan hopes the new government will play an
important role in ASEAN and in the Asia region as a whole.
2. (C) The new cabinet shows careful consideration for other
parties, but Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his new
cabinet are still closely linked with deposed Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, Kuwabara noted. It is interesting that
Prime Minister Samak is concurrently serving as Defense
Minister, Kuwabara stated. Japan will watch this change
closely.
3. (C) It is too early to assess what impact, if any, the new
government will have on Thailand's economic policy. Japan
hopes it will implement a more open economic policy since
Japan was concerned that the interim government's policy was
restrictive. Finance Minister Surapong, a former doctor, is
close to deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, but does
not have much finance experience, so Japan is unsure what
type of economic policy he will implement. Kuwabara wondered
if the new government will lead to new efforts on behalf of
the U.S. to establish a free trade agreement with Thailand.
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2018
TAGS: PREL ETRD TH JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN WELCOMES DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED GOVERNMENT
IN THAILAND
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
1. (C) Japan welcomes the newly elected democratic
government in Thailand and will work closely with the new
government to strengthen bilateral ties, MOFA Principal
Deputy Director told Embassy Tokyo on February 8. The return
to power of a democratic government is a welcome change, but
it is too early to assess the potential influence deposed
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra might have on the new
government, particularly following his expected return to
Thailand in May. Japan hopes the new government will play an
important role in ASEAN and in the Asia region as a whole.
2. (C) The new cabinet shows careful consideration for other
parties, but Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his new
cabinet are still closely linked with deposed Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra, Kuwabara noted. It is interesting that
Prime Minister Samak is concurrently serving as Defense
Minister, Kuwabara stated. Japan will watch this change
closely.
3. (C) It is too early to assess what impact, if any, the new
government will have on Thailand's economic policy. Japan
hopes it will implement a more open economic policy since
Japan was concerned that the interim government's policy was
restrictive. Finance Minister Surapong, a former doctor, is
close to deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, but does
not have much finance experience, so Japan is unsure what
type of economic policy he will implement. Kuwabara wondered
if the new government will lead to new efforts on behalf of
the U.S. to establish a free trade agreement with Thailand.
SCHIEFFER