TIBET: JAPANESE CALL ON CHINA TO EXERCISE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000752

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV CH JA
SUBJECT: TIBET: JAPANESE CALL ON CHINA TO EXERCISE
RESTRAINT, CONCERNED ABOUT IMPACT ON HU VISIT

REF: TOKYO 00509

Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (C) Summary: Japan is deeply concerned about the
violence in Tibet and has called on the Chinese authorities
to respond calmly, MOFA contacts told Embassy Tokyo on March

18. Japan raised its concerns with the Chinese Embassy in
Tokyo, and the Japanese Embassy in Beijing called on the
Chinese authorities to exercise restraint. Japan will watch
the situation closely and is still deciding what steps to
take if the violence escalates. The violence in Tibet,
coupled with the food safety concerns, could tarnish
President Hu Jintao's spring visit to Japan. End Summary.


2. (C) Japan is very concerned about the Tibetan unrest in
China and is watching the situation closely, MOFA China
Division Principal Deputy Director Kazuya Endo told Embassy
Tokyo on March 18. In a meeting with Chinese MFA Asia
Director Hu in Beijing on March 16, Japanese Embassy DCM
Kunio Umeda called on China to exercise restraint and to
respond calmly to the unrest in Tibet. In addition, MOFA
urged the Chinese authorities to "respond calmly" during a
meeting with Chinese embassy officials in Tokyo the same day.
Separately, Foreign Minister Koumura told the press on March
18 that Beijing should be "open and transparent" in dealing
with the protests, Endo said.


3. (C) Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi sent Foreign
Minister Koumura a letter on March 17 explaining the Tibetan
unrest, and Tokyo is still deciding how to respond, Endo
continued. Along these lines, MOFA asked Embassy Tokyo
whether Secretary Rice is planning to contact Foreign
Minister Yang. Japanese Foreign Minister Koumura ruled out
boycotting the Olympic Games in Beijing in response to the
violence, according to the press.


4. (C) Japanese officials from the embassy in Beijing
requested Chinese government permission to travel to Lhasa,
but the request was denied, Endo noted. MOFA is not aware of
any Japanese citizens being injured in the unrest, but issued
a travel warning on March 15. Japan is continuing to urge
China to ensure the safety of foreigners living and traveling
in Tibet, Endo stated.


5. (C) The unrest in Tibet, coupled with Japanese public
concern over food safety -- following the food poisoning
cases caused by frozen dumplings imported from China --
"could slow the warming trend in Japan-China ties," said. He
visited Beijing on March 15 to attend a ceremony celebrating
Japan-China youth exchanges, involving two thousand Japanese
and Chinese participants, and noted the event received very
little attention in the Japanese press. It is natural the
press focused on the unrest in Tibet, but it was a missed
opportunity to highlight improved bilateral ties, Endo
explained.


6. (C) Japan is working hard to preserve a warm atmosphere
for Chinese President Hu Jintao's spring visit to Japan, Endo
said. The dates are still unconfirmed, but Hu will likely
visit in early May. Japan and China are still "in the early
planning stages" on a "fourth joint communiqu." That said,
progress on the document is slow-going, and it is not certain
that a joint statement will be released, Endo explained.
SCHIEFFER