MEDIA RECTION: AFTERMATH OF JAPAN'S ELECTIONS

UNCLAS HONG KONG 001720 DEPT FOR INR/R/MR, INR/IC/CD, I/FW DEPT FOR EAP/PD, EAP/CM, EAP/P DEPT FOR VOA/BRF, TV-WPA WHITE HOUSE FOR NSC PRC POSTS FOR PA AIT USPACOM FOR FOR CIS PD ADVISER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO SUBJECT: MEDIA RECTION: AFTERMATH OF JAPAN'S ELECTIONS TOPIC: Aftermath of Japan's elections HEADLINES AND EXCERPTS: "Hatoyama should be proud of speaking out" Tom Plate, a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, wrote a commentary in the independent English-language South China Morning Post (9/10): "It was just this side of comical. The leader of Japan's new ruling party barely finishes acknowledging his Democratic Party of Japan's huge win when a public-relations disaster strikes. The result: an ignominious international climbdown. What happened was not an ideal opening act for the next Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama. Before the election, a Japanese magazine published an essay by him, which thoughtfully challenged some of the operational tenets of the 'American Century' (the previous one).... Hatoyama shouldn't have apologized for anything. The fact is that many Americans have similar concerns about the brutality of unregulated globalization, about gross value systems, and about poor people with no health insurance, housing or prospects.... Hatoyama should be proud of his essay. In fact, it was rather nice to see a Japanese prime minister thinking outside the box for once. We Americans ought to be able to handle critical thought, especially from friends and allies." MARUT