Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TAIPEI1169
2009-09-28 06:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
TAIWAN NSC: WHAT IS THE JDF DOING ON YONAGUNI?
how-toVZCZCXRO5519 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHIN #1169 2710626 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 280626Z SEP 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2390 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA IMMEDIATE 0027 RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 001169
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL JA TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN NSC: WHAT IS THE JDF DOING ON YONAGUNI?
REF: TAIPEI 1167
Classified By: the Director for reasons 1.4(b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TAIPEI 001169
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL JA TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN NSC: WHAT IS THE JDF DOING ON YONAGUNI?
REF: TAIPEI 1167
Classified By: the Director for reasons 1.4(b/d)
1. (C) During a conversation on a separate issue (reftel,
NOTAL) National Security Council Secretary General Su Chi
asked the Director if the United States had more information
about Tokyo's recent focus on the island of Yonaguni.
Specifically, Su said, Taiwan was curious about the
motivation behind then-Defense Minister Hamada Yasukaza's
July visit to the island and his suggestion that the Japanese
Defense Force (JDF) might establish a presence there. There
was little military rationale behind such a deployment, Su
suggested, unless Tokyo intended to monitor military
activities on and off of Taiwan's east coast. Although
Japan's sovereignty over the sparsely-populated Yonaguni was
not in dispute, Su said, its location -- less than 110
kilometers from Taiwan's coast -- made any JDF activities
there a sensitive subject on Taiwan.
2. (C) DIR noted that Tokyo did not necessarily brief the
United States on all JDF activities and that, in any event,
Hamada -- and the government to which he belonged -- had been
replaced. He nevertheless agreed to convey Su's concerns and
questions to appropriate USG offices.
STANTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2019
TAGS: MARR PREL JA TW
SUBJECT: TAIWAN NSC: WHAT IS THE JDF DOING ON YONAGUNI?
REF: TAIPEI 1167
Classified By: the Director for reasons 1.4(b/d)
1. (C) During a conversation on a separate issue (reftel,
NOTAL) National Security Council Secretary General Su Chi
asked the Director if the United States had more information
about Tokyo's recent focus on the island of Yonaguni.
Specifically, Su said, Taiwan was curious about the
motivation behind then-Defense Minister Hamada Yasukaza's
July visit to the island and his suggestion that the Japanese
Defense Force (JDF) might establish a presence there. There
was little military rationale behind such a deployment, Su
suggested, unless Tokyo intended to monitor military
activities on and off of Taiwan's east coast. Although
Japan's sovereignty over the sparsely-populated Yonaguni was
not in dispute, Su said, its location -- less than 110
kilometers from Taiwan's coast -- made any JDF activities
there a sensitive subject on Taiwan.
2. (C) DIR noted that Tokyo did not necessarily brief the
United States on all JDF activities and that, in any event,
Hamada -- and the government to which he belonged -- had been
replaced. He nevertheless agreed to convey Su's concerns and
questions to appropriate USG offices.
STANTON