TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - G8 SUMMIT

UNCLAS TOKYO 001573 SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - G8 SUMMIT ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Friday morning's Asahi gave top coverage to the revelation by several unnamed former GOJ officials that a senior MOFA official in around 2001 instructed his deputies to dispose of all ministry documents pertaining to a U.S.-Japan secret accord on the introduction of nuclear weapons. ¶2. "Step toward Nuclear Abolition" On the G8 statement concerning a world free of nuclear weapons, the liberal Asahi editorialized (7/10): "Arms control and nuclear nonproliferation are essential in order to create the 'conditions for a world without nuclear weapons,' because calls for non-nuclear powers to take additional measures meant to halt nuclear proliferation might not be heeded as long as the nuclear powers maintain large volumes of nuclear weapons. Arms reduction and nuclear nonproliferation must be pursued concurrently in order to head off both a nuclear war and nuclear terrorism." ¶3. "Roadmap Set for Coordination to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism" A correspondent for the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri wrote from L'Aquila, Italy (7/10): "By successfully enlisting G8 support for a comprehensive strategy for the creation of a world free of nuclear weapons, President Obama paved the way for expanding his efforts toward nuclear arms reduction and nuclear nonproliferation worldwide. However, it will take a very long time for the existing nuclear nations to eliminate their nuclear stockpiles, and there are no effective tools to force North Korea and Iran to give up on their nuclear programs. These realities point to a tough road ahead for the realization of the Obama initiative." ¶4. "U.S.-Japan Coordination Needed to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons" The liberal Mainichi argued in an editorial (7/10): "What is important from now on is that the Obama administration steadily implements the ideas it has laid out. A resolution proposed by Japan every year since 1994 at the UN General Assembly calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons has been adopted. However, several nations, including the U.S. and North Korea, opposed it last year and the previous year. It seems strange that the U.S. and North Korea are on the same side concerning a resolution on the nuclear issue. The Obama administration's support for this motion will be the first step toward carrying out this noble cause." ¶5. "80 Percent Reduction Is Too Ambitious" The conservative Sankei contended (7/10): "The goal of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over the next 40 years by advanced countries is too ambitious to be achieved.... Having ideals is not wrong, but this target is extremely bold. It will be difficult to achieve it without technological innovation of unprecedented magnitude.... Instead, concrete proposals and negotiations should be undertaken concerning emissions reductions by developing countries." ¶6. "G8 Alone Cannot Guide World" The business-oriented Nikkei asserted (7/10): "The L'Aquila summit visibly displayed the reality of a major shift from the dynamics in which the G8 managed world order.... The time has come to consider new systems for dealing with the peace, economic, and environmental issues of this century by reorganizing such international institutions as the UN, the IMF, the World Bank, and the OECD, in addition to the G8." ZUMWALT