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