OPPOSITION LEADER OFFERS ASSURANCES ON ALLIANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001575 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2019 TAGS: PREL JA SUBJECT: OPPOSITION LEADER OFFERS ASSURANCES ON ALLIANCE Classified By: A/DCM Ron Post per 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Diet Affairs Chair Kenji Yamaoka told Embassy Tokyo July 8 that, in spite of the often contradictory statements about the Alliance that his party's members make, "when the DPJ takes power, we will have a unified policy." The relationship with the United States will remain the centerpiece of Japan's foreign relations, he stressed. Yamaoka downplayed concerns about certain public and private statements made by DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada on the Alliance, reiterating that Okada will respect the party line in a DPJ government. "There are no anti-Americans in this party," he boasted. For his part, although not known as one of the party's internationalists or America hands, Yamaoka has proven to be knowledgeable about and interested in the bilateral Alliance and what the DPJ can do to strengthen it. End Summary. ¶2. (C) DPJ Diet Affairs Chairman and Ichiro Ozawa confidante Kenji Yamaoka hosted a farewell dinner for Political Minister-Counselor July 8 and was joined by DPJ International Bureau chair Tetsundo Iwakuni and Upper House member Yukihisa Fujita. Yamaoka acknowledged that his party's leadership and rank-and-file members make contradictory and sometimes worrisome statements about the U.S.-Japan relationship, particularly cornerstones of the Alliance such as the SOFA, Host Nation Support and the realignment plan, including Futenma replacement. "This is because we're an opposition party; when we take power, we'll have a unified policy, and the centerpiece of our foreign policy will remain the U.S.-Japan relationship," Yamaoka stressed. ¶3. (C) Yamaoka downplayed Political Minister-Counselor's concerns about certain statements DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada has made about bilateral ties -- including a recent comment to a private American that the DPJ will rebuild the Alliance "from the foundation up." Okada is like everyone else and is trying to garner attention for himself and the party, Yamaoka explained. This will change when the DPJ takes power, and Okada will hew closely to the party's policies after a successful election. Yamaoka added that "there are no anti-Americans" in the DPJ. ¶4. (C) Comment: Yamaoka is not counted among the DPJ's internationalists and is well-known as a skilled political infighter. However, over the past several months, he has shown to be interested in and knowledgeable about the bilateral relationship -- and his party's own role in strengthening U.S.-Japan ties. When former party leader Ozawa showed initial reluctance to meet the Secretary in Tokyo in February, it was Yamaoka who stepped in to change Ozawa's mind. Yamaoka lived in New York City for two years in the early 1970's and speaks fondly of his time in the United States. ZUMWALT