Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO1575
2009-07-10 07:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
OPPOSITION LEADER OFFERS ASSURANCES ON ALLIANCE
how-toVZCZCXRO3971 OO RUEHDT RUEHPB DE RUEHKO #1575 1910746 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 100746Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4481 INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO PRIORITY 5695 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE PRIORITY 8982 RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA PRIORITY 5177 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA PRIORITY 7505 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHMFISS/USFJ PRIORITY
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)
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
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