EAP ASSISTANT SECRETARY KURT CAMPBELL'S MEETING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 002198 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV JA PINR SUBJECT: EAP ASSISTANT SECRETARY KURT CAMPBELL'S MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER KATSUYA OKADA TOKYO 00002198 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James P. Zumwalt, Reasons 1.4 (b ) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. New Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada promised there would be no surprises in Japan's foreign policy. During his initial 100 days as Minister, he planned to focus on U.S-Japan relations, force realignments and U.S. bases in Okinawa; reconstruction assistance for Afghanistan and Pakistan; and climate change policy. The ministry needs to thoroughly investigate its records regarding secret agreements with the U.S. on nuclear weapons introductions, but this should not be detrimental to the U.S. side. Japan would consult with the U.S., if desired, as this process moves ahead. Okada said the DPJ had opposed the Futenma relocation plan in several pre-election statements, noting that all four successful Okinawan candidates in the recent lower house election had opposed the plan. The SDP president who opposes the Futenma relocation plan is a member of the ruling coalition and worked to gain agreement to oppose the plan during the coalition negotiations. Okada said he has not yet made any decision, but wants to investigate whether an alternative plan is possible. Some in the DPJ believe that a consolidation of MCAS Futenma within Kadena Air Force Base is possible, he said. He did not know whether such a plan would be acceptable to the U.S. side or was realistic, but hoped to consult with the U.S. END SUMMARY. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - USG Interaction with the New DPJ-Led Government - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (C) During an initial meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, A/S Kurt Campbell described the principles on which the USG will base its interaction with the new DPJ-led government. The U.S. will closely consult and demonstrate its commitment to an equal partnership with Japan. The U.S. will deal with difficult issues privately, and maintain a positive, confident, forward looking posture in public. The U.S. encourages an independent Japanese foreign policy as supportive of a strong security alliance with the U.S. This includes improved relations with China and the ROK. In return, Campbell said, the U.S. asks that there be no surprises from Japan and that the U.S. be treated with the respect expected between close allies and not be backed into a corner. He further said the U.S. would try not to react to media reports and asked that the GOJ work quickly to establish formal government channels to manage issues rather than using informal DPJ intermediaries. He committed to full efforts to ensure relations improved over this next phase of our alliance. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The DPJ-Led Government's Foreign Policy Priorities - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (C) FM Okada expressed broad agreement with these sentiments, promising that there will be no surprises. He said media reports should not receive undue attention and he preferred government to government communication. At its inauguration, the DPJ government affirmed policy making is the function of the government not the party. During his swearing in, Okada said he had identified three key issues to focus on over his initial 100 days: U.S-Japan relations, in particular force realignment and U.S. bases on Okinawa; reconstruction assistance for Afghanistan and Pakistan; and climate change policy in advance of the COP 15 meeting in Copenhagen. At a different level, the Ministry will focus its efforts on the investigation of "secret agreements" reached with the U.S. in the 1950s and 1960s. Okada said he felt these agreements were detrimental to public trust in Japan's diplomacy, so he had ordered Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka to investigate materials within the ministry related to the allegations emerging from the U.S. declassification and release of historical documents and the TOKYO 00002198 002.2 OF 003 accounts of former U.S. officials. He stated that this need not have negative ramifications for the U.S., and promised, if needed, to share information on this process with the U.S. side. A/S Campbell hoped this would not influence U.S.-Japan cooperation under the Nuclear Policy Review, damage extended deterrence, or negatively affect the Obama administration's goals on nuclear arms as outlined in the president's Prague speech. - - - - - - - Global Issues - - - - - - - ¶4. (C) A/S Campbell expressed admiration for Japan's initiative on climate change, calling it a powerful statement that has give the U.S. confidence in developing its own policies. He expressed the hope that, as Japan considers what it can and cannot do to support the U.S. in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it consider committing to a major reconstruction effort during President Obama's upcoming visit to Japan, particularly if this were a Japanese initiative and not seen as a U.S. demand. - - - - Okinawa - - - - ¶5. (C) The A/S also asked for a sense of the GOJ's decision making process on Okinawa, noting that the U.S. has strong views on this, but cannot refuse to discuss such an important subject with our key Asian ally. Okada said that although these were not included in the DPJ election manifesto, the party had made extensive comments on Okinawa base issues and had opposed the Futenma relocation plan. All four successful Okinawan candidates in the recent lower house elections in the Okinawa (from the single seat constituency districts) were DPJ or SDP members who had opposed the Futenma relocation plan. The SDP president, who opposes the Futenma relocation plan, is a member of the ruling coalition and worked to gain agreement to oppose the plan during the coalition negotiations. Many in Okinawa prefecture oppose the plan. With this as background, we need to work together, Okada said. A/S Campbell sought to clarify whether Okada meant he would seek a new approach to Futenma relocation and present that to the U.S. formally, or that he simply wanted to study new approaches. He added that the U.S. would need to know which is the case so we can formulate our approach over the coming days. Okada replied that he has not yet made any decisions, but wants to investigate whether an alternative plan is possible. He said he did not know whether such a plan would be acceptable to the U.S. side or was realistic, but hoped to consult with the U.S. Okada said some in the DPJ believe that a consolidation of MCAS Futenma within Kadena Air Force Base was possible, but he had not yet made up his mind on this. ¶6. (U) Participants: FM Okada DG Umemoto (North American Affairs) Secretary to the FM Ishikawa Director Yoshida (North America 1) MOFA notetaker MOFA interpreter A/S Kurt Campbell AMB John Roos DOD PDAS Derek Mitchell Tokyo DCM Jim Zumwalt Japan Desk Director Kevin Maher Tokyo POL M/C Rob Luke (notetaker) Yumiko Miyazaki, Embassy Tokyo interpreter ¶7. (U) This cable has been cleared by Assistant Secretary Campbell. TOKYO 00002198 003.2 OF 003 ROOS