JAPAN PREPARING FOR SECOND TRILATERAL SUMMIT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002343 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/J E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV CH JA SUBJECT: JAPAN PREPARING FOR SECOND TRILATERAL SUMMIT REF: TOKYO 2329 TOKYO 00002343 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: CDA James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is preparing for the second Japan-China-South Korea Summit, slated for Beijing, October 10. The Third Trilateral Foreign Minister's Meeting, held in Shanghai October 2, expounded on agreements from the first Summit in December 2008, and helped set the stage for October 10, according to Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). In Shanghai, Foreign Minister (FM) Katsuya Okada raised the East Asian Community (EAC) concept in the spirit of regional cooperation and stressed the importance of strengthening trilateral partnerships within the context of existing regional frameworks. Hatoyama will test further his EAC concept at the Trilateral Summit. The PM also will stress the importance of encouraging North Korea to return to Six-Party Talks. Questions remain regarding new areas of cooperation discussed during last year's Summit. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) The new Hatoyama administration is preparing for the second Japan-China-South Korea Summit, slated for Beijing, October 10. Embassy MOFA contacts contend that these summits are historically significant and differ from previous trilateral leaders' meetings because they take place independent of multilateral forums. Prime Minister (PM) Hatoyama, who will be accompanied by FM Okada, will seek to build on the December 2008 summit, held in then Prime Minister Taro Aso's hometown of Fukuoka. At that time, Aso, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, and South Korean President Lee Myungbak signed a joint statement promoting trilateral cooperation in a "future oriented manner" under the principles of "openness, transparency, and mutual trust." The three leaders also drew up an "Action Plan" covering cooperation in political, economic, environmental, social and cultural, and global affairs. -------------- Okada's Trip to Shanghai Set Stage for Summit -------------- ¶3. (C) The Third Trilateral Foreign Minister's Meeting, held in Shanghai October 2, expounded on the December 2008 initiatives and helped set the stage for the October 10 summit, according to MOFA's China officials. Okada's talks in Shanghai will form the basis of Hatoyama's policy proposals in Beijing, they note. In Shanghai, Okada and his counterparts, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung Hwan, underscored the general principle of strengthening trilateral cooperation for stability and prosperity in East Asia. Okada described Japan as maintaining U.S.-Japan relations as the "standard," while in the long term actively promoting an Asia policy that includes Hatoyama's much-publicized "East Asia Community" concept (Reftel). ¶4. (C) Okada raised the EAC concept in the spirit of regional cooperation and stressed the importance of strengthening trilateral partnerships within the context of existing regional frameworks such as the East Asia Summit, ASEAN 3, APEC, and Japan's own summit with Mekong region countries. Yang highlighted the ASEAN-related summit in late October as an opportunity to support ASEAN's desire to discuss the global financial situation, MOFA officials reported. Hatoyama will use the Trilateral Summit to test further his EAC concept, including his idea of turning the disputed East China Sea into a "Sea of Fraternity," MOFA officials said. The genesis of the European Union (EU) serves as an inspiration behind Hatoyama's vision, China Division Deputy Director Masaru Okada observed. Hatoyama hopes that Japan, China, and South Korea--like Germany and France--can put aside any lingering wartime animosities for the sake of a broader regional ideal, Okada added. ¶5. (C) On regional and international issues, Okada's meetings in Shanghai suggest that the PM will stress the importance of encouraging North Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks as soon as possible, MOFA officials note. The North's nuclear TOKYO 00002343 002.2 OF 002 and missile development programs are serious threats to the stability and peace of Northeast Asia, FM Okada said in Shanghai. He encouraged his counterparts and the international community to implement relevant UN resolutions against the North and to work together in finding a comprehensive solution to the nuclear, missile and abductee issues. Yang, for his part, underscored the effectiveness and practicality of the current Six-Party Framework. The South Korean side vowed to continue supporting current sanctions while stressing the importance of dialogue. ¶6. (C) The three foreign ministers raised the global financial situation, UN reform, climate change, and non-proliferation as additional topics for the summit, MOFA officials told Embassy Tokyo. In light of President Obama's widely praised Prague speech in April, FM Okada underscored the need for cooperation in eliminating nuclear weapons and encouraged China to take steps toward ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. -------------- New Areas of Cooperation Still in the Air -------------- ¶7. (C) Questions remain whether much progress will be made on potential new areas of cooperation discussed during last year's Trilateral Summit. At the time, Aso, Wen, and Lee issued a joint announcement on disaster management cooperation, for example. The three sides vowed to develop a comprehensive disaster management framework, including measures and systems aimed at reducing vulnerability to disasters at national, local, and community levels. MOFA interlocutors, however, have little to report in this area. ZUMWALT