TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - MCAS FUTENMA RELOCATION AND RUSSIA'S

UNCLAS TOKYO 002367 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 - MCAS FUTENMA RELOCATION AND RUSSIA'S NEW MILITARY DOCTRINE ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning included the likelihood that budgetary requests from government ministries for fiscal 2010 will hit a record high, with the total amount estimated to be over 90 trillion yen. ¶2. "Prime Minister Hatoyama Should Accept Futenma Relocation within Okinawa" The moderate Yomiuri editorialized (10/15): "In order to maintain the credibility of the U.S.-Japan alliance and greatly reduce the burden on Okinawa, Prime Minister Hatoyama should alter his policy and accept the Futenma Air Station's relocation within Okinawa." ¶3. "Prime Minister Hatoyama Should Decide on Futenma Relocation within Okinawa" The conservative Sankei argued in an editorial (10/15): "The danger posed by MCAS Futenma on local residents should be removed without delay. Pursuing Futenma relocation outside Okinawa in an irresponsible manner will only undermine the foundation of the U.S.-Japan alliance.... Prime Minister Hatoyama should understand that further delays will have a negative impact on U.S.-Japan relations. It is time for Hatoyama to quickly come to a conclusion that may involve withdrawing his assertion that the facility should be relocated outside Okinawa." ¶4. "Russia to Relax Conditions for Pre-Emptive Nuclear Strikes" The liberal Asahi wrote from Moscow (10/15): "Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Patrushev revealed in the October 14 edition of Izvestia that Russia plans to relax the conditions for its pre-emptive nuclear strikes in its new military doctrine to be reviewed for the first time in nine years.... U.S.-Russia talks on a successor to START I, which will expire by the end of the year, are proceeding, and the momentum for reducing nuclear weapons is growing. However, it is evident that Russia intends to depend on nuclear deterrence and maintain its position as a major nuclear power." ROOS