SENIOR DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIAL DISCUSSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002376 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2019 TAGS: MARR OVIP PGOV PINR PREL JA SUBJECT: SENIOR DEFENSE MINISTRY OFFICIAL DISCUSSES UPCOMING SECDEF VISIT Classified By: DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION JAMES P. ZUMWALT, REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: It is essential for the Secretary to speak frankly with Japanese Minister of Defense Kitazawa about the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF) issue, according to Ministry of Defense (MOD) Defense Policy Director General Takamizawa. FRF will be Kitazawa's top priority during the office call and MOD hopes that the Secretary will emphasize that the current plan is the only viable option. Kitazawa will raise a number of other bilateral issues, including Host Nation Support, the National Defense Program Guidelines and Quadrennial Defense Review processes, and Japanese assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Minister will not, however, discuss Japan's F-X selection process during their bilateral meeting. End Summary. -------------- FRF: Priority One -------------- ¶2. (C) Discussing FRF will be the top priority for Kitazawa when he meets with the Secretary, Takamizawa stressed. As part of this, the Minister plans to explain the current situation in the Diet, the sentiments in Okinawa, and the DPJ's domestic political situation and the impact that each of these has on FRF. The Minister "might propose something" as a way to move the FRF discussions forward, Takamizawa speculated, but he did not know exactly what this might be. Vice Minister Nagashima will brief the Minister on Nagashima's discussions in Washington immediately upon his return October 16. ¶3. (C) The Minister wants the visit by the Secretary to be seen by the Japanese public as evidence of the United States and Japan making joint efforts to strengthen the Alliance, Takamizawa said, adding that the Minister is keen to avoid any public evidence of tension over the FRF issue. In private, however, Kitazawa is expecting a "direct and frank" discussion on FRF. It will be important for the Secretary to deliver a clear, firm message, emphasizing that the current plan is the only viable option and further delays are unacceptable, according to Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation Division Director Serizawa. -------------- Other Likely Topics -------------- ¶4. (C) In addition to FRF, Kitazawa plans to discuss several other matters with the Secretary, and Takamizawa handed over a document listing the following: missile defense, the regional security situation, 50th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, Host Nation Support Comprehensive Review, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and the National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG), joint exercises, and disaster relief. Kitazawa plans to point to BMD and joint training as Alliance success stories and also emphasize the importance of appropriately commemorating the 50th anniversary next year. ¶5. (C) The Cabinet will make a decision tomorrow to push the NDPG out until 2010, Takamizawa said, confirming recent Japanese press reports. He added, however, that the Cabinet will also show the "basic direction" it plans to take on the NDPG in the near future and that this could include "something new." Takamizawa pointed to the introduction of ballistic missile defense under similar circumstances in ¶2003. Emphasizing that he was only speculating, Takamizawa opined that revisions to Japan's export principles may/may be one possible topic that could be included in the Cabinet's direction. ¶6. (C) Notably absent from the discussion topics list is any reference to Japan's pending F-X decision. Takamizawa did not expect Kitazawa to raise the issue during his meeting with the Secretary. Noting that MOD is eager to coordinate press guidance with the United States, however, Takamizawa acknowledged that the F-X issue could potentially come up during the joint press event. If a reporter asks about the F-X decision, Takamizawa stresed that Kitazawa would say Japan is still evaluating its options. TOKYO 00002376 002 OF 002 ROOS