TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO JAPAN, NORTH

UNCLAS TOKYO 002626 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 - PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO JAPAN, NORTH KOREA, AND AFGHANISTAN ¶1. LEAD STORIES: All Friday morning papers gave top or front-page play to the Government Revitalization Unit's continued review on Thursday of fiscal 2010 budget requests. ¶2. "'Uncertain Situation' Should Be Improved" The conservative Sankei argued in an editorial (11/13): "President Obama will visit November 13 and hold a summit meeting with Prime Minister Hatoyama.... We welcome the U.S.'s decision to select Japan as the starting point of his first trip to Asia as president. This appears to demonstrate the U.S.'s position of placing importance on the U.S.-Japan alliance as a 'cornerstone of its Asia-Pacific policy.' However, it is regrettable that the President's first visit to Japan will likely produce few results for the alliance. The issue of MCAS Futenma relocation, the largest concern for the alliance, will be postponed due to Prime Minister Hatoyama's 'indecision.'... In order to prevent the alliance from hollowing out, Hatoyama should make a decision promptly." ¶3. "We Should Not Overreact to a 'Staged Crisis'" The liberal Mainichi stated in an editorial (11/13): "The USG announced ahead of President Obama's Asian trip that it will send Special Representative for North Korea Policy Bosworth to Pyongyang. The visit is aimed at persuading North Korea to return to the Six-Party Talks to make progress on the North Korean nuclear issue.... Right before this announcement, North and South Korean vessels exchanged fire in the Yellow Sea. It is highly likely that North Korea was intentionally trying to create a stir. Both the U.S. and South Korea have been carefully avoiding overreacting to the incident. However, Pyongyang might repeat this kind of 'staged crisis' in the course of future U.S.-DPRK talks. In order to avoid being influenced by such provocations, close coordination among relevant nations including Japan is indispensable." ¶4. "Japan Should Make Bold Efforts to Help Afghanistan" The liberal Asahi editorialized (11/13): "The Hatoyama administration has revealed its new assistance measures for Afghanistan.... The GOJ's decision to allocate substantial funds to its civilian assistance measures makes sense.... The Hatoyama administration plans to halt the MSDF's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean next January.... Some people criticize the Hatoyama administration's policy as 'checkbook diplomacy.'... However, this criticism is irrelevant. Rather than bending to foreign pressure, Japan should take an independent and level-headed approach in considering what it can and should do for the stabilization of Afghanistan. Since Japan can only play a limited military role, providing as much civilian assistance as possible would probably be appropriate." ROOS