TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - COP15 MEETING

UNCLAS TOKYO 002712 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 - COP15 MEETING ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Friday morning included the yen's rapid appreciation against the U.S. dollar, as well as a call by a GOJ panel for the Defense Ministry to review labor costs for Japanese base workers that the GOJ shoulders as part of its host nation support for the U.S. military. ¶2. "Boost for COP15" On recent announcements by the U.S. and China on their respective goals for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the liberal Mainichi editorialized (11/27): "It is meaningful that the U.S., which has withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol, and China, which is not obligated to reduce emissions under the same protocol, have demonstrated their commitment to reducing emissions. There is a possibility that international negotiations on global warming will progress rapidly now that the two countries, which together produce 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, have launched their numerical reduction targets." ¶3. "China Underscores Its Position as 'Responsible Power'" On the Chinese announcement regarding its reduction goal and Premier Wen's planned participation in the COP15 meeting, a Beijing correspondent for the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri stated (11/27): "The Chinese announcement was apparently made in concert with the U.S., which had just announced its reduction target and President Obama's plan to attend COP15. China was probably aiming to call attention to its position as a 'responsible power.'... However, there is no room for optimism about reaching an agreement at COP15 because China has not changed its basic stance of calling for advanced nations to reduce emissions first." ¶4. "U.S., China Keen to Establish Presence before COP15" The liberal Asahi wrote (11/27): "By launching their respective reduction goals before a basic consensus emerges on a post-Kyoto framework political agreement, the U.S. and China have made it clear that they plan to take the lead in negotiations [at COP15]." ZUMWALT