Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO275
2009-02-05 05:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - "BUY AMERICAN"
how-toVZCZCXRO3372 PP RUEHFK DE RUEHKO #0275 0360503 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 050503Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0578 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 2278 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 6065 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7595 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2704 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3615 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3603 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000275
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 - "BUY AMERICAN"
PROVISIONS AND KYRGYZSTAN
UNCLAS TOKYO 000275
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 - "BUY AMERICAN"
PROVISIONS AND KYRGYZSTAN
1. LEAD STORIES: Lead stories on Thursday morning
included Panasonic's decision to slash its workforce by
15,000 worldwide.
2. "Trade Protectionism Cannot Be Accepted" On the so-
called "Buy American" provisions in the U.S. stimulus
package, the top circulation, moderate Yomiuri
editorialized (2/5): "Following the financial crisis
last October, protectionist measures have been adopted
by Russia, India, and other countries. A potential rise
in protectionist sentiment in the U.S. would run the
risk of stirring up a similar mood around the world. It
would further prolong the global recession. President
Obama should persuade Congress to strike down the
provisions."
3. "U.S. Must Not Be Tempted into Accepting
Protectionism" The liberal Asahi argued in an editorial
(2/5): "Global leaders are likely to take up mounting
calls for trade protectionism across the world in the
upcoming G-20 financial summit in London in early
April. President Obama needs to counter any
protectionist moves at home ahead of the confab so that
he can ask other summiteers for maintaining free trade.
As the country which triggered the current worldwide
recession, the U.S. must act responsibly."
4. "Russian Money Counts for Neighbors" On recent
Kyrgyzstan's decision to close down a U.S. base, a
Moscow-based reporter for the liberal Asahi wrote
(2/5): "Russia is keen to exercise clout over the
former republics of the defunct Soviet Union. Seven
countries in the region agreed in Moscow on Wednesday
to establish a joint rapid response military unit with
the goal of making it a counterbalance to NATO. A
success in Russia's attempt to bring together its
neighbors again depends on whether Moscow can secure
enough money for them at a time when its state coffers
are drying up rapidly due to the sharp fall in
petroleum prices."
5. "Setback for Obama's Policy in Afghanistan" A
Washington correspondent for the moderate Yomiuri
reported (2/5): "The shutdown of a U.S. military
installation in Kyrgyzstan is bound to have a serious
impact on the Obama administration's war on terrorism,
as the base has served as a supply hub for U.S.
military operations in Afghanistan. Given that
President Obama's plan to deploy additional troops in
Afghanistan is premised upon the continued use of the
Kyrgyz facility, the closure, if it occurs, could upset
President Obama's top policy priority of stabilizing
Afghanistan."
ZUMWALT
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 - "BUY AMERICAN"
PROVISIONS AND KYRGYZSTAN
1. LEAD STORIES: Lead stories on Thursday morning
included Panasonic's decision to slash its workforce by
15,000 worldwide.
2. "Trade Protectionism Cannot Be Accepted" On the so-
called "Buy American" provisions in the U.S. stimulus
package, the top circulation, moderate Yomiuri
editorialized (2/5): "Following the financial crisis
last October, protectionist measures have been adopted
by Russia, India, and other countries. A potential rise
in protectionist sentiment in the U.S. would run the
risk of stirring up a similar mood around the world. It
would further prolong the global recession. President
Obama should persuade Congress to strike down the
provisions."
3. "U.S. Must Not Be Tempted into Accepting
Protectionism" The liberal Asahi argued in an editorial
(2/5): "Global leaders are likely to take up mounting
calls for trade protectionism across the world in the
upcoming G-20 financial summit in London in early
April. President Obama needs to counter any
protectionist moves at home ahead of the confab so that
he can ask other summiteers for maintaining free trade.
As the country which triggered the current worldwide
recession, the U.S. must act responsibly."
4. "Russian Money Counts for Neighbors" On recent
Kyrgyzstan's decision to close down a U.S. base, a
Moscow-based reporter for the liberal Asahi wrote
(2/5): "Russia is keen to exercise clout over the
former republics of the defunct Soviet Union. Seven
countries in the region agreed in Moscow on Wednesday
to establish a joint rapid response military unit with
the goal of making it a counterbalance to NATO. A
success in Russia's attempt to bring together its
neighbors again depends on whether Moscow can secure
enough money for them at a time when its state coffers
are drying up rapidly due to the sharp fall in
petroleum prices."
5. "Setback for Obama's Policy in Afghanistan" A
Washington correspondent for the moderate Yomiuri
reported (2/5): "The shutdown of a U.S. military
installation in Kyrgyzstan is bound to have a serious
impact on the Obama administration's war on terrorism,
as the base has served as a supply hub for U.S.
military operations in Afghanistan. Given that
President Obama's plan to deploy additional troops in
Afghanistan is premised upon the continued use of the
Kyrgyz facility, the closure, if it occurs, could upset
President Obama's top policy priority of stabilizing
Afghanistan."
ZUMWALT