TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS TOKYO 002783 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 - U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS AND COP15 ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Monday morning's Asahi gave top play to a correspondent's report from Seoul on the start of tripartite consultations among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea concerning the creation of a roadmap for North Korea's denuclearization. ¶2. "We Are Concerned about Delay in Decision on Futenma Relocation" On Prime Minister Hatoyama's move to put off a decision on Futenma relocation until next year, the business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (12/5): "It is an error in judgment. Dark clouds are hanging not only over U.S.-Japan bilateral relations, but also over PM Hatoyama's grip on power. His handling of the economy might also be adversely affected. We are concerned that the prime minister is not aware that his administration is facing a crisis.... There have been many cases in which relationships between two governments collapsed due to differences of opinions between leaders. Hardly any mutual trust has been built up between President Obama and PM Hatoyama, as their administrations were both launched only this year.... The prime minister should exercise his leadership and seek a solution that is agreeable to the U.S. before the end of the year." ¶3. "Prime Minister Must Think Twice" The conservative Sankei asserted in an editorial (12/5): "[PM Hatoyama] is undermining the trust of the U.S.-Japan alliance and endangering Japan's national security. Is he really capable of carrying out his responsibility to the nation of protecting the security and prosperity of the Japanese people? This matter must be settled before the end of the year. We strongly urge the prime minister to think twice.... From the USG's standpoint, Hatoyama has gone adrift again and made a decision in a manner that apparently prioritized domestic political considerations over national security. This has probably compounded the U.S.'s disappointment and distrust [of the prime minister]." ¶4. "COP15 Should Strive for Enforceable Accord" On the scheduled start today of the COP15 meeting in Copenhagen, the liberal Mainichi insisted (12/7): "Adopting a new, legally-binding protocol will apparently be difficult. However, steps toward stabilizing the global climate must not be halted. It is essential that the participants steadily move forward with discussions and form a political agreement that will lead to actual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Such an agreement must become a framework in which major emitters such as the U.S., China, and India, which are not obliged to reduce emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, are required to meet their obligations." ROOS