JAPAN MULLS GREATER PEACKEEPING PARTICIPATION IN

S E C R E T TOKYO 002846

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/J, AF/SPG, IO/PSC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KPKO SU JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN MULLS GREATER PEACKEEPING PARTICIPATION IN
AFRICA

Classified By: DCM James P. Zumwalt per reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (S) During a December 10 meeting with Embassy poloff,
MOFA First Africa Division Principal Deputy Director Naoki
Takahashi and Sudan Desk Officer Sho Nishimura said that
although Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has spoken publicly
in favor of increased Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF)
participation in African peacekeeping missions, particularly
in Sudan, internal GOJ interagency discussions continue and
neither a decision nor a formal announcement regarding an
expanded JSDF role in African peacekeeping is imminent.


2. (S) Tadashi said that although FM Okada,s public
statements support an increased JSDF role in African
peacekeeping operations, the decision regarding such a policy
shift did not rest with MOFA alone but also involved the
Cabinet Peacekeeping Office and the Ministry of Defense. At
present, these three agencies are working together to review
options and consider possible ways to increase Japan,s role
in peacekeeping operations. Nishimura said that the GOJ was
looking at several options for increased JSDF participation
in peacekeeping and that Sudan was only one of several
possibilities. That said, he conceded that Sudan could be
among the most feasible and was therefore one of the more
likely candidates.


3. (S) According to Takahashi and Nishimura, MOFA and the
Cabinet,s Peacekeeping Office are generally supportive of
broader JSDF peacekeeping participation, as is the civilian
side of the Ministry of Defense (MOD). They characterized
the uniformed side of MOD as being the most reticent about
possible increased peacekeeping activities. Noting, however,
the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)-led Hatoyama
administration,s intention to strengthen the political
leadership,s control of policy formation and reduce the
career bureaucracy,s role, Nishimura stressed the final
decision would be made at the political level.


4. (S) Nishimura said that the current interagency
discussions within the GOJ are very sensitive and he asked
for U.S. understanding and discretion as they continue. He
noted while MOFA has been urging a resolution of internal
discussions in a timeframe that would allow the GOJ to
dispatch JSDF members by the time of Sudan,s April 2010
election, this was not a hard deadline. He said MOFA has
been using the April 2010 elections as an action-forcing
event to keep discussions on track. Ultimately, Nishimura
noted, the GOJ could dispatch JSDF members later as there
would be an ongoing need for peacekeepers in Sudan that would
not be limited to the time period in and around the April
election.
ROOS