Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO298
2009-02-09 01:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AT
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UNCLAS TOKYO 000298
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 - VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AT
MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE
UNCLAS TOKYO 000298
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 - VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AT
MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE
1. LEAD STORIES: There were no papers published on
Monday morning due to a press holiday. Broadcasters
reported on a wildfire caused by a heat wave that
killed at least 108 people in southern Australia.
2. "U.S. Wooing Europe" The top-circulation, moderate
Yomiuri reported from Munich (2/8): "During the Munich
security conference, Vice President Biden delivered a
speech calling for the establishment of a 'strong
partnership' with European countries. The call
reflected the Obama administration's desire to
reconstruct the trans-Atlantic relationship, which
cooled under the former Bush administration, and to
jointly tackle such pressing issues as the financial
crisis and the war on terrorism. The focus from now
will be on whether they can deliver specific
achievements on issues such as the reconstruction of
Afghanistan."
3. "Europeans Welcoming U.S. Courting" The liberal
Tokyo Shimbun wrote from Munich (2/8): "Vice President
Biden's address at the Munich security confab
represented the Obama administration's policy of
departing from former President Bush's unilateralism
and improving ties with Russia. While the West
Europeans are welcoming Washington's policy turnaround
toward international coordination, countries in East
Europe appear to have mixed feelings about it given
that they have tried to counter Russia by relying on
U.S. backing."
4. "U.S, Europe Looking to Greater Coordination" The
liberal Mainichi stated in an article from Munich
(2/8): "The Europeans are largely welcoming of Vice
President Biden's call for enhanced partnership with
them, wishing for greater cooperation in such areas as
global warming and climate change. At the same time,
they are also wary about the U.S. potentially prodding
them to shoulder an excessive burden in view of
Washington's plan to ask the Europeans to commit more
troops in Afghanistan.... Greater policy coordination
in trans-Atlantic ties also depends on whether the two
parties can narrow differences over their respective
approaches toward Russia."
5. "Progress Possible in Nuclear Reductions" A Munich
correspondent for the business-oriented Nikkei said
(2/8): "Given that it has strongly opposed former
President Bush's unilateral line, Russia is likely to
welcome a U.S. policy change, which was expressed by
Vice President Biden, especially at a time when it has
little room to increase military tensions with
Washington due to the rapid deterioration of its
economy.... As Washington has recently responded
positively to Moscow's call for new negotiations on a
post-START I nuclear arms reduction pact, enhanced
coordination between the U.S. and Russia on this front
would help apply the brake to an arms race by
developing countries."
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 - VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AT
MUNICH SECURITY CONFERENCE
1. LEAD STORIES: There were no papers published on
Monday morning due to a press holiday. Broadcasters
reported on a wildfire caused by a heat wave that
killed at least 108 people in southern Australia.
2. "U.S. Wooing Europe" The top-circulation, moderate
Yomiuri reported from Munich (2/8): "During the Munich
security conference, Vice President Biden delivered a
speech calling for the establishment of a 'strong
partnership' with European countries. The call
reflected the Obama administration's desire to
reconstruct the trans-Atlantic relationship, which
cooled under the former Bush administration, and to
jointly tackle such pressing issues as the financial
crisis and the war on terrorism. The focus from now
will be on whether they can deliver specific
achievements on issues such as the reconstruction of
Afghanistan."
3. "Europeans Welcoming U.S. Courting" The liberal
Tokyo Shimbun wrote from Munich (2/8): "Vice President
Biden's address at the Munich security confab
represented the Obama administration's policy of
departing from former President Bush's unilateralism
and improving ties with Russia. While the West
Europeans are welcoming Washington's policy turnaround
toward international coordination, countries in East
Europe appear to have mixed feelings about it given
that they have tried to counter Russia by relying on
U.S. backing."
4. "U.S, Europe Looking to Greater Coordination" The
liberal Mainichi stated in an article from Munich
(2/8): "The Europeans are largely welcoming of Vice
President Biden's call for enhanced partnership with
them, wishing for greater cooperation in such areas as
global warming and climate change. At the same time,
they are also wary about the U.S. potentially prodding
them to shoulder an excessive burden in view of
Washington's plan to ask the Europeans to commit more
troops in Afghanistan.... Greater policy coordination
in trans-Atlantic ties also depends on whether the two
parties can narrow differences over their respective
approaches toward Russia."
5. "Progress Possible in Nuclear Reductions" A Munich
correspondent for the business-oriented Nikkei said
(2/8): "Given that it has strongly opposed former
President Bush's unilateral line, Russia is likely to
welcome a U.S. policy change, which was expressed by
Vice President Biden, especially at a time when it has
little room to increase military tensions with
Washington due to the rapid deterioration of its
economy.... As Washington has recently responded
positively to Moscow's call for new negotiations on a
post-START I nuclear arms reduction pact, enhanced
coordination between the U.S. and Russia on this front
would help apply the brake to an arms race by
developing countries."
ZUMWALT