TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - SECRETARY'S TRIP TO

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000403 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 - SECRETARY'S TRIP TO ASIA AND AFGHANISTAN ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Lead items on Monday morning included the results of several opinion surveys showing a further decline in public support for Prime Minister Aso. ¶2. "Will U.S. diplomacy Save All in 'Common Boat?'" The liberal Asahi editorialized (2/22): "Secretary of State Clinton's East Asia tour was meaningful in that it successfully demonstrated the Obama administration's policy of attaching importance to Asia.... In a New York speech delivered ahead of her departure for the region, the Secretary used the Chinese saying: 'When you are in a common boat, you need to cross the river peacefully together.' Many countries travel aboard the boat that the Secretary referred to. There exist many forms of collaboration among the U.S., Japan, China, as well as among the U.S., Japan, and South Korea. Each nation needs to use its wisdom and power for such joint cooperation." ¶3. "Clinton Calls for Expanded Dialogue with China" The moderate Yomiuri asserted in an editorial (2/22): "The prospect for enhanced dialogue between the U.S. and China, as agreed upon by Secretary Clinton and her Chinese counterpart, remains uncertain. Economic friction between the two countries cannot be avoidable if Chinese products are shut out from the U.S. market due to the so-called 'Buy American' provisions. With this year marking the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square incident, chances are high that the democracy movement will regain momentum in China. Human rights issues are a potential source of friction between Washington and Beijing." ¶4. "U.S.-China Dialogue Should be Opened to Others" The liberal Mainichi insisted (2/22): "Secretary Clinton's citing of the Chinese proverb: 'When you are in a common boat, you need to cross the river peacefully together' in a recent policy speech in New York can be deemed as a declaration by the Secretary that the Obama administration, despite its policy emphasis on enhancing ties with Asia, considers China its most important diplomatic partner.... U.S. foreign policy toward Asia should involve more than diplomacy with China. Enhanced U.S.-China coordination is welcome. However, the two countries must not forget that they are not the only ones who travel aboard the boat." ¶5. "How will the U.S. deal with Diverse Asia?" The business-oriented Nikkei argued (2/22): "The East Asian countries that have just hosted a visit by Secretary Clinton are paying close attention to how the Obama administration will incorporate into its foreign policy inputs they provided to the Secretary.... It is important for Washington to be open-minded about the diversity of Asia. However, that should not mean that Washington would turn a blind eye to human rights abuses in Burma, North Korea, and China." ¶6. "Hope for Successful Strategy in Afghanistan?" On President Obama's decision to dispatch additional troops to Afghanistan, an editorial in the liberal Mainichi claimed (2/23): "The U.S. needs to explain TOKYO 00000403 002 OF 002 once again the importance for enhanced military operations in Afghanistan in order to ensure understanding from Islamic moderates in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Obama administration is also advised to recognize the limit of military actions and to make efforts to rectify anti-American sentiment in the region." ZUMWALT