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

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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