Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO420
2009-02-24 08:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

MOFA SUPPORTING BROAD ENGAGEMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

Tags:  KTIA ASEAN JA CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1009
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7895
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3043
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3918
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 8660
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2373
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 1116
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 4615
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RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2720
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 9771
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 3147
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 2596
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 4941
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 6385
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 000420 

SIPDIS

FOR EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019
TAGS: KTIA ASEAN JA CH
SUBJECT: MOFA SUPPORTING BROAD ENGAGEMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

REF: STATE 14354

TOKYO 00000420 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: CDA James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 000420

SIPDIS

FOR EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019
TAGS: KTIA ASEAN JA CH
SUBJECT: MOFA SUPPORTING BROAD ENGAGEMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

REF: STATE 14354

TOKYO 00000420 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: CDA James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Japanese officials want to strengthen
cooperation with the United States on Southeast Asia policy
and enthusiastically welcome what they see as renewed U.S.
engagement in the region. Japan's Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MOFA) welcomed Secretary Clinton's visit to
Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asia Nations
(ASEAN) Secretariat and, more specifically, her announcement
that a review process for U.S. accession to the Treaty of
Amity and Cooperation (TAC) has begun (Ref A). Understanding
the level of U.S. dedication will make it easier for Tokyo to
explore areas of joint cooperation and allows Japan to pursue
its own policy initiatives with more confidence, MOFA
indicated to Embassy Tokyo. MOFA's Southeast Asia Division
has been busy this month managing key relationships in the
region. Japan's Crown Prince completed a trip to Vietnam,
and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva used a Japan visit
to give assurances of Thailand's political and economic
stability. On Burma, Japanese officials are encouraged by UN
envoy Ibrahim Gambari's latest trip and by his efforts to
solicit Japanese help in dealing with the military junta.
END SUMMARY

--------------
MOFA PLEASED WITH SECRETARY'S VISITS
--------------


2. (C) First Southeast Asia Division Deputy Director Shogo
Yoshitake told Embassy Tokyo February 19 that he and his MOFA
colleagues were extremely pleased with the Secretary's visit
to Indonesia and to the ASEAN Secretariat. This Southeast
Asia stop points to Washington's plans to bolster U.S.
engagement in the region and -- to the relief and
satisfaction of concerned regional capitals -- conveys a
renewed, longterm commitment to Southeast Asia, Yoshitake
stressed. Japanese officials, furthermore, applaud the
Secretary's public announcement regarding Washington's
decision to start the interagency review process for
potential TAC accession. He expressed understanding
regarding the lengthy procedural, legal, and policy
coordination involved in assessing potential membership but
underscored the important role that the announcement itself

plays in dispelling any lingering perceptions of U.S.
regional neglect.


3. (C) The Secretary's stop in Jakarta also helped to
confirm the importance Washington places on Indonesia as the
world's most populous Muslim country and as a critical policy
player in the region, Yoshitake said. Indonesia is an
original ASEAN member and current home to the Secretariat.
There is room for broader U.S.-Japan cooperation on the
world's largest archipelago in realms such as education,
technical assistance, and counterterrorism, to name a few,
noted Yoshitake.


4. (C) MOFA welcomes a greater U.S. presence in Southeast
Asia, in part to balance what Japanese officials see as
China's growing influence in the region, particularly the
Mekong countries, Yoshitake continued. The Secretary's trip
helps reinforce the image of the United States as a potential
counter to China, which bases its policies only minimally on
shared international interests, Yoshitake asserted. With
Washington and Tokyo affirming their commitment to the

TOKYO 00000420 002.2 OF 003


region, the U.S. and Japan can jointly encourage China to
become a responsible stakeholder and a constructive member in
group-based orientations and regional mechanisms, such as the
ASEAN Regional Forum and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum.

--------------
MOFA MANAGING KEY MEKONG TIES
--------------


5. (C) Clear signs of U.S. regional engagement also give
Japan the confidence to explore its own policy initiatives,
explained Yoshitake. Expounding on Japanese relations with
Mekong capitals, Yoshitake provided a brief readout of
Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito's February 9-15 trip to
Vietnam. The Crown Prince had a formal lunch with the
Vietnamese Vice President but also enjoyed two separate
dinner occasions -- in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City -- with
Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet. The Crown Prince has
always expressed interest in Vietnamese culture and was
warmly received. Yoshitake mentioned that the trip provided
impetus to settle the official development assistance (ODA)
bribery case involving the Japanese firm Pacific Consulting
International and a top Ho Chi Minh City official. Japan
wanted to resume its ODA program to Vietnam as quickly as
possible. Yoshitake stressed that the key to limiting future
scandals is transparency, but he admitted that he is only
mildly confident about the effectiveness of future
improvements.


6. (C) On Thailand, Japan was quite pleased with Thai Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's February 5-7 visit to Japan and
his meeting with Japanese PM Aso. Yoshitake explained that
Thai prime ministers usually reserve their inaugural overseas
visits for fellow ASEAN member countries, but the fact that
Abhisit chose Japan as his second visit -- following Laos --
highlights the importance Bangkok places on its relationship
with Tokyo. Abhisit arrived conveying the importance of
bilateral ties and expressing gratitude for past Japanese
support. His main objective, noted Yoshitake, was to pass
along a message of stability and to restore Japanese
investment confidence following the political uncertainty and
antigovernment demonstrations that led to the closure of
Bangkok International Airport last year. Abhisit
participated in an investment seminar where he underscored
the importance of foreign direct investment and tourism,
particularly during the current global financial crisis.


7. (C) Yoshitake said that Abhisit's visit tracked smoothly
with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone's January
trip to Thailand, where his counterpart, Thai Foreign
Minister Kasit, expressed the same message and highlighted
the importance of transparent policies to avoid similar
government disruptions. As the chair of ASEAN this year,
Thailand has a large role to play in regional affairs,
observed Yoshitake. Both Tokyo and Bangkok would like to
hold the East Asia Summit and other related events, such as
the ASEAN 3, as early as possible, but some participants have
not yet agreed to the timeframe, according to Yoshitake.


8. (C) On Burma, UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari is turning
to Japan for help in dealing with the Burmese military junta.
Gambari stopped through Tokyo February 11-13 after having
just visited Burma, where he met separately with detained
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, members of the
National League for Democracy, and Prime Minister Thein Sein.

TOKYO 00000420 003.2 OF 003


Yoshitake said that Gambari's meetings with FM Nakasone,
Deputy Foreign Minister Kenichiro Sasae, former Japanese
Permanent Representative to the UN Kenzo Oshima, and
representatives from the Japan International Cooperation
Association were somewhat thin on substance but that Gambari
asked Japan, as a new nonpermanent member of the UN Security
Council, to back him in his efforts to push the military
regime toward dialogue with the opposition. Gambari noted
during his meetings that Ang Sung Suu Kyi is insisting on
certain preconditions -- such as the release of all political
prisoners -- before UN Secretary General Ban Kyi Moon visits
the country. Gambari wants Japan to keep talks open with the
junta in order to "move the situation forward." Gambari
needs a "tool box," "carrots," and "new ideas" to make this
happen, stressed Yoshitake.


ZUMWALT