TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - RUSSIA AND TIBET

UNCLAS TOKYO 000533 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 - RUSSIA AND TIBET ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top items on Tuesday morning included follow-up stories on the recent political donation scandal involving DPJ leader Ozawa. ¶2. "Will for Nuclear Arms Reduction Expressed" The moderate Yomiuri editorialized (3/10): "The U.S. and Russia agreed to conclude by the end of the year a new treaty on the reduction of nuclear weapons... Although details, such as reduction goals and verification procedures, are not yet known, the two nations plan to take up the issue for discussion at the U.S.-Russia summit to be held on the sidelines of the financial summit in London in April. We hope that both President Obama and President Medvedev will work toward a substantial agreement... The U.S. and Russia currently possess more than 9,000 nuclear warheads, which make up more than 90 percent of the world's total nuclear warheads. If the two nuclear superpowers fail to drastically reduce the number of nuclear arms, their call for other nations not to possess such weapons will have only limited influence. Both the U.S. and Russia should implement a drastic reduction of nuclear weapons as their duty as nuclear powers." ¶3. "Tibet Will Not Be Controlled by Force or Money" The liberal Asahi stated in an editorial (3/10): "Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising. Probably due to consideration for China, Secretary of State Clinton, who is considered as an advocate for human rights, said during her recent trip to China that pressing on the human rights issue should not interfere with the discussion on the global economic crisis and climate change... It is regrettable that the international community is losing its interest in Tibet... The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government have made large-scale investments in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and constructed roads, power plants, and hospitals there. The living conditions of the people of Tibet may have improved somewhat. However, we wonder whether their feelings are understood and their religion and culture are respected. Money and force will not control their religious spirit." ZUMWALT