MOFA PROVIDES MIXED ASSESSMENT OF JAPAN-CHINA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 000537 SIPDIS FOR EAP/J E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2019 TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM KN KS TW CH JA SUBJECT: MOFA PROVIDES MIXED ASSESSMENT OF JAPAN-CHINA FOREIGN MINISTER'S MEETING REF: TOKYO 3421 TOKYO 00000537 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: CDA James P. Zumwalt for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone's trip to China, February 28-March 1, continued the overall goodwill generated by recent high-level bilateral exchanges but did not make progress on key disagreements. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi did not raise Taiwan and generally worked around sensitive bilateral issues, according to China Division officials from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The Chinese side did raise Tibet, calling it an internal issue, with Japan responding by noting the importance of human rights and its expectations that China engage in dialogue with the Dalai Lama. FM Nakasone came up short on securing Beijing's commitment to inviting Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso to China later this month. MOFA officials are also disappointed about the lack of progress in resuming the Japan-China High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED). Differences also remain on conflicting territorial claims over the Senkaku Islands and East China Sea, as well as on the appropriate response to a potential North Korean missile launch. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) Japanese FM Nakasone's February 28-March 1 visit to China continues the general goodwill generated recently between Tokyo and Beijing. FM Nakasone's meetings with Chinese FM Yang, Premier Wen Jiabao, and State Councilor Dai Bingguo contained few surprises, as both sides sought to avoid letting outstanding bilateral disputes taint overall relations, according to MOFA China Division Deputy Director Masaru Okada. The discussions covered a full range of topics, although China pointedly did not once raise Taiwan. Okada saw this as evidence of improved China-Taiwan relations as a result of Taiwan President Ma Yingjeou's leadership. China thus no longer feels the need to mention Taiwan at every meeting. Tangible deliverables were limited but included establishment of the first bilateral teacher exchange program and an agreement to begin studying cooperative search and rescue operations in the disputed East China Sea. Okada pointed out that FM Nakasone did not meet Chinese President Hu Jintao, although Secretary Clinton was able to meet him on her first visit to China. -------------- Tibet and Human Rights -------------- ¶3. (C) FM Yang explained China's longstanding position on Tibet, calling it an internal issue. FM Nakasone emphasized that Japan expects Beijing to engage in results-targeted dialogue with representatives of Tibet's exiled community, Okada told Embassy Tokyo. On human rights in general, FM Nakasone underscored for his Chinese counterpart the importance of protecting basic freedoms and universal values. Okada noted that Japan is following closely Chinese reaction to several sensitive dates -- such as the month of March (the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's exile to India) and June 4 (the 20th anniversary of the Tianmen Square massacre) -- which again could put China in the international spotlight, particularly if Beijing finds it necessary to respond with force to any protest activity. -------------- -------------- FM Nakasone Seeks Invitation for Aso to Visit Beijing -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Building on last year's agreement between Beijing and Tokyo on reciprocal high-level visits, FM Nakasone asked Premier Wen about the possibility of an invitation for Prime Minister Taro Aso to visit Beijing in late March prior to the TOKYO 00000537 002.2 OF 003 April 2 London G20 Leaders, Summit. FM Nakasone,s request for an invitation surprised his own Ministry because "there is nothing for our leaders to discuss," according to Japan-China Economic Affairs Director Masashi Ogawa. MOFA interlocutors, therefore, were not surprised by Wen's less-than-warm response that "China will proceed with considerations." Furthermore, China is busy preparing for its first summit with President Obama on the margins of the London Summit; FM Yang himself is traveling to Washington this month, observed Ogawa. If PM Aso's trip were to happen, it would round out his travel schedule, which includes recent visits to South Korea, Russia, and the United States, Okada noted separately. Regardless of the outcome in March, MOFA officials expressed confidence that PM Aso and President Hu will have ample opportunities to meet on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit and during ASEAN-related events in April. Okada stressed that identifying shared security interests and new areas of potential cooperation, as well as cultivating bilateral trust, would be key themes for future high-level exchanges. -------------- Economic and Financial Relationship -------------- ¶5. (C) On the economic and financial front, Ogawa said that FM Nakasone was unable to secure one of his primary objectives: convincing FM Yang to schedule an early HLED meeting. The inaugural dialogue was in Beijing in December 2007, but the second meeting has been repeatedly postponed (reftel). Ogawa said Japan and China are not consulting closely on economic and financial issues and, unfortunately, are not narrowing differences on important subjects such as food safety and climate change. Yang told Nakasone that China agrees in principle to hold the second HLED in June, an event that would follow the April 2 G20 Leaders, Summit and precede the July 8-10 G7/G8 meetings in La Maddalena, Italy, but he did not give specific dates. Ogawa reported that FM Nakasone, Trade Minister Toshiro Nikai, and Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano would lead the Japanese delegation to the HLED meetings. -------------- Distance Remains on Key Security Issues -------------- ¶6. (C) The two foreign ministers remained apart on the longstanding territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands but pledged to prevent the discord from "casting a shadow" over general bilateral relations, according to Okada. He said that this neutral position has raised the ire of some ruling Liberal Democratic Party members who are particularly concerned about Chinese ship incursions. FM Nakasone also raised concerns about the lack of transparency in Chinese military modernization and spending, to which Yang responded by referring Japan to China's Defense White Paper. The two sides will have the opportunity to discuss these issues again during the sub-Cabinet level Japan-China Security Dialogue, which MOFA officials are now scheduling for Tokyo within one month. MOFA Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Kenichiro Sasae and MFA Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Hu Zhungyue will lead the talks, which will include defense officials of similar rank, Okada said. ¶7. (C) On North Korea, Tokyo and Beijing agreed to cooperate closely on resolving problems related to Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs as well as the longstanding stalemate over North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens. FM Nakasone stressed to FM Yang that even if the North launches what it insists is a satellite, such action would still violate UNSCR 1718, Okada said. TOKYO 00000537 003.2 OF 003 ZUMWALT