Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO537
2009-03-11 02:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

MOFA PROVIDES MIXED ASSESSMENT OF JAPAN-CHINA

Tags:  PREL MARR PHUM KN KS TW CH JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5873
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHFK RUEHHM RUEHKSO RUEHNH RUEHPB
DE RUEHKO #0537/01 0700210
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 110210Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1382
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHZU/ASIAN PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8178
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4205
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1142
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 3073
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 3431
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 5229
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 2883
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 6675
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
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)

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