Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO593
2009-03-18 00:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL
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UNCLAS TOKYO 000593
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 - IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION AND CHINESE HARASSMENT OF U.S. NAVY SHIP
UNCLAS TOKYO 000593
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 - IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION AND CHINESE HARASSMENT OF U.S. NAVY SHIP
1. LEAD STORIES: Top items on Wednesday morning
included yesterday's press remarks by DPJ President
Ozawa, in which he insisted that political donations by
private companies, labor unions, and other entities
should be completely prohibited.
2. "Khatami Makes Difficult Decision" On former Iranian
President Khatami's decision not to run in the June
presidential election, a Tehran-based reporter for the
liberal Asahi wrote (3/18): "Khatami dropped out of the
race reasoning that it is in the best interest of his
country that the votes not be split among reformist
candidates. Given that the U.S. and the Europeans had
high expectations that a President Khatami would
promote reconciliation with them while pushing
democratization at home, his official candidacy could
have triggered strong reaction from conservative
forces. Khatami made a tough decision to quit in order
to head off domestic instability. Prospects for
democratization in Iran appear to have become bleak."
3. "Fierce Tug of War in the Sea" On the recent
harassment of a U.S. Navy research vessel by a Chinese
warship in the South China Sea, the conservative
Sankei's correspondent stated (3/18): "The incident
evidenced that a fierce, behind-the-scene tug of war is
still ongoing between the U.S. and China despite much-
touted enhanced bilateral coordination under the Obama
administration.... The South China Sea is a critical
sea lane for Japan because of its heavy dependence on
oil from the Middle East. Japan should be braced that
China eventually constructs and operates an aircraft
carrier in the area."
ZUMWALT
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 - IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION AND CHINESE HARASSMENT OF U.S. NAVY SHIP
1. LEAD STORIES: Top items on Wednesday morning
included yesterday's press remarks by DPJ President
Ozawa, in which he insisted that political donations by
private companies, labor unions, and other entities
should be completely prohibited.
2. "Khatami Makes Difficult Decision" On former Iranian
President Khatami's decision not to run in the June
presidential election, a Tehran-based reporter for the
liberal Asahi wrote (3/18): "Khatami dropped out of the
race reasoning that it is in the best interest of his
country that the votes not be split among reformist
candidates. Given that the U.S. and the Europeans had
high expectations that a President Khatami would
promote reconciliation with them while pushing
democratization at home, his official candidacy could
have triggered strong reaction from conservative
forces. Khatami made a tough decision to quit in order
to head off domestic instability. Prospects for
democratization in Iran appear to have become bleak."
3. "Fierce Tug of War in the Sea" On the recent
harassment of a U.S. Navy research vessel by a Chinese
warship in the South China Sea, the conservative
Sankei's correspondent stated (3/18): "The incident
evidenced that a fierce, behind-the-scene tug of war is
still ongoing between the U.S. and China despite much-
touted enhanced bilateral coordination under the Obama
administration.... The South China Sea is a critical
sea lane for Japan because of its heavy dependence on
oil from the Middle East. Japan should be braced that
China eventually constructs and operates an aircraft
carrier in the area."
ZUMWALT