Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO720
2009-03-31 07:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TAC: JAPAN EXPERIENCED SMOOTH PROCESS IN JOINING
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000720
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/J, EAP/RSP, L/ESA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019
TAGS: PREL ASEAN JA
SUBJECT: TAC: JAPAN EXPERIENCED SMOOTH PROCESS IN JOINING
TREATY
REF: STATE 20228
Classified By: CDA Ronald Post for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 000720
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/J, EAP/RSP, L/ESA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019
TAGS: PREL ASEAN JA
SUBJECT: TAC: JAPAN EXPERIENCED SMOOTH PROCESS IN JOINING
TREATY
REF: STATE 20228
Classified By: CDA Ronald Post for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan enjoyed a relatively smooth accession
process to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in
Southeast Asia in 2004, officials from MOFA told Embassy
Tokyo March 25. For Japan, TAC compliance required neither
new laws nor reconciling TAC provisions with existing laws.
MOFA officials highlighted the Treaty's consistency with the
UN Charter as a factor making the process possible. They
also stressed that growing Chinese regional influence played
a role in Japan's decision to ratify the TAC at the time.
END SUMMARY
2. (C) Japan welcomes the U.S. decision to launch an
interagency review process to pursue possible TAC accession,
according to MOFA Regional Policy Office (RPO) official
Hiroshi Nawata and RPO TAC specialist Daisuke Yoshikawa.
They expressed the view that Secretary Clinton's February
trip to Indonesia and her announcement that the United States
would begin the TAC review process signal new U.S. engagement
in Southeast Asia. They stressed that Japan places
importance on strengthening ties to the region because of
Southeast Asia's proximity to Japan, investment climate, and
energy resource transit routes.
3. (C) Nawata and Yoshikawa said that the TAC process was
relatively "easy" for Japan. Japan announced its decision in
December 2003 and signed ratification papers seven months
later at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference. A key factor
in simplifying the process was that Japan did not need to
draft any new legislation; the TAC did not conflict with
existing laws.
4. (C) Japan also received confirmation in writing from ASEAN
that TAC provisions did not have any bearing on relations
between signatories and non-signatories. Japan received
additional assurances that the TAC did not restrict parties
from taking action based on international agreements.
5. (C) The TAC's consistency with the UN Charter was another
expediting factor. Our MOFA interlocutors pointed to the
preamble, which states that parties will strive to
"enhance...mutual cooperation on matters affecting Southeast
Asia consistent with the spirit and principles of the Charter
of the United Nations." They also highlighted Article 17 of
the TAC, which states that "Nothing in this Treaty shall
preclude recourse to the modes of peaceful settlement
contained in...the Charter of the United Nations."
6. (C) Some ASEAN members wanted Japan's TAC accession to
serve as a check against growing Chinese regional influence,
as well as to demonstrate Japan's commitment to Southeast
Asia, noted Nawata. Japan decided to join the TAC -- the
principles of which include the renunciation of force in
settling international disputes and mutual noninterference --
soon after China and India had ratified the Treaty in October
2003.
POST
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/J, EAP/RSP, L/ESA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2019
TAGS: PREL ASEAN JA
SUBJECT: TAC: JAPAN EXPERIENCED SMOOTH PROCESS IN JOINING
TREATY
REF: STATE 20228
Classified By: CDA Ronald Post for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan enjoyed a relatively smooth accession
process to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in
Southeast Asia in 2004, officials from MOFA told Embassy
Tokyo March 25. For Japan, TAC compliance required neither
new laws nor reconciling TAC provisions with existing laws.
MOFA officials highlighted the Treaty's consistency with the
UN Charter as a factor making the process possible. They
also stressed that growing Chinese regional influence played
a role in Japan's decision to ratify the TAC at the time.
END SUMMARY
2. (C) Japan welcomes the U.S. decision to launch an
interagency review process to pursue possible TAC accession,
according to MOFA Regional Policy Office (RPO) official
Hiroshi Nawata and RPO TAC specialist Daisuke Yoshikawa.
They expressed the view that Secretary Clinton's February
trip to Indonesia and her announcement that the United States
would begin the TAC review process signal new U.S. engagement
in Southeast Asia. They stressed that Japan places
importance on strengthening ties to the region because of
Southeast Asia's proximity to Japan, investment climate, and
energy resource transit routes.
3. (C) Nawata and Yoshikawa said that the TAC process was
relatively "easy" for Japan. Japan announced its decision in
December 2003 and signed ratification papers seven months
later at the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference. A key factor
in simplifying the process was that Japan did not need to
draft any new legislation; the TAC did not conflict with
existing laws.
4. (C) Japan also received confirmation in writing from ASEAN
that TAC provisions did not have any bearing on relations
between signatories and non-signatories. Japan received
additional assurances that the TAC did not restrict parties
from taking action based on international agreements.
5. (C) The TAC's consistency with the UN Charter was another
expediting factor. Our MOFA interlocutors pointed to the
preamble, which states that parties will strive to
"enhance...mutual cooperation on matters affecting Southeast
Asia consistent with the spirit and principles of the Charter
of the United Nations." They also highlighted Article 17 of
the TAC, which states that "Nothing in this Treaty shall
preclude recourse to the modes of peaceful settlement
contained in...the Charter of the United Nations."
6. (C) Some ASEAN members wanted Japan's TAC accession to
serve as a check against growing Chinese regional influence,
as well as to demonstrate Japan's commitment to Southeast
Asia, noted Nawata. Japan decided to join the TAC -- the
principles of which include the renunciation of force in
settling international disputes and mutual noninterference --
soon after China and India had ratified the Treaty in October
2003.
POST