Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO76
2009-01-14 08:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
JAPAN: AMBASSADOR,S FAREWELL MEETING WITH VFM
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000076
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/J
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN: AMBASSADOR,S FAREWELL MEETING WITH VFM
YABUNAKA
TOKYO 00000076 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 000076
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/J
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN: AMBASSADOR,S FAREWELL MEETING WITH VFM
YABUNAKA
TOKYO 00000076 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: During a January 9 farewell meeting with
the Ambassador, Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka thanked
the Ambassador for his service and efforts to manage and
strengthen bilateral ties during his tenure in Tokyo.
Yabunaka told the Ambassador that, per his advice, he is
talking to Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso about actively
approaching the new U.S. Administration with policy ideas.
He also reassured the Ambassador that Tokyo would continue to
advance relations regardless of whether the Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) or opposition Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ) heads the government. END SUMMARY
2. (C) Ambassador Schieffer called on VFM Yabunaka on
January 9 to bid farewell before leaving post this week.
Yabunaka thanked the Ambassador for his efforts toward
strengthening U.S.-Japan ties and, specifically, for his work
on U.S. base realignment plans in Okinawa and on the issue
involving the North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens.
He assured the Ambassador that bilateral ties remain strong
and that Japan continues to look favorably upon the United
States despite the global challenges facing Washington.
Reflecting on his tenure, the Ambassador stressed that ties
have never been closer. Japan has a place to play in world
affairs, and both sides should continue to advance the
relationship.
3. (C) On specific issues, the Ambassador characterized the
abductions of Japanese citizens as a tragedy that is often
misunderstood in the United States. The issue is &real8
and not simply a tool used by Japanese politicians to curry
favor with the public. Talks with abductee family members,
particularly the parents of Megumi Yokota, the most famous
victim, and his trip to Niigata Prefecture, site of several
kidnappings, were &heartbreaking,8 explained the
Ambassador. &We can,t have people grabbing citizens of
another country,8 he added. Yabunaka highlighted the
importance of denuclearizing the North but saw abductions as
violating &fundamental values.8
4. (C) Yabunaka thanked the Ambassador for guidance on ways
to approach the next U.S. Administration. He mentioned that
he has held regular talks with PM Aso to discuss plans that
will demonstrate to Washington Japan,s cooperative and
active stance toward the relationship. For example, Tokyo is
considering additional measures for Afghanistan
reconstruction beyond economic assistance. The VFM also
highlighted Japan,s strengths in areas such as climate
change, disarmament, and aid to Africa.
5. (C) The Ambassador and Yabunaka agreed that alliance
arrangements would remain strong throughout the transition in
Washington and in spite of potential leadership changes in
Japan. Yabunaka dismissed Japanese press reports that
forecast potential U.S.-Japan policy differences on China and
trumpeted &real prospects8 for trilateral dialogue among
the U.S., Japan, and China. Considering South Korean
sensitivities, the Ambassador suggested a four-way dialogue
that included Seoul. The Ambassador told the VFM that Tokyo
would not lose its &special place8 with Washington.
6. (C) Yabunaka mentioned that Tokyo looks forward to
working with the new administration and with the
Ambassador,s successor. PM Aso is devoted to strengthening
ties, and even the opposition DPJ values the relationship and
will not let domestic politics erode Tokyo,s commitment to
the alliance. The DPJ will become more practical if it
becomes the ruling party. Most of the major players in the
DPJ, after all, originate from the LDP, added Yabunaka. He
cautioned, however, that DPJ head Ichiro Ozawa has undergone
a transformation from a former LDP member who regularly
interacted with U.S. Embassy officers to a &media shy8
leader who shuns contact. Yabunaka reminisced about his time
as Consul General in Chicago when Ozawa visited a local
Chicago grade school that taught Japanese language and was so
impressed that he invited the students to Japan. Yabunaka
now sees Ozawa as just &strange.8
TOKYO 00000076 002.2 OF 002
SCHIEFFER
SIPDIS
FOR EAP/J
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL JA
SUBJECT: JAPAN: AMBASSADOR,S FAREWELL MEETING WITH VFM
YABUNAKA
TOKYO 00000076 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: During a January 9 farewell meeting with
the Ambassador, Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka thanked
the Ambassador for his service and efforts to manage and
strengthen bilateral ties during his tenure in Tokyo.
Yabunaka told the Ambassador that, per his advice, he is
talking to Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso about actively
approaching the new U.S. Administration with policy ideas.
He also reassured the Ambassador that Tokyo would continue to
advance relations regardless of whether the Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) or opposition Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ) heads the government. END SUMMARY
2. (C) Ambassador Schieffer called on VFM Yabunaka on
January 9 to bid farewell before leaving post this week.
Yabunaka thanked the Ambassador for his efforts toward
strengthening U.S.-Japan ties and, specifically, for his work
on U.S. base realignment plans in Okinawa and on the issue
involving the North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens.
He assured the Ambassador that bilateral ties remain strong
and that Japan continues to look favorably upon the United
States despite the global challenges facing Washington.
Reflecting on his tenure, the Ambassador stressed that ties
have never been closer. Japan has a place to play in world
affairs, and both sides should continue to advance the
relationship.
3. (C) On specific issues, the Ambassador characterized the
abductions of Japanese citizens as a tragedy that is often
misunderstood in the United States. The issue is &real8
and not simply a tool used by Japanese politicians to curry
favor with the public. Talks with abductee family members,
particularly the parents of Megumi Yokota, the most famous
victim, and his trip to Niigata Prefecture, site of several
kidnappings, were &heartbreaking,8 explained the
Ambassador. &We can,t have people grabbing citizens of
another country,8 he added. Yabunaka highlighted the
importance of denuclearizing the North but saw abductions as
violating &fundamental values.8
4. (C) Yabunaka thanked the Ambassador for guidance on ways
to approach the next U.S. Administration. He mentioned that
he has held regular talks with PM Aso to discuss plans that
will demonstrate to Washington Japan,s cooperative and
active stance toward the relationship. For example, Tokyo is
considering additional measures for Afghanistan
reconstruction beyond economic assistance. The VFM also
highlighted Japan,s strengths in areas such as climate
change, disarmament, and aid to Africa.
5. (C) The Ambassador and Yabunaka agreed that alliance
arrangements would remain strong throughout the transition in
Washington and in spite of potential leadership changes in
Japan. Yabunaka dismissed Japanese press reports that
forecast potential U.S.-Japan policy differences on China and
trumpeted &real prospects8 for trilateral dialogue among
the U.S., Japan, and China. Considering South Korean
sensitivities, the Ambassador suggested a four-way dialogue
that included Seoul. The Ambassador told the VFM that Tokyo
would not lose its &special place8 with Washington.
6. (C) Yabunaka mentioned that Tokyo looks forward to
working with the new administration and with the
Ambassador,s successor. PM Aso is devoted to strengthening
ties, and even the opposition DPJ values the relationship and
will not let domestic politics erode Tokyo,s commitment to
the alliance. The DPJ will become more practical if it
becomes the ruling party. Most of the major players in the
DPJ, after all, originate from the LDP, added Yabunaka. He
cautioned, however, that DPJ head Ichiro Ozawa has undergone
a transformation from a former LDP member who regularly
interacted with U.S. Embassy officers to a &media shy8
leader who shuns contact. Yabunaka reminisced about his time
as Consul General in Chicago when Ozawa visited a local
Chicago grade school that taught Japanese language and was so
impressed that he invited the students to Japan. Yabunaka
now sees Ozawa as just &strange.8
TOKYO 00000076 002.2 OF 002
SCHIEFFER