Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO762
2009-04-03 08:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - POSSIBILITY OF
how-toVZCZCXRO8555 PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #0762 0930804 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 030804Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2049 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3355 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 5702 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1055 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 3897 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7151 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8625 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2792 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4653 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4494 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000762
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 - POSSIBILITY OF
PRESIDENT OBAMA VISITING JAPAN
UNCLAS TOKYO 000762
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 - POSSIBILITY OF
PRESIDENT OBAMA VISITING JAPAN
1. The announcement from London that the President has
accepted an invitation from President Hu to to visit
China later this year attracted considerable attention
in Japan. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura told the
press on April 2 that coordination is under way for
President Obama to visit Japan to coincide with his
visit to China. The same day, public broadcaster NHK
reported Kawamura's statement in its noon news and all
evening papers ran front- and inside-page reports on
it.
2. The moderate Yomiuri linked the idea of the
President visiting Japan with his plans to attend the
APEC leaders meeting to be held in Singapore in
November. The business-oriented Nikkei ran the most in-
depth coverage, speculating that the President will
decide to visit both Japan and China to avoid the
impression of "Japan passing," recalling Japanese
sentiment when President Clinton skipped Japan while
visiting China for nine days in 1998 and citing current
Japanese anxiety about a "hollowing out" of the
alliance over a projected DPRK missile launch. Citing a
source connected to the USG, Nikkei reported that,
although the timing is not yet determined, the
President's trip to Japan is certain to take place
after Japan's next general election, to strengthen
bilateral ties under a new administration in Japan.
3. According to Nikkei's analysis, President Obama held
his first summit with the Chinese leader in London and
promised to visit China in order to "balance" the
favorable treatment of Japan shown by Secretary
Clinton's recent visit to Tokyo and Prime Minister
Aso's visit to the White House. Nikkei reported that,
although it has not yet been decided whether Japan or
China would be the first stop, the U.S. side assumes
that Japan, even if it is not the first stop, is
unlikely to think the U.S. is treating Japan lightly.
In addition, the paper surmised that South Korea will
be included in the trip.
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 - POSSIBILITY OF
PRESIDENT OBAMA VISITING JAPAN
1. The announcement from London that the President has
accepted an invitation from President Hu to to visit
China later this year attracted considerable attention
in Japan. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura told the
press on April 2 that coordination is under way for
President Obama to visit Japan to coincide with his
visit to China. The same day, public broadcaster NHK
reported Kawamura's statement in its noon news and all
evening papers ran front- and inside-page reports on
it.
2. The moderate Yomiuri linked the idea of the
President visiting Japan with his plans to attend the
APEC leaders meeting to be held in Singapore in
November. The business-oriented Nikkei ran the most in-
depth coverage, speculating that the President will
decide to visit both Japan and China to avoid the
impression of "Japan passing," recalling Japanese
sentiment when President Clinton skipped Japan while
visiting China for nine days in 1998 and citing current
Japanese anxiety about a "hollowing out" of the
alliance over a projected DPRK missile launch. Citing a
source connected to the USG, Nikkei reported that,
although the timing is not yet determined, the
President's trip to Japan is certain to take place
after Japan's next general election, to strengthen
bilateral ties under a new administration in Japan.
3. According to Nikkei's analysis, President Obama held
his first summit with the Chinese leader in London and
promised to visit China in order to "balance" the
favorable treatment of Japan shown by Secretary
Clinton's recent visit to Tokyo and Prime Minister
Aso's visit to the White House. Nikkei reported that,
although it has not yet been decided whether Japan or
China would be the first stop, the U.S. side assumes
that Japan, even if it is not the first stop, is
unlikely to think the U.S. is treating Japan lightly.
In addition, the paper surmised that South Korea will
be included in the trip.
ZUMWALT