TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - SENATE HEARING FOR

UNCLAS TOKYO 000083 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 - SENATE HEARING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE-DESIGNATE CLINTON AND RUSSIA-UKRAINE PIPELINE ISSUE ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Most Thursday morning papers gave top play to the arrest on Wednesday of a former vice president of Nishimatsu Construction and three others on suspicion of smuggling 70 million yen into Japan from overseas. ¶2. "From Power to Wisdom" The liberal Asahi wrote in an editorial (1/15): "Secretary of State-designate Sen. Clinton stated 'America cannot solve the most pressing problems on our own, and the world cannot solve them without America.' In addition to the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the continuing threat posed by terrorists, and the spread of weapons of mass destruction, the senator cited climate change, pandemic diseases, and worldwide poverty as the major dangers the U.S. faces. This is a declaration of departure from the Bush administration's power-oriented diplomacy." ¶3. "Sen. Clinton Pledges Use of 'Smart Power'" The conservative Sankei stated in an editorial (1/15): "Sen. Clinton, who was designated as the next Secretary of State, said in a Senate confirmation hearing that she will use 'smart power' to regain the diplomatic power of the U.S... We have hope for and will pay attention to her diplomacy to see whether this approach will be able to reconstruct a strong and trustworthy America." ¶4. "Russia Should Talk with Ukraine to Resume Gas Supply" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun editorialized (1/15): "Although Russia has resumed its supply of natural gas to Europe, the situation remains unpredictable, as Ukraine refused its transit of the Russian gas. Russia's pressure on its neighbors by using its national resources as a tool triggered the problem... Moscow should look at the hardship in Europe and work to resume the gas supply by negotiating with Ukraine. That should be the option Russia should take as a resources power." SCHIEFFER