TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - CLIMATE CHANGE,

UNCLAS TOKYO 000831 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 - CLIMATE CHANGE, THAILAND, AND NORTH KOREA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: There were no Monday morning papers because of a press holiday. ¶2. "U.S. Return to Make Emissions Trading Possible" On the Obama administration's participation in a recent UN climate change conference in Bonn, the business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (4/12): "It has now become certain that the U.S. will commit to the reduction of global warming gases based on a shared understanding with the Europeans of scientific estimates by the UN on global warming. The U.S. also made it clear that it is ready to coordinate with the EU concerning the introduction of emissions trading. The U.S. approach produced optimism among Bonn conference participants about progress on global efforts to address climate change." ¶3. "Thailand Bears Heavy Responsibility" On the 11th hour cancellation of the East Asia Summit by the Thai government, the liberal Mainichi insisted in an editorial (4/12): "The planned Asian conference was important in that it could have followed up on the accord accord reached at the earlier G20 summit in London regarding financial system stabilization. Asian countries were called upon to coordinate their policies to create additional economic demand in order to halt a further economic slide. Thailand's decision to cancel the meeting negated such political and economic opportunities." ¶4. "Thailand Urged to Restore Asian Trust in It" The liberal Asahi asserted (4/12): "Ever since the global recession started spreading from the U.S. last autumn, Asian leaders have failed to come together to discuss the matter. It was expected that the leaders of Japan, China, and South Korea would join with their ASEAN counterparts to come up with measures to rescue East Asian economies. With the abrupt cancellation of the summit, East Asia appears to have lost a golden opportunity to have the international community heed their inputs." ¶5. "Japan Should Urge U.S., China to Enforce Sanctions" On the apparent UN Security Council moves to adopt a presidential statement on the DPRK rocket launch, the conservative Sankei claimed (4/12): "It is regrettable that the USG has apparently changed its position on UNSC action against the missile launch. President Obama said on the day of the launch that violations must be punished. It is quite problematic that U.S.-Japan efforts to adopt a UNSC resolution have gone nowhere only within a few days." ¶5. "U.S. Turnaround" The moderate Yomiuri wrote from New York (4/12): "It has become apparent that the U.S. teamed up with China to press Japan into making a compromise on the UNSC response to the missile launch. This represents the Obama administration's attachment of importance to China.... A tough UNSC action was possible when the DPRK conducted a nuclear test in October 2006, as the U.S. and Japan jointly maintained a tough line to force China to come to their side. Such joint coordination (between Washington and Tokyo) no longer exists." ZUMWALT