SENIOR JAPANESE DEFENSE OFFICIAL ON CHINA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 000939 SIPDIS OSD/APSA FOR MITCHELL/HELVEY/BASALLA/ PACOM FOR J00/J01/J5/FPA JOINT STAFF FOR J5 USFJ FOR J00/J01/J02/J2/J3/J5 CIA PASS ODNI E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2024 TAGS: PREL PARM MARR JA CH TW SUBJECT: SENIOR JAPANESE DEFENSE OFFICIAL ON CHINA Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Ronald Post; reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Japan MOD Defense Policy Director-General Takamizawa indicated to State's EAP/CM Director David Shear during an April 17 meeting that it is time to build on Secretary Clinton's February 2009 visit to Japan and define specific action items for international bilateral cooperation. DG Takamizawa used this meeting, largely focused on China, to suggest a DG/Assistant Secretary-level "2 2" (State/DOD) meeting to examine regional strategic and political issues, international cooperation and U.S.-Japan Alliance matters. Increased U.S.-China cooperation on global challenges is important, but China's own goals and ambitions need to be kept in mind, Takamizawa said. China is showing more confidence in the region and internationally, as evidenced by increased transparency, its reaction to Japan's actions around the Senkaku Islands and the deployment of Chinese naval vessels to the Gulf of Aden. The United States and Japan need to leverage this, while also being able to tell China when it has gone too far. Takamizawa explained that the frequency and frankness of Japan-China defense exchanges and military engagements are increasing, although there is no contact yet between vessels engaged in anti-piracy operations off Somalia. Defense Minister Hamada is looking to visit Washington and meet with Secretaries Clinton and Gates at the beginning of May. End summary. Proposal for Assistant Secretary-Level "2 2" -------------- ¶2. (C) During an April 17 meeting, State Department China and Mongolia Office Director David Shear and MOD Defense Policy Bureau DG Nobushige Takamizawa exchanged views on China. DG Takamizawa used the opportunity to state that Secretary Clinton's visit to Japan in February sent the message that the U.S. commitment to Japan and the region remains strong and that the United States and Japan will cooperate more on the international stage. It is now important for the two countries to identify specific action items on several fronts to move the discussions beyond generalities, DG Takamizawa stated. He proposed a Director-General/Assistant Secretary-level "2 plus 2" style integrated and focused ;engagement among MOD, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Defense Department and State Department counterparts to comprehensively explore regional strategic and political issues, international cooperation and U.S.-Japan Alliance issues, including what needs to be strengthened, needs attention, offers difficulties and presents dangers to the Alliance. Cooperation with China -------------- ¶3. (C) DG Takamizawa observed that the United States cooperates with many countries to deal with difficult global challenges and as such, cooperating with China is important. This cooperation will not match the depth and breadth of U.S.-Japan cooperation, DG Takamizawa noted, while warning that it is important that the United States stay cognizant of China's own goals and ambitions. That said, it is also important that Japan increase its own cooperation with China on global challenges and perhaps the United States and Japan should consider trilateral cooperation at some point. For its part, China does not want to appear to be following the TOKYO 00000939 002 OF 003 U.S. lead on the international stage and instead will attempt to define and implement its own policies. This will be balanced with China not wanting to flatly say "no" to the United States and hence China will "pretend to cooperate," DG Takamizawa assessed. China's Growing Confidence -------------- ¶4. (C) DG Takamizawa said China's confidence grew in 2008. Evidence of this includes its growing transparency and reaction to Japan's actions around the Senkakus. In general, the United States and Japan need to figure out how to leverage this emerging Chinese confidence, so Beijing acts as a "responsible stakeholder," while at the same time having a way to alert China when it is going too far. Regarding naval activities in the region, DG Takamizawa said it is increasingly important to ensure that the United States and Japan be able to engage in routine naval activities and that the United States should not relax its stance vis-a-vis increasing Chinese naval actions. Increasing Japan-China Defense Exchanges -------------- ¶5. (C) Japan wanted to send a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel to the April 20-23 International Fleet Review that China is hosting at Qingdao, Shandong Province, but China said it was not the right timing based on the previous exchange of port visits. Instead, China invited the Chief of Japan Maritime Staff Office. Given the short notice and lack of clear details, Japan decided to send Vice Chief Admiral Kouji Kato. Despite the limited participation in the Fleet Review, China-Japan defense exchanges and military ties are increasing. Three alternating ship visits have occurred as scheduled, with it now being Japan's turn to visit a Chinese port. Chinese leadership is promoting defense exchanges during bilateral meetings, with China going so far as to take Japanese proposals and offer them as Chinese overtures. Senior-level Chinese visitors, especially from the People's Liberation Army Navy, are much more frank. While they still read from talking papers during official meetings, in private sessions they are extremely frank, leading to rich and interesting discussions. Anti-Piracy Operations -------------- ¶6. (C) There has been no contact yet between PLAN and JMSDF ships conducting anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, DG Takamizawa stated, while noting that a key reason is that e-mail addresses have not yet been exchanged. Japan intends to provide its ship's e-mail addresses to China and others soon. DG Takamizawa assessed that the PLAN activities in the Gulf of Aden are part of a larger strategy. After showcasing its capabilities and obtaining international community acceptance and recognition of the anti-piracy activities, China will build on this by beginning naval cooperation with other countries and making more multinational-focused proposals that China will expect others to accept, DG Takamizawa stated. Taiwan -------------- TOKYO 00000939 003 OF 003 ¶7. (C) Regarding cross-Strait relations, DG Takamizawa offered his impression that China appears to be strong enough to "manage Taiwan" and the United States will not interfere if China stays the course. Shear replied that the U.S. will not trade off Taiwan ties as it improves relations with China. Taiwan did not come up during Defense Minister Hamada's March 2009 visit to China. Defense Minister Hamada to Visit United States -------------- - ¶8. (C) DG Takamizawa said Defense Minister Hamada is hoping to visit Washington DC during Golden Week around May 1 and would like to meet with Secretary of Defense Gates and Secretary Clinton. ZUMWALT