Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO943
2009-04-23 04:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
how-toVZCZCXRO6744 PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH DE RUEHKO #0943 1130426 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 230426Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2528 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 3674 RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 6012 RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1344 RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 4211 RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7476 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8960 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2826 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4982 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4784 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000943
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 - TAIWAN
UNCLAS TOKYO 000943
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 - TAIWAN
1. LEAD STORIES: Lead items on Thursday morning included the IMF's
World Economic Outlook report saying that the global economy would
likely contract 1.3 percent this year.
2. "Concern about 'Hollowing Out' of U.S.-Taiwan Relations" The
liberal Asahi wrote (4/23): "The Taiwan Relations Act, which was
passed in 1979 when the U.S. and China established diplomatic
relations, marks its 30th anniversary this month. The act stipulates
that Washington will provide defensive weapons to Taipei and help
prevent China's possible attempt to unify Taiwan by force. However,
while cross-strait tension has eased significantly due to the rapid
increase recently in contact between China and Taiwan, relations
between the U.S. and Taiwan based on the Taiwan Relations Act are
reaching a turning point... The administration of Premier Hu of
China has shifted the focus of its Taiwan policy to 'peaceful
unification,' under which Beijing will try to consolidate Taipei
over the long term through economic and cultural exchanges. Taiwan's
Ma administration is acting in step with this policy, and there is
an unprecedented friendly atmosphere between Beijing and Taipei.
However, there is concern that such 'detente' could 'hollow out' the
Taiwan Relations Act... Due to fears of pressure from China, no
nation other than the U.S. will sell weapons to Taiwan. There has
been no change in the situation that the U.S. is the only hope for
Taiwan, which has only limited weapon production capabilities."
3. "President Ma to Be Tested" The liberal Mainichi wrote from
Taipei (4/23): "Taiwanese President Ma expressed his view during an
interview with Mainichi on Wednesday that he would place policy
priority on economic exchanges with China to improve Taipei's
relations with Beijing. Although his policy is based on the view
that such moves would be indispensable to boosting the Taiwanese
economy, many Taiwanese people are worried that difficult problems,
such as the removal of missiles pointing toward Taiwan, could be put
off. President Ma will be tested on how he exercises his ability to
deal with the political and military challenges he faces."
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 - TAIWAN
1. LEAD STORIES: Lead items on Thursday morning included the IMF's
World Economic Outlook report saying that the global economy would
likely contract 1.3 percent this year.
2. "Concern about 'Hollowing Out' of U.S.-Taiwan Relations" The
liberal Asahi wrote (4/23): "The Taiwan Relations Act, which was
passed in 1979 when the U.S. and China established diplomatic
relations, marks its 30th anniversary this month. The act stipulates
that Washington will provide defensive weapons to Taipei and help
prevent China's possible attempt to unify Taiwan by force. However,
while cross-strait tension has eased significantly due to the rapid
increase recently in contact between China and Taiwan, relations
between the U.S. and Taiwan based on the Taiwan Relations Act are
reaching a turning point... The administration of Premier Hu of
China has shifted the focus of its Taiwan policy to 'peaceful
unification,' under which Beijing will try to consolidate Taipei
over the long term through economic and cultural exchanges. Taiwan's
Ma administration is acting in step with this policy, and there is
an unprecedented friendly atmosphere between Beijing and Taipei.
However, there is concern that such 'detente' could 'hollow out' the
Taiwan Relations Act... Due to fears of pressure from China, no
nation other than the U.S. will sell weapons to Taiwan. There has
been no change in the situation that the U.S. is the only hope for
Taiwan, which has only limited weapon production capabilities."
3. "President Ma to Be Tested" The liberal Mainichi wrote from
Taipei (4/23): "Taiwanese President Ma expressed his view during an
interview with Mainichi on Wednesday that he would place policy
priority on economic exchanges with China to improve Taipei's
relations with Beijing. Although his policy is based on the view
that such moves would be indispensable to boosting the Taiwanese
economy, many Taiwanese people are worried that difficult problems,
such as the removal of missiles pointing toward Taiwan, could be put
off. President Ma will be tested on how he exercises his ability to
deal with the political and military challenges he faces."
ZUMWALT