Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO998
2009-04-29 22:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

TSD PACIFIC WORKING GROUP MEETING AND SASAKAWA

Tags:  PGOV PREL JA AS XV 
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PP RUEHMJ RUEHPB
DE RUEHKO #0998/01 1192216
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 292216Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2658
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 9062
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 3156
RUEHMJ/AMEMBASSY MAJURO PRIORITY 0090
RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY PRIORITY 0147
RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA PRIORITY 0055
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 1182
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 7325
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 000998 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL JA AS XV
SUBJECT: TSD PACIFIC WORKING GROUP MEETING AND SASAKAWA
FOUNDATION'S FAS COAST GUARD PROJECT

REF: TOKYO 895

Classified By: CDA James P. Zumwalt per 1.4 (b/d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 000998

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL JA AS XV
SUBJECT: TSD PACIFIC WORKING GROUP MEETING AND SASAKAWA
FOUNDATION'S FAS COAST GUARD PROJECT

REF: TOKYO 895

Classified By: CDA James P. Zumwalt per 1.4 (b/d)


1. (SBU) Summary: U.S., Japanese and Australian government
officials met April 23 at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MOFA) to conduct a regular session of the Trilateral
Strategic Dialogue (TSD) Pacific Working Group. The
representatives provided updates on a range of policy and
operational issues, including addressing the current
political situation in Fiji, and Japan's plans for the
upcoming Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5). The
representatives also shared their views and analyses of the
China-Taiwan rivalry in the South Pacific. In a separate
meeting at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF),the
organization's director discussed SPF's efforts to build a
coast guard for the Freely Associated States. End Summary.

--------------
TSD PARTICIPATION AND FORMAT
--------------


2. (SBU) At the April 23 TSD Pacific Working Group meeting,
the United States was represented by EAP/ANP Deputy
Director Stephen Schwartz and Embassy Tokyo, Japan was
represented by Director of the Oceania Division of the Asian
and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Kiminori Iwama, and the
Australian delegation was headed by First Assistant
Secretary, Pacific Division of the Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade Richard Rowe. The meeting comprised a
series of briefings and updates on a number of issues and
initiatives of trilateral interest, focusing on potential
areas for
expanded trilateral cooperation at the policy and operational
levels.

--------------
FIJI A MAJOR SOURCE OF CONCERN
--------------


3. (C) Leading the session on Fiji, Rowe stated that the
Government of Australia (GOA) considers the interim
government in power since 2006 an "illegal one," and that it
is "for all intents and purposes, a military dictatorship."
The challenge is how best to foster a return to democracy.
Commodore Bainimarama has up to this point seemed
"impervious" and unconcerned about possible suspension from
both the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) and the Commonwealth.
For its part, Australia will continue to maintain a travel

ban, but will not expand sanctions to include sports and
trade at this time. Australia will also continue trying to
restart negotiations led by the Commonwealth and the United
Nations. The GOA strongly believes that the international
community must not "step away" until the interim government's
proposed elections in 2014, as to do so would be to confer
legitimacy on an illegal regime.


4. (C) MOFA's Iwama concurred with the assessment that the
situation in Fiji continues to worsen, adding that it
would be difficult for Japan to invite Fijian government
officials to the upcoming PALM5 event in Japan if Fiji does
not reconsider its recent actions (REFTEL). The decision on
Fiji's invitation will be made at a very high level, he
noted, although he did leave open the possibility that
working-level officials may be allowed to participate even if
ministerial participation is deemed unacceptable.

--------------
JAPAN'S PALM5 PLANS
--------------


5. (C) Iwama said that the upcoming PALM 5 event will focus
on three areas: "Eco-friendliness," the promotion of human
security, and expanding people-to-people exchanges. Japan
hopes to use the upcoming summit meeting to promote
regional cooperation in addressing climate change and
environmental protection, including through its own "Cool
Earth Partnership." Japan's Pacific Island Fund will utilize
Japanese technology to combat climate change and
environmental problems, and Iwama expressed hope that the
supplemental budget being deliberated this week will allocate
$700 million to this fund. Regarding human security, the
Japanese government wants to promote exchanges of experts and
volunteers who can contribute technical know-how in fields

TOKYO 00000998 002 OF 003


such as tourism promotion, fresh water supply, and education.
People-to-people exchanges between Pacific island nations
and Japan, as well as ASEAN members will also be discussed at
PALM5.

--------------
CHINA-TAIWAN RIVALRY IN THE PACIFIC
--------------


6. (C) Iwama asked rhetorically if there had been a change in
China-Taiwan rivalry dynamics since the change in
administrations in Taiwan. In terms of the two countries'
activities in the Pacific, he said that Japan is currently
researching what type of assistance each is offering island
nations, and will translate and share this information after
PALM5. Because Japan's offices in the region are limited, he
also asked for reciprocal information sharing on the part of
the USG and the GOA. Schwartz agreed with Japan's assessment
that a "truce" of sorts is holding between China and Taiwan
in this region, and that the two countries seem satisfied
with the status quo in terms of Taiwan's recognition by some
governments there. Schwartz remarked that China's interest
appears to be primarily in economic benefits (mostly natural
resources available in Papua New Guinea).


7. (C) Australia's position dovetailed with those of the
United States and Japan, Rowe said. While there is a natural
concern about possible rivalry between China and Taiwan in
the Pacific, China has legitimate interests in the region
which must be considered and even welcomed. Key to any
approach must be the avoidance of destabilizing activities by
the Chinese that could affect good governance, and hence GOA
has urged China to be transparent in its assistance
activities, and to work with other donors in the region.
Rowe recommended a similar strategy with Taiwan, emphasizing
continued engagement with both, and the hope of "bringing
them in" to common Pacific endeavors.


8. (C) A side issue discussed at the luncheon was China's
activities in Fiji, which Australia and Japan described as
worrisome. Iwama remarked that while there is a truce in
most parts of the region, the exception may be Fiji, which
hosts both a Chinese embassy and a Taiwan Trade office.
Iwama said that there is concern over China's deepening
involvement in the Fijian interim government, and said that
some senior officials in MOFA have likened China's
relationship with Fiji's government to its relationship with
Burma. Rowe as well noted a "quickening tempo" in relations
between China and Fiji, and characterized this appearance of
support for the Bainimarama government as a cause for
concern. Schwartz said China's relationship with Fiji is
worth watching closely, but suggested that a Chinese embrace
of Fiji would have negative ramifications for Beijing in the
Pacific.

--------------
MEETING WITH SASAKAWA FOUNDATION
--------------


9. (C) Separately, ANP Deputy Director Schwartz met April 24
with Jiro Hanyu, the Director of the Sasakawa Peace
Foundation (SPF). Hanyu outlined SPF's plans to bolster
maritime security by creating a unified coast guard for the
Freely Associated States, emphasizing the SPF's desire to
build upon contributions provided by Australia already in
place. Hanyu said that non-traditional security issues, such
as overfishing of waters and smuggling, make such a force
useful, and he sees a place for private sector assistance
like Sasakawa's in the fields of training and capacity
building. SPF is eager to assist in the creation of a
training center with a capacity of 30-50 people, a dormitory
to house trainees, and three to four boats, one 20-30 meters
in side, and the rest 2-3 man smaller craft. Schwartz said
the USG wanted the combined coast guard project to adopt the
most efficient means available to increase capacity, such
as ensuring there was fuel for boats. A training center
might be helpful only if there was a need and provision was
made to provide for the operational costs in the out years.


10. (C) Hanyu suggested that if Australia can help with boat
acquisition, SPF may be able to create a "fuel fund" to keep
the boats fueled. Communications equipment and
infrastructure are also areas that SPF may be able to make a
contribution. Hanyu closed by noting that after completing a

TOKYO 00000998 003 OF 003


survey in Palau, he hopes to visit Canberra, possibly in
early June, to share information and discuss potential areas
of cooperation between SPF activities and Australian efforts.
ZUMWALT