UNCLAS TOKYO 000105

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 - U.S.-JAPAN ALLIANCE


1. LEAD STORIES: Lead stories on Tuesday morning included reports on
DPJ Secretary General Ozawa's intention to voluntarily submit to
questioning by prosecutors over a land purchase made by his
political fund organization in 2004.

2. "Alliance, Article 9 of Constitution Both Effective" On today's
50th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, the liberal
Asahi editorialized (1/19): "Under Article 9 of the Constitution,
Japan keeps its defense capabilities modest and does not use force
abroad, while the U.S. military presence in Japan contributes not
only to the defense of Japan but also to stability in the
Asia-Pacific region as a deterrent. This is an enduring central
feature in U.S.-Japan security arrangements.... Neighbors in Asia
have felt reassured by the fact that the U.S.-Japan alliance is
paired with Article 9, and have come to accept the alliance as a
regional stabilizer."


3. "Time to Build New Alliance" The top-circulation, moderate
Yomiuri argued in an editorial (1/19): "One of most serious
shortcomings of the Hatoyama administration is its excessive focus
on the negative aspects of the U.S. military presence and efforts to
reduce the security burden on local communities. It is important for
the Hatoyama administration to acknowledge and share a common
understanding with the U.S. on the role that U.S. military
deterrence has played in peace in Japan and Asia."


4. "Alliance Needs to Be Deepened in Multilayered Manner" The
liberal Mainichi insisted (1/19): "Developing the alliance with the
U.S., which shares such basic values as freedom and democracy with
Japan, into an 'international public asset for peace and prosperity'
that is commensurate with the 21st century will serve Japan's
national interests. Finding a solution to the Futenma relocation,
which is a 'thorn' in the bilateral relationship, is imperative....
It is important to strike a balance between 'military' and
'non-military' areas. We would like to see the Hatoyama
administration, in launching its alliance talks with the USG,
present a multilayered vision for a deeper alliance that strikes a
balance between these two aspects."


5. "Settle Futenma Issue to Prevent Alliance from Becoming
Irrelevant" An editorial in the conservative Sankei contended
(1/19): "It is problematic that the U.S.-Japan alliance is facing an
unprecedented crisis of becoming irrelevant under the Hatoyama
administration.... The plans for the realignment of U.S. forces in
Japan that were intended make the U.S. military presence more
attuned to the international environment in the 21st century have
gone adrift over Futenma relocation, and this has made
communications between the top leaders impossible. Prime Minister
Hatoyama must decide immediately to implement the existing Futenma
relocation accord in order to rectify this situation and to put the
planned alliance talks on the right track."

ZUMWALT