UNCLAS TOKYO 000158

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 - HAITI AND U.S.-JAPAN
RELATIONS


1. LEAD STORIES: All Tuesday morning papers gave front-
page coverage to the GOJ decision on Monday to send
some 300 GSDF engineers to Haiti in order to engage in
disaster relief operations.


2. "Long-Term Support Necessary for Reconstruction" The
top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri wrote in an editorial
(1/26): "It is necessary for the international
community to not just engage in earthquake relief
operations [in Haiti] but also offer development
assistance from the mid- to long-term perspective of
enabling the Haitians to become self-reliant."


3. "Blueprint for Reconstruction Not Evident" On the
opening of the international Haiti aid meeting in
Montreal, the business-oriented Nikkei stated (1/26):
"On top of disaster relief operations, the conference
is likely to discuss mid- to long-term reconstruction
assistance. Given that Haiti is the poorest nation in
the Western Hemisphere and its economic foundation was
vulnerable even before the earthquake, donor nations
are urged to engage in full-fledged nation building.
However, a blueprint for reconstruction is still not
evident."


4. "Election Results Reflect Opposition to Futenma
Relocation to Other Locations in Okinawa" The liberal
Tokyo Shimbun editorialized (1/26): "Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hirano, who chairs the GOJ/ruling coalition
working group on Futenma, expressed his view that the
existing relocation plan should not be ruled out by
saying: 'The most appropriate location will be pursued
while not eliminating the Henoko option.' However, the
expectations of the people of Okinawa, who have
suffered due to the excessive base-hosting burden
imposed on them, will feel betrayed if the current
relocation plan is revived as the result of a
review.... If MCAS Futenma is relocated to a location
other than in Okinawa, it will be necessary for the GOJ
to obtain the understanding of the U.S., which
maintains that the current plan is the best option, on
top of persuading the affected communities to accept
the base. Failure to do that would result in the worst-
case scenario of the Futenma base remaining in its
current location. Since Prime Minister Hatoyama is the
one who chose to take a difficult path, it is his
responsibility to clear the way along that path."

ROOS