TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - IRAN AND BURMA

UNCLAS TOKYO 000298 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 - IRAN AND BURMA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page stories on Tuesday morning included Agriculture Minister Akamatsu's plan to discuss with relevant GOJ authorities the possibility of bringing criminal charges against a Sea Shepherd crew member, who has been detained aboard a Japanese whaler in the Southern Ocean since he boarded the vessel on Monday without permission. ¶2. "Secretary of State on Middle East Tour to Encircle Iran" The liberal Asahi wrote (2/16): "Officials of the Obama administration have been visiting Middle East countries one after another with additional sanctions in mind for Iran, which has maintained a hard-line stance on its nuclear development. Their aim is to ratchet up the pressure by tightening the noose around Iran. As negotiating leverage against China, which remains cautious about additional UN sanctions on Iran because of its reliance on Iranian oil, the U.S. officials are set to ask the countries around the Persian Gulf to increase their petroleum production." ¶3. "Accelerated Moves by Washington to Enhance Sanctions on Iran" The business-oriented Nikkei stated from Dubai (2/16): "The U.S. is stepping up its moves toward slapping extra sanctions on Iran, which has gone ahead with additional uranium enrichment. Senior USG officials, including Secretary of State Clinton, as well as U.S. military leaders, have traveled to the Middle East in order to solicit cooperation and avert a military clash. Meanwhile, Israel, Iran's archenemy, is concerned about Russia possibly providing missiles to Iran. With Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visiting Russia starting on Monday, diplomatic bargaining appears to be intensifying." ¶4. "Myanmar Junta Playing up 'Democratization'" On the recent Burmese regime's release of a deputy opposition leader, a Bangkok correspondent for the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri reported (2/16): "The junta freed the deputy opposition leader in order to entice the largest opposition party NLD into taking part in the general election scheduled for later this year, and to call the international community's attention to a 'democratic' poll. However, the NLD is set to continue to urge the regime to release its leader Aung Sun Suu Kyi while carefully considering whether to participate in the vote." ROOS