TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS, IRAN, AND

UNCLAS TOKYO 000362 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.-CHINA RELATIONS, IRAN, AND PALESTINIAN STATE ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Wednesday morning included Monday's start of a congressional hearing on the Toyota recalls. ¶2. "China Monitoring Domestic Public Opinion" The business-oriented Nikkei wrote from Beijing (2/24): "A formal decision by the Chinese on retaliatory measures against the U.S. has been delayed. China was set to take immediate retaliatory measures in the event that President Obama held talks with Dalai Lama. However, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stopped short of specifically referring to such measures during Tuesday's press conference. It appears that the Chinese chose not to decide on retaliatory measures immediately out of concern for the possible negative effect on China's ties with the U.S. on the political and economic fronts. For the time being, the Chinese government is poised to monitor domestic public opinion, which is markedly anti-American." ¶3. "Iran Needs to Make Efforts to Dispel Suspicion" The liberal Mainichi editorialized (2/24): "It appears that Iran, just like North Korea, has continued to take provocative actions in the judgment that the international community would not be able to take tough measures in response. With the Iranian citizens' dissatisfaction with the presidential election last year still lingering, trust in the Iranian leadership has declined sharply both at home and abroad. Under the current circumstances, the U.S., Britain, and others have no choice but to consider a new UN Security Council resolution.... If it is true that the foreign allegations are unfounded, Tehran should be more cooperative (toward the international community's efforts to check its nuclear programs). Continuing to make provocative statements and actions will merely deepen the international community's suspicion." ¶4. "France Envisions Palestinian State as 'Fait Accompli'" On French Foreign Minister Kouchner's recent statement that he could envision the recognition of a Palestinian state even before its borders are set, a Paris correspondent for the top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri stated (2/24): "His proposal is causing a stir in the stalemated Middle East peace process. While the proposal was made in the absence of coordination with the parties involved, expectations are mounting among the Palestinians to use the proposal as a justification for declaring 'unilateral independence.' Attention is focused on whether the French idea will give a push to the Obama administration, which has been slow in moving forward with Middle East peace due in part to the stalled situation in Afghanistan." ROOS