TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS AND NUCLEAR

UNCLAS TOKYO 000005 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 RELATIONS AND NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Most Monday morning papers gave front-page play to a GOJ decision on Sunday to double the credit line to be provided by the state-owned Development Bank of Japan to struggling Japan Airlines. ¶2. "Rebuild U.S.-Japan Alliance" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (1/4): "This year marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. However, the bilateral relationship is facing a crisis of unprecedented magnitude. This is an ironic and unfortunate development.... The biggest problem in the Hatoyama administration's diplomacy is that no concrete actions have been taken to follow up on its policy of 'making the U.S.-Japan alliance a central pillar.' The fundamental cause for this situation is that the prime minister and his cabinet ministers fail to understand and share the significance of the U.S. military presence in Japan, which lies at the core of the alliance.... The presence of the U.S. military in Japan contributes not only to the defense of Japan but also to the peace and stability of all of Asia as an 'international public asset.' The fact that South Korea and Southeast Asian countries are concerned about a schism in the U.S.-Japan alliance is evidence of this reality." ¶3. "Do Not Allow U.S.-Japan Alliance to Become Irrelevant" The conservative Sankei argued in an editorial (1/4): "In order to deepen the alliance to a level that enables it to fulfill the requirements of the 21st century, it is imperative for the Hatoyama administration to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective defense and to augment its own defense efforts. Japan should take the lead in assuming the risks involved in anti-piracy efforts and the war on terrorism. It must not break the trend toward creating a 'U.S.-Japan alliance for the international community' that has been set in motion through mutual cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan.... There is no guarantee that the stalemate over Futenma will not become a harbinger of doom in the bilateral alliance." ¶4. "High Time to Embark on Elimination of Nuclear Weapons" An editorial in the liberal Mainichi asserted (1/4): "Judging from the Obama administration's diplomatic calendar for this year [on the nuclear front], President Obama is giving top priority to the prevention of nuclear terrorism while concurrently moving forward with nuclear arms reduction. In particular, nuclear arms reduction will be welcomed as a concrete first step toward the abolition of nuclear arsenals.... Unless nuclear powers demonstrate their sincere attitudes [during this year's NPT Review Conference], discontent with the NPT system will continue to grow, making international cooperation, which is essential for the prevention of nuclear terrorism, impossible. Nothing is more important than the formation of an international accord for the elimination of nuclear weapons." ROOS