TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS TOKYO 000056 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 U.S.-RUSSIA NUCLEAR ARMS REDUCTION TALKS ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning included the state-backed turnaround body's reconstruction plans for ailing Japan Airlines. ¶2. "Host Nation Support Is Necessary Spending" The moderate Yomiuri stated in an editorial (1/11): "It makes sense to review Japan's host nation support for the U.S. military in a reasonable manner and drastically reduce wasteful spending. However, we should not forget that the presence of the U.S. military is the foundation of the U.S.-Japan alliance.... The Hatoyama administration only stresses the need to reduce the burden on local communities hosting U.S. bases, but it should also look at the importance of the deterrent power of the U.S. military." ¶3. "U.S. and Russia Must Swiftly Conclude Nuclear Arms Reduction Treaty" The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (1/10): "The U.S. and Russia will resume their talks shortly on the conclusion of a new nuclear arms reduction treaty.... We hope the treaty will be concluded at an early date.... A nuclear security summit and an NPT review conference will be held this spring. In order to realize President Obama's idea of a 'world without nuclear weapons,' the U.S. and Russia, which possess 95 percent of all of the nuclear weapons in the world, should set an example for nuclear arms reduction." ROOS