Cablegate: Media Reaction - Missle Defense in Eastern

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UNCLAS TOKYO 002521

SIPDIS

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: MEDIA REACTION - MISSLE DEFENSE IN EASTERN
EUROPE - TOKYO

1. Wednesday's Yomiuri and Nihon Keizai front-paged the
opening on Wednesday of the G-8 summit in Heiligendamm,
Germany.

2. "US, Russia Should Work Harder to Prevent New Cold
War" The liberal Mainichi editorialized (6/6): "The US
and Russia are sharply at odds over the planned US
deployment of a missile defense (MD) system in Eastern
Europe. Russia has suggested that it will not hesitate to
take various retaliatory measures if the US proceeds.
Against this backdrop, the G-8 is meeting in
Heiligendamm, Germany. We hope the leaders there,
including the US and Russian presidents, will demonstrate
the wisdom to prevent the start of a new Cold War....
While the wishes of Poland and the Czech Republic for an
MD system should be respected, Moscow's anger over its
deployment near Russia is understandable.... In
retaliation, President Putin is likely to retarget
Russian nuclear missiles on Europe and revise the
Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE). Putin also
hinted at reviewing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces
Treaty (INF) signed by the US and Soviet Union in the
1980s.... Should Russia redeploy intermediate-range
nuclear missiles, this would not only adversely affect
Europe but also worsen the security situation in East
Asia, where China and North Korea are keeping a close eye
on the MD system being developed there by the US and
Japan."

SCHIEFFER

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