Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - U.S.-Japan Missile

VZCZCXRO7263
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #5637 3550230
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 210230Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0515
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5112
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7508
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3816
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 5749
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8777
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0776
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2028
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 6835
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7531
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 005637

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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - U.S.-JAPAN MISSILE
DEFENSE COOPERATION

LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Friday morning include the
Finance Ministry's proposal of a state budget for
fiscal 2008 totaling about 86 trillion yen.

1. "U.S.-Japan Coordination Important for Effective MD
operation" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri
editorialized (12/21): "Missile defense is not perfect.
Properly speaking, there are two types of military
deterrence: deterrence via the possibility of a
retaliatory strike, and deterrence by neutralizing or
weakening the enemy's attack capabilities. MD's
deterrence by denial will be most effective in
combination with the deterrence of retaliation by the
U.S. military. In this sense, the importance of
deterrence by the U.S. military remains unchanged.
Close coordination between the U.S. and Japan is
critical for the effective operation of the MD system,
given that Japan needs to rely on U.S. spy and early-
warning satellites to confirm signs of an imminent
ballistic missile launch. Communications and data
transmission were reportedly insufficient between the
U.S. and Japan and between the MSDF and ASDF when North
Korea launched several ballistic missiles in July 2006.
The U.S. military is already deploying several Aegis
ships equipped with the SM-3 system in Japan while
concurrently placing PAC-3 missile launchers at Kadena
AB. Arrangements must be worked out for a division of
labor and information-sharing between the SDF and U.S.
forces through joint training."

DONOVAN

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