Cablegate: Asd Shinn Presses Japan On Realignment, Planning

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OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHKO #1745/01 1770748
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O 250748Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5382
INFO RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 7077
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 001745

SIPDIS

DOD FOR OSD/APSA SHINN/SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA
JOINT STAFF FOR J5 WEIR/KOSINSKI
PACOM FOR J00/J01/J5
USFJ FOR J00/J01/J5

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2023
TAGS: PREL MARR PINR PGOV JA
SUBJECT: ASD SHINN PRESSES JAPAN ON REALIGNMENT, PLANNING
AND INFORMATION SECURITY

REF: TOKYO 1657

TOKYO 00001745 001.2 OF 003

Classified By: DCM Joe Donovan. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (S) SUMMARY: Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and
Pacific Security Affairs Shinn used June 16 meetings with
Ministry of Defense (MOD) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MOFA) counterparts to register strong concerns about delays
in base realignment, emphasize the importance of robust
bilateral planning, and stress the need for continued
progress on information security. MOD Administrative Vice
Minister (AVM) Masuda gave assurances that Japan remains
committed to completing the Futenma Replacement Facility
(FRF) on schedule despite the delays in the Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA). Defense Policy Bureau Director
General (DG) Takamizawa cautioned, however, that accelerating
on-land construction at the FRF could endanger local
cooperation. On bilateral planning, Operational Planning
Bureau DG Tokuchi pressed for increased communication and
cooperation but was unwilling to discuss hold-ups on
finishing guidance to initiate a bilateral threat assessment.
MOFA North American Affairs DG Nishimiya suggested that
misperceptions remain over the level of detail each side
needs about the others' operational plans. AVM Masuda
underscored the need for greater cooperation on information
security, but noted that other ministries and agencies are
not as sensitive to the problem. End summary.

2. (C) During June 16 meetings at the Ministry of Defense
(MOD) and MOFA, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and
Pacific Security Affairs James Shinn discussed possible
Japanese deployment options to Afghanistan (reported
separately in Reftel) and a range of other security issues,
including the status of the Futenma Replacement Facility
(FRF), bilateral defense planning, and information security
with Administrative Vice Minister of Defense Kohei Masuda,
MOD Director-General for Defense Policy Nobushige Takamizawa,
MOD DG for Operations Policy Hideshi Tokuchi, and MOFA North
American Affairs DG Shinichi Nishimiya. Commander United
States Forces in Japan (USFJ) Lt. Gen. Edward Rice also
participated in the meetings.

Realignment
-----------

3. (C) ASD Shinn registered strong concerns with AVM Masuda
over the possible delay in implementing the Agreed
Implementation Plan (AIP) for the construction of the FRF,
saying Tokyo should accelerate work on those areas of the FRF
not subject to the environmental impact assessment (EIA).
Masuda assured ASD Shinn that Japan remains committed to the
timely completion of the Realignment Roadmap despite the
eight-month delay in the EIA. Demolition of existing
facilities and EIA survey work have commenced and the United
States should not be overly concerned by comments from the
Japanese side stating the contrary, Masuda said.

4. (C) In an unusually heated outburst, DG Takamizawa argued
that U.S. government pressure to speed up on-land
construction at the FRF threatens to undermine Tokyo's
efforts to secure cooperation from Okinawa. Accelerating
construction before completion of the EIA could backfire on
the U.S. and Japanese governments, leading to an
unsatisfactory result to both sides. ""We may win some battles
but will lose the war,"" DG Takamizawa warned, referring to
securing the Governor's approval for landfill work. While
Japan would welcome specific ideas from the U.S. side,
general expressions of concern about Japan's execution
strategy are counter-productive, DG Takamizawa asserted. ASD
Shinn reiterated that the delay in the EIA is a serious
concern, that the entire agreement is at risk due to the
delay, and that both sides need to work together to
compensate for the delay.

Guam
----

5. (C) Regarding construction of facilities on Guam, AVM
Masuda said the Japanese government will request appropriate
funds to finance the project for FY 2009 in September during
the extraordinary Diet session. To prepare for the Diet
deliberations, Japan seeks continued cooperation and
information from the United States per Defense Minister
Ishiba's recent conversation with Secretary of Defense Gates
in Singapore.

Bilateral Planning
------------------

6. (S) MOD Defense Operations DG Tokuchi underscored the need
for improved communication and cooperation between the United
States and Japan on bilateral planning for contingencies,
noting four areas of bilateral planning that are essential.
First, the plans must be workable. Second, the U.S. must
avoid making plans and expecting to execute them
unilaterally. Third, site surveys of seaports and airports
must continue, but plans must acknowledge that other entities
besides the U.S. military will need to use them in a
contingency. Finally, bilateral understanding of each
country,s decision making mechanisms in a crisis is
imperative.

7. (S) ASD Shinn thanked Tokuchi for his insights and noted
that Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. Thomas
Mahnken, the Defense Department's lead planner, will visit
Japan in July to discuss an analytical review of Contingency
Plan 5055 and updates directed under the next Subcommittee
for Defense Cooperation bilateral planning framework guidance
(currently in bilateral coordination). ASD Shinn and Lt.
Gen. Rice underscored the importance in the bilateral
planning process of having a shared threat assessment. DG
Tokuchi responded that he was not ready to discuss the status
of the draft guidance to initiate a threat assessment
(so-called Common Security Assessment). (Note: Tokuchi
approved the document within days, however.)

8. (S) Embassy Tokyo Pol-Mil Chief Greene said that the 2006
DPRK missile launch experience highlighted the shortcomings
in the assumptions used to craft emergency legislation, such
as the Situation in Areas Surrounding Japan Law. The
legislation assumed an escalating crisis on the Korean
Peninsula and did not allow the Alliance to respond
effectively to a sudden threat. Lt Gen Rice noted that the
U.S. and Japan need to work to create a &robust8 series of
contingency scenarios. Updating existing scenarios and
developing new ones will allow the United States and Japan to
better analyze their future operational needs. DG Tokuchi
agreed with both points, noting that the reality of missile
defense made older decision making mechanisms inadequate and
that the United States and Japan both must be &circumspect8
on all assumptions and scenarios.

Site Surveys
------------

9. (S) Lt. Gen. Rice stressed the importance of bilateral
defense planning with AVM Masuda and urged greater
cooperation on surveys of airports and seaports for possible
use in contingencies. Masuda responded that Japan needs
specific information on how the facilities would be used by
U.S. forces as this will help the Government of Japan to
engage local governments on the nature of the site surveys.
The information is also necessary for Japan to develop plans
to de-conflict usage of the air and sea ports by the U.S.
military, Japan Self Defense Forces and civilian Japanese
entities, Masuda asserted.

Information Security
--------------------

10. (C) ASD Shinn and Lt. Gen. Rice urged continued
cooperation on information security and the Bilateral
Information Security Task Force (BISTF). Highlighting the
recent leak of intelligence on Chinese missile launches to
the Sankei newspaper, Lt. Gen. Rice underscored the need to
work toward a secure system that provides comprehensive,
government-wide safeguards for classified information. As
both countries work more closely together on security
initiatives, such as ballistic missile defense cooperation,
the need for stronger information security measures is even
greater. ASD Shinn stressed that there has been a
considerable amount of bilateral discussions within the BISTF
and now there is a need for action, including implementation
of real safeguards and strengthening of law enforcement.

11. (C) Masuda acknowledged the need for greater cooperation
but pointed out that both sides need to examine areas of
information security that fall outside the BISTF's authority
and to deal with ministries and agencies that are not
sensitive to the problem. Lt. Gen. Rice responded that this
is exactly why a comprehensive approach to information
security is needed.

12. (U) ASD Shinn,s staff and Lt. Gen. Rice cleared this
message.
SCHIEFFER

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