Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - India-Pakistan Relations And

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P 100204Z DEC 08
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UNCLAS TOKYO 003347

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 - INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS AND
SIX-PARTY TALKS

1. LEAD STORIES: All Wednesday morning Japanese national dailies
gave top play to Sony's plans for layoffs.

2. "India, Pakistan Remain Calm" The top circulation, moderate
Yomiuri wrote (12/10): "Concerns emerged over a possible rise in
tension between India and Pakistan in response to the Mumbai terror
attacks. However, thanks to U.S. intervention, a rapid deterioration
of the situation appears unlikely, as Pakistan has begun cracking
down on radicals, including the masterminds behind the attacks,
while India has also apparently exercised restraint.... Given that
Japanese and other foreign enterprises are moving to review their
presence in India following the attacks, India's international image
would further decline if military tensions with Pakistan were to
escalate. Pakistan is also preoccupied with taking measures to
ensure domestic security and to reconstruct its economy."

3. "High Expectations for Chinese Arbitration" A correspondent for
the liberal Tokyo Shimbun reported from Beijing (12/10): "The
six-party head-of-delegation meeting over the North Korean nuclear
issue has started with points of dispute still remaining unresolved.
As the recent pattern of the U.S. and DPRK taking the lead in
negotiations has faltered, China's mediation abilities hold the key
to the success of the Beijing round. With expectations also mounting
for Russia's role in the talks, Moscow's presence in the framework
this time around is more pronounced than before."

SCHIEFFER

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