Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - G20 Financial Ministerial And

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P 080529Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7523
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UNCLAS TOKYO 002060

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 - G20 FINANCIAL MINISTERIAL AND
AFGHANISTAN

1. LEAD STORIES: Top items on Tuesday morning included a DPJ plan to
ask Social Democratic Party (SDP) Chairwoman Fukushima and People's
New Party (PNP) Chief Representative Kamei to assume cabinet
portfolios in the Hatoyama administration.

2. "Challenges Awaiting New Prime Minister" On the conclusion of a
G20 financial ministerial in London, the liberal Asahi editorialized
(9/8): "The joint statement reflected [the participants'] confidence
in successful new international coordination in deterring a
recurrence of the Great Depression.... The statement also said, 'We
will continue to implement decisively our necessary financial
support measures and expansionary, monetary, and fiscal policies.'
It is a matter of course [for the members to adopt such policies] in
light of the rising unemployment rates in Japan, the U.S., and
Europe, as well as the risk of members' economies losing momentum in
the absence of additional countermeasures."

3. "Curbing Salaries Is Not Enough" The liberal Mainichi asserted in
an editorial (9/7): "The thrust of the matter is that [U.S. and
British] financial institutions were able to continue making
exorbitant profits despite paying excessive salaries and that such
profits were generated as a result of a money game, which had
nothing to do with ordinary businesses and consumers that play the
key role in economic growth.... G20 discussions should be focused on
how to make the transition from the [present] financial system in
which a management failure might cause the complete collapse of
society to a new system that contributes to society."

3. "Disarray between EU, NATO over Support for Afghanistan" The
liberal Mainichi wrote from Brussels (9/8): "The EU is intensifying
its criticism of NATO over its bombing operations in Afghanistan,
creating a schism with NATO over how to assist in the reconstruction
of Afghanistan. NATO Secretary General Rasmussen, who assumed his
post in August, has launched a policy of enhancing coordination with
the EU, but it appears he has started off on the wrong foot....
Rivalry between NATO and the EU is increasing because the EU is
expanding its overseas missions in the security arena."

ROOS

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