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

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PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0113 0200144
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200144Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8811
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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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 8404
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0745
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5489
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8900
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2220
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2709
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3146
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9372
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8790
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 000113

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 RELATIONS
AND EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI

1. LEAD STORIES: All Wednesday morning papers gave top
coverage to JAL's filing for bankruptcy protection.

2. "'Advancement' Should Be Pursued in 'Deepening'
Alliance" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun editorialized
(1/20): "The 'demerits' of the U.S.-Japan Security must
not be overlooked. One of them is the fact that some 75
percent of U.S. installations in Japan are concentrated
in Okinawa, which accounts for less than one percent of
Japan's land area.... The alliance talks that will be
launched between the two governments are intended to
remove as many of the 'demerits' of the security treaty
as possible, as well as to come up with additional
roles for the alliance. The international community
faces a wide range of threats, including nuclear
proliferation, nuclear terrorism, global warming,
energy and food shortages, diseases, and poverty. We
would welcome a redefining of the bilateral alliance in
order to deal with these threats. It is necessary for
the two countries to not just deepen but also 'advance'
the alliance, so as to make it more attuned to the new
era."

3. "Natural Disaster Disrupts Nation's Recovery" A
correspondent for the conservative Sankei wrote from
Port-au-Prince (1/20): "The catastrophe came just
before the Haitians were about to move toward self-
reliance after launching the process of rebuilding the
government's functions through UN peacekeeping
operations. The international community is being
pressed to expand its engagement in Haiti in lieu of
the Haitian government, which has lost its ability to
govern the nation."

4. "Mixed Reaction to U.S.-Led Relief Efforts"
The business-oriented Nikkei stated (1/20): "Attention
is being focused on whether the U.S., whose presence is
growing due to its relief and reconstruction efforts,
will be able to build a relationship of trust with
Latin American countries through assistance for Haiti."

ZUMWALT

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