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

VZCZCXRO7305
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #0326 0500215
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190215Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9488
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 8903
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 2720
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3145
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3185
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9826
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9179
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 000326

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.-CHINA RELATIONS
AND TOYOTA RECALLS

1. LEAD STORIES: Front-page stories on Friday morning
included the announcement on Thursday by the U.S. House
Oversight and Government Reform Committee that it has
formally asked the president of Toyota to testify at a
hearing on February 24.

2. "China Appears Ready to Take Retaliatory Action" The
business-oriented Nikkei wrote from Beijing (2/19):
"China appears to be prepared to take retaliatory
measures against President Obama's meeting with the
Dalai Lama. Beijing announced in late January the
suspension of military exchanges with the U.S.
following the U.S. government's decision to sell arms
to Taiwan. In addition, the nation is probably
considering postponing its human rights dialogue with
the U.S. that is scheduled for later this month. The
cooperative relationship between the U.S. and China is
facing a turning point because China has indicated the
possibility that it will not cooperate with the U.S. on
international issues, including the Iranian nuclear
problem."

3. "Toyota President Must Provide Explanation in U.S."
The business-oriented Nikkei editorialized (2/19):
"Criticism of Toyota has not died down in the U.S....
In order to satisfy the American public, Toyota needs
to move quickly and offer a reasonable explanation....
This crisis is taking place in the U.S.... It is
important for President Toyoda to go to the U.S. as
soon as possible to directly provide an explanation to
Toyota's American customers and listen to their
opinions."

ROOS

© Scoop Media