TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS AND OSLO PROCESS ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS

UNCLASSIFIED UNCLAS TOKYO 001498 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 - JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS AND OSLO PROCESS ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS 1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning included the rise in gasoline prices on Sunday following a price hike by Japan's major oil wholesalers. 2. "Japan, China Should Increase Trust Through Support" The liberal Mainichi editorialized (6/1): "...Japan decided to forgo its planned dispatch of ASDF aircraft to China for relief assistance. The decision was made in consideration of cautious opinion in China. The dispatch of an SDF unit would have represented a historic turning point in Japan-China relations. However, the cancellation was acceptable, as the environment in China was not yet right.... Prime Minister Fukuda and Chinese President Hu, who visited Japan last month, pledged to promote mutually beneficial strategic relations between Japan and China. Building confidence between the peoples and the governments of Japan and China would be a foundation for such relations. It is certain that relief activities will greatly contribute to building such a relationship." 3. "Japan Should Play Leading Role in Eliminating Cluster Munitions" The liberal Mainichi editorialized (5/31): "...Japan should express its determination to lead the world to eliminate cluster munitions.... Japan should tell nations that possess a large number of cluster bombs and do not want to ban them about the humanitarian issues involved and urge them to stop using such weapons. Those nations include China, Russia, and the U.S., which is an ally of Japan." SCHIEFFER