VZCZCXRO3717
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #1608 0870639
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 280639Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0198
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/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5347
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8498
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1357
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0946
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7540
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9491
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 001608 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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: MEDIA REACTION  CHINA-JAPAN RELATIONS 
- TOKYO 
 
 
LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged the 
decision made Monday by the Tokyo High Court to reject an 
appeal from Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara that he 
is too mentally ill to stand trial and take 
responsibility for the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin attack. 
The papers suggested that the court decision would make 
the finalization of his death sentence likely. 
 
¶1. "With No Anti-Japanese Demonstrations This Year, China 
Looking to Improve Ties with Post-Koizumi Japan" The 
conservative Sankei's Beijing correspondent Ito wrote 
(3/28): "It has been nearly one year since anti-Japanese 
demonstrations were held all across China. Although Japan- 
China relations have actually worsened since then, there 
are no signs of an anti-Japanese movement recurring. 
While this is in part due to the authorities in Beijing 
clamping down, it goes beyond the fear of public disorder 
on their part and reflects hopes for improved bilateral 
relations.... Japan-China relations have deteriorated 
since last spring because of PM Koizumi's visits to 
Yasukuni Shrine, natural gas development in the East 
China Sea, and issues relating to Taiwan and security. 
 
¶2. "Nevertheless, there is zero chance of a recurrence 
this year of what the Chinese government at the time 
defended as 'spontaneous demonstrations of citizens 
dissatisfied with the Japanese authorities.' Last year's 
demonstrations could never have occurred without 
government approval. Beijing has started laying the 
groundwork for repairing relations with 'post-Koizumi' 
Japan. In a recent press conference, Premier Wen Jiabao 
made three proposals for improving ties. Around that same 
time, China also invited Japanese cabinet ministers and 
influential ruling party members to Beijing, and Chinese 
President Hu Jintao plans to meet with leaders from 
several Japan-China friendship organizations at the end 
of this month. A diplomatic source in Beijing said that 
the recent Chinese moves are connected with Hu's visit to 
the US planned for next month, saying that China is 
playing up its efforts to improve relations with Japan in 
the hope that Washington will press Tokyo to resolve the 
standoff over Yasukuni Shrine." 
 
SCHIEFFER