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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003683 
 
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 Q BUSH-KOIZUMI TALKS/G-8 FOREIGN 
MINISTERIAL  - TOKYO 
 
 
LEAD STORIES: Monday's liberal Mainichi front-paged a 
nationwide telephone survey showing that 42 percent of 
respondents said GOJ apologies and remorse for WWII were 
insufficient, while 24 percent disapproved of the 
nation's "light-armed, economy-oriented" policy over the 
past 60 years. 
 
¶1. "The Finale of the US-Japan Honeymoon" The business 
daily Nihon Keizai editorialized (7/1): "Was there any 
red carpet treatment greater than the one President Bush 
rolled out for visiting Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi? 
It was not just because both the president and the prime 
minister personally hit it off. During the Bush-Koizumi 
honeymoon of the past five years, the GOJ sent MSDF ships 
to the Indian Ocean and GSDF troops to Iraq respectively 
to strengthen the US-Japan alliance. A joint statement at 
the end of the Bush-Koizumi summit disclosed that the two 
leaders declared the formation of a new US-Japan alliance 
to cooperate in the global context in the 21st century, 
thus confirming the expansion of the functions of the 
alliance.... 
 
¶2. "Although the US and Japan are not necessarily at one 
on matters related to India and Myanmar, the two allies 
are in agreement over most other issues, suggesting that 
bilateral ties are approaching a mature relationship. It 
is pointed out, however, that US-Japan relations at 
working levels have become somewhat hollow.... The 'Bush- 
Koizumi honeymoon' will come to an end with PM Koizumi 
expected to resign in September. Is this current point 
the pinnacle of US-Japan relations? Are bilateral ties 
still continuing to grow? These are the issues to be 
discussed together with Japan's post-Koizumi politics." 
 
¶3. "US-Japan Alliance and Danger" An editorial in the 
liberal Asahi commented (7/1): "Both President Bush and 
PM Koizumi praised the US-Japan relationship as being 
historically one of the most mature bilateral ties. It 
was necessary for PM Koizumi to maintain Japan's close 
relations with the US in order to sustain his government 
for more than five years. The prime minister has been a 
'dependable friend' for President Bush, who stumbled 
during the Iraq war. The prime minister's visit to 
Washington was the finale of the five-year Bush-Koizumi 
honeymoon.... 
 
¶4. "Although it is naturally important for Japan to 
maintain close relations with the US, bilateral ties 
would become even stronger if they were utilized as a 
basis for Japan's multilateral diplomatic strategy. We 
are concerned that PM Koizumi's strengthening of Japan's 
alliance with only the US will narrow down the width of 
Japan's diplomacy. It is regrettable that the prime 
minister is ignorant of this fact." 
 
¶5. "Neither Iran Nor North Korea Should be Allowed to Buy 
Time" The top-circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized 
(7/3): "The international community should not allow 
either Iran or North Korea to buy any more time. The 
world needs to apply further pressures on these nations 
to suspend their nuclear development programs. A 
chairman's statement at the end of a G-8 foreign 
ministerial held in Moscow urged Iran to respond to a 
comprehensive collateral plan in return for Iran's 
suspension of uranium enrichment during a meeting 
Wednesday with EU representatives.... Iran remains 
adamant on its position of responding to the collateral 
 
TOKYO 00003683  002 OF 002 
 
 
plan by August 22. If Tehran is allowed to prolong its 
response, it is will also have more time to improve its 
technology to enrich uranium. 
 
¶6. "Calls are rising in the US for imposing sanctions on 
Iran in the event it turns down the comprehensive 
plan.... North Korea's moves to launch a Taepodong long- 
range ballistic missile are also seen as brinkmanship 
aimed at bringing the US to a bilateral summit and having 
Washington lift its financial sanctions imposed on 
Pyongyang.... Japan should work more closely with the US 
and other G-8 nations in order to tighten an iron ring 
around the North over nuclear and missile issues. It is 
also necessary for the G-8 nations to create a system at 
the coming St. Petersburg summit to address the 
abductions by North Korea of foreign nationals." 
 
SCHIEFFER