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UNCLAS TOKYO 000172 
 
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 - ASEAN REGIONAL SUMMIT/PM ABE'S 
SPEECH AT NATO - TOKYO 
 
 
LEAD STORIES: Most Tuesday morning papers front-paged 
MondayQs conclusion of the 16-nation East Asia Summit in 
Cebu, the Philippines. 
 
¶1. "Will Envisioned Charter Change ASEAN?" The top- 
circulation, moderate Yomiuri editorialized (1/16): "The 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which 
marks its 40th anniversary this summer, has entered an 
important phase of major change. ASEAN leaders agreed at 
their summit in Cebu, the Philippines, to bring forward 
the target date for achieving their goal of creating an 
ASEAN Community by five years to 2015. They also agreed 
to create a charter by the end of this year. The 
envisioned charter is said to include revisions to the 
group's long-held doctrine of noninterference in member 
states' internal affairs, which would be a major 
change.... Why is ASEAN trying to draft a charter now? 
The membership of Myanmar, which lags far behind in 
democratization, appears to be one of the reasons. 
Emphasizing regional harmony, ASEAN has not actively 
gotten involved in Myanmar's internal affairs. With the 
establishment of a charter, however, the organization 
aims to win the trust of the international community by 
enhancing its capacity of the members to act in concert, 
since Myanmar and ASEAN currently face mounting criticism 
from the US and Europe." 
 
¶2. "Maintain Momentum for Cooperation in East Asia" An 
editorial in the business-oriented Nihon Keizai commented 
(1/16): "...Leaders from ASEAN and other East Asian 
nations discussed North Korea, energy security, and 
regional free trade at the second East Asian Summit in 
Cebu, the Philippines. Though ASEAN will not go straight 
in the direction of an economic community similar to the 
European Union (EU), it is significant that momentum is 
gathering in the region to join hands to resolve 
problems. This is due in part to the improvement of ties 
between Japan and China following the formation of the 
Abe government.... Both Japan and China must continue to 
act as 'grownups' and preserve the dynamics of regional 
unity and cooperation. These two countries should not 
struggle over leadership but compete in terms of projects 
and policies intended to deepen regional economic 
cooperation." 
 
¶3. "PM Abe Too Enthusiastic" The liberal Asahi 
editorialized (1/16): "Prime Minister Abe spoke at NATO 
Headquarters last week in Belgium, becoming the first 
Japanese prime minister to do so. Abe proposed expanded 
exchanges and cooperation with NATO, including regular 
meetings between the Japanese foreign and defense 
ministers and the NATO secretary general and other senior 
officials. He also stressed Japan's positive stance 
toward the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) 
personnel abroad on international peacekeeping and other 
missions. It is true that there are areas in which Japan 
and NATO can cooperate, including humanitarian and 
disaster relief missions. Nonetheless, PM Abe appeared to 
be too enthusiastic.... Did he go overboard after the 
Japan Defense Agency was upgraded to the Ministry of 
Defense with the SDF's missions abroad becoming one of 
their main duties? Abe should have spoken about Japan's 
principles in a more composed manner." 
 
SCHIEFFER