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S E C R E T TOKYO 001918 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
OSD/APSA FOR LAWLESS AND SHINN, INR/B FOR GOLDBERG 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/27/2017 
TAGS: PGOV JA MARR PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: ABE'S REPORT CARD: UNPRECEDENTED PROGRESS ON THE 
SECURITY AND DEFENSE AGENDA 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i. Joseph R. Donovan, reasons 
1.4 (b , d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  Prime Minister Abe has had a string of 
legislative and policy successes on alliance issues -- 
including realignment, BMD data-sharing, and extensions of 
Japan's maritime support for Operation Enduring Freedom in 
the Indian Ocean and for coalition forces in Iraq. 
Complaints about Abe's leadership and negative comparisons 
with former PM Koizumi aside, Abe successes in passing 
legislation and implementing policies that strengthen Japan's 
security and defense posture are unprecedented.  This cable 
is a quick summary of Abe's achievements.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C) The weeks preceding Prime Minister Abe's visit to 
Washington and the May 1 "2 2" meeting of foreign and defense 
ministers have seen significant progress on Abe's legislative 
agenda and alliance issues.  Abe's team has quickly husbanded 
bills through the Diet to fund the realignment of U.S. forces 
and extend Iraq and Indian Ocean Self-Defense Force (SDF) 
deployments.  On the policy side, Abe has launched 
initiatives on collective self-defense, enhanced U.S.-Japan 
military cooperation, and BMD data-sharing. At the same time, 
significant steps have been made in joint training, building 
trilateral defense ties with Australia and the U.S., and 
preparation for the arrival of a U.S. nuclear-powered carrier. 
 
Realignment: funding bill passes major hurdle 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) The package of legislation to fund Japan's 
approximately $20 billion share of the costs of the 
realignment of U.S. forces passed the Lower House of the Diet 
on April 13, and moved to the Upper House on April 26.  The 
bill is on track for formal Diet approval within four to six 
weeks, according to MOD contacts. 
 
JDA to MOD: Once impossible, easily done in 2007 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
¶4. (U) Abe's bill to upgrade the Japan Defense Agency to full 
Ministry of Defense status sailed through the Diet in January 
2007 with minimal opposition. 
 
Futenma replacement: Kyuma finally on message 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Defense Minister Kyuma, in a reversal of his previous 
ambiguity on the issue, gave a clear message to Okinawa 
Governor Nakaima on April 24 that the bilaterally-agreed plan 
for the replacement of Marine Corps Station Futenma is "the 
best plan" and has full Japanese government backing.  This 
marked a welcome change of tone for Kyuma, who in earlier 
press comments suggested that the U.S. show "flexibility" and 
not be "high-handed" in opposing changes to the agreed plan. 
Behind the scenes, Abe is reported to have been firm in 
directing that there would be no change to the 2 2 FRF plan. 
 
¶6. (C) Direct orders from Prime Minister Abe led to another 
welcome change of tack: Japanese Coast Guard and police 
authorities on April 25 prevented Okinawan protestors from 
disrupting preliminary environmental surveys for the Futenma 
replacement facility (the Coast Guard and police had 
previously been loathe to restrain demonstrators). 
 
OEF refueling extended; Iraq airlift set for 2-yr extension 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) On April 24, the Cabinet approved the latest 
six-month extension of the Maritime Self Defense Force (MSDF) 
refueling operations in the Indian Ocean in support of 
Operation Enduring Freedom.  On the same day, the Lower House 
of the Diet began deliberations on a two-year extension of 
the law authorizing Japanese airlift operations in Iraq. 
MOFA and MOD contacts are optimistic the extension will be 
approved. 
 
Collective Defense: Panel to recommend relaxing the ban 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶8. (C) Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki announced April 25 
plans for a blue-ribbon panel under the Prime Minister's 
Office to examine exceptions to Japan's current self-imposed 
 
ban on collective self-defense.  The panel is stacked with 
proponents of the U.S.-Japan alliance, and widely expected to 
conclude that Japanese forces should be permitted to 
intercept ballistic missiles fired at the U.S., and to defend 
friendly forces during coalition and peacekeeping operations. 
 
 
BMD: MOD turns on BADGE air defense data 24/7 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (S) On April 23, MOD began providing BADGE air defense 
data to U.S. forces on a 24/7 basis, in fulfillment of a 
pledge made in the wake of North Korea's missile launches 
last July. 
 
PAC-3 missiles installed 
------------------------ 
 
¶10. (C) At the end of March, Japan installed its first PAC-3 
interceptors at Iruma airbase outside of Tokyo, and the 
Cabinet approved emergency guidelines on the authority to 
intercept ballistic missiles in a surprise attack. 
 
Joint Training: F-22s alongside Japanese fighters 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶11. (U) U.S. F-22 fighter aircraft temporarily deployed to 
Kadena airbase are in the midst of April 26-27 air-to-air 
combat training with Japan Air Self Defense Force F-15s and 
F-4s -- the first training by F-22s with any alliance 
partner. 
 
Nuclear carrier arrival passes last political hurdle 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶12. (U) On April 26, Yokosuka Mayor Kabaya approved the 
dredging work required for basing the U.S.S. George 
Washington in Yokosuka, removing the last political hurdle 
before the ship's arrival in summer 2008.  Earlier, a 
Yokohama District court dismissed a request to issue an 
injunction halting the dredging project.  Dredging will begin 
this summer. 
 
U.S.-Japan-Australia launch defense cooperation body 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶13. (C) On April 12, Japan hosted the inaugural session of a 
new Assistant Secretary-level body aimed at deepening defense 
and security ties between the U.S., Australia and Japan -- 
the trilateral Security and Defense Cooperation Forum (SDCF). 
 All parties agreed to stage trilateral P-3 exercises, join a 
Pacific Fleet humanitarian deployment to Southeast Asia, hold 
seminars on HALE/UAV operations in the Pacific and improving 
airlift coordination, and endorsed trilateral discussions on 
ballistic missile defense. 
 
¶14. (C) In another sign of growing maturity in Japan's 
defense ties with regional partners, Japanese naval vessels 
joined U.S. and Indian warships in an April 16 "goodwill" 
exercise in waters east of Tokyo. 
 
¶15. (C) COMMENT: Abe's record on security issues is 
impressive.  Skillfully using the Koizumi-created 
super-majority in the Lower House of the Diet, Abe and his 
LDP team have smoothly passed bills that would have been 
virtually impossible even 10 or 15 years ago, when the left 
could paralyze deliberations and effectively exert a minority 
veto.  If Abe stays in office past the test of the July Upper 
House elections, he is laying the groundwork and developing 
the legislative momentum for even more significant changes, 
including intelligence reform and getting a new constitution. 
 END COMMENT. 
DONOVAN