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FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9135
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9872
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RUHPSAA/COMMARFORPAC
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHOVVKG/COMSEVENTHFLT
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SEOUL KOR
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHKO/USDAO TOKYO JA
RHMFISS/USFJ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 005074 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USFJ FOR J00, J01, J5 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2022 
TAGS: MARR PGOV PINR PREL JA CH KN
SUBJECT: USMARFORPAC COMMANDER GOODMAN AND MOFA SHARE DPRI 
UPDATES 
 
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer. Reasons 1.4 (B) (D). 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C) The maturing U.S.-Japan security alliance is critical 
to peace and stability in the region, Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MOFA) senior officials told Lieutenant General John 
¶F. Goodman, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific and 
the Ambassador during October 30 office calls.  MOFA 
Vice-Minister Shotaro Yachi, noting threats from China and 
North Korea, said he would like to see an increase in the 
joint deterrence capabilities of Japanese and U.S. forces. 
LtGen Goodman suggested bilateral discussions about Guam 
training facilities and invited Japan Ground Defense Force 
engineers to join the USNS Mercy humanitarian assistance 
mission next year.  MOFA North American Affairs Director 
General Shinichi Nishimiya said that while the Alliance faces 
challenges, such as information management and incidents, the 
realignment of U.S. forces in Japan remains on-schedule.  End 
summary. 
 
JAPAN SEES REGIONAL THREATS AND NEED FOR DETERRENCE 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶2.  (C) The U.S.-Japan Alliance is critical to maintaining 
peace and stability in the region, Vice Minister for Foreign 
Affairs Shotaro Yachi told LtGen John F. Goodman, Commander, 
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, during an October 30 
office call that included the Ambassador and LtGen Richard C. 
Zilmer, Commanding General, III Marine Expeditionary Forces. 
Japan faces two major problems in the region, VM Yachi 
stated.  China is rapidly and opaquely strengthening its 
military capabilities, while North Korea is a grave threat 
that has stated it possesses nuclear weapons and has 
demonstrated missiles that can hit Japan.  VM Yachi said he 
believes U.S. military deterrence capabilities will increase 
after restructuring its forces in the region and expressed 
hope to expand the joint deterrence capabilities of Japanese 
and U.S. forces.  VM Yachi and LtGen Goodman agreed that 
like-minded nations in the region, such as the Philippines 
and Indonesia, need to understand that the U.S.-Japan 
Alliance remains as strong as ever.  LtGen Goodman said the 
increasingly close U.S. military and Japan Self Defense 
Forces (SDF) relationship reinforces diplomatic efforts to 
solve the Korean peninsula nuclear issue. 
 
GROWTH IN ALLIANCE 
------------------ 
 
¶3.  (C) During a separate meeting the same day, MOFA North 
American Affairs Bureau Director General Shinichi Nishimiya 
said Japan appreciates the extended deterrence that U.S. 
military forces in Japan provide.  He noted that the alliance 
has "graduated from a junior-senior relationship" to one of 
cooperation, information sharing and joint exercises.  LtGen 
Goodman pointed out that it is necessary to look beyond 
single, narrowly-focused exercises and to explore training 
geared to building joint capabilities to meet long term 
operational needs. 
 
GOODMAN: DPRI PROCEEDING; NEED TO DISCUSS TRAINING ON GUAM 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) LtGen Goodman told VM Yachi that the master plans for 
restructuring U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) forces in Japan 
pursuant to the Defense Policy Review Initiative (DPRI) are 
complete.  In the near future, the United States and Japan 
need to discuss enhancing the Guam training ranges and 
facilities to support increased bilateral mil-mil training. 
Noting that the USMC regional capabilities would be greater 
after DPRI restructuring, LtGen Goodman said that the USMC 
 
TOKYO 00005074  002 OF 003 
 
 
could quickly reinforce its assets in Japan if required by 
regional circumstances. 
 
OKINAWA GOVERNOR'S SUPPORT REMAINS KEY CHALLENGE 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶5.  (C) DG Nishimiya said the next big challenge regarding 
the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station relocation will come at 
the end of this year when Okinawa Governor Nakaima has the 
opportunity to indicate the level of his support.  In the 
strictest legal sense, Governor Nakaima does not have the 
final say on the relocation, although in two years he will 
need to decide whether to give consent to the land 
reclamation project.  The Governor wants to leave a legacy of 
getting land back from the United States, DG Nishiyama said, 
while noting that Prime Minister Fukuda's administration is 
"massaging" the situation. 
 
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT IS CRITICAL 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) DG Nishimiya emphasized two key areas going forward. 
First, it is important to play up the magnitude of the 
consolidation of U.S. forces on Okinawa, particularly south 
of Kadena Airbase, as this will provide Governor Nakaima the 
best ammunition to counter local groups that claim the burden 
of hosting U.S. forces is still too high.  Second, management 
of information, especially regarding Guam, is critical.  Guam 
is increasingly attracting the attention of Okinawa media and 
politicians, who may use a visit to Guam to convey unhelpful 
messages to the public.  LtGen Goodman noted that while the 
Governor of Guam had invited Governor Nakaima to pay a visit, 
LtGen Goodman did not see anything good coming out of such a 
visit. 
 
IWAKUNI ALSO PROGRESSING, BUT INCIDENTS COULD DERAIL 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶7.  (C) DG Nishiyama said the process to relocate U.S. forces 
to Iwakuni is moving forward and is only slightly behind 
schedule.  The Yamaguchi Prefecture Government has been 
supportive and is using civilian-military dual use at Iwakuni 
Marine Corps Air Station as the main public incentive to 
counter the popular Mayor of Iwakuni who continues to oppose 
the move.  DG Nishiyama expects a positive conclusion by the 
end of the year.  However, situations such as the recent rape 
accusations against four Marines in Iwakuni could easily 
negatively affect the negotiations.  DG Nishiyama expressed 
appreciation for the U.S. military's fast action in this case. 
 
INCREASED COOPERATION WITH AUSTRALIA IN THE REGION 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶8.  (C) LtGen Goodman told DG Nishimiya that it is important 
for the United States, Japan and Australia to respond quickly 
and cooperatively to disasters in the region, particularly in 
Southeast Asia.  Besides providing the necessary disaster 
relief and humanitarian assistance, coordinated trilateral 
responses will remind terrorist groups of the combined 
capabilities of the three nations.  DG Nishimiya agreed, 
noting that Japan's response to the Indonesian tsunami was 
the first time it sent overseas a combined response 
consisting of all three SDF components. 
 
OFFER TO HAVE GSDF FORCES ON-BOARD USNS MERCY 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶9.  (C) LtGen Goodman said that besides responding to 
disasters there are also many opportunities to proactively 
provide humanitarian assistance and build a positive image in 
region.  He invited Japan to send Ground Self Defense Force 
(GSDF) engineers aboard the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS 
 
TOKYO 00005074  003 OF 003 
 
 
Mercy when it visits the region next year to provide medical 
and engineering services.  DG Nishimiya responded positively, 
although he noted he would need to check on the regulations 
and politics of dispatching GSDF engineers.  There is a 
precedent as Japan had recently sent GSDF engineers to 
Cambodia and East Timor.  It will still be necessary to sell 
the public on the idea of joining the USNS Mercy, DG 
Nishiyama said, noting that there would be opportunities for 
the United States and Japan to discuss this before next year. 
 
 
¶10.  (U) LtGen Goodman did not have an opportunity to clear 
this cable. 
SCHIEFFER