VZCZCXRO7709
OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHNE #5258/01 3441208
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 101208Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9638
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6684
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1332
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4536
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2481
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5437
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 1351
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5781
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7430
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 005258 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/06/2012 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KNUC KNNP JA IN
SUBJECT: DOMICHI AFFIRMS CONTINUED CLOSE U.S-JAPAN 
COOPERATION ON INDIA 
 
Classified By: AMB David Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary.  Japanese Ambassador-Designate Domichi, in an 
initial courtesy call on Ambassador: 
 
-- hinted that Japan will likely support the civil-nuclear 
deal in the IAEA and NSG, while expressing his hope that the 
U.S. will understands Japan's sensitivities on nuclear issues; 
 
-- said he believed the U.S. and Japan share the view of 
promoting bilateral relations with India in the context of 
their larger global strategies; 
 
-- explained that he expects PM Fukuda to continue the path 
of closer Indo-Japan relations; 
 
-- listed infrastructure development and energy among Japan's 
priorities for assistance to India; and 
 
-- agreed on the desire to move forward with the 
quadrilateral U.S.-Japan-Australia-India dialogue concept, in 
a way that would not alarm China, as one means for shaping 
the strategic dynamics of the Asia region.  End Summary. 
 
Improving Ties To Continue 
----- 
 
¶2. (C) Japanese Ambassador-Designate Hideki Domichi paid a 
courtesy call on the Ambassador on December 6, noting that he 
expected to present his credentials on December 12.  Domichi 
began the meeting by saying he believed the U.S. and Japan 
shared the view of promoting bilateral relations with India 
in the context of a global strategy.  He assured the 
Ambassador that Japan's policy of pursuing closer ties with 
India, a policy that preceded Prime Minister Koizumi, would 
continue under PM Fukuda. 
 
Priority On Infrastructure, Energy 
----- 
 
¶3. (C) Listing what he believes will be his priorities during 
his tenure, Domichi said Japan is committed to assisting 
India improve its infrastructure, particularly business 
infrastructure, and mentioned the Kolkata-Mumbai-Delhi 
industrial and freight corridors as priority projects.  He 
added that, in addition to infrastructure, addressing India's 
energy needs will be important levers to Indian growth, 
particularly in rural sectors.  Domichi said Japanese 
companies are trying to catch up with others' enthusiasm for 
India's economic potential, but wondered whether such 
enthusiasm was losing sight of India's weaknesses, such as an 
estimated $500 billion in needed infrastructure. 
 
Broad Support For Civ-Nuke, But With Sensitivities 
----- 
 
¶4. (C) Turning to civil-nuclear energy, Domichi asked the 
Ambassador for his views on progress in the 123 Agreement and 
the "difficult to understand" politics surrounding debate 
over the deal.  Following the Ambassador's readout, Domichi 
said that Japan's unique experience with nuclear weapons 
makes it a delicate subject for the GOJ, but referred to PM 
Fukuda's message to President Bush that Japan will consider 
the initiative positively.  Noting that opposition leader 
Ichiro Ozawa has had success in politicizing the issue of 
Japan's support for Operation Enduring Freedom, Domichi 
worried whether the Democratic Party of Japan might also try 
to politicize the civil-nuclear deal.  Explaining it is 
unlikely Japan will come out publicly to support the deal, 
Domichi said he hoped the U.S. would understand Japan's 
sensitivity on the issue. 
 
Value In Quad 
----- 
 
 
NEW DELHI 00005258  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶5. (C) The Ambassador and Domichi agreed on the desirability 
of quadrilateral U.S.-Japan-Australia-India dialogue, however 
such interaction needs to be handled in such a way as to not 
alarm China.  While the quad concept has been slow in taking 
hold, Domichi said, "it could develop quite significantly." 
Given India's rise, Domichi opined, the quadrilateral dynamic 
-- which could be expanded to include the EU -- could be 
important for the future structure of the world. 
 
Same Level As China? 
----- 
 
¶6. (C) Domichi ended the meeting by saying that he had a bold 
dream for Japan's relationship with India, and that was, in 
the long term, to raise Japan-India trade and investment 
flows to the same level as China. 
MULFORD