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FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 001498 
 
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: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - JAPAN-CHINA RELATIONS 
AND OSLO PROCESS ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS 
 
 
¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Monday morning included 
the rise in gasoline prices on Sunday following a price 
hike by Japan's major oil wholesalers. 
 
¶2. "Japan, China Should Increase Trust Through Support" 
The liberal Mainichi editorialized (6/1): "...Japan 
decided to forgo its planned dispatch of ASDF aircraft 
to China for relief assistance. The decision was made 
in consideration of cautious opinion in China. The 
dispatch of an SDF unit would have represented a 
historic turning point in Japan-China relations. 
However, the cancellation was acceptable, as the 
environment in China was not yet right.... Prime 
Minister Fukuda and Chinese President Hu, who visited 
Japan last month, pledged to promote mutually 
beneficial strategic relations between Japan and China. 
Building confidence between the peoples and the 
governments of Japan and China would be a foundation 
for such relations. It is certain that relief 
activities will greatly contribute to building such a 
relationship." 
 
¶3. "Japan Should Play Leading Role in Eliminating 
Cluster Munitions" The liberal Mainichi editorialized 
(5/31): "...Japan should express its determination to 
lead the world to eliminate cluster munitions.... Japan 
should tell nations that possess a large number of 
cluster bombs and do not want to ban them about the 
humanitarian issues involved and urge them to stop 
using such weapons. Those nations include China, 
Russia, and the U.S., which is an ally of Japan." 
 
SCHIEFFER