Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08TOKYO2745, SCENESETTER FOR PACOM COMMANDER ADM KEATING'S OCT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08TOKYO2745.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08TOKYO2745 2008-10-01 09:44 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKO #2745/01 2750944
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 010944Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7656
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1624
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 6594
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHOVVKG/COMSEVENTHFLT
RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SEOUL KOR
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC
RUEHKO/USDAO TOKYO JA
RHMFISS/USFJ
C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 002745 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PACOM FOR J00/J01/J5; DOD FOR 
OSD/APSA/SHINN/SEDNEY/HILL/BASALLA; USFJ FOR J00/J01/J5 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR JA
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR PACOM COMMANDER ADM KEATING'S OCT 
8-10 VISIT TO JAPAN 
 
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer; Reasons: 1.4 (b/d) 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1.  (C) You will arrive in Japan in the wake of a dramatic 
leadership change.  Newly-elected Prime Minister Taro Aso is 
regarded as a strong supporter of the U.S.-Japan Alliance, 
who we expect will try hard to maintain course for our 
important bilateral initiatives, including the realignment of 
U.S. Forces.  He favors a more robust Japanese contribution 
to international issues, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, but 
also has a history of making statements that strained Japan' 
relations with its Asian neighbors.  He and the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will have their hands full in 
the coming weeks as they struggle to keep the opposition 
parties at bay while pushing forward important legislation, 
including the bill for renewing maritime refueling operations 
in the Indian Ocean.  Aso's immediate challenge, however, is 
addressing domestic issues and Japan's economic problems.  We 
are moving forward on realignment and other Alliance issues, 
but face uncertainties in areas that require Japanese budget 
appropriation and strong political will.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
DOMESTIC POLITICS: ASO IS PM, LH ELECTION OUTLOOK UNCERTAIN 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
2.  (C) Former LDP Secretary General Taro Aso became the new 
Prime Minister of Japan on September 24, succeeding Yasuo 
Fukuda, who, like his predecessor, former Prime Minister Abe, 
had resigned unexpectedly amid considerable political 
difficulties and declining support rates.  Aso unveiled his 
new Cabinet lineup the same day, re-appointing a handful of 
ministers from the recently reshuffled Fukuda Cabinet and 
appointing the remainder primarily from among his close 
associates in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).  The 
substantive credentials of Aso's new Cabinet appointments are 
strong and reflect the need for serious, experienced hands at 
a time when the LDP may be fighting for its political life. 
Nearly all of the new ministers are well-known to the public 
and have held ministerial portfolios in the past.  The roster 
includes a number of serious policy wonks.  Most are also 
relatively conservative and low-key. 
 
3.  (C) Whether Aso's team can help the LDP prevail in the 
Lower House elections against Ichiro Ozawa and his Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ) remains questionable.  Aso anticipated a 
"honeymoon" period of high support rates, but polls are well 
below LDP expectations, ranging from a low of 45 to a high of 
53 percent, with the average approximately 10 points lower 
than former Prime Minister Fukuda when he launched his first 
Cabinet in 2007 and 20 points lower than former Prime 
Minister Abe's ratings in 2006.  Aso's ratings are, however, 
much higher than Fukuda's ratings at the end of his 
administration, which ranged from the high 20s to the low 
30s.  Aso out-polls DPJ leader Ozawa by a wide margin in 
surveys on the public's choice for Prime Minister. 
 
4.  (C) Aso's Cabinet members' early problems have not helped 
him with the public.  The resignation of Minister for Land, 
Infrastructure, and Transportation Nariaki Nakayama for 
repeated verbal missteps within only five days of his 
appointment, along with allegations of political funds 
scandals involving two other new ministers, dominated the 
news during week one of Aso's administration.  Despite the 
risk of losing control of the Diet, most in the LDP believe 
that dissolving the Lower House within the next several weeks 
is the party's only hope for blunting the DPJ's ability to 
attack the ruling coalition in the Diet over the pension 
scandal, recent food safety scares, and a host of other 
issues. 
 
---------------------------------- 
ECONOMIC POLICY UNDER NEW ASO TEAM 
---------------------------------- 
 
5.  (C) In looking to the possibility of early Lower House 
elections, Prime Minister Aso is developing an economic 
campaign built around a central theme:  "stimulating the 
stagnating Japanese economy."  He is pushing a three-stage 
approach: use a supplemental budget to stimulate the economy 
in the short-term; repair the country's fiscal balance in the 
medium-term; and increase Japan's potential economic growth 
rate through structural reform in the long-term.  Japan's 
now-weakening economy and slowing global growth has 
restricted Japan's ability to turn to its standard policy ) 
exporting its way out of the problem ) and as a result, Aso 
is putting a priority on short-term economic stimulus. 
 
6.  (C) Aso has also put aside, at least for now, the 
structural reform banner that former Prime Minister Koizumi 
once held high.  The need to reform the pension and 
healthcare systems, to introduce greater competition into the 
economy, and to raise productivity have not gone away, but 
the dominant perception within the LDP is that the public is 
tired of structural reform and needs to be reassured. The 
political calculation is understandable, but it means a delay 
in the kinds of reforms necessary to strengthen Japan's 
economic power over the long-term.  This, in turn, affects 
Japan's ability to support U.S.-led initiatives such as Iraqi 
reconstruction, Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and other 
international aid and donors requests. 
 
-------------- 
FOREIGN POLICY 
-------------- 
 
7.  (C) Prime Minister Aso has inherited a number of 
important foreign policy challenges from the preceding 
administration.  As host and president of the G-8 Summit this 
year, Japan has made a number of pledges to contribute to a 
range of global issues, such as climate change and the 
environment, as well as international development and 
assistance.  Responding to criticism both in and outside 
Japan, the Japanese government has been exploring ways to 
expand its contribution to Afghanistan beyond aid assistance 
and the refueling operations in support of OEF.  In the 
region, Japan must deal with its uneasy relations with China 
and South Korea, which flare periodically from history and 
territorial disputes.  North Korea's nuclear program and the 
resolution of Japanese abductees to the DPRK remain high 
among Japan's foreign policy priorities. 
 
8.  (C) The generally conservative, hawkish Aso is a strong 
supporter of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and is expected to 
continue the foreign policy course set by his immediate 
predecessors.  Aso has called on his ministers to build a 
"bright and strong" Japan.  Attacking DPJ leader Ozawa's 
UN-centered foreign policy, Aso asked rhetorically where 
Japan should put its trust -- on the U.S.-Japan Alliance or 
on an organization often swayed by a number of "small 
nations."  He also directed Foreign Minister Hirofumi 
Nakasone to work on strengthening U.S.-Japan ties, fighting 
terror, and dealing with the DPRK. 
 
--------------- 
SECURITY POLICY 
--------------- 
 
9.  (C) As with foreign policy, the Aso administration is 
expected to maintain a similar position on Japan' security 
policy as its predecessors.  Defense Minister Hamada is 
well-versed on Alliance Transformation issues and is a strong 
supporter of "normalizing" Japan's defense policies.  He has 
often expressed frustration to the Embassy over the Japanese 
government's steady stream of "excuses" for not playing a 
more equal role in the Alliance, including in out-of-area 
operations.  He supports a more active Japanese presence in 
Afghanistan.  He also strongly advocates relaxing Japan's 
arms export restrictions in order to deepen cooperation 
between the U.S. and Japanese defense industrial bases.  In 
addition, senior Japanese officials have expressed their 
intention to push for continued OEF refueling operations, 
although the possibility of an election this fall has put 
Diet action in doubt.  With the successful arrival of the 
U.S.S. GEORGE WASHINGTON on September 25, the Aso 
administration appears ready to advance other important 
Alliance initiatives. 
 
10.  (C) The Aso administration has, nevertheless, formidable 
challenges ahead in terms of security issues.  Expanded 
Japanese contribution to Afghanistan is unlikely to occur 
until the current Diet gridlock is resolved.  The possible 
dissolution of the Lower House in coming weeks can prevent 
the timely renewal of OEF refueling legislation, which 
expires on January 15, 2009, potentially leading to many 
months of a gap in refueling operations.  Prime Minister Aso, 
who was one of the signatories of the May 1, 2006 realignment 
roadmap, is expected to push ahead with implementation of the 
bilaterally agreed plans for the realignment of U.S. Forces. 
The unsettled political situation in Tokyo, however, is 
complicating bilateral consultations on initial Japanese 
funding for the USMC Guam relocation.  The Okinawa Governor 
has also continued to insist on slight revisions to the 
Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF), even as he cooperates 
with the completion of the environmental impact survey for 
the FRF project. 
SCHIEFFER