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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003092 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/P, EAP-J, AND NEA/IR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2018 
TAGS: PREL NK CH IR JA
SUBJECT: S/P DIRECTOR GORDON MEETS WITH JAPANESE FOREIGN 
POLICY EXPERTS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4(b) and (d 
) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  During his visit to Tokyo October 28-30 to 
attend Trilateral Policy Planning talks with Japanese and 
South Korean counterparts, S/P Director David Gordon also met 
with several former senior Japanese government officials who 
now are active in academic or advisory capacities.  Gordon 
heard from them concerns about Japan's largely negative 
reaction to and perception of the U.S. decision to remove 
North Korea from our State Sponsors of Terrorism list, and of 
Japanese opposition to the creation of a Northeast Asia Peace 
and Security Mechanism.  They also urged closer U.S. 
engagement with China and Iran.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (C) S/P Director Gordon exchanged views October 29 on a 
range of foreign policy issues with Okazaki Institute 
Director Hisahiko Okazaki (former Japanese Ambassador to 
Saudi Arabia and Thailand), Japan Center for International 
Exchange (JCIE) Senior Fellow Hitoshi Tanaka (former Deputy 
Foreign Minister), and Center for International Public Policy 
Studies (CIPPS) President Naoki Tanaka (former Chairman of 
the Postal Services Privatization Committee and advisor to 
former Prime Minister Koizumi).  Also attending were S/P 
Staff member James Green, Embassy Tokyo Political Minister 
Counselor Mike Meserve, and Embassy Tokyo Political-Military 
Affairs officer Simon Lee (notetaker). 
 
----------- 
NORTH KOREA 
----------- 
 
¶3. (C) All three Japanese expressed concern that the U.S. and 
Japanese governments do not appear to be coordinating well in 
dealing with North Korea.  Recognizing that the Six-Party 
process is a step-by-step approach toward the final goal of 
denuclearizing the DPRK, JCIE's Tanaka cautioned that the 
apparent willingness of the U.S. Government to deal directly 
with the DPRK and China without consulting or coordinating 
with Japan leads many people in Japan to be suspicious toward 
U.S. motives.  The move to establish a regional security 
mechanism out of the Six-Party process -- which Okazaki 
claims "no Japanese official supports" -- also heightens 
anxiety among the Japanese people.  Japanese skepticism 
toward such multilateral security framework stems in part 
from Japan's failed multilateral approach after ending the 
Anglo-Japanese alliance, but mostly from strong doubts that 
North Korea would ever abandon its nuclear weapons.  Moving 
forward with such security dialogue while turning a blind eye 
to a nuclear-armed DPRK is "absurd," Okazaki said. 
 
----- 
CHINA 
----- 
 
¶4.  (C) On China, the policy experts stressed the need for 
closer engagement by both the United States and Japan.  China 
has much to gain by following international norms and acting 
as a responsible stakeholder.  The United States and Japan 
should, therefore, persuade China to follow the rules, JCIE's 
Tanaka noted.  China's ability to engage and influence rogue 
states, such as Burma, DPRK, and Iran, also makes it a useful 
partner.  Okazaki pointed out, however, that U.S. and 
Japanese focus on human rights at the expense of realpolitik 
has given China inordinate levels of influence over Burma. 
Burmese leaders have more positive feelings toward Japan than 
toward China, which gives Japan a potential advantage over 
China in dealing with the Burmese junta.  As realists, 
however, the junta accepts grudgingly Chinese assistance as 
Japan remains unable to assist from U.S. opposition and 
Japan's own political constraints. 
 
---- 
IRAN 
---- 
 
¶5.  (C) The three experts all urged the United States to 
 
TOKYO 00003092  002 OF 002 
 
 
engage comprehensively with Iran.  Drawing parallels with the 
U.S. approach toward the DPRK's nuclear program, they noted 
the inconsistency toward Iran despite the latter's relatively 
benign nuclear development stage.  CIPPS' Tanaka pointed out 
that Iran -- even under Ahmadinejad -- was willing to accept 
an international monitoring scheme that would have given the 
international community some ability to track Iran's nuclear 
program.  Policies aimed at containing and isolating Iran are 
ineffective.  The United States should, rather, create an 
environment that allows Iran to abandon its nuclear program, 
JCIE's Tanaka asserted. 
 
¶6. (U) S/P Director Gordon has cleared this cable. 
 
SCHIEFFER