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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002274 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 09/29/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Government-ruling coalition panel set up, secretaries general 
included as members (Yomiuri) 
 
(2) Editorial: Gov't must face up to reality for Futenma relocation 
(Sankei) 
 
(3) Okinawa's Futenma relocation site environmental assessment body 
demands re-investigation, re-assessment, including scrapping project 
(Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(4) PM Hatoyama torn between DPJ's campaign pledge, Japan-U.S. 
agreement: No solution in sight for Futenma relocation; time running 
out (Mainichi) 
 
(5) Hatoyama diplomacy; No solution in sight for U.S. force 
relocation (Yomiuri) 
 
(6) Japanese, Chinese, South Korea foreign ministers agree to 
cooperate in promoting concept of East Asian Community but have 
different motives (Nikkei) 
 
(7) U.S. reacts strongly to East Asian community concept, suspects 
it is being excluded (Sankei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Government-ruling coalition panel set up, secretaries general 
included as members 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
September 29, 2009 
 
A government-ruling coalition panel comprising the leaders and 
secretaries general of the three ruling parties was hastily set up 
yesterday. Reportedly the establishment of the panel was the 
government's idea. It comprises Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama 
(president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)), National 
Strategy Minister Naoto Kan (deputy prime minister), Consumer 
Affairs Minister Mizuho Fukushima (chairperson of the Social 
Democratic Party (SDP)), Financial Affairs Minister Shizuka Kamei 
(leader of the People's New Party (PNP)), and the secretaries 
general of the three parties, including DPJ Secretary General Ichiro 
Ozawa. The panel's first meeting was held at the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence (Kantei) ahead of a meeting of the cabinet 
committee on basic policies. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano 
also attended the first meeting. 
 
At the meeting, Hirano explained the compilation of a budget for 
fiscal 2010 after Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's report on his 
visit to the United States. Kamei said, "It is good to eliminate 
wasteful spending, but we should compile an expansionist budget." 
Fukushima stressed the importance of the employment issue. Hirano 
stated at a press briefing yesterday, "We will hold a meeting at any 
time," revealing that meetings will be held as needed. 
 
The establishment of the panel was decided all of sudden. According 
to informed sources, the idea emerged on Sept. 27. The government 
told the SDP and the PNP about the panel around noon on Sept. 28. 
The secretaries general of the two parties were unavailable for the 
first meeting. Therefore, SDP Policy Research Council Deputy 
 
TOKYO 00002274  002 OF 009 
 
 
Chairman Masamichi Kondo and PNP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman 
Mikio Shimoji attended the session on behalf of their secretaries 
general. Only Ozawa took part as secretary general. 
 
There has been concern about the creation of the panel because the 
consultations between the government and ruling parties under the 
Hosokawa coalition administration brought about a two-tire structure 
in which Ozawa took the initiative in the ruling camp. Both Hatoyama 
and Ozawa joined the Hosokawa coalition government. However, 
Hatoyama told the press corps last night, "It is not good that the 
government does not at all convey its views to the ruling parties." 
 
In order to avoid being blindsided by the DPJ, which has more than 
300 seats in the House of Representatives, both the SDP and the PNP 
had called for a consultative body. Some DPJ members have welcomed 
the panel, with one member saying, "It is better to hear our 
coalition partners' views in the panel rather than from outside the 
government." 
 
Meanwhile, there is also the view the panel was established for 
Ozawa. That would mean Hatoyama determined he would find it 
difficult to steer his administration unless he put in place a forum 
for the views of Ozawa, who controls party and Diet affairs. Prior 
to the formation of the panel, Hirano visited Ozawa to seek his 
concurrence. This fact also supports this view. Some in the DPJ are 
concerned that Fukushima and Kamei, who rely on relations with 
Ozawa, might object to Hatoyama's policy, although some other DPJ 
members take the view that it is good to have Ozawa join the panel. 
 
(2) Editorial: Gov't must face up to reality for Futenma relocation 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 28, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa made his first official visit to 
Okinawa Prefecture over the Hatoyama government's advocacy of moving 
the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station there out of the 
prefecture. 
 
Kitazawa met with Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima. During the meeting, 
Nakaima raised a question about the feasibility of relocating 
Futenma airfield outside Okinawa Prefecture. Local officials from 
Okinawa Prefecture's base-hosting municipalities involved in the 
Futenma relocation voiced concerns, wondering if a solution to the 
Futenma issue would be delayed as a result of reviewing the Futenma 
relocation plan. 
 
Prime Minister Hatoyama underscored his position during his recent 
visit to the United States, saying, "I won't change our basic policy 
(of moving Futenma airfield out of Okinawa Prefecture)." Foreign 
Minister Katsuya Okada clarified that he would look into past 
circumstances. Both Hatoyama and Okada intend to review the 
currently planned relocation of Futenma airfield to a coastal area 
of Camp Schwab in the island prefecture's northern coastal city of 
Nago. 
 
However, this review could not only undermine the bilateral alliance 
between Japan and the United States but could also put a settlement 
of the Futenma issue on hold. 
 
Japan and the United States reached an intergovernmental agreement 
on the Futenma relocation 13 years ago. The Japanese and U.S. 
 
TOKYO 00002274  003 OF 009 
 
 
governments reviewed this and concurred again three years ago. 
Nevertheless, the Futenma relocation issue remains stagnant. 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party government failed to make sufficient 
efforts to implement the intergovernmental agreement. However, the 
Democratic Party of Japan government, even though it is now in 
office, must not override it without careful consideration. 
 
Nakaima said (in his meeting with Kitazawa): "Relocating Futenma 
airfield outside Okinawa Prefecture or outside Japan would be the 
best possible option, but it wouldn't be easy to do so given past 
circumstances. If Nago City accepts the Futenma relocation, then we 
will accept the relocation even though it's within the prefecture." 
The DPJ government should take this view seriously. 
 
Kitazawa also said, "It would be difficult to translate the ideal 
into reality within the limited time frame." As seen from this 
remark, Kitazawa also deems it difficult to relocate Futenma 
airfield outside Okinawa Prefecture. Kitazawa will meet with 
Hatoyama and Okada shortly to report on his Okinawa visit. On that 
occasion as well, we hope that Kitazawa will adhere to his stance of 
maintaining and strengthening Japan's bilateral security 
arrangements and alliance with the United States. U.S. Secretary of 
Defense Gates is set to visit Japan in late October, so the 
government should rush to complete its internal coordination. 
 
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry is considering the option of 
deploying Ground Self-Defense Force troops to Japan's westernmost 
island of Yonaguni-jima and other outlying islands. However, 
Kitazawa expressed a cautious view on this option. 
 
Kitazawa explained that troop deployment to these outlying islands 
would "unnecessarily alarm Japan's neighbors." This explanation is 
totally incomprehensible. Given such factors as the increasing 
activity of China's navy, we must face the fact that Japan is 
defenseless there. 
 
The defense minister is responsible for national defense. We urge 
him to rethink the situation. 
 
(3) Okinawa's Futenma relocation site environmental assessment body 
demands re-investigation, re-assessment, including scrapping 
project 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 1) (Full) 
September 29, 2009 
 
Okinawa's Environmental Impact Assessment Council (chaired by 
University of the Ryukyus Professor Emeritus Seiko Tsukayama) held a 
meeting in Ginowan City on September 28 to draft its recommendations 
to the governor on the environmental impact assessment preparatory 
documents for the construction of the replacement facility for 
Futenma Air Station. The Council recommended a re-investigation of 
dugongs over several years and demanded that projections and 
assessments be made anew in the actual environmental assessment, 
deeming the projections and assessments in the preparatory documents 
to be insufficient. It also demanded that the discontinuation of the 
construction project be considered as one option if the impact on 
the environment cannot be fully reduced, as well as a 
reconsideration of the location of the facility in order to preserve 
coral. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002274  004 OF 009 
 
 
Based on the Council's recommendations, the governor will submit his 
opinion to the Okinawa Defense Bureau by October 13. Since this will 
be governor's first official comments to be submitted to the 
Hatoyama administration, there is great interest in how far the 
Council's recommendations will be reflected in the governor's 
opinion. 
 
While the preparatory documents claim that the construction project 
will have "insignificant overall" impact on the environment, the 
Council asserted that "the impact is expected to be very 
significant." It also pointed out that the governor's previous 
opinion on the document on the environmental assessment methodology 
was inadequate. 
 
The Council also noted that no measures for environmental 
conservation relating to aircraft flying over residential areas are 
included in the preparatory documents and demanded that such 
measures, including the signing of a facility-use agreement banning 
flight over residential areas, be considered. It also demanded 
projections on the impact of flights between military bases used for 
exercises. 
 
The Council also demanded the listing of specific models of aircraft 
to be used, having in mind the planned deployment of Osprey 
transports in Futenma. 
 
Additional helipads and other new functions of the replacement 
facility that were revealed by the preparatory documents have been 
criticized for deliberate withholding of information, so the Council 
demanded that no new functions should be added from now on. Although 
there had been repeated demands during the Council's deliberation 
for an explanation on how the enormous amount of materials to be 
used for land reclamation are to be procured, the recommendation did 
not go into details on this issue. 
 
Environmental assessment for land reclamation is covered by the law 
on environmental assessment. The Council ends its deliberations with 
this meeting. 
 
(4) PM Hatoyama torn between DPJ's campaign pledge, Japan-U.S. 
agreement: No solution in sight for Futenma relocation; time running 
out 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 27, 2009 
 
Teruhisa Mimori, Nakae Ueno, Yasushi Sengoku 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama gave a news conference in Pittsburgh 
at the end of his first visit to the U.S. on September 25 (morning 
of September 26, Japan time). With regard to reviewing the plan for 
the relocation of the Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, 
Okinawa), he indicated that "there is no time to lose" and that a 
solution must be found promptly. U.S. President Barack Obama will be 
visiting Japan in November. Whether a solution can be found will be 
a litmus test for Hatoyama diplomacy, which aims to achieve a "close 
and equal Japan-U.S. relationship." If he stands by the Democratic 
Party of Japan's (DPJ) campaign pledge to relocate Futenma out of 
Okinawa, there is concern that relocation will be delayed 
indefinitely. The new administration will be facing some tough 
decisions. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002274  005 OF 009 
 
 
Hatoyama stressed at the news conference that he gave priority to 
building a relationship of trust with the President over discussing 
pending issues, including Futenma relocation and the revision of the 
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), during his U.S. trip. 
 
In other words, these are difficult issues that might undermine the 
relationship of trust between the two countries. With regard to 
Futenma in particular, there is a serious contradiction between the 
U.S. position of pressing for the implementation of the U.S. Forces 
Japan (USFJ) realignment plans agreed upon by the two governments 
and the Prime Minister's pledge before the House of Representatives 
election to relocate the base out of Okinawa. Although Hatoyama 
asserts that "it is possible to find a mutually-beneficial solution 
in the process of building trust," this issue has come to an impasse 
requiring concessions from one side or the other for a solution. 
 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, who stated at his first news 
conference after taking office that "(relocation) out of Okinawa or 
out of Japan would be quite difficult" - which was then taken as 
hinting at going back on the DPJ's pledge - further said on 
September 26 after visiting the relevant sites in Okinawa that this 
would be "extremely difficult." 
 
October 13 will be the deadline for Okinawa's governor to comment on 
the environmental assessment report of the Ministry of Defense based 
on the existing relocation plan to relocate Futenma to Camp Schwab 
(in Henoko, Nago City). After this date, the government will have to 
make a decision on whether it will proceed with the plan. 
 
If the plan is changed to make way for relocation outside Okinawa, 
Hatoyama will have to seek President Obama's understanding when he 
comes in November. It will take tremendous time and effort to select 
a new relocation site, seek the local residents' consent, and 
implement the plan. During his U.S. visit, Hatoyama indicated that, 
"We will have to make a decision before the end of this year," 
hinting at deferring the issue. On September 25, however, he changed 
his tack and said, "Considering the Okinawan people's sentiments, 
there is no time to lose." The Prime Minister is also wavering. 
 
The Futenma base, which sits right in the middle of a residential 
area, is said to be "the most dangerous military base in the world." 
The birth of a DPJ administration championing relocation out of 
Okinawa has raised the hopes of the people, especially the 
anti-military base groups, of realizing their long-cherished dream 
of moving this base out of the prefecture. On the other hand, it is 
feared that a review of the current relocation plan may further 
delay the return of the base. Governor Hirokazu Nakaima expressed 
this concern to Kitazawa. Feelings are mixed in Okinawa, since it 
has been at the mercy of the condition of relocation within the 
prefecture being set for the return of Futenma after the two 
governments reached agreement in 1996. 
 
Kiyoko Tokashiki (Social Democratic Party), chair of the Okinawa 
Prefectural Assembly's special committee on U.S. military base 
affairs, pressed Kitazawa to realize relocation out of Okinawa at 
their meeting on September 25. 
 
However, at a meeting right before that, the governor asked 
Kitazawa: "Relocation out of Okinawa or out of Japan is best. But is 
that realistic? From our experience in this matter, it will not be 
easy," expressing his doubts about the DPJ's position. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002274  006 OF 009 
 
 
Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro also demanded revisions to the 
current plan on the premise of accepting this plan on September 26. 
A senior Okinawa official explained: "Since 1996, we have been told 
by the government that Henoko is the only option, so we accepted it 
reluctantly. We cannot possibly agree to relocation out of the 
prefecture without an alternative relocation site and a timetable." 
He conveyed his apprehension at the prospect of the return of 
Futenma being delayed under the slogan of relocation out of 
Okinawa. 
 
(5) Hatoyama diplomacy; No solution in sight for U.S. force 
relocation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
September 29, 2009 
 
A strange paradigm has emerged among Tokyo, Washington, and Okinawa. 
Defense Minister Yoshimi Kitazawa, who toured U.S. Camp Schwab and 
the city of Nago where it is located on Sept. 26, must have sensed 
it. 
 
During his stay in Okinawa starting Sept. 25, Kitazawa met with 
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, the Nago major, and others, in addition 
to the visit to the coastal area of Camp Schwab, which Washington 
and Tokyo agreed to designate as  the relocation site for the U.S. 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan). 
 
Nakaima and others said to Kitazawa that moving the air station out 
of Okinawa or out of Japan would be the best option, but they wonder 
if it would be feasible. As such, they eventually told the defense 
minister that relocation within the prefecture would be inevitable. 
 
Complicated work to reduce the excessive burden on Okinawa falls 
under the realm of diplomatic negotiations between Japan and the 
United States. At the same time, it has become essential to reach a 
consensus among the Japanese government, the U.S. government, and 
local governments in Okinawa. 
 
In the past, local governments used to oppose what was agreed upon 
between the Japanese and U.S. governments. At present, the U.S. 
government and the local governments are generally supportive of 
building a replacement facility within Okinawa, while the Hatoyama 
administration is insisting on moving the air station out of the 
prefecture or out of the country. A solution is nowhere in sight. 
 
Kitazawa expressed his candid opinion at a news conference in Naha 
on the night of Sept. 26, saying, "(The reality) is quite different 
from what I have learned from the documents and blueprints." On the 
night of Sept. 24, the day before his departure for Okinawa, 
Kitazawa received a severe report on the situation in a telephone 
call from Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in the United States who 
indicated that he had in-depth talks with Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton. 
 
The United States, too, wants to implement what was agreed upon with 
Japan. A U.S. government source explained the reason this way: "To 
begin with, the U.S. Marine Corps did not want to give up Futenma 
and was opposed to its relocation. Although the White House and the 
Defense Department have managed to hold back the opponents, they 
have regained momentum thanks to the Japanese government's 
reluctance to relocate the air station to Nago." 
 
 
TOKYO 00002274  007 OF 009 
 
 
The source also quipped: "Is the Hatoyama administration going to 
pull the rug out from under President Obama and Secretary of Defense 
Gates?" 
 
Prime Minister Hatoyama has described the establishment of a 
Yukio-Barack relationship with President Obama as an accomplishment 
gained from his recent visit to the United States. To further deepen 
the relationship of trust, it is important for him to lend an ear to 
the voice of his partner. 
 
At a news conference on Sept. 25, the Prime Minister indicated that 
he will "show his understanding of the thoughts of the people of the 
United States and Okinawa" as well as of the DPJ manifesto that 
pledged to move "in the direction of reexamining" the realignment of 
U.S. forces in Japan. How is he going to fill the gap between the 
two countries? His real ability to build a relationship of trust is 
being tested ahead of President Obama's visit to Japan in November. 
 
(6) Japanese, Chinese, South Korea foreign ministers agree to 
cooperate in promoting concept of East Asian Community but have 
different motives 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 29, 2009 
 
(Nahoko Yamauchi, Shanghai) 
 
With the trilateral foreign ministerial meeting of Japan, China and 
South Korea held on Sept. 28, the Hatoyama administration's Asia 
diplomacy has been set in motion. The foreign ministers agreed to 
cooperate in promoting the concept of an East Asian Community, but 
they have different motives. Although China and South Korea are 
pinning high hopes on the Hatoyama administration because of its 
policy of placing emphasis on Asia, there are numerous of thorny 
pending issues among the three countries. They will soon begin 
maneuvering in pursuit of actual benefits. 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has proposed forming an East Asian 
Community, but the specifics of the concept have yet to be 
disclosed, such as the topics to be discussed and the framework of 
participants. It might be said, though, that Chinese Foreign 
Minister Yang Jiechi and South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade 
Minister Yu Myung-Hwan promised to offer cooperation to Foreign 
Minister Katsuya Okada after he briefed the community concept in 
their meeting on the 28th for the very reason that the specifics of 
the concept have not been revealed yet. 
 
For the Democratic Party of Japan, which criticized the Liberal 
Democratic Party's (LDP) administration as "blindly following the 
U.S.," forming an East Asian Community is a symbolic concept showing 
that its diplomatic policy differs from the LDP's. The concept is 
also intended to supplement the prime minister's assertion of "a 
close and equal Japan-U.S. alliance." 
 
Meanwhile, China appears to be aiming to use the idea to take the 
initiative in East Asia. The country also expects that the East 
Asian community concept will effectively work to apply pressure to 
the U.S. South Korea remains silent probably based on the judgment 
that it would not be wise to object to the idea in the stage of 
discussing an outline. 
 
In promoting the concept of an East Asia Community, the focus of 
 
TOKYO 00002274  008 OF 009 
 
 
attention in discussion is likely to be on: (1) free trade in the 
region; (2) a framework of security; and (3) a common currency in 
the region. However, a clear blueprint has yet to be laid out, with 
details such as when the idea will be realized left undecided. In a 
sense, the lack of specifics has allowed countries to interpret the 
concept according to their own convenience. The Japanese and Chinese 
foreign ministers also held a bilateral meeting on the 28th, during 
which Chinese Foreign Minister Yang said: "This concept goes along 
with the views China has supported and has taken. We would like to 
exchange views with East Asian countries and promote cooperation 
with them in the energy and environment areas." 
 
An atmosphere of rapport was detected in the Japan-China meeting and 
in the Japan-South Korea meeting following the favorable atmosphere 
created during Prime Minister Hatoyama's visit to the U.S. Hatoyama 
has revealed his intention of forgoing visiting Yasukuni Shrine. He 
also pledged in his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao to 
support a 1995 statement by then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama 
(expressing deep regret for Japan's past colonial rule and military 
aggression). As it stands, Hatoyama has made it clear that he will 
not allow historical issues to become a source of trouble. 
 
In the bilateral summit and foreign ministerial meetings between 
Japan and China and between Japan and South Korea, however, no major 
progress was made on numerous of pending issues. 
 
In the meeting on the 28th, the Japanese and Chinese foreign 
ministers failed to find common ground on the issue of the 
development of gas fields in the East China Sea. Regarding the 
food-poisoning cases in Japan triggered by Chinese-made frozen 
dumplings, too, Okada called for China's cooperation in a full 
investigation into the cases, remarking, "The cases have made 
housewives skeptical of the safety of Chinese foods," but he 
received no clear-cut reply from his counterpart, Yang. 
 
Japan and South Korea have not held negotiations on an economic 
partnership agreement (EPA) since November 2004. A way out of the 
impasse is nowhere in sight. Other thorny issues are also pending 
between the two countries, such as suffrage for foreigners and the 
Takeshima (Dokdo) islets dispute. 
 
(7) U.S. reacts strongly to East Asian community concept, suspects 
it is being excluded 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
September 29, 2009 
 
Takashi Arimoto (Washington) 
 
It was learned on September 28 that a senior U.S. government 
official had conveyed to Japan the U.S.'s strong opposition to the 
"East Asian Community" concept in Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's 
speech during general debate at the UN General Assembly on the 
grounds that it excluded the United States. The protest was 
disclosed by someone familiar with Japan-U.S. relations. This shows 
that although the Prime Minister is confident he was able to build a 
relationship of trust with President Barack Obama during his visit 
to the U.S. right after assuming office, concerns about his foreign 
policy have actually been aggravated. 
 
According to the above source, U.S. opposition to and concerns about 
the concept were conveyed to a senior Japanese government official 
 
TOKYO 00002274  009 OF 009 
 
 
by a senior U.S. official immediately after the UN speech on 
September 24. 
 
At his first meeting with President Obama on September 23, while 
Hatoyama emphasized that Japan's Asia policy is untenable without 
the Japan-U.S. alliance, he did not explain the "East Asian 
community" concept. 
 
However, on the next day, he expressed a strong desire to realize 
this concept in his UN speech, stating, "I look forward to an East 
Asian community taking shape as an extension of the accumulated 
cooperation built up step by step among partners who have the 
capacity to work together, starting with fields in which we can 
cooperate-Free Trade Agreements, finance, currency, energy, 
environment, disaster relief and more." 
 
Hatoyama had also discussed the "East Asian community" concept at 
his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao in New York on 
September 21. "Japan and China, while recognizing their differences, 
should overcome differences to build trust," he said. 
 
Hatoyama had said at his news conference after assuming office on 
September 16: "We have no intention to exclude the United States 
(from this concept). I also do not think we can do everything 
without the U.S." However, the U.S. had been wary of the concept, 
and it was not able to verify the Prime Minister's "true intent" at 
the Japan-U.S. summit. It is believed that the U.S. came to have 
greater distrust and stronger concerns because this amounted to not 
being given an explanation. 
 
The U.S. government has been clearly against the concept of an East 
Asian community ever since the Bush administration, because, in the 
words of former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, "this 
notion excludes the U.S. from East Asia." 
 
ROOS