US embassy cable - 05TOKYO1292

C O N F I D E N T I A L TOKYO 001292 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2030 
TAGS: PREL, CH, KN, JA, ASEAN 
SUBJECT: S/P DIRECTOR KRASNER'S MEETING WITH VICE FOREIGN 
MINISTER YACHI 
 
 
Classified By: Political Section Deputy Carol Reynolds.  Reasons:1.4(b/ 
d). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  During a March 2 meeting with visiting S/P 
Director Stephen D. Krasner, VFM Yachi said Japan supported 
the inclusion of Australia, New Zealand and India in the East 
Asia Summit and explained limitations to support from 
individual East Asian countries for greater U.S. involvement 
in that forum.  He underscored the importance of the 
U.S.-Japan alliance in developing an appropriate approach to 
an emerging China and in influencing China to play a 
productive role vis-a-vis North Korea.  End Summary. 
 
East Asia Summit 
---------------- 
 
2.  (C)  In a March 2 meeting, visiting S/P Director Stephen 
D. Krasner and S/P Member Evan Feigenbaum, accompanied by 
POLMIN, solicited Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi's views 
on a wide range of issues.  On the East Asia Summit, proposed 
for December this year, VFM Yachi relayed Japan's desire to 
see Australia, New Zealand and India included.  He 
acknowledged, however, that some East Asian nations, 
including China and Malaysia, just want the ASEAN Plus 3 to 
participate.  While some ASEAN countries might view the 
United States as balancing their Chinese neighbor, support 
for U.S. involvement was not all that widespread.  VFM Yachi 
explained that Japan wants the summit to focus on economic 
and possibly cultural issues rather than security questions. 
VFM Yachi and Krasner reviewed the stances of various ASEAN 
countries on the issue of participation.  Some ASEAN 
countries, like Singapore and to a lesser extent Indonesia 
and possibly Thailand, might be more sympathetic to more 
active U.S. involvement.  Nonetheless, this sympathy would 
not translate into support for anything more than "part 
membership" for the United States this year, he suggested. 
 
China 
----- 
 
3.  (C)  Asked for his views on a productive approach to 
dealing with the emergence of China, VFM Yachi said that with 
significant markers like the Beijing Olympics and Shanghai 
Expo, China was at a crossroads, which would determine 
whether it developed into a responsible, stable power or an 
expansionist one.  Whereas Japan in the 1960s and 1970s 
depended on U.S. security guarantees while it pursued 
economic development, China is currently focusing on economic 
development and is building up its military.  China, however, 
faces enormous challenges managing its growth.  It is 
important to maintain a strong U.S.-Japan alliance as China 
faces these challenges, VFM Yachi underscored.  While the 
United States is an indispensable ally to Japan and is the 
world's only superpower, the United States cannot do 
everything alone.  Japan, he said, can be a valuable ally to 
the United States in the Pacific. 
 
North Korea 
----------- 
 
4.  (C)  Addressing the effect of the U.S.-Japan relationship 
on China's handling of North Korea, VFM Yachi stated that the 
Chinese are quite frustrated by the North Korean issue.  The 
United States plays a key role in encouraging China to be 
more productive in its handling of North Korea.  China is 
only likely to heed Japan to the extent that it is speaking 
in unison with the United States. 
 
5.  (U)  S/P Director Krasner cleared this message. 
MICHALAK