Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12453 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### 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
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### 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
ASEC AORC AMGT APER AU AF AS ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN AFIN AR AE AJ ADANA AEMR AG ATRN ADPM APECO AGAO AMED AX AM AL ADCO AA AECL AADP ABUD AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ASCH AY APEC AID AORG ASEAN AFSI AFSN AINF AGR AROC AO AMBASSADOR AFFAIRS ASIG ABLD ASUP AND ARM ARF AQ ATFN AC ACOA AORL ADM AUC AGMT ACABQ ASEX AFU ALOW AZ APCS AVERY ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AER AN AIT AMG AGRICULTURE AMCHAMS ACS
BR BA BD BL BO BF BU BILAT BEXP BRUSSELS BK BN BM BT BY BX BTIO BIDEN BG BE BP BBSR BC BTIU BWC BB BH BMGT
CH CY CA CU CS CO CVIS CPAS CMGT CE COUNTER CASC COUNTRY CJAN COUNTERTERRORISM CG CI CD CIDA CJUS CDG CBSA CEUDA CR CM CLMT CAC CBW CODEL COPUOS CWC CIC CW CBE CHR CFED CT CONS CIA CTM CDC CVR CF CLINTON CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CACS CAN CONDOLEEZZA CB CSW CITT CARSON CNARC CACM CDB CARICOM COM CROS CAPC CTR CV CKGR CBC CL CICTE CIS
DR DHS DA DJ DEA DPRK DEPT DOMESTIC DEAX DOE DS DAO DCM DO DE DK DEFENSE DTRA DISENGAGEMENT DOD
ECON EFIN ELAB ETRD EIND EC EINV EAGR ENRG ETTC EAID EPET ELTN EWWT EAIR EFIS EMIN EG EU ER EUN EPA ENVI EXTERNAL ECPS ENGR ETRC ECIN EN EI ELN ET EINT ETRDEINVTINTCS ES ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EZ ETRO EDU ETRN EFTA EAIG EK EUREM EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS ENVR ELECTIONS EAP ENIV ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECA ECUN EINDETRD EUR EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN ECIP ENERG ENNP EFINECONCS EFIM ENGY EAIDS EINVEFIN EINVETC EUMEM ETRA ETC ERNG ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH ECINECONCS EINVECONSENVCSJA EXIM ERD EEPET
FR FREEDOM FTA FJ FARC FI FTAA FAC FBI FOREIGN FOI FDA FM FAO FAS FINR FOR FINANCE FMLN FO FISO
GM GV GOI GOV GL GAERC GH GT GG GA GY GR GF GCC GE GZ GTIP GERARD GLOBAL GANGS GAZA GTMO
HA HR HUMAN HO HK HU HILLARY HUMOR HI HSTC HURI HYMPSK HEBRON
IR IS IZ IAEA IO IAHRC ID IC IT IRAQI IWC IN IL ISLAMISTS IV ICAO INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR ICRC INTERPOL IQ IBET IMO INR ITRA INTERNAL ICJ ICTY IRS ILO INRA INRO ISRAELI IEA INRB ITALY ITU IBRD IIP ILC INTELSAT IZPREL IMF INMARSAT IRAJ IDA ICTR IA IGAD IF IDP ITF ISRAEL IEFIN IRC IACI
JA JUS JO JP JOSEPH JM JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KN KCRM KOMC KNNPMNUC KIPR KPAL KWBG KSCA KFRD KNNP KUNR KTIP KWMN KSTC KFLU KOLY KISL KPAO KMDR KJUS KSTH KDEM KCOR KIRF KAWC KU KTFN KWAC KNPP KERG KSEO KACT KHLS KZ KGHG KTIA KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KE KPKO KCIP KDRG KVPR KV KIDE KICC KPRP KBIO KSUM KGIT KCFE KG KBTS KFLO KMPI KS KGIC KPAI KHSA KTLA KSEP KTEX KFSC KOCI KHDP KPLS KTDB KHIV KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KMRS KOM KSAF KRVC KR KMOC KNAR KIRC KBCT KSPR KFIN KBTR KJUST KNEI KAWK KGCC KMCA KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KVRP KCOM KO KLIG KAID KVIR KNSD KHUM KSEC KRAD KPRV KCMR KPWR KCHG KIFR KCFC KICA KPIN KSCI KESS KDEV KTBT KCRS KCGC KOMS KRIM KTER KREC KPOA KWWMN KRGY KPAK KWNM KMIG KDDG KRFD KWMM KWMNCS KX KRCM KPAONZ KNUC KDEMAF KNUP
LY LE LO LG LH LI LTTE LAB LOG LA LT LU LABOR
MARR MOPS MASS MCAP MTCRE MNUC MIL MX MEDIA MO MPOS MU ML MA MP MY MERCOSUR MG MD MW MK MAS MEETINGS MR MT MI MOPPS MASC MTS MLS MILI MAR MTRE MEPN MAPP MTCR MEPI MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MASSMNUC MEPP MCC MZ MILITARY MDC MRCRE MC MV MIK MUCN
NATO NL NZ NPT NI NAFTA NU NDP NIPP NP NPA NG NRR NO NSC NEW NE NH NR NA NS NSF NZUS NATIONAL NSG NC NT NAR NK NGO NV NSFO NSSP NASA NW NPG NORAD NATOPREL
OTRA OAS OPRC OIIP OVIP OREP OPDC OEXC OSCE OFFICIALS OMIG ODIP OFDP OECD OPIC OBSP OPCW OFDA OTR OSAC OSCI ON OCII OES OVP OIC OPAD OIE OHUM OCS
PREL PGOV PK PHUM PINS PARM PA PTER PINR PREF PHSA PBTS PBIO PO POL PE PARMS PM PROG PL PAK POLITICS PORG PTBS PNAT PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PROP PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PAO PG PY PTERE PGOF PALESTINIAN PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PREFA PGOVE PINF PHUMPGOV PNG PMIL PGOC PFOR PCUL PLN PSA PGIV POLINT PAS POGOV PHUMPREL PHUMBA PEL PGGV PNR PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PRAM PHUS PDEM PECON PF POV PROV PRL PREO PAHO PHUH PSI PINL PU PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RS RU REACTION REPORT REGION RIGHTS RO RW RCMP RF RM RFE RSP RP RICE ROBERT ROOD RELATIONS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL RSO
SU SNAR SO SOCI SW SENV SMIG SCUL SP SZ SENVKGHG SR SY SA SYRIA SF SI SC SWE SARS STEINBERG SN SG SIPRS ST SEVN SL SPCE SNARIZ SSA SNARCS SYR SK SPCVIS SHUM SIPDIS SHI SH SOFA SEN SNARN SAARC SAN SANC SCRS
TRGY TBIO TU TF TERRORISM TI TSPL TPHY TH TIP TSPA TC TO TW TX TZ TNGD TT TL TV TFIN TS TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TK TR THPY TP TAGS
UNGA UN UK US UNC UNSC USUN UG UP UY USEU UNESCO USPS USTR UZ UNHRC UNO UNMIK UNAUS UNHCR UNCHR USAID UNVIE UAE USOAS UNFICYP UV UNEP UNODC UNCHS UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNDC UNCHC UNDP UNCND USNC UNPUOS UNICEF UNCSD UE
VT VE VTPREL VM VZ VI VTIZ VAT VN VC VTEG
WS WTO WTRO WTRQ WI WZ WHO WFP WBG WITH WWARD WHA WB WIPO WA WMO WMD WHTI WEU
XA XF XM XL XW XV XR XB XU XY XH XG XE XK XX XD XI XS XT XTAG XQ XZ XC
YE YM YI YMCS
ZI ZO ZU ZEALAND ZK ZR ZF ZP ZN ZA ZB ZOELLICK ZL ZJ ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06TOKYO3105, METI'S KITAMURA PROMOTES ASIA FTA AS DEFENSE

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. #06TOKYO3105.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06TOKYO3105 | 2006-06-06 08:08 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Tokyo

`

    VZCZCXRO8918
    PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
    DE RUEHKO #3105/01 1570818
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 060818Z JUN 06
    FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2904
    INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
    RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2652
    RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1669
    RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 8040
    RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8825
    RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0893
    RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6584
    RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9203
    RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9814
    RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7736

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 003105

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    USTR FOR AUSTR CUTLER; BEEMAN
    NSC FOR COLLINS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
    TAGS: ECON ETRD ASEAN APEC CH KS AS IN NZ JA
    SUBJECT: METI'S KITAMURA PROMOTES ASIA FTA AS DEFENSE
    AGAINST CHINA'S INFLUENCE ON ASEAN

    TOKYO 00003105  001.2 OF 002

    Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b/d).

    ¶1.  (C) Summary:  METI Minister Nikai's proposal for an Asian
    FTA was an alternative to an "aggressive" Chinese push for an
    ASEAN   3 FTA, METI Trade policy DG Toshiaki Kitamura told
    visiting EAP/PDAS Kathleen Stephens on May 29.   The Chinese
    plan, which will be recommended by an ASEAN   3 expert group
    soon, would be objectionable because it would increase
    China's influence over ASEAN and would set a poor standard by
    covering only trade in goods.  Therefore, the Nikai idea
    expanded the proposed FTA to include India, Australia and New
    Zealand and to cover services, IPR and investment.  While
    Japan, and METI in particular, remained committed to
    strengthening APEC, APEC could not serve as an effective
    alternative to the Chinese proposal because it was not
    realistic to talk about an APEC FTA for decades, Kitamura
    said.   Nevertheless, he proposed the need to agree on a
    roadmap to strengthen APEC by the ministerial to be held in
    Tokyo in 2010.  Stephens said that the U.S. would be
    concerned with a pan-Asian organization that could undermine
    trans-Pacific ties and that the U.S. approach to the region
    emphasized APEC, ARF and robust bilateral FTAs, which were
    the most practical.  Both agreed to continued discussions on
    East Asian economic architecture.

    ¶2.  (C) On related issues, Kitamura said the lack of U.S.
    cabinet-level participation in ASEAN meetings in recent
    years, the change of USTR at a critical junction in the Doha
    round, and the hold placed on Ambassador Schwab's nomination
    created a negative impact in the Region.  Stephens stressed
    that Secretary Rice was looking forward to participation in
    the ASEAN ministerial and that we expected Ambassador
    Schwab's confirmation would move forward.  Stephens also
    stressed the need to resolve the beef issue.  End Summary.

    ¶3.  (C) Stephens opened by noting that the issue of East
    Asian economic architecture was being closely studied in
    Washington.  While the process was not complete, there were
    several areas of clear agreement:  APEC was extremely
    important and needed to be more outcome oriented; ties with
    ASEAN should be strengthened; robust FTAs should be pursued
    in the region, and it was more practical to do this on a
    bilateral basis; and, we should talk to allies about how
    these elements and others fit together.  In this context, the
    U.S. was surprised by Nikai's proposal for an Asian FTA.

    ¶4.  (C) Kitamura explained that ASEAN, as a group, was
    becoming the "hub" of a system of FTAs.  They had concluded
    one with China and the Korea agreement will take effect in
    the middle of the year.  Japan and ASEAN had agreed to
    conclude their FTA by March 2007.  ASEAN was also negotiating
    FTAs with India and Australia and New Zealand and was aiming
    to finish those in 2007.  It was only logical that once these
    FTAs were finished that they form the basis for an Asia wide
    FTA.

    ¶5.  (C) As if to address the "surprise" issue, Kitamura noted
    that since January of 2002 PM Koizumi had been supportive of
    an East Asian Community.  What prompted Nikai to make his
    proposal now, however, was that an ASEAN   3 expert committee
    would recommend to the ASEAN   3 summit in August that an
    ASEAN   3 FTA that covered trade in goods only be negotiated
    soon.  This was the latest in an "aggressive" push by China
    for such an FTA. Japan had initially opposed creation of the
    expert group as premature, but consented when it was
    isolated.  A Chinese scholar who was controlled by the
    government chaired the group, but the GOJ did not control
    Japanese participants.  If there were no other alternative on
    the horizon, the "Chinese" proposal would be accepted.  If
    such an FTA were concluded, it would increase Chinese
    influence in ASEAN while at the same time providing an FTA
    without several protections important to Japanese business.
    Therefore Nikai felt he had to act quickly and without
    consultation.  The proposal would fix the Chinese plan by
    adding India, New Zealand and Australia and expanding the
    scope to cover IPR, investment and trade in services.
    Kitamura admitted that so far the plan was "just a concept by
    METI".   Kitamura understood that Ambassador Schwab had said
    in Paris the previous week that the U.S. was "not excited"

    TOKYO 00003105  002.2 OF 002

    about the Nikai plan.  However, which would the U.S. rather
    have, the Nikai plan or the Chinese, Kitamura asked.

    ¶6.  (C) Turning to APEC, Kitamura said METI was committed to
    APEC, which was "our brainchild".  However, an APEC wide FTA
    was decades away so the idea would not be enough to trump the
    Chinese proposal.  However, at the APEC Trade Ministerial in
    Hanoi that week, Nikai would try to talk to the U.S.,
    Australia and New Zealand about strengthening APEC.  Little
    could be expected from the Hanoi and Lima APEC summits.  What
    Japan would like is a road map of how to strengthen APEC by
    the time of the Tokyo summit in 2010.  Japan's commitment to
    APEC was demonstrated by the offer to host the summit, which
    would be in a critical year for APEC, the year in which the
    trade liberalization ideals for developed countries in the
    Bogor declaration were supposed to be fulfilled.  As an
    aside, Kitamura said that the change in USTR, the hold put on
    Ambassador Schwab, and the lack of U.S. cabinet participation
    in APEC meetings in recent years created a bad impression in
    the region.

    ¶7.  (C) In response, Stephens said that, while Japan and the
    U.S. had the same objectives, they had different approaches.
    Although the development of pan-Asian organizations was
    natural, the effect of such proposals on trans-Pacific
    relations needed to be considered.  In terms of FTAs, it was
    better to concentrate on strong bilateral FTAs than to try to
    include too many countries and end up with weak agreements.
    The U.S. commitment to the region was shown in the robust
    FTAs it was pursuing.  While the Chinese favored FTA would be
    a concern to the U.S., Nikai's plan is perhaps not he best
    alternative.  We need to consult. The U.S. is interested in
    strengthening APEC and the Australians are committed to doing
    this in the summit they will host in 2007.  We would like to
    hear more about the roadmap and we need to develop concrete
    ideas for APEC, Stephens said.  Kitamura and Stephens agreed
    on the need for Japan and the U.S. to continue to consult on
    East Asian economic architecture.

    ¶8.  (U) PDAS Stephens has cleared this cable.
    SCHIEFFER

`