Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 15404 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden 00. Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Jordan Yemen

### Browse latest releases

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

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 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 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05 1986/08 1986/12
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/04 1988/07 1988/08 1988/12
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/11 1994/12
1995/01 1995/04
1996/07 1996/09 1996/11
1997/02 1997/05 1997/06 1997/10 1997/12
1998/05
1999/09
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/04 2001/05 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11 2001/12
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
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 Belfast Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chiang Mai 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 Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guangzhou Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hong Kong 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 Consulate Karachi
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 Mission Geneva 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 Nuevo Laredo 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 Sapporo 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 Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE UN Rome 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 AEMR AMGT AR APECO AU AORC AJ AF AFIN AS AM ABLD AFFAIRS AMB APER AA AG AE ADM ALOW ACOA AID ATRN ADCO AND ADANA APEC ARABL ADPM ANARCHISTS AADP ANET AGAO AMED AY AORG ASEAN ABUD AO AL AGRICULTURE AINF ARF AROC ACABQ APCS AODE AX AMEX AZ ASUP ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASIG ASEX AER AVERY ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL AN AIT AGMT ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC AFGHANISTAN ACAO
BR BB BG BEXP BY BA BRUSSELS BU BD BK BL BM BH BO BE BTIO BILAT BP BMGT BIDEN BX BC BBG BF BBSR BT BWC BEXPC BN BTIU
CPAS CA CASC CS CBW CIDA CO CODEL CI CROS CU CH CWC CMGT CVIS CDG CG CF CHIEF CJAN CBSA CE CY CD CT CM CONS CDC CR CW CN COUNTRY CONDOLEEZZA CZ CICTE CYPRUS CARICOM CBE COM COE CACS CIVS CTR CAPC COUNTER CFED CARSON COPUOS CV CKGR CHR CVR CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE CB CSW CIC CITT CARIB CAFTA CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CONSULAR CLMT CBC CIA CNARC CIS CEUDA CHINA CAC CL
DR DJ DHS DAO DCM DO DEFENSE DA DOMESTIC DK DOD DE DOT DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS DEAX
ECON ETTC EFIS ETRD EC EMIN EAGR EAID EU EFIN EUN ECIN EG EWWT EINV ENRG ELAB EPET EN EAIR EUMEM ECPS ELTN EIND EZ EI ER ET EINT ECONOMIC ENIV EFTA ES ERNG ECONOMY ELECTIONS EXIM ENERG ECIP EREL EK EDEV ECOSOC EPA ENGR ETRC ENVI EXTERNAL ELN EAIDS EINVEFIN EUREM ECA EDU EFINECONCS ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETC ENVR EAP EINN EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EFIM EINVETC ECONCS ETRA ESA EAIG EUR EUC ERD ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ESENV ENNP ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN
FI FR FAS FOREIGN FTAA FREEDOM FBI FINANCE FAO FAA FJ FTA FARC FAC FM FDA FINR FOR FOI FO FMLN FISO
GM GG GERARD GT GA GR GTIP GLOBAL GCC GV GL GOV GOI GF GH GANGS GE GTMO GAERC GZ GAZA GY GUILLERMO GASPAR
HR HO HA HYMPSK HK HUMAN HURI HU HILLARY HI HUM HSTC HEBRON HUMOR
IZ IN IAEA IS IMO ILO IR IC IT ITU IV IMF IBRD IWC IRAQI ID IDB ISRAELI ITALY ITPGOV ITALIAN ISCON ICRC ICAO IFAD IPR IRAQ INMARSAT INTERNAL ITRA IQ ICJ INDO IO IRS IIP ILC IEFIN ICTY IA INTERPOL IEA INR INRB IAHRC ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IL IACI IDA ISLAMISTS IGAD ITF INRA INRO IBET INTELSAT IDP ICTR IRC
JA JO JM JP JUS JOHN JOSEPH JAMES JOHNNIE JML JIMENEZ
KOMC KNNP KFLO KDEM KSUM KIPR KFLU KPAO KE KCRM KJUS KAWC KZ KSCA KDRG KCOR KGHG KPAL KTIP KMCA KCRS KPKO KOLY KRVC KVPR KG KWBG KMDR KTER KSPR KV KTFN KWMN KFRD KSTH KS KN KISL KGIC KSEP KFIN KTEX KTIA KUNR KCMR KMOC KCIP KTDB KBIO KU KIRF KSTC KICC KIRC KIDE KNUC KSEO KCFE KPWR KSAF KR KNUP KCSY KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KHLS KOCI KMPI KCRIM KPAONZ KNAR KPRP KHDP KNPP KTBT KMCC KPRV KHIV KTRD KTAO KHSA KWAC KJUST KMRS KCRCM KSCI KGIT KBCT KENV KACT KVRP KAWK KBTS KFSC KVIR KO KMFO KNNPMNUC KERG KPIR KCOM KAID KTLA KPOA KX KNDP KRCM KCFC KNEI KCHG KPLS KREL KFTFN KTFM KLIG KDEMAF KRAD KBTR KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KRGY KREC KIFR KSAC KWMNCS KPAK KOMS KFPC KRIM KDDG KCGC KPAI KID KMIG KNSD KWMM
LY LE LABOR LTTE LU LO LA LI LG LH LAB LT LOG
MARR MX MASS MOPS MNUC MCAP MTCRE MRCRE MTRE MASC MY MK MAS MO MCC MCA MIL MTCR MEPP MG ML MAPP MU MAR MZ MD MP MR MA MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MW MT MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MARAD MDC MASSMNUC MUCN MEDIA MI MQADHAFI MPOS MPS MC
NZ NATO NI NO NU NG NL NPT NS NP NA NATIONAL NC NSF NDP NIPP NSSP NR NATOIRAQ NE NGO NAS NZUS NH NSG NAFTA NEW NRR NT NASA NAR NK NOVO NATOPREL NEA NSC NV NPA NSFO NW NORAD NPG
OTRA OECD OVIP OREP OPRC ODC OIIP OPDC OAS OSCE OPIC OMS OEXC OPCW OSCI OPAD ODIP OFDP OIE OFFICIALS OSHA OVIPPRELUNGANU OHUM OTR OMIG OSAC OBSP OFDA OVP ON OCII OES OCS OIC
PGOV PREL PARM PINR PHUM PM PREF PTER PK PINS PBIO PHSA PE PBTS PL POL PAK POV POLITICS POLICY PERL PA PCI PNAT PAS PALESTINIAN PPA PROP PERM PETR PREZ PO PRELPK PAIGH PROG POLITICAL PJUS PMIL PDOV PTE PAO PARMS PG PRAM PREO PGOF PTERE PSI PINO PRGOV PORG PP PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PDEM PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PNG PTBS PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PY PLN PHUH PEDRO PF PHUS PETER PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PEL PINL PBT PINF PRL PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PROV
QA
RS RP RU RW RFE RCMP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RM RICE RO RELAM ROOD REGION RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RUPREL REMON RPEL REACTION REPORT RSO
SZ SENV SOCI SNAR SY SO SP SU SI SMIG SYR SA SCUL SW SR SYRIA SNARM SPECIALIST SF SEN SN SC SMIL SCRM SENVSXE SARS SL SAARC STEINBERG SWE SCRS SG SNARIZ SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SEVN SHUM SK SH SNARCS SPCE SNARN SIPRS
TRGY TBIO TSPA TU TPHY TI TX TH TIP TSPL TNGD TS TW TP TZ TN TC TR TF TT TK TRAD TD TL TV TWI TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TSPAM TRT TINT TFIN TAGS TBID THPY
UK UNSC UNGA UN US UZ USEU UG UP UNAUS UNMIK USTR UR UY UA UNHRC USPS UNSCR UNESCO UNFICYP USAID UV UNMIC UNCHR USUN UNDP UNHCR USGS USOAS USNC UNEP UE UNVIE UAE UNO UNODC UNCHS UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS UNDC UNICEF UNCHC UNCSD UNFCYP UNIDROIT UNCND
VE VM VT VZ VTEG VTIZ VISIT VTPREL VENZ VAT VC VI VN
WHTI WIPO WTRO WTO WFP WS WHO WA WZ WI WBG WMD WWARD WHA WITH WTRQ WEU WMO WB
XA XR XW XX XK XL XM XS XF XG XT XC XH XD XB XU XE XV XZ XY XQ XI XTAG
YI YM YL YE YMCS
ZU ZI ZP ZR ZOELLICK ZF ZK ZO ZL ZB ZH ZT ZJ ZEALAND ZN ZA 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 06PANAMA1233, PANAMA: REACHING OUT TO ASIAN MISSIONS

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. #06PANAMA1233.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06PANAMA1233 | 2006-06-23 16:15 | 2011-05-31 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Panama

`

    VZCZCXYZ0026
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHZP #1233/01 1741615
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 231615Z JUN 06
    FM AMEMBASSY PANAMA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8418
    INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
    RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0151
    RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0192
    RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0095
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
    RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//J5/J2/POLAD//

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L PANAMA 001233

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    DEPARTMENT FOR WHA A/S SHANNON
    DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN
    SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2016
    TAGS: OTRA PREL ETRD ECON LA XK CH JA KS
    SUBJECT: PANAMA: REACHING OUT TO ASIAN MISSIONS

    REF: STATE 70035

    Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM EATON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

    SUMMARY
    -------

    ¶1.  (SBU) Following up on A/S Shannon's visit to Asia, we
    reached out to our Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean
    counterparts to discuss issues of common concern in Panama.
    While the three Asian missions share a strong focus on
    developing their countries' commercial and business interests
    in Panama, they differ widely in their connectivity to and
    understanding of political developments in the country.
    Embassy will continue to work closely with these countries to
    explore areas of common interest and cooperation.  END
    SUMMARY.

    CHINA: OPTIMISTIC AND RISING
    ----------------------------

    ¶2.  (C) China's commercial office, while not an official
    embassy, appears to have close connections to parts of the
    GOP.  At a recent event, the outgoing and incoming MFA
    Foreign Relations chiefs rushed to greet the new PRC
    representative, addressing him as "Mr. Ambassador" and
    conversing tightly huddled for many minutes.  The commercial
    office is well versed on political developments in Panama,
    with the China-Taiwan recognition issue clearly at the
    forefront.  The PRC representative told us that China will
    make no trouble over Taiwan unless Taiwan declares
    independence, which would bring a "disaster."  He did not
    express any particular hope or expectation that the GOP will
    change its diplomatic alignment away from Taiwan, but
    ventured that if the current GOP did not recognize China, the
    next GOP probably would.

    ¶3.  (C) According to the PRC representative, however, China's
    interest in Panama is overwhelmingly commercial.  China, the
    world's number two user of the Panama Canal, wants political
    stability in Panama and the region to encourage further
    development of trade and business ties.  Chinese companies
    are eager to participate in the Canal expansion, and he
    hinted that discussions on joint Chinese-U.S. ventures are
    already underway.  He said China viewed expansion as
    essential to its national interest.

    JAPAN: WATCHFUL OF CHINA AND THE CANAL
    --------------------------------------
    ¶4.  (C) The Japanese embassy is one of the larger missions in
    Panama and closely follows a number of issues, closely tied
    to the concerns identified in reftel.  China is a main focus
    of attention and the embassy is carefully tracking China's
    growing role in Panama and the region.  The Japanese Charge
    mentioned that China is searching for more resources,
    particularly food, in the hemisphere and shares Japan's
    interest in securing the use of the Canal.  He concurred with
    the PRC's sentiment that Panama's diplomatic recognition of
    China is not far off.  In other political matters, the
    Japanese Charge does not believe political populism can take
    hold in Panama.  He believes that the Panamanian people are
    pragmatic and Panama would be the last place for populism to
    rise.

    ¶5.  (C) Panama plays a crucial role for Japanese economic
    interests, since the country serves as a base for Japanese
    businesses working in Latin America.  Japan's main economic
    concern is securing the use of the Canal.  Japan remains
    worldwide one of the most popular flags of convenience for
    international shipping, and the embassy is very interested in
    issues of ship registry.  The Japanese embassy reports no
    special programs to attract Japanese investment, but
    mentioned that the Japan Bank of International Cooperation
    (JBIC) is preparing a public seminar on the Canal expansion
    project for the Panamanian Foreign Minister's July visit to
    Japan.

    ¶6.  (SBU) Japan funds two main assistance programs in Panama.
     It provides $10 million annually to support a technical
    cooperation project and this year provided $1 million to fund
    a grass roots development grant.  The embassy is also
    planning a sanitation project for the Bay of Panama through a
    loan from the JBIC this fiscal year.  (Comment: Japan clearly
    hopes that its assistance also eventually wins Panama's
    support at the International Whaling Commission for lifting
    the IWC's 20-year ban on whaling.  End Comment.)

    SOUTH KOREA: MAKING A START IN THE REGION
    -----------------------------------------

    ¶7.  (C) The Korean embassy, with a staff of only four, seems
    to be poorly informed about political developments in Panama.
     As compared to elsewhere in the region (see reftel), the
    Korean embassy in Panama does not work directly with regional
    groups like the Organization of American States or the
    Inter-American Development Bank.

    ¶8.  (SBU) Korean companies, especially Samsung and LG, do
    very well here, using the Colon Free Zone as a hub and
    distribution point.  The Korean embassy reports that it does
    little to assist Korean companies directly and has no set
    programs to promote Korean business or investment in Panama.

    The embassy's interaction with the Korean business community
    is generally limited to requesting private sponsorship of the
    embassy's cultural activities and occasionally helping out
    when Korean companies work with Panamanian counterparts.

    ¶9.  (C) Korean assistance to Panama for this year includes a
    $2 million e-government grant to the Ministry of Health and
    $500,000 in electronic enhancements for the Cabinet meeting
    room at the Presidential palace.  The Korean ambassador
    mentioned that giving aid to the GOP is difficult because the
    Panamanian agencies cannot produce their own development
    plans and the Koreans have to hire contractors to do that for
    the GOP.

    NEXT STEPS
    ----------

    ¶10.  (SBU) China, Japan, and South Korea share many of our
    interests in Panama and are eager to cooperate with the
    United States, whom they view as having better access and
    influence on the GOP.  The potential Canal expansion and a
    stable, investor-friendly business climate are two important
    areas of mutual interest.  Embassy Panama maintains a strong
    working relationship with its Asian counterparts, and will
    look for further opportunities to work together to further
    USG strategic objectives in the region.

    EATON

`