[War] Japan: "A Crisis In The Chinese Sense of the Word"

[Ian Martell]

“A Crisis in the Chinese Sense of the Word”
Prime Minister Shunichi Sato
Japan
September 20th 2006

“When I went to bed last night, Asia was in good order,” Sato said to his 
Security Council an odd collection of Ministers and officials that focused 
if anything more on economics than actual physical security, it was only by 
Sato’s express invitation was the Director-Generals of Naicho and Koancho 
there as well as the Chairman of the Branch Chiefs of the JSDF. “Today, it’s 
a mess, for those of you harbouring doubts that we must make it our chief 
foreign policy objective to stabilize Asia, then please see today’s briefing 
book for my argument.”

Many of the men nodded. It wasn’t the coup in Thailand that shook them but 
what was coming out of North Korea Sato knew, but he started with the easy 
one first.

“First, Thailand. Director Haruma?” he asked looking to the Director of 
Koancho.

“The situation remains peaceful, the only concern is that if Thaksin somehow 
still commands some loyalty of elements of the army and attempts a 
counter-coup.”

“Unlikely with the King’s support of the coup,” said Takezo.

“Agreed,” Haruma said. “As yet there have been no casualties we are aware of 
and no Japanese have been harmed or detained.”

“Minister Takezo, what is your suggested course of action?” asked Sato of 
his Foreign Minister.

“We make a brief statement to the effect of the coup is regrettable and hope 
this is only a brief interruption in the democratic process in Thailand and 
that a formal government will be restored soon; inform our people that no 
Japanese have been injured or harmed and advise against recreational travel 
to the region.”

Sato nodded as did the others.

“I’ll have a statement drawn up,” Takezo said.

“We also need to consider our investments in the region,” Minister Yubuki of 
METI said. Japan was Thailand’s largest foreign investor and had significant 
interests in the country which it had to protect. “As well there is a 
certain degree of influence lost with the pending change of government.”

Sato as the others did too, knew that Yubuki meant that the Thaksin and his 
government could be and were bribed by Japanese corporations if not Japan it 
self.

“However I think we can salvage any potential damage to our investments both 
in the economy and the previous government if we put in an unofficial word 
of support to the Council for Democratic Administrative Reform and 
respectfully offer any help we can on rooting out members of the former 
government who were taking bribes. At the same time we offer those members 
of the old government who have been friends of our interests in the past who 
are not detained employment as advisors to METI. Their knowledge would be 
invaluable for future negotiations.”

“Also,” Haruma chimed in. “I would like to recommend we hire away a few of 
their people who were working with trade with North Korea, we could gain 
some intelligence there as well.”

Sato nodded. “Have the METI rep in Bangkok work on the job offers, meanwhile 
Takezo if you could instruct our ambassador to offer our quiet message of 
support and assistance to the CDAR.”

Both Minister’s nodded, Takezo however added. “If the ambassador cannot get 
through, not impossible given the current situation, may I humbly request 
you speak to the Imperial Family about using their close relationship to the 
Thai Royals as a means of diplomatic exchange until matters calm down.”

“I will, but only if we cannot get access from lower levels first. I do not 
want to trouble His Imperial Majesty unless it is absolutely necessary, 
however that said, I think we have adequately discussed this issue?”

Everyone nodded and turned the page in their briefing books to the much 
darker subject of North Korea.

(continued in next post)

Actions:

1>	Issue statement re: Thai coup.

It is regrettable that "Council for Democratic Administration Reform," 
headed by Army Commander in Chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, forcibly 
seized control of the governing functions of Thailand yesterday. The 
Government of Japan is paying close attention with serious concern to the 
development of the situation.
Japan strongly hopes to see the situation normalized and the democratic 
political system restored promptly.
While the Government of Japan has so far not confirmed any casualties among 
Japanese in Thailand, it has been paying closest attention to their safety 
and has cautioned Japanese nationals living in Thailand through its Embassy 
and while no formal travel advisory has been made we request Japanese 
citizens re-consider any plans to visit the country until such time as the 
crisis has been resolved.
2>	Give a private message of support for the CDAR through the ambassador or 
if necessary the Imperial Family and offer to help them root out corrupt 
public officials by more or less telling them who we’ve bribed in the past.
3>	Have METI scoop up former government members once they have been released 
as advisors to provide economic and industrial intelligence useful for 
future negotiations.

Sources: http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/thailand/index.html
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/announce/2006/9/0920.html

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