TNAG-2400-FCO40-3487-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Japan-1992 — Page 12

CONFIDENTIAL

Also, that in the last two years or so they have paid

much more attention to Latin America with a deliberate

programme of more aid, high level visits etc. These

policies are not commercially motivated. In Latin

America, for example, they have concentrated largely on

Peru, Nicaragua and El Salvador. I think these efforts

show that Japan's sense of global responsibilities is

changing (I do not know how far US prodding has played a

role)

7.

Asia:-

A few points from the very thorough talks on

(a)

We should bear in mind this year and next that a

failure of the Cambodian peace-keeping operation will have

even more serious implications for Japan than most of the

rest of us. It is the first test of its controversial

peace-keeping legislation. There are plenty of people in Japan who will use a failure to discredit that legislation

and try to discourage Japan from further such ventures. A

serious incident involving the death of Japanese soldiers

in Cambodia might have a similar effect. I told the

Japanese that in my view the international community are still not facing up to the situation which we are likely

to be in in mid-1993. They agree but are nervous about contemplating moves now to organise a Cambodian army yet have no other solution to the problem of defending a new

Government against the Khmer Rouge.

CONFIDENTIAL

/(b)