JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/10/06

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/10/06 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 4) Three returning GSDF troops from Iraq immediately committed suicide, possibly from built up stress Defense issues: 5) With central, local governments at impasse over Futenma relocation issue, ruling camp lawmakers try to intervene to help 6) LDP's Yamasaki asks Prime Minister Koizumi to coordinate solution to Futenma impasse with local governments 7) Prime Minister tells Yamasaki he is negative about revising government's plan to relocate Futenma in Okinawa 8) Okinawa governor in meeting with JDA chief Nukaga restates opposition to government's plan to relocate Futenma 9) Okinawa Governor Inamine says Tokyo is giving priority to US over local interests in resolving USFJ realignment issues China relations: 10) China says that since Senkakus are owned by China, quite proper to present Japan with a joint gas development proposal in that area 11) Koizumi upset at China: "The Senkakus are Japanese territory!" 12) Foreign Minister Aso runs off the rails again, calling Taiwan a "country" then retracting the statement, made in the Diet 13) China blasts Aso's latest gaffe 14) China's Ambassador to Japan Wang, called in by Foreign Ministry to hear protest, refuses to go, hears protest on phone 15) Fifteen-year old Indonesian girl a victim of human trafficking at famous hot springs resort in Japan's Gumma Prefecture 16) Bank of Japan lifts ultra-loose monetary policy after five years, but keeps zero interest rate for time being Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nihon Keizai & Tokyo Shimbun: BOJ ends monetary-easing policy; Zero interest remains intact for time being; First policy shift in 5 years Sankei: Government panel to approve NHK to air commercials overseas 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) BOJ policy switch: Full consideration necessary to prevent return of deflation (2) Japan-China gas field development: Japan must hammer out countermeasures in cool-headed manner Mainichi: (1) End of monetary-easing policy: BOJ should raise interest TOKYO 00001272 002 OF 009 rates in line with economy (2) US, Iran need to establish cooperative relations Yomiuri: (1) BOJ should reveal intent to keep interest rates zero for time being (2) International community must remain united in dealing with Iranian nuclear issue Nihon Keizai: (1) BOJ policy shift a first step toward normalizing monetary policy Sankei: (1) End of quantitative easing regarded as first step toward normalization of monetary policy (2) Attention must be paid to infectious diseases other than bird flu Tokyo Shimbun: (1) With monetary policy switch, energy should be poured into stabilizing market (2) World Baseball Classic: Fans' expectations should be taken into consideration 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, March 9 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) March 10, 2006 10:31 Met LDP Secretary General Takebe at Kantei. 11:04 Met the highest award winner, Nozomi Watanabe, and others entrants in the senior high school students' speech contests on the Northern Territories. 13:45 Met Policy Research Council Chairman Nakagawa. 14:30 Met Parliamentary Foreign Secretary Yamanaka, Foreign Ministry European Affairs Bureau Director-General Harada, and others. 15:00 Met Intelligence Officer Kanemoto. 16:00 Met former LDP Vice President Yamasaki. Afterward, met National Policy Agency Director-General Urushima. 17:19 Attended a meeting of the Japan Investment Council. 18:17 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe. 19:09 Met one-time LDP House of Representatives members at Akasaka TOKYO 00001272 003 OF 009 Prince Hotel, joined by Takebe.Prime Minister: "Patience is a virtue. Practice makes perfect. Three years of service will make you feel familiar with politics." 19:53 Arrived at residence. 4) Three SDF members committed suicide after returning from Iraq ASAHI (Page 38) (Excerpts) March 10, 2006 Three of the Ground Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops committed suicide after returning to Japan from Iraq, to which they had been dispatched on a humanitarian and reconstruction assistance mission. The three include a battery commander responsible for ensuring the safety of a unit. An official of the Defense Agency (JDA) said, "It was impossible to conclude whether they committed suicide because of their experiences in Iraq," but it has been reported that many of those who returned from Iraq remain unable to adjust themselves to their surroundings and that others have attempted to commit suicide. The JDA has not obtained accurate information, but it might be urgently necessary to review mental healthcare for troops. About 4,500 SDF troops have so far returned to Japan from Iraq. According to informed sources, one of the three was a former battery commander in his 30s. He died from inhaling carbon monoxide gas in his car last summer. After returning from Iraq, he had been preoccupied with dealing with the aftermaths of misconducts and a traffic accident caused by two subordinate officers during his stay in Iraq. A battery commander gives instructions to more than 100 guards to support the commander. The unit of the former battery commander had exposed to danger many times in Iraq. Its camp was attacked with a shell and other means many times, and there is even a case in which a member of the unit was about to be mistakenly shot by an American soldier. After returning to Japan two years ago, the former battery commander was appointed to be a training senior officer at a regional district headquarters. It has been reported that during the Japan-US joint training last year, he suddenly shouted: "I will be killed if I am with them (American soldiers)." His friend commented: "He had been told 'don't go closer to American troops' in order to avoid from being involved in a terrorist attack in Iraq, so he might have had trauma." Among the 240,000 SDF members, 94 (0.04%) committed suicide, the highest record, in fiscal 2004. The number in this fiscal year is 70 (0.03%) as of the end of January. The rate of the Iraq- returning suicide victims to all is 0.07%. 5) Futenma relocation: Ruling coalition launches efforts to mediate between central government and local municipalities NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) March 10, 2006 The ruling parties yesterday embarked on full-fledged consultations over the relocation of the US military's Futenma TOKYO 00001272 004 OF 009 Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, an issue drawing much attention in the realignment of US forces in Japan. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has no intention to change the current plan for relocating the Futenma airfield to Camp Schwab in Nago City, as specified in the interim report the Japanese and US governments released last October, but the central government has had difficulties in coordinating views with local municipalities. "I'd like you to leave coordination to our party," Hidenao Nakagawa, chair of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Policy Research Council, said to Koizumi at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) yesterday. Taku Yamasaki, chair of the LDP Security Research Council, who has been asked by Nakagawa to act as a mediator, also met with Koizumi. Reportedly, Koizumi told Yamasaki: "My hope is that the government plan will be implemented as is, but I also understand that coordination is necessary." For the US, the relocation of Futenma is part of the integrated package of the US military transformation that envisions possible contingencies in East Asia and other factors. "Special treatment" is not assumed in the package. The prime minister, too, perhaps out of consideration for the US, appears to be coming around to settling the issue in line with the interim report. Okinawa's position is quite different. Governor Keichi Inamine yesterday met with LDP Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe and Nakagawa at party headquarters and told them: "We can't accept the planned relocation, given the long history of debates over the relocation of Futenma." Some in the government are suggesting setting up a consultative body involving the central and local governments, but it is not yet clear whether such a body will actually be established. (The LDP) is therefore trying to look for ways to resolve the issue under its leadership. 6) Koizumi tells Yamasaki to make arrangements with local areas for Futenma relocation ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) March 10, 2006 Prime Minister Koizumi held talks at his official residence yesterday with Liberal Democratic Party Security Research Commission Chairman Taku Yamasaki over the planned relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, now in focus as part of the realignment of US forces in Japan. According to Yamasaki, Koizumi instructed him and the LDP to make arrangements to elicit compromises from local areas, saying, "I would like to see the government plan implemented, but local reaction is still mixed. The situation requires some coordination." After the meeting, Koizumi said to reporters, "I asked (Yamasaki) to continue working hard to obtain cooperation of local residents in Okinawa on the government plan." Okinawa's Nago municipal government is seeking changes to the Henoko relocation plan, agreed upon by the Japanese and US governments. But Koizumi reiterated that the government at present has no plan to revise the relocation plan. TOKYO 00001272 005 OF 009 According to Yamasaki, Koizumi also expressed his desire to obtain local consent by the end of this month when Japan and the US are scheduled to produce a final report, noting, "I strongly hope for a final settlement by the end of this month." Koizumi also expressed his willingness to hold talks with Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine once a prospect is obtained for local consent. Meeting with Inamine yesterday, Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga also indicated he would expedite coordination, stating: "I will make a final decision, and then consult with the prime minister." Inamine again refused the government plan, saying, "Okinawa cannot accept such a plan." 7) Prime Minister asks Taku Yamasaki to coordinate Futenma relocation, but is negative about revising government's plan YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) March 10, 2006 In a meeting yesterday with Taku Yamasaki, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Security Research Committee, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi asked him to cooperate with local governments in coordinating the plan to relocate Futenma Air Station (Ginowan City) to the coastal portion of Camp Schwab (Nago City). He told him: "I would like you to discuss it with the Defense Agency and then make efforts to coordinate the plan." However, on the revisions being sought by the local community, the Prime Minister again indicated that he would not respond, stating, "I would like to see the government's plan adopted." Yamasaki asked Koizumi to meet with Gov. Keiichi Inamine, but the Prime Minister replied, "I will talk to him when the environment has been prepared. Once that is the case, it will be fine." 8) Governor Inamine reiterates opposition to JDA chief Nukaga regarding coastal plan for Futenma relocation MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) March 10, 2006 Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine visited Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga yesterday at his agency. In the meeting, the governor once more expressed his opposition to the relocation of Futenma Air Station (Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture) to the coastal portion of Camp Schwab (Nago City, same prefecture). Inamine stressed the Camp Schwab coastal plan was "unacceptable," He advocated as appropriate the previous plan to build a facility in the offing of Henoko district, as approved by the Cabinet in ¶1999. In respond, Nukaga sought the governor's understanding for the coastal plan. After the meeting, Governor Inamine told the press corps that a meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi "is possible if the right conditions are set up." He also met yesterday with Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Takebe and LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hidenao Nakagawa. On the other hand, Prime Minister Koizumi also met yesterday with Taku Yamasaki, the Security Research Council chairman in the LDP and instructed him to try to persuade the local governments on the plan. TOKYO 00001272 006 OF 009 9) Futenma relocation: Inamine tries to check government's approach of putting US ahead of local areas TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) March 10, 2006 Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine held separate talks in Tokyo yesterday with Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga, Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe, and others. Inamine reiterated his opposition to the Japan-US agreement to relocate the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to the coastline of Camp Schwab apparently in an effort to constrain the government's intention to reach a final agreement on the planned US force realignment by the end of this month even without local consent. In his talks with Nukaga, Inamine said, "It is provocative for the government to prioritize negotiations with the US over talks with local areas." Nukaga explained, "It's a misunderstanding (that the government has jumped the gun)." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Koizumi has ordered LDP Security Research Committee Chairman Taku Yamasaki to advance coordination in collaboration with the government and the ruling camp, saying: "I would like to see the government plan implemented as it is. But because there are objections in the ruling bloc and mixed local reactions, coordination of views is essential." 10) China calls Senkakus "China's territory" in attempt to justify new proposal on joint gas field development SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) March 10, 2006 Hideaki Noguchi, Beijing In his regular press conference yesterday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang criticized Japan's stance over the issue of joint development of gas fields in the East China Sea, saying: "The Diaoyu Islands (called Senkaku in Japan) are China's territory, so it is unreasonable for Japan to say, on the premise that the islands are its territory, that it cannot accept our new proposal." The remark is intended to justify China's new proposal for exploring gas fields in two areas, including one near the Senkaku Islands, and to try to put pressure on Japan. Qin also revealed that China had refused in talks on March 7 Japan's proposal calling for China to suspend its ongoing development of the Shirakaba gas field, which China calls Chunxiao, until both sides reach an agreement on joint development. He said: "China is developing oil fields in waters near China and free from any dispute with Japan. The development is a justifiable act, based on China's sovereignty." 11) Prime minister reacts to China's new proposal for gas field development SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) March 10, 2006 In reference to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang's remarks (concerning China's new proposal for Japan and China to TOKYO 00001272 007 OF 009 jointly develop an area near the Senkaku Islands by defining the islands as China's territory),Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said: "Japan is in a different position from China." He indicated that the Senkaku Islands are Japan's territory, so Japan cannot accept the Chinese proposal. He was replying to questions by reporters at his official residence. A senior Foreign Ministry official fiercely reacted to Qin's remark, claiming: "As long as China has made such an assertion, talks will never move ahead." A source familiar with Japan-US relations commented: "China might be aiming to delay talks by bringing forth a territorial issue and making the talks complicated." The government has insisted that there are no territorial issues pending between Japan and China. Foreign Minister Taro Aso has also emphasized: "The Senkaku Islands are Japan's territory both historically and under international law. Japan won't respond to China's proposal." 12) Foreign Minister Aso again commits gaffe, perplexing some in the government NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) March 10, 2006 Foreign Minister Taro Aso called Taiwan a "country" during an Upper House Budget Committee session yesterday, saying: "It has a mature democracy and embraces a free economy. It is also a country under the rule of law. It is a nation that shares values with Japan." In his subsequent replies immediately after these remarks, Aso modified them, noting: "I was speaking based on Japan's position that (Japan) has recognized China as the only legitimate government. Basically, it is correct to call it 'a region.'" But some government officials have been perplexed by his propensity to "go off the rails from official government views." Aso's controversial remarks came in reply to a question from Naoki Okada of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),asking, "How do you view Taiwan from a strategic viewpoint?" Aso is seen as pro-Taiwan. In a recent speech, Aso pointed out that Japan had emphasized compulsory education in Taiwan while it had been under Japan's colonial rule. He also stated: "It has become a highly- educated country in part owing to an improvement in its literacy rate, and it has been abreast of the times." Meeting the press yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO ABE stressed: "Our nation's position about Taiwan is mentioned in the Japan-China Joint Statement. Our position remains the same. I think the foreign minister also has understood our position." 13) Foreign Minister Aso's remarks draw strong objections from China NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) March 10, 2006 By Yuri Momoi, Beijing Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang at a regular press conference yesterday referred to Foreign Minister Taro Aso's TOKYO 00001272 008 OF 009 remarks in which he called Taiwan a country, criticizing Aso: "We are astonished to hear the top diplomat of Japan openly made remarks that went against the China-Japan Joint Statement." The spokesman added: "We strongly protest against rude interference in China's internal affairs." 14) Chinese ambassador to Japan refused to come when called in by vice foreign minister YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) March 10, 2006 In the wake of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing's reference to Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine as "foolish and immoral," Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi tried to summon March 8 Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi over to the ministry to lodge a protest but the Chinese ambassador refused to show up, sources revealed yesterday. Wang did not visit the ministry, citing his tight schedule, and Yachi protested on the phone. The Foreign Ministry described the refusal as extremely unusual under diplomatic protocol. The government and ruling coalition are reacting strongly to Li's remarks and Wang's action. Li criticized Koizumi's Yasukuni visits in a press conference March 7 in Beijing, saying, "A certain German official said to me, 'I cannot understand why the Japanese leader can do such a foolish and immoral thing.'" In response, the Foreign Ministry placed March 8 several calls to the Chinese Embassy to urge Ambassador Wang to visit the ministry, but the Chinese side refused to do so. In the evening, Yachi protested Yachi on the phone, saying, "There may be differences in views but one should use appropriate expressions in expressing his views." Wang refused to offer an apology, defending China's position on Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. An exchange of accusations followed. In a House of Councillors Budge Committee meeting yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO ABE rapped Li, saying: "Describing actions by the prime minister of another country as 'foolish' and 'immoral' proves a lack of dignity on the part of the top diplomat. I don't know if there really is a government official in Germany uttering such words." 15) Two men arrested for human trafficking of 15-year-old Indonesian girl; Second case in Japan ASAHI (Page 39) (Excerpts) March 10, 2006 Gunma Prefecture Police arrested Yasuhi Nakaya, 53, a company employee, Wang Yiru, 56, the owner of snack bar, on suspicion of violating the Anti-prostitution Law, alleging that Nakaya sold an Indonesian girl to Wang for money. According to Gunma Police, since the law was revised in 2005 this was the second arrest case following the first in October 2005. The girl was forced to engage in prostitution since last October at Ikaho Hot Spring Resort in Gunma Prefecture. She told the police that she was 15 years old. Reportedly Nakaya has denied TOKYO 00001272 009 OF 009 the allegation, but Wang admitted the charge. The prefectural police found that Nakaya reportedly sold the girl to Wang for about 2.3 million yen on Sept. 13, 2005. The police intend to arrest a 26-year-old Indonesian woman on suspicion of involvement in the human trafficking case. The 15-year-old girl arrived in Japan last August with a fake passport. She has been forced by Wang to pay about 5 million yen for a loan. She reportedly has not been allowed to freely leave the apartment where she lives. For her living expenses, she has an allowance of about 10,000 yen a month from Wang. 16) BOJ ends quantitative easing; 1st policy switch in 5 years; Zero interest rate remains intact; Short-term interest rates 0-2% NIHON KEIZAI (Top Play) (Excerpts) March 10, 2006 The Bank of Japan decided yesterday in a meeting of its Policy Board to end its quantitative monetary-easing policy introduced in March 2001, and implemented the new policy immediately yesterday. The BOJ has made the decision based on the judgment that the consumer price index (CPI) will not descend into negative territory. The central bank will maintain the zero interest rate policy for the time being even though it has returned to a conventional monetary policy of using market interest rates for the first time in five years. As measures to prevent the market from falling into turmoil after the policy shift, the central bank decided to use an inflation reference rate with a range of zero to two percent as the appropriate medium- and long-term rate of year-on-year change in the CPI. Points of policy-making decision Policy target: Shifts the BOJ's checking account to the overnight call rate. Monetary adjustment: Sets the overnight call rate at almost zero percent, maintaining the amount of monthly purchase of long-term government bonds at 1.2 trillion yen. Target of stable prices: Medium- and long-term price stability should be fall in an approximate range between zero to two percent as inflation reference rate, the core rate should be around one percent. SCHIEFFER