JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/24/06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 001536 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/24/06 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule Defense and security: 4) US, Japan reach final coordination stage on Futenma relocation, Marines' move to Guam 5) Japan to propose 300 billion yen in financing to cover its share of cost of move to Guam by Okinawa Marines 6) US, Japan restart senior working-level talks on USFJ realignment, agree to meet end of March deadline for final report 7) Nago City mayor hints at compromise to break stalemate over Futenma relocation site 8) Possibility that Nago City may be willing to meet government halfway on Futenma relocation 9) US, Japan agree to fully turn over Kadena Air Base's air control (RAPCON) rights 10) Henoko district seeking compensation for relocation of US Marines China ties: 11) Government plans to freeze yen loans to China, even speed up end to all ODA to that country 12) China blasts Japan for cutting off of yen loans 13) Japan, China friendship committee meeting ends up discussing Yasukuni Shrine Broad agenda: 14) Prime Minister Koizumi making administrative reform package his final hurrah in the Diet 15) Ruling camp still battling over use of word "patriotism" in the amendments to the Basic Education Law 16) Government survey shows that among regular company employees, women only make 70% of what men make as salaries 17) Agriculture and health ministries holding public hearings all over Japan to hear consumer opinions on US beef Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Nihon Keizai, Sankei, Tokyo Shimbun: Land prices in three big business areas boost for first time in 15 years Mainichi, Yomiuri: JAL flew MD-87 aircraft without having it undergo complete checks 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Rising land prices: Don't allow another bubble (2) Thai political situation: Relying on the King unsound Mainichi: (1) President Bush's statement: Iraq should be stabilized during his term (2) Social divide: Money alone does not make a community happy TOKYO 00001536 002 OF 011 Yomiuri: (1) Uncover facts behind North Korea's state terrorism (2) Land prices: Has mini-bubble started in urban areas? Nihon Keizai: (1) Land prices entering new phase in big business areas (2) Efficacy of investment in research strategy questioned Sankei: (1) Land prices: Urgent need for measures to revitalize regions (2) Reduction in and sale of government assets: Lax calculations adversely affect reconstruction Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Land prices: Watch rise in land prices in calm manner (2) PSE mark: Substantial measures needed before introducing the new system 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, March 23 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) March 24, 2006 10:57 Met with East Timor Prime Minister Alkatiri at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. 13:06 Lower House plenary session. 15:10 Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Kanemoto, followed by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 16:12 Met with Bulgarian National Assembly Chairman Pirinski. Then met with LDP Secretary General Takebe. 17:12 Met with Cabinet Office Senior Vice Minister Yamaguchi and Vice Minister Erikawa. Then attended a security meeting. 18:11 Met with senior GSDF, MSDF an ASDF officer to be transferred. 19:04 Dined with Takebe, Acting Secretary General Aizawa and Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe at a French restaurant at Akasaka Prince Hotel. 20:42 Arrived at the official residence 4) Japan, US in final phase of coordination over Futenma relocation, Marine relocation cost NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Abridged) March 24, 2006 Japan and the United States entered into another round of TOKYO 00001536 003 OF 011 intergovernmental consultations yesterday in Tokyo on issues regarding the realignment of US forces in Japan, with senior officials for foreign and defense affairs attending. In the talks, the Japanese and US governments continued final coordination to reach an agreement late this month. The two governments still remain wide apart over how to share costs incident to moving US Marines from Okinawa to Guam, where to redeploy an air tanker fleet from Futenma base in the city of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, and other specific realignment issues. The two countries are expected to hold talks over again in case they cannot find a way out of the impasse over these pending issues. The talks this time are scheduled to wind up today. Yesterday's meeting included Foreign Ministry North American Affairs Bureau Deputy Director General Kazuyoshi Umemoto and Defense Agency Defense Policy Bureau Deputy Director General Hironori Kanazawa on the Japanese side and Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Lawless on the US side. 5) Realignment of US forces in Japan: Japan to offer 300 billion yen to cover part of the cost of relocating troops to Guam MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) March 24, 2006 By Yoso Furumoto The government yesterday decided to propose at Japan-US working- level talks today that Japan finance the cost of the construction of family housing, which will come to 2.5 billion dollars (approximately 300 billion yen),as part of Japan's share of the cost of relocating US Marines from Okinawa to Guam in the ongoing realignment of US forces in Japan. But this amount is still far from the US-requested amount of 7.5 billion dollars, or about 880 billion yen, so bilateral talks are certain to hit a snag before the end-of-March deadline for a final report. The United States intends to move the Marines headquarters in Okinawa and its staff -some 8,000 personnel and about 9,000 dependents - to Guam, and has estimated the total relocation cost at approximately 10 billion dollars, or nearly 1.17 trillion yen. The US has urged Japan to pay 75% of that amount. The housing construction cost is estimated at some 4.7 billion dollars, or some 550 billion yen. Half of that amount will be necessary for the construction of family housing. Japan is considering financing the cost of the construction of family housing. Japan plans to adopt the private finance initiative (PFI) system to this family housing so that the construction and management of housing will be put in the hands of the private sector, and that the loans will be repaid through rent. Japan is discussing the introduction of this PFI system with the US. Japan wants to exclude barracks from its financing, because they are considered part of the base, so they are not fit for management by the private sector. The US, however, has urged Japan to cover the cost of the construction of barracks, a headquarters building, and other facilities, as well. Both sides are still far apart. Foreign Minister Aso meets with senior officials of affected municipalities TOKYO 00001536 004 OF 011 By Takuji Nakata Foreign Minister Taro Aso yesterday separately met at his ministry with Gov. Sekinari Nii of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Mayor Ryouichi Kabaya of Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Deputy Mayor Toshio Kayama of Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and discussed the ongoing realignment of US forces in Japan and the US base issue. Referring to the outcome of the Iwakuni City plebiscite conducted before the merger of the city and nearby municipalities in which nearly 90% of citizens were opposed to the planned relocation of a US carrier-based wing to the Iwakuni base, Gov. Nii stated, "We on the part of the prefectural government cannot accept the plan immediately." He then urged the central government to make efforts to obtain local understanding. 6) Japan, US reconfirm agreement should be reached at end of March; Negotiations on Guam relocation cost enter final phase ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) March 24, 2006 Working-level talks on the realignment of US forces in Japan of foreign and defense officials from the Japanese and US governments yesterday began in Tokyo. The talks will continue through today. Both sides will discuss details about such items as the sharing of the relocation cost of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam, the centerpiece of efforts to lessen Okinawa's burden. Late yesterday, Defense Agency (JDA) Director-General Nukaga met with US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Lawless, and the two reconfirmed that both sides would strive to reach agreement on a final report at the end of March. On the relocation costs, Japan is likely to propose financing the cost of the construction of housing on a loan basis during working-level talks. The US is expected to urge Japan to pay, in addition to housing, costs related to the construction of other buildings, including training facilities that will be jointly used by the Self-Defense Forces (SDF),an operational facilities, and recreational facilities. Japan has estimated its share to be less than 5 billion dollars, but the US has requested Japan to pay about 7.5 billion dollars of a total of 10 billion dollars. The US has stated that determining the %ages of cost-sharing is a premise for Japan and the US to reach agreement. Whether both sides can compromise to reach agreement before the end of March is now the focus of attention. Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) General Council Chairman Fumio Kyuma yesterday met with Lawless at LDP headquarters and said of Japan's share of the cost of the Guam relocation: "The Japanese public could be convinced regarding paying the construction costs of housing, port facilities that will be used for joint drills with the SDF, and a runway. But we think it would be difficult to obtain public understanding if our payment involves the costs of constructing basic elements for the US military, for instance, a headquarters building." 7) Nago mayor does not rule out possible concessions with central government MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) March 24, 2006 TOKYO 00001536 005 OF 011 By Teruhisa Mitsumori As part of his efforts to deal with the planned relocation of the US military's Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, to the coastal area of Camp Schwab in Nago City, Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro yesterday referred to the possibility of responding to talks on revising his municipality-proposed sea- based relocation plan so as to come a little bit closer to the coastline and hinted that there is room for him to make concessions with the central government, which has insisted on the coastal plan. Shimabukuro had until recently insisted that he would respond to talks on revisions if revisions were variations of the sea-based plan, but his remark yesterday hinted for the first time that he is willing to respond to talks even if revisions are not within that scope. A senior municipal government official was bolder than the mayor, saying, "A good idea is to exclude the housing area from flight routes." The central government also is showing its willingness to respond to minor revisions of the coastal plan. 8) Nago may assent to Futenma relocation YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) March 24, 2006 Japan and the United States have now agreed to relocate the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from its current location in the city of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the island prefecture's northern city of Nago. Asked about this coastal relocation plan, Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro told reporters yesterday at his city's municipal government office that he would continue to talk with the government about the issue. "We've yet to reach a conclusion on whether to accept the government's relocation plan," the mayor said. Deputy Mayor Bunshin Suematsu also said the city would enter into consultations if the course of flights to and from the newly planned tarmac would not extend over the city's two local communities, including Toyohara. Meanwhile, the city has asked the government to avoid setting a flight course over residential areas. In this regard, the two Nago officials indicated that they could accept the relocation if the flight course is off the city's populated areas even if it is close to the shore. 9) Japan, US agree to talk about Yokota base air traffic control for overall return YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) March 24, 2006 Japan and the United States have now agreed to consult on the pending issue of returning the US Yokota Air Base's radar approach control, or RAPCON for short, to Japan's air traffic controllers. The agreement will be incorporated in a final report to be worked out in late March on various issues regarding the realignment of US forces in Japan. The United States has so far frowned on the complete return of RAPCON. The Japanese and US governments appear to have confirmed this course of action in TOKYO 00001536 006 OF 011 yesterday's meeting of their senior officials for foreign affairs and defense. Meanwhile, the United States has already agreed to return Yokota-controlled airspace in part. The two governments are expected to hold procedural consultations on this matter. In yesterday's meeting of senior working-level officials, the Japanese and US governments also discussed where to redeploy a fleet of KC-130 air tankers currently deployed to the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the city of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. However, the two sides failed to reach an agreement on this issue. The two governments will enter into the final phase of coordination tomorrow over their respective shares of costs involved in moving US Marines from Okinawa to Guam. 10) Henoko locals demand compensation for moving YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) March 24, 2006 Nago City's coastal community of Henoko, with about 500 households and 1,500 residents, has asked the government to pay 150 million yen per household as compensation for those who want to move due to the planned relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from its current location in the city of Ginowan in the island prefecture to a coastal area across the cape of Henoko in Nago, sources said yesterday. All Henoko residents have already agreed to claim such compensation from the government, and the community's representative has already informed the municipal government of the claim as the community's consensus. It is the first time a local community has come up with a conditional agreement to the relocation. The government frowned on the claim as being excessive, according to the sources. According to the sources, the community of Henoko has asked the government to compensate all of those who want to move because they could suffer from US military aircraft noise and could be endangered in case the newly planned facility's runway-initially planned to be installed in waters off the coast of Henoko-closes in on their houses. 11) Government to defer decision on new yen loans to China SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) March 24, 2006 The government decided yesterday to put off a decision on new yen loans to China for fiscal 2005, although a decision is usually made at the end of the fiscal year. The decision reflects growing criticism of China in the government and the ruling parties over China's reactions to the Prime Minister's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, as well as China's oil and gas field development in the East China Sea. The Japanese and Chinese governments have agreed on a plan for Japan to cut off new yen loans to China before the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, but calls may grow for speeding up the suspension or for immediately ending the yen-loan program. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters last night: "Coordination (on yen loans to China) should be carried out in the context of overall Japan-China relations. Both sides have agreed to end the yen-loan program before the Beijing Olympic Games." TOKYO 00001536 007 OF 011 New Komeito Takenori Kanzaki, though, commented: "We must make utmost efforts to improve Japan-China ties by resorting to every possible means. What is the point in putting off a decision." The government has prepared a scenario under which it would cut off new yen loans for infrastructure buildings in China before the Beijing Olympics but continue to offer grant aid and technical aid with official development assistance (ODA) funds to finance mainly environment-protection measures, for instance, those to contain air and water pollution, as well as global warming. The government has been calling on China to establish a system for Tokyo and Beijing to jointly implement economic assistance for developing countries in African and Latin America. China, however, has not willingly responded to the call in reaction to Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. A source familiar with Japan-China relations said: "Negotiations between the Japanese and Chinese governments on ODA have not necessarily forged ahead smoothly." 12) Chinese spokesman expresses displeasure with Japan's delay in deciding on yen loans to China ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) March 24, 2006 Nobuyoshi Sakajiri, Beijing The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced on March 22 that it would not make a cabinet decision within this fiscal year on yen loans to China for fiscal 2005 (to be implemented in fiscal 2006). In reaction, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang expressed displeasure in a regular press conference on March 23, saying: "The Japanese government's unilateral decision will do more harm than good in improving the atmosphere surrounding China-Japan relations." 13) China urges "settlement of Yasukuni issue" while Japan presents roadmap for reconciliation in friendship committee meeting ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) March 24, 2006 The New Japan-China Friendship 21st Century Committee started its fourth round of meetings in Kyoto yesterday. The panel, composed of experts from both countries, is tasked with working out measures to improve and develop bilateral ties. The committee was launched with the aim of exploring ways to break the impasse in strained bilateral relations by promoting medium- and long-term exchange programs. In order to improve relations, the Chinese side stressed the need to resolve the issue of Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine first. Representing the Japanese side, Fuji Xerox Chairman Yotaro Kobayashi stated: "Both sides have made remarks that lack consideration for the other side, resulting in unnecessarily irritating each other. It is really too bad." TOKYO 00001536 008 OF 011 Reform and Openness Forum President Zheng Pichien, who chairs the Chinese delegation, rapped Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni, saying: "The continued visits by the top Japanese leader to Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Class-A war criminals, hurt the Chinese people's feelings severely. The visits rub salt in the wounds contained in the Chinese memory. . . . The Chinese government will resolutely carry out measures to promote Japan-China friendship. It has no intention to use the history card in negotiations with Japan. We must make efforts first to resolve this issue in order to improve our relations." In the meeting, the Japanese side presented a "roadmap for reconciliation and cooperation" that included such programs as youth exchange and study of the history of Japan-China relations. The committee was inaugurated based on an agreement reached between Prime Minister Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao in their meeting in May 2003. The panel plans to present the government with a report of recommendations next year. 14) Deliberations on administrative reform promotion bill get under way; Prime Minister eager to make reform take root; Opposition parties point out flaws in measures on reduction in number of public servants, amakudari practices YOMIMURI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) March 24, 2006 Deliberations on the administrative reform promotion bill, which the government and the ruling camp regard as the top priority bill in the current Diet session, started in a Lower House plenary session yesterday. In a Diet reply, Prime Minister Koizumi stated, "I would like to solidify the reform policy in order to realize a simple and effective government." He thus once again played up his desire to make his small government policy take root and continue to grow even after he steps down in September. The opposition camp is geared up to point out deficiencies in the bill, by bringing up such issues as amakudari (golden parachute) practices rampant among public servants. In the reply, the prime minister indicated his view that a hike in the consumption tax would be unavoidable in the future, noting, "It is difficult to restore the primary balance through spending cuts alone." He then said, "Even if taxes must be increased in the future, far-reaching administrative and fiscal reform efforts will enable to reduce the margin of the hikes." He thus indicated a stance of doing his utmost to cut back on government expenditures through administrative reform. Opposition parties criticized the government's plans to cut back on the number of public servants and regulate amakudari practices as lacking specific measures. The bill mentions a net reduction in the number of public servants by more than 5% in five years. Shu Watanabe of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ = Minshuto) criticized this as no specific measures being included. He said, "The government plans to decide on the specifics of the proposed reduction in the number of public servants by June, independently of the TOKYO 00001536 009 OF 011 legislation. It is impossible to discuss the bill, if it does not contain specific measures. 15) How to express the word "patriotism" in revised education law: LDP reluctant to accept third proposal as well; Full-scale consultation to start next month; Agreement in ruling camp remains uncertain TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) March 24, 2006 In the meetings of a study team on revising the Basic Education Law, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner New Komeito have been at odds over how to express the word "patriotism" in amending the law. As a compromise proposal, one idea that has now emerged for describing the word "patriotism" would be that each person should have "awareness and responsibility of being Japanese." In an attempt to submit a bill amending the education law to the ongoing Diet session, the New Komeito has taken a positive stance toward this expression, but it is uncertain whether the LDP will accept it. The reference to patriotism would be incorporated in the item called "objectives of education" in the amended law. The LDP and New Komeito have discussed the issue of patriotism already for two years and nine months. They initially asserted separate proposals - the LDP insisting on the expression "love of nation," while the New Komeito proposing using the expression "cherish the nation." In order to break the impasse, a third idea has been floated. House of Representatives member Kosuke Hori, an advisor to the education law reform study team, told reporters in January: "There is a view that we should teach children to love our country, while including the expression awareness of being citizens of Japan and responsibility as Japanese nationals." Hori indicated that the two parties should search for a compromise. The government did not submit to the current Diet session a bill revising the Imperial House Law and a bill upgrading the Defense Agency to the status of a ministry even though it characterized them as important bills. The dominant view in the LDP was that a bill revising the Basic Education Law, the remaining key bill, should be submitted first to the ongoing session. Therefore, the ruling camp is seriously looking into a new proposal. A senior New Komeito member commented, saying, "We should not show that we are reluctant to revise the law." The reason for the New Komeito opposing the expression "love of country" is because the party says that the expression remind them of nationalism in the prewar period. Since the present law stipulates the similar one to the expression "awareness of being citizens of Japan and responsibility as Japanese nationals," the third idea would be more acceptable. A senior New Komeito lawmaker said, "This will not be a problem. It is much better than the LDP's proposal." 16) Initial tabulation by Health and Labor Ministry comparing salaries of regular company employees reveals woman making a TOKYO 00001536 010 OF 011 little less than 70% of wages that men receive MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) March 24, 2006 The Ministry of Health and Labor yesterday announced the results of its basic statistical survey of the wage structure for 2005. The set wages for general workers was a monthly 302,000 yen, up 0.1% from the previous year, the first increase in four years. Men made a monthly 337,800 yen (up1.2%),while women made 222,500 yen (a drop of 1.4%). This survey introduces tallies based on different types of employment. Among the full-time general workers, if the salaries of male regular employees are set at 100, male non-regular employees had 64, regular female employees had 69, and non-regular female employees had 48. In addition, there was very little difference in the salaries of younger regular employees and non-regular employees. If the salaries of young men in their early 20s is set at 100, non-regular male employees had 86. For (young) female employees, compared to regular employees (100),non-regular employees had 85. But when it came to employees in their early 50s, in the case of men, (non- regular employees) had 54, and women (non-regular employees) had 60, showing that the wage gap expanded as employees grew older. For part-time workers who are paid an hourly wage, men received 1,069 yen (up 5.6%) and women 942 yen (up 4.2%). In the case of men, the peak for their hourly wages was in their early 40s with 1,204 yen, while women peaked in their late 20s with 993 yen. After that, the hourly wage level dropped gradually. 17) MAFF, MHLW to hold opinion exchange meetings with consumers with eye on resumption of US beef imports MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) March 24, 2006 The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) yesterday decided to hold opinion exchange meetings with consumers at several locations throughout the country ahead of a decision to lift the ban on US beef imports so that the results of meetings could be reflected in conditions for beef trade resumption. This policy is based on the thinking that the resumption of beef imports should be premised on people's desire to eat US beef and their trust in it, as MAFF Minister Shoichi Nakagawa put it. When MAFF and MHLW decided to resume US beef imports last December, they held a briefing afterwards, but there were no occasions provided for consumers to directly express their opinions. This invited the criticism that the decision was made in a rough-and-ready manner. The two ministries now intend to hold prior meetings in order to give the impression that they were handling the issue in an elaborate manner. Bilateral meetings of experts to discuss the US import ban issue will take place on March 28 and 29. However, the two countries remain at odds over the cause of the inclusion of Vertebral columns in US beef shipment with Washington insisting that it was a unique case, while Tokyo suspecting defects in the US inspection system. The two countries will work out measures to prevent a recurrence, after ascertaining the cause of the incident. Whether preventive measures set by the governments of TOKYO 00001536 011 OF 011 the two countries are sufficient or not will be put to the test by consumers at the planned opinion exchange meetings. MAFF are inviting opinions on the US beef issue by mail or e-mail (goiken@nm.maff.go.jp). It will refer to opinions received in making the decision. SCHIEFFER