JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule Defense issues: 4) JDA chief to meet with Nago mayor over Futenma relocation 5) JDA deputy chief urges Nago City to give answer at an early date on Futenma relocation plan 6) Tokyo may call off coordination with Nago City over Futenma relocation 7) Japan may postpone troop pullout to this fall or later: MOFA official 8) NATO mulls expanding cooperation with Japan at US overtures 9) 71% want constitutional status for SDF in Yomiuri poll Political merry-go-round in DPJ: 10) Ichiro Ozawa gets pole position in DPJ race 11) Ozawa gaining more support in DPJ for party post 12) - This time around, Naoto Kan looking for chance to come back as DPJ head 13) New DPJ head's term up until the end of September Foreign ties: 14) US concerned about Iraq's nuke program, Washington to ask Tokyo to freeze Japan's Azadegan oil stake 15) Prime Minister Koizumi to visit Africa in May, aiming to check China infiltration 16) North Korean security official, who is expert on Pyongyang's US policy, to visit Japan 17) Visiting Polish foreign minister in meeting with Japanese counterpart suggests need to continue arms embargo toward China US beef: 18) Beef panel replaces half its members, including those cautious about resuming Japan's US beef imports 19) Farm, health ministries to hold public hearings across the nation on US beef Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: 90% of short track training camps used skating rink run by Japan Skating Federation Director Kameoka between 1998 and 2004 at fee 30% higher than usual; Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Ministry to launch investigation Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei, and Tokyo Shimbun: Minshuto presidential race: Support for Ozawa expanding; Kan also searching for ways to run in race; Hatoyama, ex-socialist, Yokomichi groups to throw support behind Ozawa Nihon Keizai: Financial Services Agency to cap ATM cash transfers at 100,000 yen next year to prevent money laundering 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: TOKYO 00001775 002 OF 010 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06 (1) "Invasion" versus "advances": Discussions must be conducted based on facts (2) Postal businesses: Newly launched watchdog has heavy responsibility Mainichi: (1) Logic behind postal services expansion strategy absurd (2) Thoughts on social disparity: A society that produces few winners is uninteresting Yomiuri: (1) Time is right to revise the Constitution (2) New Japan Medical Association president elected: Distance from LDP not only the issue Nihon Keizai: (1) Newly launched Postal Privatization Committee holds key to success of postal privatization (2) Prime Minister Thaksin's empty victory Sankei: (1) Minshuto presidential race: All-party discussion essential (2) Heisei era grand mergers: Greater efficiency takes innovative ideas Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Condominium security: Cooperation of residents essential to eliminate blind spots (2) Thai general election: Fresh start essential 3) Prime Minister's schedule, April 3 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) April 4, 2006 08:02 Met at Kantei with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. Issued written official appointment to Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani, attended by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Nagase, Suzuki, and Futahashi. 09:00 Attended Lower House Administrative Special Committee session. 11:57 Returned to Kantei. 13:00 Attended Lower House Administrative Special Committee session. 17:03 Attended LDP executive meeting. 17:35 Issued at Kantei a written official appointment to Postal Privatization Committee Chairman Tanaka, joined by Internal Affairs Minister Takenaka. 18:20 Enjoyed opera at Suntory Hall along with women's gold medalist figure skater Arakawa, Suntory President Saji and his wife, and Sankei Shimbun President Sumita and his wife. TOKYO 00001775 003 OF 010 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06 21:39 Met Saji and his wife and Sumita and his wife at Tokyo ANA Hotel. 23:35 Returned to his official residence. 4) Defense chief to meet with Nago mayor NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) April 4, 2006 Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga will meet with Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro this evening over the issue of relocating the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the city of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in his city. In the meeting, Nukaga will ask for the mayor's understanding on the coastal relocation plan. Meanwhile, Defense Agency Administrative Deputy Director General Takemasa Moriya said in a news conference yesterday that the Defense Agency had sent a letter to the municipal government of Nago City in late March, rejecting the city's proposal of substantial changes to the coastal relocation plan. "There's no change in our request," Shimabukuro told reporters, stressing his intention to urge the government go make concessions. In the meantime, Japan and the United States will hold a three- day session of intergovernmental working-level consultations in Washington from today, with senior officials for foreign and defense affairs attending. Their discussion will focus on the issue of sharing the cost of relocating US Marines from Okinawa to Guam. "It will be considerably difficult (this time)," Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi told a news conference yesterday. "If we can reach an agreement this month, that's good," he added. 5) Defense Agency urges Nago to provide early answer on Futenma relocation plan MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) April 4, 2006 The Defense Agency has now called on the city of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, to give an answer at an early date on the government's modified plan to relocate the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to a coastal area on the premises of Camp Schwab in Nago. "The government will not make any more proposals," Defense Agency Administrative Deputy Director General Takemasa Moriya told a press conference yesterday. Meanwhile, Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro yesterday called for the government to make still greater concessions. Moriya revealed that the government documented an agreement to move the flight paths of US military aircraft from the skies over the city's residential areas when Nukaga and Shimabukuro met March 26. Moriya said Nago City would consider the documented agreement. 6) Defense Agency may break off talks with Nago on Futenma relocation; Senior official criticizes the city's stiffened stance SANKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) April 4, 2006 TOKYO 00001775 004 OF 010 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06 A senior Defense Agency official indicated yesterday that if there was no progress, the government might discontinue revision talks with Nago on a plan to relocate the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. The official thus criticized Nago's stiffened stance toward the Defense Agency's proposal to make minor changes, such as changing the angle of the planned runway. The government may give up on obtaining local consent, a factor specified in an interim report on the realignment of US forces in Japan. Since March 21, Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga and Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro have held a total of four days of talks on making changes to the plan to relocate Futenma Air Station to the coastline of Camp Schwab in Nago. They were scheduled to meet again on March 29, but it was postponed due to the death of former Nago Mayor Tateo Kishimoto. Their next meeting has not been set. Shimabukuro indicated to reporters yesterday that he would not respond to a call for talks unless the Defense Agency presents further concessions, saying, "(Talks) will be held if there are some changes to (the government's plan)." Shimabukuro also reiterated his call to make major changes and remove the site for an alternate facility to the ocean side. Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya also in a press conference yesterday explained developments in revision talks and rebutted Shimabukuro's standpoint. Nukaga and Shimabukuro sorted out basic policy in writing in their March 26 meeting, including the following: (1) the Defense Agency proposed paying attention to the safety of local residents, environmental conservation, and feasibility based on the government's plan; (2) Nago called for measures to remove the flight paths from the Henoko, Toyohara, and Abu districts; and (3) the two sides agreed to respect each other's views and reach a conclusion swiftly. In the talks with Nukaga, Shimabukuro reportedly refused to give his consent on the spot with the Defense Agency's plan to make minor changes to remove some municipalities from the flight paths in mind, saying, "I'll have to consult with local communities if I can put together Nago's views." Moriya indicated that Nago should first present its view on the government's "slightly modified plan," saying, "We will be waiting for a sincere reply." A senior Defense Agency official criticized Shimabukuro's response, saying, "The defense chief and the mayor stopped short of reaching an agreement on removing some municipalities from the flight paths. But the mayor later explained something different to local communities. He spoke with a forked tongue." The official also suggested that the government might discontinue revision talks depending on how Shimabukuro reacts to the government, saying, "If talks are protracted, we will have to make a decision." However, if the government gives up on obtaining local consent, Washington may become even more distrustful of Tokyo. 7) Yachi: GSDF withdrawal may occur in fall or later NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) TOKYO 00001775 005 OF 010 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06 April 4, 2006 A few days ago, Foreign Minister Taro Aso indicated that Japan might not withdraw Ground Self-Defense Force troops from southern Iraqi city of Samawah until this fall or later. Touching on Aso's comment, Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi said in a press conference yesterday: "Theoretically, this is possible. I have an impression that the timing has been slipping somewhat (from originally planned)." 8) NATO willing to expand military ties with Japan in response to US proposal SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) April 4, 2006 Minoru Kageyama, London The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been studying the possibility of expanding its strategic relations with Japan and other countries in response to a proposal made by the United States, according to the April 3 edition of the British newspaper Financial Times. NATO hopes to strengthen its ties with nonmember countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Senior Foreign Vice Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki met with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer when he visited Europe late last year. The two shared the need to strengthen relations between Japan and NATO, but it remains unknown what kind of cooperation is possible in the military area. According to a senior NATO official, the US has called on NATO to strengthen its military ties with Japan and South Korea. NATO has already established close military relations with Sweden, Finland, Australia, and New Zealand, which have not joined NATO, through their dispatch of troops to operations by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Some NATO officials take the view that it would be possible to persuade Japan to accept the NATO offer if it proposes that Japan transfer Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops now stationed in Iraq to Afghanistan when they are reorganized, according to the newspaper. NATO has arranged to hold a summit meeting to discuss the reorganization of its membership, but the Japanese Foreign Ministry plans to make no specific approach, including a dispatch of troops to Afghanistan. 9) Poll: 71% want Constitution to clarify SDF existence YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) April 4, 2006 The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a nationwide opinion survey March 11-12. The survey showed that 56% said that the Constitution should be amended, the ninth consecutive year that a majority of pollees in similar surveys have favored revising the Constitution. It also showed 71% said that the supreme law should clarify the existence of the Self-Defense Forces. November will mark the 60th anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution. The results of the poll have again brought to light TOKYO 00001775 006 OF 010 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06 public support for a new basic law responsive to changes in society. Regarding Article 9 of the Constitution, 39% - the fifth- consecutive new high - said it should be revised because there was a limit to interpreting the article and putting it into practice. The survey showed that 33% said the article should be handled as it has been so far, but 21% said it should be strictly upheld and that its spirit should not be watered down through changing interpretations. Concerning the right to collective self-defense, 27% said the Constitution should be amended to allow the country to exercise the right, while 23% said interpretation of the Constitution should be changed to allow for the right to be exercised. As a result, 50 % favored exercising the right, while 44% said the right should not be exercised. Asked which constitutional issues they were interested in, 19% of respondents named the war-renouncing article and the SDF, the top for the fifth consecutive year, followed by the Emperor and the imperial family with 31% and Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine with 28%. 10) Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) presidential race: Tide of opinion now favoring Ozawa, with few moves to back another candidate ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) April 4, 2006 The main opposition party, Minshuto, will choose its new leader on April 7. Ichiro Ozawa, former vice president of the party, is gaining support from a large number of party members. The trend toward supporting Ozawa is spreading to a conservative group and a former socialist group in the party, while other groups in the party are slow to put up an opponent candidate. Yesterday, Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama in trying to build consensus in SIPDIS the party separately met with Ozawa and former party president Naoto Kan. Late yesterday, lawmakers supporting him, including former Vice President Hiroshi Nakai, visited Ozawa at his office and urged him, "If you decide to run for the race, we will do our utmost to back you." Ozawa reportedly told them, "I appreciate your encouragement." Some 30 lawmakers close to Hatoyama gathered at his office yesterday afternoon. Many of them lauded Ozawa for his strong leadership, pointing out the fact that when he had been the head of the former Liberal Party (Jiyuto),he decided to merge with Minshuto and helped the party gain more seats. They agreed to back Ozawa as a presidential candidate. The group of former socialists, including Lower House Vice Speaker Takahiro Yokomichi, also gathered at a restaurant in Tokyo. Many of them were of the opinion that they should support Ozawa. Meanwhile, Kan told the press corps after questioning at a Lower House Administrative Reform Special Committee session yesterday: "Even if I were to do a handstand, that would have no meaning unless our party wins public confidence. The first thing to do is to think about the party as a whole." When asked about Ozawa, Kan TOKYO 00001775 007 OF 010 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06 stated with some implications about coordination: "He has vast experience and high support among the public. I think he is an important person with whom I have to cooperate." Kan and some 20 lawmakers close to him gathered in Tokyo yesterday. According to House of Representatives member Satoshi Arai, many insisted that Kan should run in the presidential race, but after the meeting, Kan made only this remark to the reporters: "I have yet to make a final decision at this point. I will exchange views with many members of the party." One leading lawmaker at this gathering indicated a positive attitude about unifying candidates, but there is concern in the party that if the new president were chosen by discussion, it could be criticized as a rigged election. Hatoyama met with Kan in the Diet building yesterday, and the two shared the view that the new president should be chosen openly, and that all lawmakers should join hands with whomever is chosen. Late yesterday, Hatoyama also met with Ozawa. Ozawa told Hatoyama: "There is a tendency to hate discussion itself, but that is somewhat strange." While trying to avoid criticism of closed-door discussion, Hatoyama intends to pursue coordination in the party in trying to build consensus on Ozawa and to ensure that no bad aftertaste will be left after an election. 11) Minshuto presidential election: Ozawa winning greater support, plans to meet Kan shortly MAINICHI (Top Play) (Lead paragraph) April 4, 2006 In the run-up to the presidential election scheduled for April 7, full-scale coordination has begun within the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto). Yesterday afternoon, Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama met with former Vice President Ichiro Ozawa, former President Naoto Kan, and others. Various groups in the party also discussed yesterday what response they should make, and the Hatoyama-led group decided to support Ozawa's bid for the party presidency. As support for Ozawa increases within the party, Kan in a meeting of lawmakers supporting him last night also made remarks that could be taken as a willingness to support Ozawa's bid, saying: "In order to unite the party, there is the possibility that Mr. Ozawa and I will support each other." Ozawa and Kan are expected to meet soon to confer on a final response. 12) Minshuto presidential race; Hatoyama group, former JSP members to support Ozawa's bid, while Kan considers running YOMIURI (Top Play) (Lead paragraph) April 4, 2006 The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) held a joint plenary meeting of party members of both houses of the Diet yesterday and formally decided to hold an election on April 7 to select a successor to President Maehara. Former party President Naoto Kan met with supporters last night and indicated that he would consider running in the election. Meanwhile, former Vice President Ichiro Ozawa expressed his willingness yesterday to seek the top party post. In response, lawmakers from a group led TOKYO 00001775 008 OF 010 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06 by Secretary General Hatoyama and those who came from the former Japan Socialist Party have decided to support Ozawa. The presidential race may be a one-on-one fight between Ozawa and Kan. 13) Minshuto sets expiration of term of office for new president at end of September ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) April 4, 2006 In a joint plenary meeting of party members of both houses of the Diet held at party headquarters yesterday, the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) decided on details concerning the election of a successor to President Maehara. The party will hold the election at a Tokyo hotel on April 7, and the term of office of the new president will run through this September - the remainder of Maehara's term. 14) US asks Japan to suspend Azadegan oil field development YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) April 4, 2006 Takashi Sakamoto, Washington The US administration has decided to ask the Japanese government to immediately suspend Azadegan oil field development and to implement financial sanctions on Iran without a UN resolution if negotiations on sanctions against Iran at the United Nations fail, a US State Department official told a Yomiuri Shimbun correspondent. The official revealed the view that Japan's indication of the possibility of scrapping the contract on Azadegan oil development would induce a concession from Iran, saying, "It will become a tool to apply pressure on Iran to abandon nuclear weapons." Washington will convey this policy to Tokyo before late June, when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visits the United States. 15) Prime Minister Koizumi to visit Africa during Golden Week holidays in bid to check China SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) April 4, 2006 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit Ethiopia, Ghana, and Sweden during the Golden Week holiday period. The purpose of Koizumi's trip to Africa appears to be to check China, which has actively developed Africa diplomacy in an attempt to secure resources. Koizumi will spend seven days for this overseas trip from April 29 through May 5. He is expected to hold talks with Ethiopian government and African Union (AU) leaders at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. He intends to play up Japan's stance of strengthening relations with African countries and dealing with poverty and starvation. It will be the first time for a Japanese prime minister to visit the AU headquarters. Koizumi said, " I'm not looking for short-term success." He seems to be seeking to check China, which has been making efforts to TOKYO 00001775 009 OF 010 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06 gain African support. 16) North Korean official for security affairs who took part in Japan-DPRK talks to come to Japan at the invitation of a private organization ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) April 4, 2006 North Korea's Foreign Ministry America Bureau Deputy Director Jong Thae Yong, who was responsible for security talks in the Japan-DPRK Comprehensive and Parallel Talks held in February, will visit Japan in mid-April, several sources familiar with Japan-DPRK relations revealed yesterday. At the invitation of a private sector organization, Jong will visit Japan, and he is reportedly expected to attend a security-affairs-related conference. Jong is an expert on US affairs. He also took part in the six-party talks dealing with the North Korean nuclear programs. 17) "It is necessary to continue arms embargo against China," says Polish foreign minister ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) April 4, 2006 Foreign Minister Aso last evening met with his Polish counterpart Meller at the Foreign Ministry's Iikura Guest House in Tokyo. During the meeting, Aso expressed his concern about the EU mulling the possibility of lifting the embargo on exports of weapons to China: "China's military spending lacks transparency. It is showing growth of more than 10%. I am against the idea of lifting the arms embargo on China." Meller indicated understanding for Japan's position, noting: "In my view, the arms embargo should be maintained. At present, no EU members are in favor of lifting the measure." 18) Half the members of Prion Expert Council responsible for discussing BSE issue replaced: Members cautious on resuming US beef imports rotate out TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 9) (Slightly abridged) April 4, 2006 The Cabinet Office's Food Safety Commission (FSC) yesterday announced the renomination of members of the Prion Expert Council and the Agricultural Expert Council as of April 1. Six out of 12 members of the Prion Expert Council, which has pursued discussions on domestic measures to prevent BSE infection and conditions for resuming US beef imports, have been replaced. Several members who had been cautious about a US beef import resumption have stepped aside. There are 16 expert councils under the FSC, and there is no fixed term of office for members. In June 2004, the Cabinet Office decided to set the term of office. Following this decision, 14 councils established the term of council members and held elections on October 1 last year. Tokyo Medical College Professor Kiyotoshi Kaneko, one of the six members who quit, had been wary about a resumption of US beef imports. He made this remark: "Some newly-elected members take a cautious view on the issue. I believe they will fulfill their TOKYO 00001775 010 OF 010 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04//06 role. I found it hard to express views that are different from the government's. I hope to see the consolidation of an environment that respects such views." 19) Nationwide town-hall meetings to exchange views on US beef import ban to start from Apr. 11 MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) April 4, 2006 The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) yesterday announced a plan to hold town-hall meetings to exchange opinions with consumers on the ban on US beef imports between April 11 and April 21 at nine locations across the country. During the meetings, MAFF and MHLW will explain the US Department Agriculture's report on the inclusion of vertebral columns in a US beef shipment and its replies to questions posed by Japan. About 150 to 250 participants will be invited to each session. Those who want to take part can obtain an application form from the websites of the two ministries and send the form in by fax. The schedule of the meetings is as follows: Naha on the 11th, Sapporo on the 12th, Sendai on the 13th, Osaka on the 14th, Niigata on the 17th, Nagoya on the 18th, Hiroshima on the 19th, Fukuoka on the 20th, and Tokyo on the 21st. DONOVAN