JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/13/06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001990 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 04/13/06 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule Defense and security issues: 4) Data leak at Misawa Air Base through Winny software 5) Okinawa Prefecture to go along with two-runway plan for Futenma relocation, appreciates reduction of security burden 6) Japan asks US for large reduction in estimated total cost of Guam relocation 7) Yokosuka Navy Base faces labor strike that could impact on carrier's embark 8) JDA presents outline of bill to LDP that would raise its status to ministry level North Korea problem: 9) China's vice foreign minister: No restarting of 6-party talks this month as US, DPRK remain intransigent 10) US, DPRK talks did not materialize in Tokyo; Japan, US ratchet up pressure on the North 11) Government asks cooperation of South Korea to tackle North Korea abduction issue based on new DNA revelation 12) Iran's announcement of successful uranium enrichment has Japan worried its oil field project in that country will be affected 13) Former Prime Minister Nakasone calls for removal of enshrined Class A war criminals from Yasukuni Shrine Political agenda: 14) Gap still wide but narrowing between Shinzo Abe and Yasuo Fukuda in popular choice for next premier: Yomiuri poll 15) LDP, New Komeito agree to change controversial word in amended Basic Education Law to "love of nation and homeland" 16) Minshuto comes out against administrative reform bill, demands major overhaul 17) With US, China reaching agreement to resume beef trade, Japan expects US to heighten pressure on it to do the same Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: LDP, New Komeito agree on idea of including in revised education law "patriotism" definition as a "mind that loves the nation and homeland" Mainichi: USEN mulls taking full control of Livedoor Yomiuri: Okinawa Prefecture set to accept Futenma relocation plan after release of final report on US force realignment Nihon Keizai: Small, mid-size firms in precision parts and die-cast businesses increasing capital investments TOKYO 00001990 002 OF 012 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Lynch murder case: Police tried for negligence (2) Six-party talks: Cold wind blowing Mainichi: (1) One year after anti-Japanese demonstrations: Strained relations between Japan, China have negative impact on Asia (2) Lynch murder in Tochigi: Police must take judgment seriously Yomiuri: (1) Fundamental Law of Education: Dispute over "patriotism" finally comes to end (2) Despite highest record of yuan's value, US still dissatisfied Nihon Keizai: (1) Distrust in EU exposed in general election in Italy (2) Japan, South Korea should join hands on North Korea's abduction, nuclear issues Sankei: (1) Judgment in lynch-murder trial "Investigation neglect" has weighty meaning (2) Perfect international coalition necessary against Iran's nuclear development Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Tochigi murder case: Police must fulfill duty of protecting citizens' lives (2) GM restructuring: Reliable business partner necessary 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, April 12 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) April 13, 2006 09:56 Met National Personnel Authority President Tani at Kantei. 11:40 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe. 14:28 Met LDP Secretary General Takebe. 16:00 Met Brazilian Foreign Minister Amorim and others. 17:47 Met LDP Public Relations Bureau Director Ishizaki. 18:25 Had a haircut at Capitol Tokyu Hotel. 20:46 Arrived at residential quarters in Kantei. TOKYO 00001990 003 OF 012 4) Misawa base data, including permits to enter premises, uploaded to Internet via Winny MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) April 13, 2006 Report by the cyberterrorism news coverage team Information including data on permits required for entering US Misawa Air Base in Misawa, Aomori Prefecture, and lists of registered vehicle numbers, have been uploaded to the Internet via the Winny file-sharing program, sources revealed yesterday. Experts have warned that such data, still in effect, might threaten the security of the base. According to data obtained by the Mainichi Shimbun, the lists are written in English and included some Japanese names. The data is believed to have been uploaded to the Internet in late March. Included in the data were permits issued to 109 construction workers and 77 vehicles. Additionally, such information as names, genders, dates of birth, names of companies, and specific work was listed. They are believed to be lists of companies and their workers who undertook repair work for a building at the base this past March. An official of an Aomori civil engineering company on the list acknowledged that engineering work had actually been conducted and that company employees were on the list, saying: "Our company carried out work at the base in around March. The people on the list exist." Besides these lists, the data includes construction reports in English. Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. is also listed as a contractor. A company spokesperson noted: "We don't know because we haven't been able to get hold of the person in charge. We would like to check facts." Both the US Forces Japan Headquarters Public Affairs Department in Tokyo and the US Misawa Base press section said, "We cannot make any comments, because officials in charge are not here." Officials of the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Facilities Administration Agency also said, "We are not in a position to comment." The Air Self-Defense Force is jointly using Misawa Air Base. Comment by military analyst Kazuhisa Ogawa Equipped with a signal-monitoring facility commonly called an "elephant cage," Misawa Air Base is an extremely vital base for the US military. Someone could enter the base by passing himself off as a construction worker by forging a permit based on the leaked data. The use of data by a terrorist group for subversive acts could seriously damage the US military's global strategy. 5) Okinawa ready to OK Futenma relocation YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged) April 13, 2006 Okinawa Prefecture has informally told the government that it TOKYO 00001990 004 OF 012 overall appreciates and accepts the planned realignment of US forces in Japan, including a plan that has been basically agreed on between Tokyo and Nago City to relocate the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the city. The Okinawa prefectural government, however, has set preconditions for its acceptance of the realignment process on a formal accord between the Japanese and US governments to translate a package of burden-lessening steps into action. Specifically, Okinawa has asked Tokyo to cut 8,000 US Marines from those stationed in Okinawa, return bases in the middle and southern parts of Okinawa's main island, and transfer fighter jet training flight missions from Kadena airbase to elsewhere. Okinawa Prefecture's Governor Keiichi Inamine is ready to meet with Prime Minister Koizumi this month as soon as the two governments works out a final report on their realignment efforts. The governor will then welcome it. With this, the relocation of Futenma airfield, a major issue left pending in the process of realigning the US military presence in Japan, is now expected to reach a settlement. The government plans to lay down a V-shaped pair of airstrips at the site of an alternative facility to be built in Camp Schwab's coastal area (across the cape of Henoko in the city of Nago) to take over the heliport functions of Futenma airfield. Meanwhile, Inamine met with Defense Agency Director General Nukaga on April 8 and told the defense chief that he would oppose the coastal relocation plan. Inamine also said he would respect the city's decision on its own. The government has yet to show the whole picture of measures designed to alleviate Okinawa's base-hosting burden. "If the package matches the request we presented to the government, then I will give it my positive evaluation," Inamine told his aides. On April 11, Okinawa asked Tokyo to redo a cabinet decision to replace the government's initially adopted Henoko offshore heliport installation plan with the newly agreed Camp Schwab coastal relocation plan after the final report is released. "The governor can't change his basic stance over the Futenma issue right away because of the circumstances in the past," an influential supporter of Inamine said. "That's why," this supporter added, "he says he will 'respect' (Nago City's decision to accept the government's overtures of V-shaped tarmacs)." He also said, "That's the same as his de facto acceptance (of the government's coastal relocation plan),and we also support the prefectural government's stance." The government is legally required to ask for the governor's permission before it can start filling in the sea to build the replacement facility. "That's the matter we'll talk about after an environmental assessment (three years from now)," the governor said. With this, the government is thinking of foregoing his decision on whether to give go-ahead or not. 6) USFJ realignment; Japan to call for substantial reduction in cost of relocating US Marines to Guam to less than 8 billion dollars NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Excerpts) April 13, 2006 TOKYO 00001990 005 OF 012 Tokyo and Washington will resume working-level talks of officials responsible for foreign and defense affairs in Tokyo starting today. The US estimates the cost of transferring US Marines stationed in Okinawa to Guam at approximately 10 billion dollars, but Japan plans to call on the US to cut the amount to less than 8 billion dollars. Since the US estimate covers the cost of building facilities for the Navy and the Air Force, as well, Tokyo intends to ask it to limit the coverage of cost calculations to facilities for the Marine Corps, taking into account the wary atmosphere in the ruling camp about the massive fiscal burden Tokyo will likely have to bear. The government has recently struck a deal in principle with Nago City on its acceptance of the relocation to Camp Schwab of Futenma Air Station. The government wants to give impetus to a final agreement on the issue before the end of the month, by paving the way for the settlement of the relocation of US Marines to Guam, the greatest obstacle in working-level talks. Japan plans to pay over 30% of the relocation cost from the general account and over 30% in loans, using the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. It hopes that the US will cover the remaining 30% or so. 7) All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union planning strike at Yokosuka Naval Base due to loggerheads with government and US military over continued employment; Kitty Hawk's departure may be affected; Talks with DFAA on April 14 TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Abridged) Evening, April 12, 2006 The All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union (Zenchuro) composed of Japanese workers employed at US bases in Japan has been at loggerheads with the government and the US military over employment conditions. In the event their collective bargaining April 14 with the Defense Facilities Administration Agency breaks off, union members are planning to stage a large-scale strike for the first time in 15 years at Yokosuka Naval Base, where the US Navy's Seventh Fleet is based, sources revealed. The strike may delay the departure of the USS Kitty Hawk based at Yokosuka and hinder US military operations. Yokosuka Naval Base is characterized as an essential base for the US military's global strategy. The USS Kitty Hawk based at Yokosuka is scheduled to be replaced with the USS George Washington in 2008. Of the 5,400 Japanese employees at the Yokosuka base, 1,700 engineers work at the Ship Repair Facility (SRF). The Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement stipulates that the employment of Japanese workers and their labor conditions are basically subject to domestic laws and ordinances. But in reality, making changes to their treatment is not possible without US consent. The union is demanding that those over 60 of age be allowed to continue to work at US bases in accordance with the revised Law for the Stabilization of Employment of the Aged that took effect April 1. The law basically obligates employers to continue the employment of all workers in accordance with their wishes to match the gradually delay in the eligible age to start receiving TOKYO 00001990 006 OF 012 pensions. That can be achieved either by raising the mandatory retirement age, introducing a continued employment system as was agreed upon between labor and management, or abolishing the mandatory retirement system. Although private corporations have reportedly completed implementing one of those systems, a conclusion has yet to be reached for Japanese workers employed by US bases. The union has criticized the DFAA's stance toward the US military as weak-kneed, while the DFAA simply indicated that it would do its best to obtain the understanding of the US military. The two sides have yet to find common ground. A union member noted, "The US military, especially the Navy, is insistent on having discretionary powers to determine those subject to continued employment." According to a union executive, several hundred members are planning to put pickets at the base's gates. Details of the strike will be determined after talks. "We are not hesitate to adversely affect the departure of the Kitty Hawk expected to occur in late May," a union member said. Meanwhile, a DFAA labor union affairs official said, "We have been working hard so that the US military and the union can reach a basic agreement to (avoid the strike) in line with the union's position." 8) Defense Agency presents to ruling coalition outline of bill to upgrade itself to a ministry MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) April 13, 2006 The Defense Agency presented yesterday the outline of its bill to upgrade itself to the level of a ministry to the ruling coalition parties, which aim to submit a set of relevant bills to the ongoing Diet session. The agency plans to have the bill submitted as a set along with another bill amending the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Law so that international peace cooperation activities would become an SDF primary duty. The agency proposes two amendments to the SDF Law that add to the SDF's primary duties: (1) activities in response to contingencies in areas surrounding Japan; and (2) activities that contribute to stability of the security environment through the promotion of international cooperation. The anti-terrorism special measures law and the Iraq reconstruction special measures law would be characterized as supplementary provisions to the SDF Law as is. However, activities to be conducted under those two laws would be interpreted as part of the SDF's primary duties. The ruling parties will likely start full-scale coordination next week or later. 9) No resumption of six-party talks in April, according to Chinese vice foreign minister; No compromise between US, DPRK YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) April 13, 2006 TOKYO 00001990 007 OF 012 Chief representatives to the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear programs yesterday continued mutual contacts in order to bring about a resumption of the six-party talks, but their efforts ended without results yesterday. Some of the representatives, including those from Japan and the United States, called on North Korean officials to return to the six- party talks unconditionally, but North Korea simply reiterated its position that the first order of business must be lifting the financial sanctions imposed on it. Because of the failure to gain any prospect for restarting the six-party talks, which have been suspended since last November, the US is certain to bolster its hard-line attitude toward North Korea in the days ahead. US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill and South Korea's Office of Korean Peninsula Peace and Diplomacy Chun Yung Woo met yesterday morning. Chun briefed Hill on his meeting on the night of April 11 with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan. After the meeting, Hil told reporters that resuming the six-party talks "would benefit not only us but also North Korea." Chun said, "It's difficult to find a point of compromise between the US and North Korea." Wu Dawei, vice foreign minister of China, the host nation of the six-party talks, yesterday was asked by reporters at Narita Airport about the possibility of restarting the six-party talks in April. Wu replied, "No." 10) Japan, US shifting emphasis toward pressuring North Korea; No talks between US, DPRK NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Excerpts) April 13, 2006 Senior officials from the United States, China, and South Korea, who had been visiting Japan to attend an international academic conference, sponsored by a private organization, left for their home countries yesterday. Talks between the US and North Korea at the conference had been viewed as a key to a resumption of the six-party talks but never occurred. The US has instead decided to take a fresh sanction measure against North Korea. A stable Korean Peninsula is in the common interests of Japan, the US, and South Korea, and the three countries have used the two policy lines of dialogue and pressure as the situation demands, but they are likely to move to put even more pressure on North Korea in the near future. New sanction measure In addition to financial sanctions already imposed on North Korea, the US will take add a fresh punitive measure against North Korean ships starting on May 8. The US Department of the Treasury will amend the regulations on foreign asset management so as to prohibit US firms and Americans to possess or use North Korean ships. This action is unlikely to have a substantial impact on the North, but it is intended to underscore America's position of increasing pressure on that country. A high-level US official explained: "We will deal with such human rights issues as North Korean defectors during the upcoming US- China summit talks set for April 20." In the US-China summit, Washington apparently intends to make clear its position of driving Pyongyang into a corner by intensifying pressure on it. TOKYO 00001990 008 OF 012 ROK shows sign of turning around its policy South Korea has until recently advanced its reconciliation policy but it is now showing signs of shifting the stance. Chun Yung Woo, chief of South Korea's Office of Korean Peninsula Peace Talks, visited Japan and attended a trilateral meeting of Japan, the US, and South Korea for the first time in a long while, although Seoul until then had avoided taking part in such a meeting out of fear of irritating Pyongyang. Before leaving Japan, Chun told reporters: "I hope North Korea has a good perception about the common voice of other members of the six- party talks and used that to consider returning to the six-party talks." On April 11, the Japanese government unveiled the results of DNA tests on Megumi Yokota's husband as if to be timed with individual talks between major representatives to the six-party talks. Many observers analyzed this move of Japan as aiming to form a coalition against North Korea by bringing South Korea, which also has the abduction issue, into the abduction talks. 11) Japan asks ROK for cooperation on abduction issue, plans to provide Megumi Yokota's daughter's blood for DNA testing NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) April 13, 2006 Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe yesterday discussed on the phone with South Korean Ambassador to Japan Ra Chong Il the results of DNA tests that showed a strong possibility that the husband of Megumi Yokota might have been a South Korean abductee and said to him: "We'd like to work in close cooperation with your country in the future as well." The government plans to provide a blood sample from Megumi Yokota's daughter, Kim Hye Gyong, and South Korea intends to conduct a DNA test independently. Abe expressed gratitude for cooperation from the South Korean government in the process of obtaining blood samples from families of South Korean abductees. Referring to Japan-South Korea cooperation, Ra stated: "After verifying the facts based on (our own DNA test result and other means),we'd like to consider a future response, heeding the wishes of the victims' families." 12) Iran succeeds in producing enriched uranium; Japanese government concerned about impact on oil field development MAINICHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) April 13, 2006 Iran announced on April 11 that it has succeeded in producing low- grade enriched uranium. The announcement came amid the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) efforts to have Iran drop its uranium-enrichment project. Some observers anticipate that the UN may invoke economic sanctions against Iran under the lead of Western powers in fear of Iran's possible development of nuclear weapons. Talk is also growing for US military action against it. The Japanese government and business circles are closely looking at the situation. Should oil prices rise further in response to the tense situation, a damper could be put on Japan's rising TOKYO 00001990 009 OF 012 economy. Further, the United States might urge Japan to suspend the development of the Azadegan oil field in Iran. Crude oil prices are now likely to go up further. On the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) crude oil futures market on April 11, the Wet Texas Intermediate (WTI) to be delivered in May closed at 68.98 dollars per barrel, up 0.24 dollars from the previous day. This figure is close to the highest ever record of 69.81 dollars on August 30 of last year. The intensifying situation in Iran is a cause for anxiety for Japan's energy policy. Japan imported about 230 million barrels of oil from Japan in 2004. Iran is its third largest oil supplier (15% of Japan's imports),following United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Japan has also established a friendly relationship with Iran. In February 2004, the two countries signed a contract for a project to develop the Azadegan oil field, the largest oil field in Iran. Given this, the Japanese government is now in a quandary. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe criticized Iran in a press conference yesterday: "If it is true that Iran has started enriching uranium, it is highly regrettable." But he emphatically said that Japan would try to bring about a settlement through diplomatic efforts, indicating that Japan would like to avoid economic sanctions. The US, though, is expected to step up efforts toward UNSC economic sanctions against Iran. The Japanese government has no other choice for the time being but to work on both the US and Iran to continue diplomatic efforts. It has exchanged views with the US. 13) Former Prime Minister Nakasone calls for separate enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) April 13, 2006 Speaking at a study session yesterday of new lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine, former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone criticized China and South Korea, "It is narrow- minded to reject summit meetings due to the Yasukuni issue." He then added: "I don't go along with the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (in which Class-A criminals were tried). However, leaders at the time had responsibilities for the consequences. I am one of those who calls for enshrining the Class-A criminals at Yasukuni Shrine separately from the other war dead. I think such would be possible if the head of the shrine so decides." 14-1) Poll: Fukuda closes in on Abe in post-Koizumi race YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) April 13, 2006 In a recent face-to-face public opinion survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun on April 8-9, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe topped the list at 44%, down 1 percentage point from last month's survey, as the most likely successor to Prime Minister Koizumi, TOKYO 00001990 010 OF 012 who has clarified his intention to step down in September. In the survey, respondents were asked to pick one from among nine persons in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party as the post- Koizumi leader. Abe stood out of all other candidates, following the two previous surveys taken in February and March. In the latest survey, however, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda rose 3 points to 13% in public support, starting to close in on Abe. Among other post-Koizumi candidates in the LDP, Foreign Minister Aso stood at 5%, down 1 point from last month; Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Takenaka at 3%, leveling off from last month; former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato at 2%, leveling off from last month; Environment Minister Koike at 2%, also flat from last month; Finance Minister Tanigaki at 1%, down 1 point. 14-2) Poll: Post-Koizumi race YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) April 13, 2006 Questions & Answers (Figures shown in percentage.) Q: Prime Minister Koizumi has clarified that he would step down when his term as LDP president expires in September this year. Pick only one from among the following nine persons if there is anyone who you think is appropriate as the next prime minister. Taro Aso 5.0 Shinzo Abe 44.0 Koichi Kato 2.3 Yuriko Koike 1.9 Heizo Takenaka 2.6 Sadakazu Tanigaki 1.2 Fukushiro Nukaga 0.2 Yasuo Fukuda 13.2 Taku Yamasaki 0.5 Others, none, no answer 29.2 Polling methodology Date of survey: April 8-9. Subjects of survey: 3,000 persons chosen from among all eligible voters throughout the country (at 250 locations on a stratified two-stage random sampling basis). Method of implementation: Door-to-door visits for face-to-face interviews. Number of valid respondents: 1,823 persons (60.8%). Breakdown of respondents: Male-48% , female-52% . 15) LDP, New Komeito agree to define "patriotism" as "a mind that respects tradition and culture, loves the country and homeland that have fostered them" ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) April 13, 2006 A study panel on a revision of the Basic Education Law of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito yesterday agreed to find a suitable expression for "patriotism" by calling it "a mind that respects tradition and culture, loves the country TOKYO 00001990 011 OF 012 and homeland that have fostered them." Following this, the government and ruling coalition will hurry up coordination in order to submit a bill to the current Diet session. Coordination will not go smoothly because some LDP lawmakers will likely oppose the panel's decision and because there will be need to extend the term of the ongoing Diet session in order to pass the bill. Regarding the description of patriotism, the panel accepted its chairman Tadamori Oshima's proposal with no changes. The panel also agreed in effect to retain such wording as "in accordance with the sprit of the Japanese Constitution," which is stipulated in the preamble to the Constitution, as well as "(education) is not compliant with improper control," which is included in a clause of the education administration law. 16) DPJ to present counterproposals to government's administrative reform promotion bill; Drastic revision to government-sponsored projects TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) April 13, 2006 The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or DPJ) at a meeting of its "next cabinet" decided to oppose the government's administrative reform promotion bill. It will introduce counterproposals to the Diet today. The major opposition DPJ will thus come up with a stronger confrontational stance in Diet debate on administrative reform as well. The DPJ's bill will consist of the following features: (1) establishing an administrative renewal conference chaired by the prime minister for a major transfer of central-government- sponsored projects to local governments; and (2) strengthening regulations on the prevention of government-office-led bid- rigging and amakudari practices by retiring bureaucrats. A senior DPJ Policy Research Council member noted that in calling for revisions to government-sponsored projects, the DPJ would claim that the abolition or decentralization of unnecessary projects would contribute to eliminating over 40% of such projects. As measures to prevent government-office-led bid-rigging, the DPJ will propose reviewing qualifications for companies that have accepted retired bureaucrats to take part in bidding and strengthening a regulation that restricts former bureaucrats reemployed in the private sector from asking for the provision of information on biddings from government offices to which they belonged. The DPJ bill will also include various proposals it has made in the past, including reform of the civil servant system, government-affiliated financial institutions, and the special account system. Commenting on his party's bill, DPJ Policy Research Council Chairman Takeaki Matsumoto on April 12 told a news conference: "Leader Ozawa said that in presenting such a bill, it is important that the basic positions on various proposals are solid. In this respect, we are in total agreement with Mr. TOKYO 00001990 012 OF 012 Ozawa." He also explained why the DPJ is against the government bill, "It has become clear during the process of discussions on the bill that its contents are opaque." 17) Japan may come under greater pressure to resume US beef imports YOMIURI (Page 8) (Full) April 13, 2006 Now that an agreement has been reached between Washington and Beijing on China's reinstatement of US beef imports, Japan may come under heavy fire for its continued rejection of beef trade with the US. US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns noted in the April 11 press conference, "China's decision will send a signal throughout the world (that US beef is safe)." China has expressed its willingness to match its import conditions to international standards. The US may urge Japan to ease significantly its standards, which are more severe than those of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE),in resuming US beef imports. SCHIEFFER