DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/20/06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 002162

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SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/20/06

INDEX:

(1) Takeshima issue: ROK rejects Japan's compromise solution

(2) Japan's plan for Takeshima survey: Japan, ROK still in
standoff over survey; Tokyo looks for ways to finalize the issue
with diplomatic efforts, while Seoul remains tough toward Tokyo

(3) Why marine survey now? - Questions and answers: Counteraction
against ROK ahead of international conference on naming of sea
floor

(4) Editorial: Japan must proceed with yen loans to China calmly
centering on the environment

(5) Ginoza mayor: The central government made it clear that there
will be no touch-and-go drills at alternate facility

(6) Editorial: Top priority should be on removing people's
anxiety about PCB waste

(Corrected copy) Japan, ROK trade last-minutes barbs over
Takeshima survey; Japan looking for ways to reach breakthrough,
while ROK adopts parliamentary resolution seeking cancellation of
survey

ARTICLES:

(1) Takeshima issue: ROK rejects Japan's compromise solution

YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
Evening, April 20, 2006

The two Japan Coast Guard (JCG) survey ships - "Kaiyo" and
"Meiyo" - will conduct a marine survey in the waters around
Takeshima. This morning they were awaiting the go-ahead for their
departure off Sakai Port in Tottori Prefecture. The government is
proceeding with preparations for the survey, while making every
possible effort to resolve the current standoff with South Korea,
which is opposed to Japan's planned survey. In this regard,
Ambassador to South Korea Shotaro Oshima met with South Korean
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki Moon in Seoul.

At a meeting this morning of the Upper House Committee on Foreign
Affairs and Defense, Foreign Minister Aso emphasized that the
planned survey is legitimate and will be implemented at least in
Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ),adding, "Under
international law, there is no problem on our side." He also
stated: "Negotiations are underway via diplomatic channels in
trying to avoid unforeseeable circumstances and aiming to reach a
peaceful solution."

Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe also told the press corps: "Japan and
South Korea continue informal conversations, aiming to bring
about an amicable solution. We'd like to watch in what direction
they will head."

Meanwhile, in South Korea, Song Min Soon, chief secretary to the
president for unification, foreign, and security policy in the
Blue House, today indicated the government's intention to reject
Japan's compromise proposal that if South Korea were not to bring
up a proposal for using Korean names to describe undersea
topography at the upcoming international conference, Japan would

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cancel the survey. Song said: "We won't withdraw (our proposal on
the use of Korean names to describe topography)." Song was making
these remarks on a KBS radio program.

(2) Japan's plan for Takeshima survey: Japan, ROK still in
standoff over survey; Tokyo looks for ways to finalize the issue
with diplomatic efforts, while Seoul remains tough toward Tokyo

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Excerpts)
April 20, 2006

Japan and South Korea are in a standoff over Japan's plan for a
marine research survey in the waters surrounding Takeshima (or
Dokdo in Korean). The Japanese government has begun looking for
ways to resolve the standoff via talks, although it is proceeding
with preparations for the survey. South Korea's still tough
stance toward Japan makes it bleak for the two countries to
resolve the standoff via talks.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe told a press conference
yesterday: "We'd like to finalize the issue as amicably as
possible. From this standpoint, we've been in contact with South
Korean officials." "We are proceeding with preparations
philosophically and somberly," Abe added, revealing his
expectations for a settlement through negotiations with South
Korea.

As the reason why the government decided to implement an
oceanographic survey, Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi has
explained: "South Korea has conducted the survey in the same sea
area over the past four years."

Japan has cited the need for preparations for an upcoming
international conference on sea floor topography slated for June
as the direct objective of its planned survey. The survey comes
under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT)
and will be implemented by survey vessels of the Japan Coast
Guard (JCG). A senior MLIT official revealed: "Preparations for
the survey began quite some time ago. From the beginning we have
been in contact with the Prime Minister's Official Residence and
the Foreign Ministry on the survey plan and have discussed it
with them."

The JCG has announced that the survey will be conducted from
April 14 through June 30. This timeframe seems to be the best,
given the time necessary for analyzing the survey results and
topographical naming the areas in time for the upcoming
international conference.

Japan has yet to find a catalyst for improving relations with
South Korea, but Tokyo in its heart wants to avoid adding any
fuel to the current flames of tensions. On April 17, Vice Foreign
Minister Yachi met with South Korean Ambassador to Japan Ra Jong
Yil and told him: "If South Korea were to steer clear of
submitting geographical names at the upcoming international
conference, Japan would not have to conduct a marine survey."
Tokyo keeps a "watch on how Seoul will respond to" while
proceeding with preparations for dispatching survey boats,"
according to a government source.

(3) Why marine survey now? - Questions and answers: Counteraction
against ROK ahead of international conference on naming of sea
floor

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NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Full)
April 20, 2006

Q: What is the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)?

A: The EEZ is a sea zone over which a coastal nation has
sovereign rights in such economic activities as commercial
fishing, as well as exploration and development of natural
resources. The EEZ runs a distance of 200 nautical miles or some
370 kilometers out from the coast of a nation (which is the basis
of the nation's territorial waters). As the distance between
Japan and South Korea is less than 400 nautical miles,
theoretically, the equidistant line or the median line between
the two nations is the boundary of their respective EEZs. Japan
and South Korea both claim Takeshima, and depending on which of
the two nations the islets come under, the median line between
the two nations will change. The EEZs asserted each by Japan and
South Korea overlap each other in a portion of the waters around
Takeshima.

Q: Which country has sovereignty over the waters around
Takeshima?

A: In 1952, The Republic of Korea government of Syngman Rhee
(1946-60) declared that country's sovereignty over Takeshima.
South Korea since then has installed guards on a regular basis on
the isles and maintained effective control there in order to make
public its claim. The area around Takeshima is a fertile fishing
ground for red snow crabs, sea urchins, abalone, and other marine
products. Under the Japan-ROK fishery pact that took effect in
1999, both sides designated that fishing ground as a provisional
zone under their joint control, but the fact is that Japanese
fishing boats cannot enter the area freely. Discontent among
local fishermen about fishery rights in those waters in effect
led to the proclamation of "Takeshima Day" by the Shimane
Prefectural Assembly.

Q: Why has Japan planned to carry out marine research now?

A: An international conference on naming sea-floor topography
will be held in Germany in June. It will be co-hosted by the
International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). Participating
nations will each bring their proposals for names of undersea
mountains and marine basins and discuss which names are
appropriate. South Korea has already decided on the Korean names
of four locations in the area that comes under the EEZs of Japan
and South Korea, and it intends to obtain a seal of approval for
such names at the conference. To counter such a move by the ROK,
Japan judged it is necessary to carry out a survey on its own.

Q: How will Japan conduct the survey?

A: The survey will be conducted by sending sound waves from the
vessel's bottom to the sea floor and detect the responses. Data
on geography, geology, and temperatures can be obtained by
surveys, but the planned survey will be focused on geography. The
survey is expected to be completed in a week or so.

Q: Are there any grounds for South Korea to seize Japanese survey
ships?

A: The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea regards government-

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owned ships as "public ships" and grants them the right of not
being seized or searched in any sea areas. But when (one nation's
public ships) conduct a survey in another country's EEZ, the
former needs to obtain approval from the latter. The survey Japan
has planned this time include the sea area that comes under both
Japan's and South Korea's EEZs. That's why South Korea has raised
an objection to Japan's survey plan. Reportedly, South Korea has
an option of using a larger patrol boat to push (Japan's) survey
ships out of (South Korea's) EEZ if they were not to observe an
order by South Korea to stop.

(4) Editorial: Japan must proceed with yen loans to China calmly
centering on the environment

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full)
April 20, 2006

The government's decision on yen loans to China has slipped to
fiscal 2006. The delay is ascribable to the Liberal Democratic
Party's inability to reach an agreement in rough-going Japan-
China talks on the development of gas fields in the East China
Sea, as well as other factors. Projects subject to yen loans for
fiscal 2005 have already been decided. But with no clue as to
whether bilateral relations will improve soon, there is no
prospect for a cabinet decision.

Last year, Japan obtained China's consent to terminate yen loans
by 2008 when Beijing will host the Olympics. Only three years
including fiscal 2005 remain. It goes without saying that
development aid is a diplomatic tool, and that Japan must deal
with the gas field issue firmly. With an end to yen loans near at
hand, it would not be wise to become emotional.

At the same time, we would like to see China take actions in
consideration of Japanese national sentiments in dealing with
matters, including the gas field issue.

Japan's yen loans to China started in fiscal 1979. In the early
days, Japan's assistance focused on industrial infrastructure
that supported that country's reform and open-door policy, such
as ports, harbors, and railways. The emergence in the late 1990s
of environmental issues related to industrialization prompted
Japan to shift its focus to environmental protection, pollution
control, and human resources. At present, aid is not being
extended for industrial infrastructure. Fiscal 2005 projects are
all related to the environment and human resources.

Yen loans for environment-related projects up to fiscal 2004
reached 850 billion yen, or about 30% of the whole. Their
efficacy has been confirmed by a survey by Kyoto University and
other institutions. The survey covered 16 air and water pollution
projects of the fourth yen-loan term (FY1996-2000). The
institutions estimated that the sulfur dioxide emission reduction
effect at the surveyed area was 190,000 tons, which corresponded
to one-fourth of Japan's total emissions of 800,000 tons in 2000.
Improved water-supply facilities have also helped purity water.

China's environmental contamination is also felt in Japan through
acid rain, marine pollution, and other phenomena. Environmental
deterioration would also constrain China's economic development.
As seen in global warming, it is essential for China to take
solid environmental measures as a member of the international
community.

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Although it is China's primary responsibility to take proper
measures, Japan is happy to cooperate. Japan intends to continue
extending technical cooperation to improve the environment even
after yen loans are terminated. Apart from economic cooperation,
the Clean Development Mechanism to extend funds and technology to
projects reducing carbon dioxide emissions has also been set in
motion.

The strategic utilization of the official development assistance
(ODA) program must not be confined to pure diplomatic issues.
Dragging China into a post-Kyoto Protocol framework would be one
approach. Striking a balance between the environment and
development is also specified in the ODA Charter that was revised
in August 2003. It is essential to use yen loans to China to help
improve the environment of not only East Asia but also the rest
of the world.

The best way is to proceed with yen loans calmly until the end,
while saying what we have to say.

(5) Ginoza mayor: The central government made it clear that there
will be no touch-and-go drills at alternate facility

OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full)
Evening, April 19, 2006

Ginoza

Regarding a plan to build two runways at the coastline of Camp
Schwab in Nago, the relocation site for the US Marine Corps'
Futenma Air Station, Mayor Hajime Azuma of Ginoza, a village
close to the relocation site, said earlier today:

"I have been told clearly by the central government that (US
Marine aircraft) would not conduct touch-and-go drills. We
discussed the fundamental agreement based on that direction, and
the village believes there will be no such drills."

The mayor also noted about the deployment of MV22 Ospreys,
vertical takeoff and landing aircraft: "I have clearly heard from
the central government that such aircraft would not be deployed."

Before the House of Representatives Committee on Security,
Defense Agency Director Fukushiro Nukaga indicated yesterday that
Japan and the United States had not discussed the possibility of
conducting touch-and-go drills at the alternate facility. He
said:

"There are three small (fixed-wing) planes (that will be
relocated). They are liaison planes, and I have not been told
that they would be used in drills. We didn't discuss specifically
how the US military would deal with them."

At the same time, Nukaga explicitly said regarding touch-and-go
drills, currently conducted by US Marines at Futenma Air Station,
"I have no direct knowledge of US military operations."

Telephone opinion survey shows increase in opponents to V-shaped
plan; Nago mayor dismisses allegation that he breached his
campaign pledge

Nago

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In a recent public opinion survey conducted by the Okinawa Times,
71% of respondents expressed opposition to the plan to build two
runways in a V shape at the coastline of Camp Schwab in Nago to
replace Futenma Air Station. Earlier today, Nago Mayor Yoshikazu
Shimabukuro commented on the results:

"In such a telephone survey, it's easier to say 'disagreeable'
than 'agreeable.' People tend to express opposition more strongly
(than they actually feel). Still, I would like to explain the
results (to citizens) by taking them as they are."

Shimabukuro also emphatically said:

"Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga first presented
an X-shaped plan designed to fly planes over land. I fought with
him and eventually succeeded in moving it to the ocean side. I
didn't give in to the government's pressure. People are not aware
of that fact. I gave my consent to the (V-shaped) plan because
the flight paths do not go over residential areas."

In reaction to allegation that Shimabukuro breached his campaign
pledge, the mayor said, "I don't think I broke my campaign
pledge."

Regarding the Okinawa Times' opinion survey in which 70%
disapproved the two-runway plan, an Okinawa government official
said yesterday, "The results reflect the Okinawa public's
disapproval of the coastal plan."

He also took this view about the fact that 70% of respondents
supported Gov. Keiichi Inamine's stance opposing the coastal
plan:

"The prefectural government has always been opposed to the
coastal plan. At the base lies the Okinawa public's long-
cherished dream of removing Futenma Air Station out of the
prefecture. In a sense, the results are natural."

(6) Editorial: Top priority should be on removing people's
anxiety about PCB waste

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 5) (Full)
April 19, 2006

The government has decided to dispose of all PCB (polychlorinated
biphenyl) waste by 2016. But troubles over PCB disposal
facilities have continued to occur. In order to smoothly carry
out the plan to dispose of the waste, the public's anxiety must
first be assuaged above anything else.

If we speak of PCBs, what comes to mind first is the Kanemi
cooking-oil incident. This serious case of mass food poisoning
occurred in 1968 in western Japan. About 13,000 victims were
affected, some seriously. People who consumed the cooking oil
contaminated with PCBs suffered from serious skin eruptions and
inflammation of the eyelids.

In the wake of the incident, the government banned the production
and importation of PCBs, which are often used as insulation oil
and in insulators. The deadline for the disposal of PCBs has been
set. In view of their toxicity, PCBs must be destroyed as early
as possible.

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It is only natural that many people who still remember the Kanemi
Incident are worried about PCBs. It is understandable therefore
that construction and operation of disposal facilities have been
accompanied by trouble.

According to the nation's basic plan, Japan Environment Safety
Corporation (JESC) is building government-funded disposal
facilities in Kitakyushu City, Osaka City, Toyota City, Koto Ward
in Tokyo, and Muroran City, in order to proceed with the
detoxification of PCBs. However, only two facilities in the
cities of Kitakyushu and Toyota have started operating.

At the facility in Toyota City last November, the distillation
tank's manometer came off and liquid including PCB evaporated. As
a result, gas was discharged outside the facility. Although
Toyota City has authority for the operation of the industrial
waste disposal facility, and it has concluded an environmental
protection agreement with JESC, it does not intends to allow the
facility to restart its operation unless the city's security
surveillance committee, which includes representatives of its
citizens, agrees to it.

Besides the nation's basic plan, Nippon Sharyo built a disposal
facility in Handa City, Aichi Prefecture, in an attempt to enter
the industrial waste disposal business. It was discovered that
the facility had 26 violations, areas that did not match to the
city's regulations. The city assembly has severely charged the
company with lacking social responsibility.

People are concerned that there might be defects hidden in the
more critical parts of the facility. If changes are made without
taking the prescribed procedure and giving explanations to local
residents, people will deepen their distrust in the facility.

The public is paying strict attention to such companies in view
of our country's history of industrial pollution, including the
Yokkaichi case decades ago. The disposal of PCB waste is a
settlement of the negative legacy of the past. But efforts to
dispose of PCB waste themselves must not heighten public concern.

A fast way to smoothly move ahead with the PCB disposal operation
is to examine technical and systematic problems that had caused
the accident, as well as to disclose full information to the
public.

(Corrected copy) Japan, ROK trade last-minutes barbs over
Takeshima survey; Japan looking for ways to reach breakthrough,
while ROK adopts parliamentary resolution seeking cancellation of
survey

ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts)
April 20, 2006

The government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) has raised a strong
objection to the Japan Coast Guard's (JCG) plan for a marine
survey within (Japan's) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that
includes the waters around Takeshima (Dokdo),which is claimed by
both Japan and the ROK. The Japanese government, hoping to
resolve the standoff, continued negotiations with the ROK
yesterday. ROK Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade Ban Ki Moon is
expected to call Japanese Ambassador to the ROK Shotaro Oshima
this morning to convey his country's response to the Japanese

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side. Meanwhile, the JCG's two survey boats yesterday arrived at
Sakai Port in Tottori Prefecture and are standing by there for a
survey. Depending on the response from the ROK, relations between
the two countries are likely to go from bad to worse.

Prime Minister Koizumi late yesterday stated: "I'd like to deal
with the matter in accordance with international law." When asked
by reporters at his official residence about the strong
opposition raised by the ROK government, Koizumi said: "It's
better not to be overly excited. Japan will respond in a non-
emotional manner." He called on the ROK to respond cool-headedly.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe told a press briefing yesterday:
"Following international law, both sides need to respond coolly.
Our planned survey is a scientific one, and I think it is the
same as the ones conducted by other countries." Abe indicated
that a marine survey is allowed without giving prior notice to
other countries under the United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea.

He also revealed that Japan was discussing the matter with the
ROK, saying: "We on the part of Japan want to resolve it as
amicably as possible. We are in contact with South Korean
officials."

According to a government official, Administrative Vice Foreign
Minister Shotaro Yachi yesterday met with ROK Ambassador to Japan
Ra Jong Yil in Tokyo and suggested adopting a prior notification
system under which both countries would give prior notice to each
other on surveys.

In addition, Japan has suggested to the ROK that if the ROK did
not apply to the upcoming international conference in June for
permission to use Korean names to describe the ocean floor in the
area, Japan would postpone the survey.

But the ROK appears unwilling to change its stance in spite of
this suggestion. Ban said, "If Japan immediately withdrew its
(survey) plan, we'd be able to respond to negotiations with
Japan." As it stands, no clue for resolving the standoff is in
sight.

SCHIEFFER