JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 05/02/06

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002400 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 05/02/06 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule Alliance enters new stage: 4) US, Japan seal USFJ realignment agreement at two-plus-two meeting in Washington, but skirt issue of total cost of implementation 5) JDA chief Nukaga at two-plus-two proposes new scheme of US- Japan defense cooperation to replace "guidelines" 6) Two-plus-two statement stresses US-Japan cooperation to stop nuclear plans by Iran, North Korea, and seeks transparency from China on arms buildup 7) US strategy in USFJ realignment aims at stronger deterrence against China 8) Biggest hurdle to realignment agreement will be implementation, especially local coordination and 3-trillion yen total cost to Japan 9) Prime Minister Koizumi to explain realignment agreement to Okinawa Governor Inamine prior to cabinet approval of pact 10) New Komeito puts off approval of bill raising JDA to a ministry, giving priority to passage of revision of Basic Education Law Koizumi diplomacy: 11) Prime Minister Koizumi in Africa pledges $18.7 million to help resolve Sudan dispute 12) Koizumi's speech to African assembly aims at creating new links with countries on that continent South Korean ties: 13) Senior Vice Foreign Minister Shiozaki presses ROKG to set up meeting of foreign ministers 14) LDP's Taku Yamasaki told in Seoul that four candidates vying to succeed Koizumi as prime minister all lack leadership 15) ROK poll: For South Koreans, Japan is the second most feared country after North Korea 16) Asahi poll: 70% of public, 90% of people in their 20s, never heard of the Tokyo War Crimes Trials Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES All five newspapers: Japan, US reach final accord on realignment of US forces in Japan; Japan-US alliance enters new stage; Futenma base relocation to be completed by 2014 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: 
(1) Do you know about the Tokyo War Crimes Trials? (2) Tokyo and Fukuoka should present persuasive blueprints for hosting the Olympics Mainichi: (1) Japan-US security talks: Prime Minister Koizumi must talks TOKYO 00002400 002 OF 010 about the shape of new alliance (2) Iran's nuclear issue: International community, centering on China and Russia, should continue efforts to convince Iran Yomiuri: (1) 60th anniversary of Tokyo Trial: Japanese people must examine its war responsibility (2) Enforcement of Corporate Law: Corporations are now free to design institutional arrangements Nihon Keizai: (1) Japan should get chance for economic growth in global markets by promoting reforms Sankei: (1) Tomorrow is Constitution Day: Is Japan prepared enough for threats? Let's amend Article 9 of the Constitution to build foundation for independence Tokyo Shimbun: (1) USFJ realignment: Implementation is not going to be an easy process (2) Forest conservation: Consideration needed for protecting the woods 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, April 30 & May 1 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) May 2 Evening, April 30 Attended dinner party hosted by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles. Stayed at Sheraton Addis Hotel. Morning, May 1 Met at AU headquarters with AU Commission Chairman Konare. Delivered speech on Japan's Africa policy. Afternoon Attended luncheon hosted by Konare. Left (for Ghana) from Addis Ababa Airport on government plane. 4) Futenma relocation to be completed in 2014; Japan, US reach final accord on USFJ realignment NIHON KEIZAI (Top play) (Abridged) May 2, 2006 WASHINGTON-Japan and the United States held a 'two-plus-two' meeting of their intergovernmental security consultative committee on the morning of May 1 (late at night on the same day Japan time),with their cabinet ministers for foreign and defense affairs attending. In the meeting, the Japanese and US governments reached a final agreement on the planned realignment of US forces in Japan. The final report specifies a timetable to complete the relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the island prefecture by 2014 and also to complete the redeployment of about 8,000 US Marines from Okinawa to Guam by that year. Consequently, the two governments have now wrapped up TOKYO 00002400 003 OF 010 their realignment talks held for about three years. The 'two-plus-two' ministerial was held at the US Department of State with Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga attending from Japan and Secretary of State Rice and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld from the United States. Nukaga met the press after the meeting and stressed: "It's about time to consider the objective and ideal of bilateral security arrangements between Japan and the United States in the place of the current guidelines (for bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries)." In response to the agreement, the Japanese government is expected to present a package of relevant legislative measures for fund- raising purposes to the Diet at its extraordinary session this fall at the earliest. However, the final report does not touch on Japan's total share-estimated at 26 billion dollars or approximately 3 trillion yen-in cost sharing for the overall realignment of US forces in Japan. In the Diet, opposition parties are poised to hard pursue the grounds for Japan's cost sharing to that huge extent. The government will be held accountable for the purpose and significance of base realignment plans. The final report focused on two major challenges in terms of integrating the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and US Forces Japan (USFJ) for their strategic fusion and alleviating Okinawa's base- hosting burden. The final report also refers to the planned construction of a replacement facility for Futenma airfield, aiming at its completion by 2014. The final report describes the overall return of Futenma airfield after its relocation. The newly planned alternative facility for Futenma airfield is designed to have a V- shaped pair of airstrips with an overall length of 1,800 meters. The final report presumes that it will take three years to carry out an environmental assessment of construction methodology and will take five years to complete construction work. The final report estimates the agreed redeployment of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam at 10.27 billion dollars (approx. 1.2 trillion yen). Japan is to pay 6.09 billion dollars including a fiscal outlay of 2.8 billion dollars. The United States will bear the rest. The Japanese and US governments once agreed to complete Guam relocation by 2012 but will have it coincide with Futenma relocation. 5) At 2+2 meeting, JDA Director-General Nukaga proposes creating new framework for defense cooperation, which will replace "guidelines" YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) May 2, 2006 By Tatsuya Fukumoto, Washington At a joint press conference held at noon of yesterday (early hours of today) after the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (2+2),Defense Agency Director-General Nukaga stated that "I said it might be time to reconsider the purposes and principles of the previous Japan-US guidelines for defense cooperation," which were established in 1997. He revealed that he TOKYO 00002400 004 OF 010 had proposed at the 2+2 meeting that consultations be launched to create a new framework for defense cooperation that would replace the previous guidelines. As bilateral consultations on the realignment of US forces in Japan have bolstered the direction of expanding and deepening the Japan-US alliance, the JDA wanted to insert a review of the guidelines into a final report. Its thinking is that "the guidelines have already become antiquated, because they have few words about missile defense, for example," according to a senior JDA official. However, the Foreign Ministry has been unwilling to review the guidelines, with Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi remarking: "We don't think there is anything inconvenient about the guidelines for now." In addition, some in the US government are of the opinion that "what is necessary is a new framework that will be more powerful than the guidelines." A review of the guidelines was not specified in the final report. Nukaga therefore proposed reviewing the guidelines at the 2+2 meeting and, he revealed at the press conference that he had made such a proposal. 6) Japan, US to cooperate to discourage North Korea and Iran from developing nuclear arms; Will seek transparency in China's military buildup NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Full) May 2, 2006 The governments of Japan and the US during a joint press briefing after yesterday's meeting of the Bilateral Security Affairs Committee (two-plus-two meeting of defense and foreign ministers) announced their determination to strengthen bilateral cooperation in order to prevent North Korea and Iran from developing nuclear arms. Tokyo and Washington shared concerns about a threat from China's military buildup and the Taiwan Strait issue, though they avoided singling out that country or to name the place in question. Regarding Iran's uranium enrichment activities, the statement noted: "Japan and the US will persuade Iran to suspend all of its uranium enrichment-related activities and fully cooperate for inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The two countries have arrived at an agreement on the need that the UN Security Council acts in cooperation." Regarding North Korea's nuclear issue, Japan and the US called on that nation to come back to the six-nation talks unconditionally and immediately; dismantle its nuclear weapons program dismantle its nuclear weapons programs in a complete, irreversible and verifiable way; and suspend all illegal activities. On China's military buildup, the statement underscored that there should be more transparency regarding its move to modernize its military power in the region. Touching on the Japan-US joint strategic target mapped last February, which for the first time alluded to the need for a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan Straight issue, the statement noted that Japan and the US would closely cooperate in order to achieve that target. TOKYO 00002400 005 OF 010 7) US strategy now focuses on deterrent capabilities against China YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) May 2, 2006 By Fumi Igarashi, Washington The US government's basic strategy appears to use the ongoing realignment of US forces in Japan to boost its deterrent capabilities against China, which has continued an arms buildup at a rapid pace. Washington will next seek to implement what has been agreed on (between Japan and the US) and deepen cooperation between the US forces and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF). The joint statement released after the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (2+2) yesterday mentioned that "(four cabinet members) sought an even more transparency of modernization of military capabilities in the region." This phrase does not point to any country by name, but it apparently takes into account China, which continues its military buildup focusing on air and naval forces and spends two to three times annually what it says are its military expenditures. The US Department of Defense in its Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) unveiled this February clearly describes China as "a most potential competitor for the United States in military terms," and indicates the US remains alert to that country. Pentagon thinks that in order to prevent China from taking hostile action in the future, it is essential for the US to establish a defensive system with its allies. In this sense, the ongoing realignment of the US forces in Japan is the first step toward that goal. 8) High hurdles remain before implementation of US force realignment plans MANICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) May 2, 2006 Negotiations with local communities running into difficulties The final report completed by Japan and the US on the morning of May 1, local time, proposes large-scale realignment plans for US forces in Japan, with a senior Defense Agency official calling it "the largest-scale reorganization in a half century." But no agreement has yet to be reached in the government on how to secure the fiscal resources to finance the plans, and the formation of detailed plans will start from now. The government is facing difficult negotiations with many base-hosting communities on which a greater burden will be inevitably imposed, including Zama City in Kanagawa Prefecture and Iwakuni City in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Uncertainty is still looming large over the feasibility of the planned USFJ realignment. As for the thorniest issue of transferring the US Marines' Futenma Air Station, It is expected to take "three years for an environmental assessment and five years for construction." This is the most optimistic scenario, and if the relocation process is delayed, the entire realignment timetable might be significantly moved back to a later date. TOKYO 00002400 006 OF 010 With respect to the return of US military bases in the southern part of the Okinawa mainland, the final report incorporated this expression: "That depends on Japan's financial contributions." This can be taken as a message from the US that if coordination in the government does not go smoothly over Japan's share of the total cost to transfer Marines to Guam, the US will postpone the base-return plan. Final report stops short of specifying 3 trillion yen The US estimated Japan's share of the total cost for realigning US forces in Japan at 3 trillion yen. But this figure was not included in the final report. The report, though, noted: "The Japanese government will bear the expenses needed for constructing facilities and other purposes to which there is no reference in the report." This means that Japan will have to shoulder a huge amount of expenses, including those for the transfer of the Futenma Air Station and carrier-based aircraft to the US Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Base, in addition to about 6.09 billion dollars (about 700 billion yen) as its share of the total cost to relocate Okinawa-based Marines to Guam. The US has yet to present a definite overall estimated cost for realigning US forces in Japan, so there is no adequate basis for the 26 billion dollars (about 3 trillion yen) presented by US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Lawless as Japan's share of the total realignment cost. 9) Prime minister to explain USFJ realignment plans to Okinawa governor prior to cabinet approval of government policy MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) May 2, 2006 Following a final agreement reached between Japan and the US on the realignment of US forces in Japan, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi decided yesterday that he would meet Okinawa Governor Keiichi Inamine prior to cabinet approval of the government's realignment policy. The prime minister intends to explain plans to reorganize US military facilities in Okinawa, including the relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to a coastal area of Camp Schwab, as well as measures to spur Okinawa's development, in an effort to solicit understanding from the governor. 10) New Komeito to put off procedures to approve bills upgrading Defense Agency to a ministry, giving priority to amending Basic Education Law YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) May 2, 2006 The New Komeito has decided to postpone to June the procedures for approving a set of bills upgrading the Defense Agency to the status of a ministry. The government has been preparing the bills to submit them to the current Diet session. The reason is because the Defense Agency is expected in June to release a report on measures to prevent a recurrence of rid-rigging practices, as well as to arrive at a decision on an organizational reform plan to dismantle the Defense Facilities Administration Agency (DFAA). The New Komeito thus has made it clear that it will not discuss the issue of upgrading the Defense Agency to a ministry until the TOKYO 00002400 007 OF 010 bid-rigging scandal involving the DFAA is resolved. In the background, many party members are opposed to the idea of having a revision of the Basic Education Law and the upgrading of the Defense Agency occur at the same time. Therefore, unless the term of the ongoing Diet session is extended, it will be difficult to pass the bills to upgrade the agency to a ministry during the current session. New Komeito head Kanzaki and Secretary General Tetsuzo Fuyushiba were enthusiastic about an early realization of upgrading the Defense Agency to the status of a ministry under the present leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),having mind the original agreement with the LDP on upgrading the agency when the two parties formed a coalition, as well as a change in October of New Komeito top executives. They were also concerned that if the bills were carried over to next year's ordinary session, there could be a negative effect on unified local elections and the Upper House election. Following the LDP's Defense Division's approval on April 28 of the name of "a Defense Ministry" and the outline of the plan to upgrade the agency, some New Komeito lawmakers said that party should start internal discussions soon after the Golden Week holidays in early May. However, there is entrenched opposition to upgrading the Defense Agency within the New Komeito and its support organization, the religious sect Soka Gakkai, citing the move harks back to past militarism and nationalism. In an attempt to prevent the bills upgrading the agency from being put off to next year's regular Diet session, the New Komeito intends to go along with the LDP's plan to introduce the bills to the current Diet session and then to carry them over to the next Diet session. 11) Prime Minister Koizumi pledges 18.7 million dollars to resolve conflict in Sudan; Stresses support for Africa's effort to become self-reliant YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpt) May 2, 2006 Prime Minister Koizumi on the morning of May 1 (evening of the same day, Japan time) made a speech on Japan's Africa policy at the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the speech, he revealed his determination to continue providing financial cooperation to Africa to back its effort to become self- reliant. As an immediate measure, Japan will outlay a total of 18.7 million dollars to be used to resolve the conflict in Darfur, Sudan. The prime minister also indicated a desire to tackle reforming the UN Security Council in cooperation with African nations. 12) Prime Minister in speech calls for cooperation with Africa; Strategic move for UN reform YOMIURI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) May 2, 2006 Tetsuo Hidaka, Addis Ababa Prime Minister Koizumi in a speech on Japan's Africa policy underscored a stance of attaching importance to Africa, reflecting the fact that it is now of urgent necessity to deal with poverty, disputes, and infectious diseases facing Africa. TOKYO 00002400 008 OF 010 Another reason is that Africa, which accounts for about 30% of UN members, is indispensable for Japan's efforts to realize its diplomatic policy, including reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC),in the international community. In the speech, the prime minister called for strengthened ties with Africa in wide areas, such as measures to deal with infectious diseases, the global environment, energy, terrorism, and UN reform. Famine and infectious diseases in Africa are now major issues for the international community. The prime minister has presented Japan's first overall action program to deal with infectious diseases as a launch of full-fledged assistance. Another reason for his Africa visit is to make a strategic move for reform of the UN and the UNSC. Japan last year presented along with Germany, India, and Brazil a resolution to expand the UNSC but failed to have it adopted. The reason for the failure is that it was unable to coordinate with the African Union. This year, Japan has drafted its own UNSC reform proposal intended to increase membership by six seats and sought support from concerned countries, but its effort failed. For Japan, which is desperately trying to regain momentum, strengthening relations with African nations is essential in finding a breakthrough, as a Foreign Ministry source put it. It wants to obtain understanding for UN reform by promoting cooperation in various fields. The prime minister's visits to Africa also appear to be intended to counter China, which is stepping up diplomacy in the region, which has rich natural resources, including oil. 13) Senior Vice Foreign Minister Shiozaki calls for early Japan- South Korea foreign ministerial TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Excerpts) May 2, 2006 Kiyoshi Nakamura, Seoul Senior Vice Foreign Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki met with Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon in Seoul yesterday and proposed that Japan and South Korea should hold a foreign ministerial meeting at an early date. According to a South Korean news agency, Shiozaki called for a foreign ministerial on the sidelines of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Qatar to start on May 23, and Ban replied: "We will consider it positively." In the meeting, both sides reconfirmed the contents of the agreement reached in the bilateral vice ministerial talks on April 22 on the issue of Japan's maritime research. They also agreed to swiftly schedule negotiations on demarcating their exclusive economic zones (EEZ). 14) LDP's Taku Yamasaki, now visiting ROK, says, "There's no strong leader" to succeed Prime Minister Koizumi ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) May 2, 2006 TOKYO 00002400 009 OF 010 By Yu Nogami, Seoul Former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Vice President Taku Yamasaki, now visiting South Korea, late yesterday said of the four contenders to succeed Prime Minister Koizumi, namely, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, Foreign Minister Aso, and Finance Minister Tanigaki: "A powerful candidate has yet to appear. In the past, there have been people who have been recognized as powerful leaders by many people. A typical example of this was 'San-Kaku-Dai-Fuku-Chu' (meaning San=Takeo Miki; Kaku=Kakuei Tanaka; Dai=Masayoshi Ohira; Fuku=Takeo Fukuda; Chu=Yasuhiro Nakasone). They were neck and neck with one another. But I can't feel something like that from the present contenders called 'Asa-Gaki-Ko-Zo' (Asa=Taro Aso; Gaki=Sadakazu Tanigaki; Ko=Yasuo Fukuda; Zo=Shinzo Abe)." Yamasaki was replying to questions from reporters traveling with him. Earlier in the day, Yamasaki met with lawmaker Kim Ki Choon of the opposition Grand National Party (Hannara) and others in Seoul. Yamasaki explained to them that Prime Minister Koizumi visits Yasukuni Shine based on "his belief," telling them, "This issue will be surely resolved by the person who succeeds Mr. Koizumi." Yamasaki, however, did not mention who is likely to succeed him and how the issue will be settled. 15) Poll in South Korea: Japan is the second-most-feared country, following North Korea MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) May 2, 2006 Kyodo, Seoul According to the South Korean CBS Radio, an opinion poll conducted on April 26 found that 29.5% of respondents cited Japan as "a threat to South Korea's national security," following the 30.8% of those picking North Korea. Regarding the special speech delivered by President Roh Moo Hyun on April 25, in which he expressed his determination to hold sovereignty over the Takeshima (Dokdo) islets, 85.8% supported the speech, including 53.7% of respondents who strongly supported it. Asked about a South Korea-Japan summit, 63.3% said: "The South Korean president should hold a meeting with the Japanese prime minister and convey his position more specifically and clearly to the Japanese leader," while 24.1% replied: "There is no need to hold a South Korea-Japan summit." 16) Poll: 70% don't know about Tokyo Trials ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) May 2, 2006 Way back in the postwar days after the end of World War II, when Japan was under occupation, the United States and other allied powers tried Japan's WWII Class-A war criminals in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East or the Tokyo Trials. Six decades later, 70% of the Japanese public do not know TOKYO 00002400 010 OF 010 what the Tokyo Trials were, the Asahi Shimbun found from its recent public opinion survey. Among those in their twenties, 90% did not know anything about that court. Among those who unaware of the court, few were opposed to the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine and the prime minister's visits there. Meanwhile, 69% think the Japanese people have not yet fully pursued responsibility for the war. The survey was conducted across the nation on April 15-16. A total of 3,000 persons were sampled out of the nation's voting population for face-to-face interviews. In the survey, respondents were asked if they knew what the Tokyo Trials were. In response to this question, 4% answered "very well," with 23% saying "somewhat." By contrast, 53% answered they knew that there was such a court but did not know what it was, with 17% saying they did not know that there was such a court. As seen from these figures, a total of 70% were unfamiliar with the Tokyo Trials. Respondents were also asked if they were in favor of prime ministers visiting Yasukuni Shrine. In response, "yes" accounted for 50%, with "no" at 31%. DONOVAN