JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/04/06

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/04/06 Index: Foreign Minister Aso's surprise visit to Baghdad: 1) Foreign Minister Aso in Baghdad promises that Japan will continue Iraq assistance, meets premier 2) Aso's surprise Baghdad trip seen as another campaign stop in his bid for LDP presidency Yasukuni issue: 3) Prime Minister Koizumi plans to visit Yasukuni Shrine once more before leaving office, but Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe will not go on August 15 4) Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe visited Yasukuni in April in private capacity, China, ROK likely to erupt 5) Abe, Chinese Ambassador Wang tangle on Yasukuni issue during meeting 6) North Korea has 1,000 ballistic missiles and new base targeting Japan: Seoul official 7) With both Koizumi, Abe out on the campaign trail the same day, crisis management in Tokyo will take a day off 8) Okinawa to receive hefty development package for the northern part of the main island Articles: 1) Foreign Minister Aso pledges continued assistance to Iraq during talks with Prime Minister Maliki YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 4, 2006 Foreign Minister Aso yesterday visited Baghdad, Iraq, and separately met with Prime Minister Maliki and Foreign Minister Zebari. During the talks, Aso conveyed to them that following the pullout of Ground Self-Defense troops from the southern Iraqi city of Samawah, where they were engaged in reconstruction assistance, Japan would expand airlift operations by Air Self-Defense (ASDF) units and continue assistance for the consolidation of social infrastructure using official development assistance (ODA) funds. Aso is the first cabinet minister to visit Baghdad since the Iraq war started in ¶2003. During each meeting, Aso underscored, "I have come to Baghdad in order to directly convey that there will be no change in Japan's stance of assisting Iraqi reconstruction even after the withdrawal of GSDF troops." Maliki asked for investment by Japanese companies, saying, "Japan is Iraq's first friend. We want to develop relations with Japan in a wide range of areas." Zebari expressed gratitude, "The Iraqi people will never forget the assistance Japan has provided." Aso left Japan for Kuwait on the evening of the 2nd on a commercial flight and moved on to Baghdad via an ASDF C130 transport plane. He TOKYO 00004372 002 OF 006 stayed there for about five hours and went back to Kuwait on the same plane. The Foreign Ministry did not announce Aso's visit to Iraq until he left Baghdad due to the security situation there. Since the Iraq war started, then Defense Agency Director General Ono visited Samawah in December 2004 and Defense Agency Director General Nukaga in December 2005 for a tour of GSDF troops' activities there. 2) Foreign Minister Aso's visit to Baghdad an attempt to play up his diplomatic skills with eye on LDP presidential election MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) August 4, 2006 Foreign Minister Taro Aso made a surprise trip to Baghdad yesterday. He along with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe took the lead in imposing sanctions on North Korea in retaliation to the North's firing of missiles. However, Abe, known for his hard-line stance toward North Korea, grabbed the spotlight. Aso, therefore, was looking for an opportunity to play up his diplomatic skills. Since Abe has maintained his advantage over all other potential candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election in September, speculation has been rife that Aso may be aiming to keep his position as foreign minister under an Abe government. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also was considering a visit to Baghdad and the southern Iraqi city of Samawah where Ground Self-Defense Force troops were deployed, but he abandoned the idea due to the delay in the inauguration of the Iraqi government and the security situation there. In December 2004, then Defense Agency chief Yoshinori Oho visited Samawah and incumbent Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga also visited there last December. It was, however, the first time for a Japanese cabinet minister to make a trip to Baghdad. Now that international interest has shifted to Lebanon and Iran, there is little diplomatic necessity to visit Iraq now. The reason for Aso's surprise visit to Baghdad is likely his desire to display his political identity as the incumbent foreign minister with less than two months left before the LDP presidential election. 3) Prime Minister Koizumi to visit Yasukuni Shrine while still in office, centered on August 15; Will not compromise on issue with China YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) August 4, 2006 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has made up his mind to pay homage at Yasukuni Shrine before he leaves office in September. He is considering visiting the shrine on or around Aug. 15, the anniversary of the end of the war. He has decide that after his tenure ends, he will continue to visit the shrine once a year, and that he would avoid being seen as having knuckled under to the demands of China, which refused to hold summit meetings with him in reaction to his continued shrine visits. On the other hand, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, considered to be the most likely candidate to succeed Koizumi as premier, has decided to put off any visit this year to the shrine on Aug. 15. The Prime Minister when he first took office in 2001 clearly stated he would pay homage at the shrine on Aug. 15. But although he TOKYO 00004372 003 OF 006 continued to pay a visit to Yasukuni once a year, he always went on a different date in apparent deference to external relations. Meeting the press corps on Aug. 3 at his Official Residence, Koizumi stressed: "In the midst of the pro and con debate, I am not thinking that it is wrong for me to pay homage at Yasukuni Shrine. Why is my judgment not being understood?" Asked specifically about Aug. 15, he would go no far than to say, "I can only say that I will make an appropriate decision." Even at the time in July when a memo by the later Grand Steward Tomita was revealed in which the Showa Emperor expressed displeasure that Class-A war criminals were enshrined at Yasukuni, he denied that the words would have any effect on his own visit to the shrine. On the other hand, Abe, who annually visits Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, has decided to postpone such a visit this year, wishing to avoid the Yasukuni issue becoming entangled in the LDP presidential election in September. However, if the Prime Minister visits on Aug. 15, China and other countries will react sharply, and the propriety of such visits, as well as the revision of Japan's Asia diplomacy, will definitely become entangled in the LDP presidential election campaign. 4) Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe paid homage at Yasukuni in private capacity this August; Sharp reactions from China, ROK can be expected; Aso does not intend to visit the shrine, even if he becomes prime minister TOKYO (Top play) (Abridged) August 4, 2006 Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, it was learned late yesterday, paid homage at Yasukuni Shrine this year in April. This was revealed by a government source. Abe's visit to the shrine will inevitably bring about a sharp reaction from China and the Republic of Korea (ROK),since Abe is a leading contender to become the successor to Prime Minister Koizumi. According to the government source, Abe paid homage at the shrine on the morning of April 15 in a private capacity. At a press conference on July 24, Abe stated: "I paid homage to the those who died for their country by folding my hands, saying a prayer, and paying my respects." Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who intends to run in the September Liberal Democratic Party presidential race, has made up his mind to present a proposal that if he or any other candidate is elected prime minister, that person should not pay homage at Yasukuni Shrine as long as he is in office. He will present this private proposal to resolve the Yasukuni issue prior to August 15, when Prime Minister Koizumi is widely expected to visit the shrine. He will call for self-restraint on paying homage at the shrine, saying, "A proper judgment should be made, taking into consideration personal beliefs and one's public position." In his private proposal, he will state his thinking that it would be possible for Yasukuni Shrine to separate the souls of Class-A war criminals if it were made into a non-religious association. Specifically, the shrine should voluntarily return its legal status as a religious corporation and come under the government as a special corporation. At that point, it would de-enshrine the Class-A war criminals, preparing the environment for the Emperor and prime minister to visit the shrine. TOKYO 00004372 004 OF 006 5) Verbal wrangling over Yasukuni: Abe says, "China should correctly recognize Japan"; Chinese Ambassador Wang says, "Let's built relationship of mutual trust" SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) August 4, 2006 Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe and Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi attended a "Tokyo-Beijing Forum" held yesterday in Marunouchi, Tokyo. The two had a battle of words. Sparks flew between them amid speculation that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi may visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. Abe stressed: "The revival of militarism, which Chinese sources often talk about, is beyond the Japanese people's imagination and is impossible. We will be able to start a constructive discussion after China recognizes Japan correctly." He also pointed out: "According to an opinion poll, only 15% of the Chinese people feel friendship with Japan. One of the reasons for this low figure is Chinese people's misunderstanding about (Japan)." He continued: "In 2002, a view of China's economic development as a threat was spreading in Japan. Prime Minister Koizumi, however, clearly stated that China's economic growth is an opportunity, not a threat. We should prevent individual issues from adversely impacting on overall Japan-China relations. To that end, we should aim for an accurate perception of each other through dialogue." He again criticized China for refusing to hold a summit due to Koizumi's visits to the Shinto shrine. He called for resuming dialogue between the two countries, saying, "Let's build a relationship under which we will be able to carry out dialogue straightforwardly without worrying about friction, discarding a weak friendship." In response, Ambassador Wang obliquely criticized Koizumi's annual visits to Yasukuni Shrine, stating: "Japan-China relations have been strained due to a reason known to everybody. That is something we do not want to see. I hope the bilateral relationship will return to a normal path and improve, overcoming the current situation as early as possible." Wang added: "By correctly acknowledging history, we can build a stable bilateral relationship. Let's rebuild mutual confidence between a new generation of leaders. How to resolve the issue is a matter that should be determined by the Japanese public. China will respond in good faith to a wise decision by Japan, leading to a compromise." Wang's remarks are believed to have been a message to Abe, who is TOKYO 00004372 005 OF 006 regarded as the front-runner in the September Liberal Democratic Party presidential election. 6) North Korea has 1,000 missiles: World's fourth-largest missile power, according to South Korean analysis; Missiles bases under construction on coastline along Sea of Japan MAINICHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) August 4, 2006 Seoul, Tetsuo Nakajima South Korea's state-run Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security, which reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in late July compiled a report on the development of ballistic missiles by North Korea. The details of the report were unveiled yesterday. According to the report, North Korea possess approximate 1,000 missiles of various types, which makes the nation the world's fourth-largest missile power, following the US, Russia, and China. The report read that new underground bases clustered on the coastline along the Sea of Japan are targeting Japan and US military bases there. It also pointed out that its relations with Pakistan and Iran, imports of parts from China, and the use of Russian engineers have contributed to Pyongyang's success in the development of missiles. Professor Yun Dok Min at the institute, who is a well-known expert on North Korea's nuclear arms and missiles, compiled this report. He traced the development and deployment of missiles by North Korea since 1960 and explained that long-range missiles targeting Okinawa are deployed at 10 underground missile bases. The report pointed out that a number of underground missile bases, which are now under construction or have already been completed, are for medium- and long-range missiles that target Japan and US military bases there. The report also noted that there is the possibility of Taeopodong-2 missiles being deployed at some of those bases. 7) Both prime minister, chief cabinet secretary leave Tokyo for the regions leaving no one in charge of Kantei TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) August 4, 2006 Both Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe will tour regional cities today. It is unusual for the prime minister and chief cabinet secretary to both leave Tokyo at the same time. What kind of crisis management system is this? The prime minister and chief cabinet secretary are responsible for responding to a state of emergency, including natural disasters, and to spearhead the entire government during such times. It is the rule that either the premier or the chief cabinet secretary should be somewhere nearby the Prime Minister's Official Residence even on holidays. However, Koizumi is expected to tour on Aug. 4-5 the historic place of Yoshida Shoin and other places in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Abe will attend meetings in Kyoto and Osaka to discuss his second chance support program. Therefore, neither will be in Tokyo from the afternoon of Aug. 4 to the afternoon of the 5th. Abe, at a press conference yesterday, stated, "Deputy chief cabinet TOKYO 00004372 006 OF 006 secretaries will be in charge of crisis management. So there will be SIPDIS no problem." Since Koizumi will visit the city of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Abe's home constituency, some observers think that the two are leaving Tokyo to stump for the LDP presidential election campaign. 8) Government decides to allocate 8.5 billion yen for development of northern Okinawa: Allocation of funds next year not certain ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) August 4, 2006 The government yesterday decided to allocate 8.5 billion yen for expenses for a pineapple cultivation research project in the northern part of the Okinawa mainland for this fiscal year. Futenma Air Station is set to be relocated to this area. This year's budget for development of northern Okinawa is 10 billion yen. A second allocation is scheduled for December. When it adopted its policy regarding USFJ realignment at a cabinet meeting, the government decided to abolish the 1999 cabinet decision that included development projects for northern Okinawa. It is, therefore, unclear whether the project will be continued into the next fiscal year and beyond. SCHIEFFER