JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/14/06

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/14/06 Index: Opinion polls: 1) Yomiuri poll: 80% of Japanese fear safety of US beef, 45% don't want to eat it 2) Koizumi Cabinet support rate slips below 40% line for first time in a year: Jiji poll 3) 39% of public think Japan should have capability to strike enemy bases, 80% see need for new law to block financial flows to North Korea: Yomiuri poll 4) Jiji poll: Half the public affirmative about Japan possessing capability to strike enemy bases 5) Survey of 47 heads of local LDP chapters finds high support for Shinzo Abe as presidential candidate but expectation of debate on Yasukuni Shrine issue Foreign policy agenda: 6) Under new ODA plan, Philippines, too, will received patrol boats from Japan, another exception to the ban on weapons exports 7) Then Ambassador to China Anami last summer sent telegram to Prime Minister Koizumi urging him to halt visits to Yasukuni Shrine 8) When Keidanren business leader Okuda met China's President Hu last year, he delivered a conciliatory message from Prime Minister Koizumi 9) Local heads near SDF's Tsuiki base where US forces to train under realignment pact voice opposition in meeting with LDP's Taku Yamasaki LDP presidential campaign: 10) LDP presidential candidate Abe trying to distance self from Koizumi policies in election campaign, stressing local needs 11) Abe wants give voters a fresh image of him in LDP presidential campaign, focusing for example on educational reform Articles: 1) 80% of Japanese have misgivings about US beef; 45% don't want to eat it, according to Yomiuri poll YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) August 12, 2006 In a nationwide poll that the Yomiuri Shimbun carried out on Aug. 5-6, 80% of the respondents answered that they felt "greatly" or "somewhat" anxious about the safety of US beef, imports of which have just been restarted. Only 19% felt no qualms about the safety of the US product. Moreover, when the public was asked about whether they wanted to eat US beef, 45% said they had no desire to eat it, while another 43% said they would "wait awhile and see the situation before deciding." Thus, about 90% of Japanese are negative about eating US beef. Only 10% are willing to eat US beef. US beef is already being sold in a few large-scale mass merchandise outlets, and the outlook is for expansion of product availability in the future. However, the polls shows Japanese consumers as a whole have misgivings about the safety of US beef, and a trend toward TOKYO 00004565 002 OF 009 constraining their purchases of the product. Regarding the government decision to restart imports of US beef, 59% or a majority of the public said they either did not approve of it or tended not to support it, far more than the 37% who said they supported the government's decision. However, even among the 37% who supported the government's decision, 60% felt anxiety about the safety of US beef. In addition, the question was asked whether it should be obligatory to require place-of-origin labeling on processed foods and even restaurant menus so that people would know if they were eating US beef. Ninety-two% agreed, revealing a strong sense of alarm that US beef might be mixed into the food Japanese are eating. 2) Jiji poll: Koizumi Cabinet support rate slips below 40% line TOKYO (Page 2) (Full) August 13, 2006 According to the results of an opinion poll for August compiled by Jiji Press on August 12, the Koizumi Cabinet support rate slipped 2.2 points to 39.4%, the first time it has fallen below the 40% line in a year. On the other hand, the non-support rate rose 3.6 points to 42%, making this the first time in a year and a half for public disapproval to outweigh the approval rate. With only two months left until Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi leaves office, it appears that the public's attention is focused instead on the race to pick his successor. The poll, carried out on August 4-7, surveyed 2,000 adults on face-to-face interview basis. The effective response rate was 70% . In terms of party support, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was up a point to 24.9%, while the main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) slipped 0.8% to 10.2%, the second month in a row for support to recede. The New Komeito had a support rate of 3.4%, unchanged from last month. The Japanese Communist Party had a 1.9% support rate (up 0.2% ),while the Social Democratic Party had 1.1% (down 0.1% ). The New Japan Party had 0.1% (up from zero last time). The People's Party had no support. 3) Yomiuri poll: 80% agree law restricting financial transactions with North Korea is "necessary"; 39% feel that Japan "should have" capability to strike enemy bases YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 13, 2006 In a nationwide opinion survey taken by the Yomiuri Shimbun (August 5-6, face-to-face survey),79% of Japanese thought that is was "necessary" to have a law restricting designated financial transactions with North Korea, as being considered by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),for the purpose of shutting off illegal funds flowing to that country. Only 13% thought that such legislation was unnecessary. The poll showed that most Japanese want new legislation to strengthen pressure against North Korea. When asked whether the planned missile-defense system to intercept incoming enemy missiles should be speeded up, 62% answered TOKYO 00004565 003 OF 009 affirmatively, while 33% did not think such should be done. In addition, in answer to the question whether Japan should have the capability of striking enemy bases that were attacking Japan with missiles, 55% did not think so, but 39% agreed. Looking at the views of supporters of the three major contenders in the LDP presidential election, 43% of the supporters of Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe were positive about Japan having such a capability, but 52% were negative. Of those supporting Finance Minister Tanigaki, 38% approved; 59% disapproved; while Foreign Minister Aso's supporters were split, 48% for and against. On the other hand, 86% of the public gave high marks to Japan's proposed United Nations Security Council resolution critical of North Korea that passed unanimously. Only 9% did not appreciate it. Asked about the UNSC resolution and the chairman's statement of the G-8 Summit that included language calling on North Korea to freeze its missile program and the like, 77% praised the role that Japan had played. 4) Jiji poll: Over 50% of Japanese affirmative about Japan possessing enemy-base strike capability SANKEI (Page 3) (Abridged) August 13, 2006 A Jiji Press poll compiled on August 12 found that 50% of the public would give positive consideration to Japan having the capability of attacking enemy bases that house missiles and the like. On the other hand, a majority of Japanese said they could not approve of Japan having a preemptive strike capability, assuming a situation that an enemy attack on Japan was imminent. The survey was carried out August 4-7 on a face-to-face basis of 2,000 adults nationwide. The effective response rate was 70% . Although only 21.8% answered that they thought Japan should possess the capability of striking enemy bases, if the 29.2% who said Japan "should consider" such a capability is added, the total of those responding affirmatively reaches 51.0% . In contrast, 34.8% said they thought Japan should not possess such a capability, and 53.5% did not approve of Japan possessing a preemptive strike capability, even if an enemy attack was judged imminent. Only 26.4% approved. 5) Poll of senior members at LDP prefectural chapters on presidential race: Many call for debate on Yasukuni issue; Abe far ahead of other candidates ASAHI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) August 12, 2006 The Yasukuni Shrine issue is certain to be a central issue of the campaign for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election in September. The Asahi Shimbun interviewed senior members at the 47 LDP prefectural chapters on the Yasukuni issue, of whom only seven praised Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe's keeping mum on the propriety of the prime minister's visits to the shrine. Foreign Minister Aso recently released his personal proposal, and Finance Minister Tanigaki has said: "I will refrain from paying homage at the shrine." Of the 47 representatives, 24 did not express support for any of the three, and many of them called for a thorough debate on the Yasukuni issue, the representative of the Toyama prefectural TOKYO 00004565 004 OF 009 branch remarking: "A national debate is necessary." In the interviews on Aug. 4-11, Abe left Aso and Tanigaki far behind in terms of party support. However, in response to a question about the three candidates' views about the Yasukuni issue, 11 supported Aso's thinking. Even though some expressed doubts about the feasibility of the Aso proposal, they praised his stance of trying to prod discussion, as the representative of the Wakayama chapter said: "His stance of trying to search for a solution is the most positive among the three candidates." Tanigaki won support from five representatives on his stance toward the Yasukuni issue. Many cited this kind of reason: "It is better for the prime minister to forgo a visit to Yasukuni in order to maintain relations with neighboring countries," said the representative from the Yamanashi chapter. Among those favoring Abe's stance toward Yasukuni, the representative from the Fukui chapter stated: "Paying homage at the shrine is a personal matter, and it is up to the individual to decide on whether to visit the shrine." Even among those who stopped short of expressing support any of the three, many called for debate to be conducted. The representative from the Iwate chapter said: "This issue cannot be put on the back burner." The representative from the Yamagata chapter remarked: "Since Yasukuni Shrine and Class-A war criminals have not been properly discussed, confusion has been caused." Meanwhile, the representative of the Okayama chapter stated: "The prime minister should visit Yasukuni Shrine in a dignified manner." In the interviews, asked for views about the consumption tax, 21 were in favor of the view proposed by Tanigaki, who said: "I would raise the tax rate to 10% by the middle of the next decade." The representative of the Hyogo chapter stated: "That is a brave statement. A raise in the tax rate will be unavoidable in the future." Asked to name the candidate most favored by chapter members, 34 chapters cited Abe. Those who picked Aso were only Fukuoka, his electoral district, and Iwate, which came up with this reply: "Abe and Aso are neck-and-neck." No prefectural representative named Tanigaki. 6) Government to provide patrol ships to the Philippines as part of ODA; Exception to three arms export principles NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) August 14, 2006 The government has decided to provide two or three patrol ships to the Philippines as grant aid from the official development assistance (ODA) program. It will shortly send a survey mission to that nation to determine the number and size of ships needed. Once that process is completed, it will provide vessels by next March. The Philippines is the second recipient of patrol ships as grant aid, following Indonesia in June. The government will regard the provision of vessels to the Philippines as an exception to the three arms export principles. The government has refrained from extending large-scale ODA loans to the Philippines for the past several years due to the unstable political situation there. However, it has decided to resume ODA TOKYO 00004565 005 OF 009 judging that conditions for ODA have now been met, following the lifting of a declaration of a state of emergency by the Philippine government in March. The Export Trade Control Ordinance under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Law defines patrol ships as military vessels. Providing patrol ships without permission infringes on the three arms export principles. For this reason, the government will make the provision of such vessels to the Philippines an and exception to the three arms export principles, by exchanging a note that calls on its government to limit the purpose of the use to cracking down on terrorists and pirates, and not to transfer them to a third party without a prior consent by the Japanese government. Maritime terrorism by pirates and Islamic militants is active in waters off the Philippines. Vessels to be provided to that nation this time will therefore be used to crack down on pirates. For funding, the government intends to use a framework for grant aid for anti-terrorism cooperation, etc., (approximately 7 billion yen), established under the fiscal 2006 ODA budget. 7) Former Ambassador to China Anami sent cable to prime minister last summer, asking him to forgo Yasukuni Shrine visit out of concern about deteriorating relations TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) August 12, 2006 It was learned yesterday that then Ambassador to China Koreshige Anami sent an official cable to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi last summer before the August 15 anniversary of the end of World War II asking him to forgo a visit to Yasukuni Shrine. He presumably did this out of concern over deteriorating relations between Japan and China. According to a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA),it is unusual for an ambassador to give advice to the prime minister in such a manner. The cable was sent to the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) through MOFA. However, Koizumi made his fifth visit to the shrine on Oct. 17, rejecting Anami's advice. Having served as director general of the MOFA Asian Affairs Bureau and other posts, Anami is a leading figure in the so-called China school, which attaches importance to relations with China. He is also known as the son of late War Minister Korechika Anami, who committed suicide in opposition to Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. He was enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine. Koreshige is, therefore, also a member of a bereaved family. Anami has refrained from making any specific comment on the cable to the media. Though exactly when he sent the cable is not clear, he did so presumably around July last year. The cable runs several pages, asking Koizumi not to Yasukuni, noting: (1) 2005 is a commemorative year for China, which marks the 60th anniversary of the victory in the war against Japan; and (2) anti-Japanese sentiment in China is surging, as can be seen in frequent demonstrations. Since the telegram was addressed to the prime minister, MOFA sent it to Kantei as is. Last July, a fierce battle over a set of postal privatization bills was going on, and the bills were narrowly adopted at a Lower House plenary session. Amid the growing prospect of the bills being voted down in the Upper House, some observers thought that Koizumi might TOKYO 00004565 006 OF 009 visit Yasukuni on August 15 and bring his tenure as prime minister to a close by fulfilling his campaign pledge. This is presumably part of the background that prompted Anami to make that move. Upon leaving his post this March, Anami sent to related sources a report that indirectly criticized Koizumi's Yasukuni visits, noting: "The Yasukuni issue has been politicized. Changing how it is visited will not resolve the problem. The premier either goes or does not." In the meantime, Koizumi after visiting the shrine last year indicated to reporters his displeasure toward China and other countries: "Others should not interfere in a matter of the heart. This is not an issue on which foreign governments can tell us what we cannot do." 8) Keidanren Okuda in secret meeting with Chinese President Hu last year relayed message from Koizumi: "I am pro-Chinese" MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) August 13, 2006 It has been revealed that Japan Business Federation (Nihon Keidanren) Chairman (then) Hiroshi Okuda had secretly met with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Sept. 30 of last year. According to informed sources, more than half of the meeting was devoted to the issue of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. Okuda relayed a message from the prime minister to the president, but President Hu criticized the prime minister's shrine visits and asked Okuda that business circles urge the prime minister to forgo a visit to the shrine. Hu also proposed that the details of the meeting not be released. On Oct. 4, Okuda informed the prime minister of the details of the meeting, but the prime minister visited the shrine on Oct. 17, the first day of the great autumn shrine festival. He had visited the shrine in formal attire until the previous year, but last year, he was dressed more casually. Participating in the 40-minute meeting with Hu were Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Chairman (then) Yoichi Morishita, Nippon Steel Corporation President Akio Mimura, Sumitomo Corporation Chairman Kenji Miyahara, and others, in addition to Okuda. Prime Minister Koizumi had not visited Yasukuni Shrine for 21 months since the New Year Day in 2004 until then, but in August 2004, he declared: "I will visit the shrine next year." Okuda told Hu: "Prime Minister Koizumi won an overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives election, so he had a free hand. But he seems to be experiencing inner conflict over a visit to Yasukuni Shrine. The prime minister told me to relay to you that 'I am pro-Chinese'." Some were also quoted as saying that Okuda passed along a personal letter from the prime minister. President Hu replied, remembering the two meetings he had held with Koizumi until then: "I clearly said (to Prime Minister Koizumi) that paying homage at Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines the souls of Class-A war criminals, hurts the feelings of the Chinese people. ... I want the prime minister to refrain from visiting the shrine from the position of assuming responsibility for the state, the people, and history as the leader of Japan." TOKYO 00004565 007 OF 009 He then asked Okuda to urge the prime minister to make a political judgment. Okuda reportedly answered: "I will convey your words to the prime minister. The business world wants to make utmost efforts to return (relations between Japan and China) to their former good shape." The Okuda-Hu meeting was announced on Oct. 22, just after the prime minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine last fall. In a regular press held by Keidanren immediately after the meeting, a barrage of questions about the meeting came from reporters, but Okuda did not disclose the details of the meeting, just saying: "I went to China privately, and not as a special envoy." In a press briefing last December, Okuda said, in reference to the prime minister's Yasukuni visit in a casual suit: "Mr. Koizumi made the best choice at that time. But nobody understands it." 9) Municipality heads around Tsuiki Air Base say in meeting with Yamasaki, Relocation of US military training "unacceptable" AKAHATA (Page 2) (Full) August 12, 2006 Taku Yamasaki, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Security Research Commission and former LDP vice president, met on Aug. 11 the mayor of Yukuhashi City in Fukuoka Prefecture, and the Chikujo town head to seek their understanding for the relocation of US military training to the Air Self-Defense Forces' Tsuiki Air Base, as decided by the government under the USFJ realignment pact. The mayor said, "I fully recognize the need for the Japan-US security alliance," he stressed. But he added, "I find it hard to accept that only residents living around certain bases will be affected." Yamasaki replied: "I will ask the government to fully respond and give consideration to the additional burden imposed on the local residents." 10) 2006 LDP leadership race: Abe finding ways for distancing self from Koizumi's influence, stressing stance of attaching importance on voters in regional areas in Upper House election ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) August 13, 2006 Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe has begun to seek ways to separate himself from the influence of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, slightly correcting his position as a successor to Koizumi's reform drive. He is now focused on an upcoming standoff with the Ichiro Ozawa led Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) in next summer's House of Councillors election. Before his supporters in his home constituency of Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Abe has declared he will run in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race He expressed consideration for local areas, stating, "We must give people working in agriculture, forestry and fisheries areas back their dreams. I want to aim at creating a primary industry in which income would increase." In a rally on Aug. 12, Shimonoseki Mayor Shigeru Ejima expressed his hopes for Abe's policy change from Koizumi's political approach, saying, "I think an Abe cabinet would support regional areas that once failed to development. The next cabinet should first praise the Koizumi reform drive, but Mr. Abe should correct part of the Koizumi reform that was wrong." TOKYO 00004565 008 OF 009 Some LDP members have criticized Koizumi, saying, "The Koizumi reform program is focused only on economic growth and it is cool to local areas." Abe underscored in the rally that though he would keep the flame of reform going, he also pledged that he would do his best to revitalize regional areas where many people feel income disparity. Abe's stance of trying to separate himself from Koizumi's policy influence is also clearly shown in his argument about the need for more public works projects. 11) LDP presidential race in 2006: Abe to show own policy imprint in campaign pledges, making clear his differences from Koizumi policies YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) August 13, 2006 Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe intends to make educational reform a main campaign pledge in his bid for the September Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential post, aiming at bringing out his policy differences from the government of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, which prioritizes such administrative reforms as postal-privatization and reform of the Japan Highway Public Corporation. He will show his own policy imprint in his campaign pledges. He apparently wants to conduct politics by placing importance on Japanese traditions, culture and virtues. In a speech delivered on Aug. 12 in the city of Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Abe reiterated the need for "nation-building," stating, "We, the postwar generation, should put our efforts into making the nation a better place." Abe regards education as one of important policy areas in making the country better. He thinks that the present educational policy should be changed, citing that the history education in elementary and junior-high schools is "masochistic" and has a strong tendency of rejecting Japanese traditional values. The Central Education Council, an advisory panel to the education ministry, decides educational policy. The council, comprising mainly of intellectuals, takes a long time -- from several months to years -- to arrive at a conclusion. Persons close to Abe are critical of the panel, citing that speedy educational reform will not be implemented as long as the council is in charge of the matter. Abe intends to vow during his campaigning the establishment of an education reform promotion council under the direct control of the prime minister. After the Hashimoto government had promoted educational reform as one of his six reforms, the Obuchi and Mori governments implemented educational reforms such as a review of the so-called pressure-free education system, the introduction of a school-choice system, and reform of the university system. However, no educational improvements have been seen under the Koizumi government. In particular, the LDP and its coalition partner New Komeito formulated this year a bill revising the Basic Education Law, but Koizumi was reluctant to run it through the Diet. As a result, the bill has been carried over to the next Diet session. TOKYO 00004565 009 OF 009 Many in the ruling camp have criticized Koizumi for having no enthusiasm for educational reform. Therefore, the timing is right now for Abe to show his differences with Koizumi in the upcoming LDP leadership race. SCHIEFFER