Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TOKYO7027
2006-12-18 08:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:
DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 12/18/06-1
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 007027
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: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 12/18/06-1
INDEX:
(1) Yomiuri-Gallup poll: More in Japan, US see bilateral ties in
good shape; North Korea's nukes concern Japanese, Americans
ARTICLES:
(1) Yomiuri-Gallup poll: More in Japan, US see bilateral ties in
good shape; North Korea's nukes concern Japanese, Americans
YOMIURI (Page 14&15) (Full)
December 16, 2006
A recent Japan-US joint opinion poll conducted by the Yomiuri
Shimbun and the Gallup Organization, a US pollster, posted an
increase in the level of the Japanese public's confidence in the
United States. In addition, the poll also found a rise in the
Japanese public's appreciation of the Japan-US Security Treaty and
the US military presence in Japan. This is because many people in
Japan felt that North Korea's firing of missiles and its conducting
of a nuclear test were grave threats to Japan's national security.
An increasing number of people in Japan seem to be thinking that the
United States is the only country Japan can rely on in the end.
Questions & Answers
(Figures shown in percentage)
Q: Is there anything you trust in particular among the following
organizations and public entities in your country? If any, pick as
many as you like.
Japan US
Prime minister 53.8 ---
Diet 30.4 ---
Police, prosecutors 42.1 ---
Courts 61.3 ---
Self-Defense Forces 59.4 ---
Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, churches 43.9 ---
Central government offices 23.8 ---
Local governments 34.2 ---
Schools 35.7 ---
Hospitals 55.6 ---
Newspapers 67.6 ---
Television 46.9 ---
Big businesses 30.0 ---
Labor unions 28.7 ---
Other answers (O/A) 0.4 ---
Nothing in particular 5.0 ---
No answer (N/A) 0.4 ---
Japan US
President --- 46.2
Congress --- 47.6
Police, prosecutors --- 74.4
Courts --- 63.7
Armed services --- 86.5
Churches --- 70.1
Federal government offices --- 51.4
Local governments --- 63.8
Schools --- 71.8
Hospitals --- 81.9
Newspapers --- 52.3
Television --- 43.6
TOKYO 00007027 002 OF 007
Big businesses --- 43.4
Labor unions --- 45.5
O/A --- 16.2
Nothing in particular --- 0.6
N/A --- ---
Q: Do you think Japan-U.S. relations are currently in good shape, or
do you otherwise think Japan-US relations are in bad shape?
Japan US
Very good 3.2 15.9
Good 49.9 45.4
Can't say which 19.6 24.3
Bad 21.1 6.1
Very bad 1.4 1.0
N/A 4.9 7.3
Q: Do you trust the US?
Japan US
Yes, very much 8.7 ---
Yes, somewhat 32.4 ---
No, not very much 34.0 ---
No, not at all 12.6 ---
N/A 12.3 ---
Q: Do you trust Japan?
Japan US
Yes, very much --- 27.2
Yes, somewhat --- 48.5
No, not very much --- 14.6
No, not at all --- 6.2
N/A --- 3.4
Q: Do you think deregulation and other reforms will make further
progress under Prime Minister Abe who came into office after Prime
Minister Koizumi?
Japan US
Yes 26.7 27.0
Yes to a certain degree 12.4 35.3
No to a certain degree 16.4 6.4
No 30.9 7.3
N/A 13.6 24.1
Q: Do you think Japan-US relations will improve, worsen, or remain
unchanged from now on with Prime Minister Abe in office?
Japan US
Improve very much 1.3 3.0
Improve 11.2 27.5
Remain unchanged 75.1 50.9
Worsen 6.5 4.3
Worsen very much 0.4 0.4
N/A 5.5 13.8
Q: Do you think Japan-China relations will improve, worsen, or
remain unchanged from now on with Prime Minister Abe in office?
Japan US
Improve very much 2.1 0.9
TOKYO 00007027 003 OF 007
Improve 36.2 24.3
Remain unchanged 46.5 38.1
Worsen 8.4 17.3
Worsen very much 0.8 1.3
N/A 6.0 18.1
Q: If there is a country or area that you think will become a
military threat to your country, pick as many as you like from among
those listed below.
Japan US
US 23.6 ---
Japan --- 16.2
South Korea 24.4 24.4
China 54.5 44.4
ASEAN 11.9 24.2
EU 8.7 12.3
Russia 38.9 27.5
Taiwan 8.8 11.4
North Korea 79.6 75.1
India 15.1 12.2
Middle East 29.0 78.0
Oceania 4.9 4.6
Africa 5.6 10.4
Central and South America 6.8 18.6
O/A 0.4 13.5
Nothing in particular 7.1 6.7
N/A 2.3 0.3
(Note) ASEAN = Association of Southeast Asian Nations; EU = European
Union; Oceania = Australia, New Zealand, etc.
Q: There are many conflicts or standoffs around the world. What is a
matter of concern to you? If any, pick as many as you like from
among those listed below.
Japan US
North Korea's nuclear, missile development 92.0 87.6
Iran's nuclear development 75.7 87.1
Armed insurgents in Iraq 76.9 89.5
Taliban remnants in Afghanistan 62.1 85.5
Israel, Palestinian issue 61.9 80.7
Confrontation between China and Taiwan 44.8 48.8
Islamic radicals in Indonesia 46.5 71.4
Civil wars in Africa 38.0 57.0
Worsening relations between the US and Venezuela 19.5 45.6
O/A 0.8 8.4
Nothing in particular 3.4 1.6
N/A 1.2 0.1
Q: Do you think the Japan-US Security Treaty contributes to security
in the Asia-Pacific region?
Japan US
Yes, very much 25.9 22.0
Yes, somewhat 39.7 55.6
No, not very much 12.8 7.1
No, not at all 5.0 5.0
N/A 16.6 10.3
Q: At present, there are many US military bases in Japan under the
Japan-US Security Treaty. What do you think should be done about the
US military presence in Japan?
TOKYO 00007027 004 OF 007
Japan US
Reinforce 4.0 6.2
Maintain at current levels 46.2 61.0
Reduce 34.9 18.1
Pull out 8.9 9.7
N/A 6.0 5.1
Q: If Japan comes under attack from a foreign country's armed
forces, do you think the US will come to help Japan militarily?
Japan US
Yes 71.0 ---
No 18.3 ---
N/A 10.8 ---
Q: If Japan comes under attack from a foreign country's armed
forces, do you think the US should help Japan militarily?
Japan US
Yes --- 73.4
No --- 20.4
N/A --- 6.2
Q: Do you think the Self-Defense Forces of Japan should play a
proactive role overseas for international peace cooperation
activities, such as water supply, medical support, and
reconstruction assistance?
Japan US
Yes 57.8 81.2
Yes to a certain degree 15.5 11.4
No to a certain degree 6.5 1.6
No 14.3 2.7
N/A 6.0 3.1
Q: What do you think the Japanese and US governments should address
on a priority basis among issues over North Korea? If any, pick as
many as you like from among those listed.
Japan US
Stop North Korea from developing nuclear weapons
96.4 90.3
Stop North Korea from developing and launching missiles
93.9 88.0
Resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea
94.1 76.4
Normalize diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea
53.5 ---
Normalize diplomatic relations between the US and North Korea
--- 82.4
Economic cooperation to North Korea
27.0 46.1
Change North Korea's political, economic systems
58.9 59.4
O/A
0.6 3.8
Nothing in particular
0.3 1.0
N/A
0.5 0.1
TOKYO 00007027 005 OF 007
Q: What do you think the international community should do in order
to have North Korea give up on its nuclear weapons program? Pick
only one from among the following six options.
Japan US
Toughen sanctions
13.0 22.5
Carry out military strikes to destroy nuclear facilities only
1.9 5.0
Overthrow the Kim Jong Il regime
39.8 5.7
Ease sanctions
1.0 3.4
Hold direct dialogue between the US and North Korea
5.8 6.9
Hold dialogue in 6-party talks and through other channels including
North Korea
32.8 49.6
O/A
0.5 1.7
Nothing in particular
0.6 0.7
N/A
4.6 4.5
Q: Do you fear that Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, which currently
have no nuclear weapons, may go nuclear in the aftermath of North
Korea's nuclear test?
Japan US
Yes, very much 12.1 32.5
Yes, somewhat 26.3 38.7
No, not very much 21.5 19.1
No, not at all 29.7 9.1
N/A 10.4 0.6
Q: Do you think Japan should work together with the US to hurry up
their development of a missile defense system that can shoot down
enemy missiles?
Japan US
Yes 47.0 43.2
Yes to a certain degree 13.1 22.1
No to a certain degree 7.0 8.2
No 24.4 23.3
N/A 8.6 3.2
Q: Do you think Japan-China relations are currently in good shape?
Japan US
Very good 0.6 ---
Good 22.4 ---
Can't say which 21.2 ---
Bad 46.8 ---
Very bad 3.5 ---
N/A 5.6 ---
Q: Do you think US-China relations are currently in good shape?
Japan US
TOKYO 00007027 006 OF 007
Very good --- 3.7
Good --- 33.6
Can't say which --- 46.3
Bad --- 9.7
Very bad --- 2.1
N/A --- 4.6
Q: Do you trust China?
Japan US
Yes, very much 4.0 4.7
Yes, somewhat 17.0 46.8
No, not very much 43.7 29.5
No, not at all 23.9 16.2
N/A 11.5 2.8
Q: Which country between the US and China do you think will be more
important to Japan in the political area from now on?
Japan US
US 47.5 ---
China 36.1 ---
Both countries are important 6.2 ---
N/A 10.2 ---
Q: Which country between Japan and China do you think will be more
important to the US in the political area from now on?
Japan US
Japan --- 44.4
China --- 44.8
Both countries are important --- 4.0
N/A --- 6.8
Q: Which country between the US and China do you think will be more
important to Japan in the economic area from now on?
Japan US
US 24.5 ---
China 62.2 ---
Both countries are important 5.9 ---
N/A 7.5 ---
Q: Which country between Japan and China do you think will be more
important to the US in the economic area from now on?
Japan US
Japan --- 35.8
China --- 55.7
Both countries are important --- 3.6
N/A --- 4.9
Q: Do you fear that a large-scale terrorist attack may occur in
Japan like the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US?
Japan US
Yes, very much 24.1 ---
Yes, somewhat 39.9 ---
No, not very much 23.9 ---
No, not at all 9.8 ---
N/A 2.4 ---
Q: Do you fear that another large-scale terrorist attack may occur
TOKYO 00007027 007 OF 007
in the US like the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US?
Japan US
Yes, very much --- 34.9
Yes, somewhat --- 44.0
No, not very much --- 14.0
No, not at all --- 6.7
N/A --- 0.4
Q: President Bush stressed that the US is now safer than five years
ago with its war on terror. Do you agree with President Bush?
Japan US
Yes --- 25.9
Yes to a certain degree --- 17.9
No to a certain degree --- 10.9
No --- 44.4
N/A --- 0.9
Q: At present, the United Nations Security Council is made up of
five permanent members, namely the US, France, Britain, China, and
Russia. Do you think Japan should join the UNSC as a permanent
member?
Japan US
Yes 60.8 57.3
No 17.3 9.7
Not interested 14.2 29.1
N/A 7.8 3.9
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted over the telephone on
a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis both in Japan and
in the United States.
Japan:
Date of survey: Nov. 17-20.
Subjects of survey: Voting population (aged 20 and over).
Number of valid respondents: 1,002 persons.
Breakdown of respondents: Male-46%, female-54%.
US:
Date of survey: Nov. 10-20.
Subjects of survey: Voting population (aged 18 and over).
Number of valid respondents: 1,008 persons.
Breakdown of respondents: Male-48%, female-52%.
SCHIEFFER