DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 05/25/07

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002361 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 05/25/07 INDEX: (1) Interviews with political leaders on the right to collective defense (2) Follow-up on Abe cabinet-Collective defense (Part 3): Rushing to the rescue of allied troops; Weapons-use guidelines need urgent review (3) 2007 Upper House election: LDP, Minshuto compete for measures to revitalize regional economies (4) Matsuya welcomes OIE designation of US as controlled-risk country for BSE but Yoshinoya remains cool (5) Imperial couple arrive in Estonia (6) Editorial: Will post-Kyoto framework bring in the US, China? (7) Abe unveils climate initiative, with aim of playing up Japan's environmental contributions -- There will be no Daily Summary on May 28 - an American holiday. -- ARTICLES: (1) Interviews with political leaders on the right to collective defense NIHON KEIZI (Page 2) (Full) May 25, 2007 Japanese Community Party Policy Commission Chair Akira Koike -- What is your view of the four scenarios now under study by the government's blue-ribbon panel? Koike: They have all been asked by the United States. As far as the question of missile defense (MD) is concerned, when the government deiced to introduce it, then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda resealed a statement saying that it would not be used to defend a third country and that it would not cause any problem. The Cabinet Legislation Bureau was not the only one that did not allow it. -- The prime minister thinks Japan must be able to respond to a new age and new circumstances. Koike: Any matters connected with the peace and stability of Japan fall under the right to individual self-defense, so there is no need to change the traditional interpretation. In all four scenarios, Japan is not under armed attack, and that leaves no room for a study. Japan is naturally not allowed to (exercise its right to collective defense) under the current Constitution. -- Are you saying that the constitutional interpretation should follow the Cabinet Legislation Bureau's view? Koike: Altering the constitutional interpretation concerns the authority of the Constitution. The Cabinet Legislation Bureau (CLB) exists so as not to allow (the government) to change its interpretation at will. Past prime ministers presented the (CLB's view) as their own without rejecting it. A country that revises its constitutional interpretation every time the prime minister changes cannot win international trust. TOKYO 00002361 002 OF 009 Social Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chair Tomoko Abe -- Do you think the expert panel's discussion will have an impact on Diet debate? Abe: Diet deliberations are most important. A private panel does not have validity. The panel's discussion will be shallow unless it returns to the starting point of civilian control. -- The national security environment has changed. Abe: Driven by changes, the discussion centers on reality. For instance, no information has been disclosed on what the Self-Defense Forces in Iraq have transported. Discussing the collective defense right under such circumstances is pointless. -- The prime minister has ordered the panel to study four scenarios. Abe: Japan is not allowed to exercise its right to collective defense in any of the four cases. Article 9 sets an exclusively defense-oriented policy. The Constitution, the United Nations, and the nonnuclear principles have been Japan's axis throughout the postwar period. The government's judgment of the three values is always put to the test. People's New Party Secretary General Hisaoki Kamei -- Do you think the constitutional interpretation must be reviewed? Kamei: The question of altering the government's interpretation, which reflects a long period of Diet discussions, must be settled with constitutional revision. In my view, Article 9 must not be altered. Japan should focus on how to protect peace in carrying out international cooperation. -- You think even a discussion must not be conducted? Kamei: Studying the extent of what Japan can do with the individual defense right is not bad. I strongly fear that the government will allow the country to exercise collective defense in a piecemeal manner. Japan will end up taking part in America's military strategy. -- What is your impression of the blue-ribbon panel? Kamei: (The prime minister) has arbitrarily selected members who have no responsibility to the public. Party politics has turned into a mere shell. (2) Follow-up on Abe cabinet-Collective defense (Part 3): Rushing to the rescue of allied troops; Weapons-use guidelines need urgent review YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) May 22, 2007 In Iraq, the heat was sticky. The temperature rose to 50 degrees Centigrade, and tensions ran high with the fear of shells. Under such severe conditions, Ground Self-Defense Force members worked in the southern Iraqi city of Samawah. One of them struggled with another difficult problem that would never encounter troops there TOKYO 00002361 003 OF 009 from foreign countries. It was a question from foreign troops. They wondered why GSDF personnel sent overseas are not allowed to protect troops from friendly countries. Dutch soldiers working with those GSDF members looked doubtful. The GSDF members were at a loss for an answer. Self-Defense Forces personnel are allowed to use weapons when they are on duty overseas. However, their use of weapons overseas is allowed in a limited number of cases, such as protecting themselves in justified self-defense, evacuating in emergencies, and protecting their weapons. SDF personnel are not allowed to use weapons for the purpose of protecting or guarding foreign troops that come under attack during their activities in international cooperation for peace. "Troops from a foreign country work together with those from other countries for international peace. If and when they come under attack, those who are there from the armed forces of foreign countries will try to help their friends out. Only our country's personnel cannot do so. I wonder if that's acceptable." With this, Prime Minister Abe raised a question when the Council for Rebuilding the Legal Foundation of National Security, a government advisory panel of experts, met on May 18 for the first time. Masahisa Sato, a retired GSDF colonel, commanded an advance team in Iraq. "The Dutch military officers were aware of Japan's constraints," Sato said. "But," he recalled, "I felt they were expecting us to help them out in a pinch." Sato cudgeled his brains, and what came across his mind was to get involved in an attack. "We have only to say we will go scouting in order to gather intelligence or otherwise in order to rescue someone injured," Sato said. "And," he added, "we go to a place near the Dutch troops, and if we happened to get involved in an attack there, then we can fight back." His idea was to induce an attack and fight back in the form of justified self-defense. "As a matter of fact," Sato said, "they would hesitate to do so." He also said, "That's a fatal risk there." One former SDF staff officer noted that they could be charged later with a violation of the weapons use standards-or the rules of engagement (ROE). In 1992, Japan sent SDF members to Cambodia to engage in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Since then, the SDF has constrained its personnel's use of weapons overseas while playing it by ear. According to the government's view, firing back on duty overseas-when attacked by foreign military troops-could be categorized as the constitutionally prohibited use of armed force. However, the SDF is allowed to fight back when attacked by a criminal group of unknown nationality. It is very difficult for SDF members to tell military troops from criminal or insurgent groups in an instant. The government's view has now reached its limit. Those in the government and many of those concerned take it that the question of whether or not to rush to guard friendly troops, as noted by an SDF veteran, is not a matter pertaining to the advisability of exercising the right to collective self-defense but one that intrinsically has something to do with the government's guidelines for the use of weapons. That is because they think that this matter is for SDF personnel on duty overseas to decide, TOKYO 00002361 004 OF 009 anticipating that SDF members on duty over there may have to use weapons to deal with an emerging situation and cannot wait until the government goes through procedures, such as making a cabinet decision. The government's current set of regulations for SDF personnel to use weapons overseas was shaped under the PKO Cooperation Law of 1992. The regulations were later stipulated in various laws, such as the Antiterror Special Measures Law, which was enacted in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, and the Iraq Reconstruction Assistance Special Measures Law of 2003. "We didn't know if the situation over there was safe. If they were allowed to use weapons under such circumstances, they could have eventually been involved in combat. That's why their use of weapons was constrained." With this, a senior official of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau familiar with the past situation recalled how the weapons-use standards were created. What does Prime Minister Abe have in mind for now? Abe, according to one of his aides, is thinking about the SDF's future international contributions overseas and is laying emphasis on legislative measures to that end. The question is whether rushing to guard friends is an act of exercising the right of collective self-defense. The advisory panel is expected to discuss this matter. In addition, the panel is also expected to discuss what reason could justify SDF members doing so. One of the advisory panel's members asserts that using weapons within the framework of United Nations activities is not an act of using armed force as a sovereign right of the nation. This is the idea of collective security. Meanwhile, in October last year, Abe was asked in the Diet about a case where foreign troops acting together with SDF members came under attack and those SDF members rush to guard those attacked foreign troops. In his reply, Abe categorized this case as "an act of policing." This indicated that the SDF, based on police authority, would be allowed to use weapons to guard foreign troops acting in concert with SDF members. "Restricting the use of weapons is based on a policy-based judgment," says Shigeru Ishiba, former director general of the Defense Agency, now the Defense Ministry. "The government should ease the standards on guarding friendly troops," Ishiba asserts. Another member of the advisory panel maintains that the government should ease its weapons-use standards, insisting on the necessity of creating a permanent law for the Self-Defense Forces' overseas activities. Sato, who has experienced on-site assignments overseas, stressed in earnest: "The SDF is working in the national interests of Japan. However, the government's guidelines allowing the use of weapons is a far cry from the international rules of engagement. I want the advisory panel to discuss this matter so that the SDF will be able to carry out their missions and ensure safety." (3) 2007 Upper House election: LDP, Minshuto compete for measures to revitalize regional economies NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Almost full) TOKYO 00002361 005 OF 009 May 23, 2007 The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided on May 22 to propose establishing a "community basic law" (tentative name) as one of the measures to stimulate regional economies to be included in campaign pledges for the House of Councillors election in July. The LDP is considering creating a system to financially support such organizations as community associations (jichikai) and fire brigades (shobodan),aiming at solidifying the weakening regional support base. The largest opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) is gearing up to win more votes from farmers. Some may criticize the two parties for "wasting public funds." The LDP Research Commission, chaired by Seiichi Ota, will come up with measures for revitalizing regional economies with the Upper House election in mind. Besides the establishment of a community basic law, the commission will propose 1) introducing a "hometown tax system," under which a taxpayer will pay a certain percentage of local tax to his or her hometown, 2) promoting a program supporting local governments that have made efforts to improve their economies on their own by increasing tax allocations, and 3) improving on-site education in rural communities for children in urban areas. A special feature of the planned community basic law is supporting regional leaders. The legislation will include plans for the government to subsidize activity expenses for neighborhood associations through municipalities. Those organizations would be given tax breaks. The LDP intends to enact the bill during an extraordinary session of the Diet in the fall. "We will get the bill through the Diet in the extra Diet session in the fall," said Commission Chief Secretariat Yasuhiro Hanashi. The LDP's moves reflect a sense of alarm toward its weakening regional chapters. In the April unified local elections, the LDP lost a large number of municipal assembly seats. Local tax grants were decreased due to the "trinity reform" of taxation and fiscal relations between the central and local governments promoted by the former government of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. As a result, many think that the trinity reform accelerated the trend of voters abandoning the LDP in provincial areas. Of the nine bills related to revitalizing regional economies, the government submitted to the current Diet session, eight, including a bill revising the Regional Revitalization Law, have been enacted. A senior Cabinet Office official pointed out: "We will do everything that we can do, although some say that's wasting public funds." The New Komeito has focused on improving regional medical services. Local residents are in need of a medical system that will enable them to live with peace of mind even in depopulated regions by resolving the shortage of medical doctors in rural areas, and by promoting the so-called Doctor-Heli system to transport emergency patients. Under the leadership of Ichiro Ozawa, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) is intent on expanding its strength in local regions. Its manifesto (campaign pledges) proposes the establishment of a system to provide farmers with approximately 1 trillion yen in income support. In a meeting on May 23 of the Next Cabinet, the largest opposition party will decide on measures to support revitalization of the forestry industry. It will also include in its manifesto the goal of creating 1 million jobs in the wood treating industry and in mountainous areas. TOKYO 00002361 006 OF 009 The Japanese Communist Party will suggest that tax subsidies allocated to local governments not be reduced and that loans to agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries be expanded. The Social Democratic Party will propose establishing a "regional reinvestment law" aimed at creating jobs in provincial areas and developing local industries. The People's New Party will propose changing the local tax grant system in order to allocate local tax grants based on the percentage of elderly population and depopulation. (4) Matsuya welcomes OIE designation of US as controlled-risk country for BSE but Yoshinoya remains cool YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) May 24, 2007 The World Organization for Animal Health's (OIE) decision to classify the United States as a controlled-risk country for BSE has solicited mixed reaction from beef bowl (gyudon) restaurant chains and large-scale retail stores, with some voicing expectations for an expansion of consumption and others calling for caution. Matsuya Foods Co., a gyudon chain, put gyudon using US beef on its menu again in January. It has welcomed the OIE's decision, with an executive saying: "The authorization will help dissolve consumers' concerns about the safety of US beef," adding: "We are considering using even beef from cattle aged over 20 months, whose import is now banned." Meanwhile, Yoshinoya D&C., the nation's largest gyudon chain, remains cool, an executive saying: "We have long desired to see US beef imports normalized, but we cannot make too much of the OIE authorization." Zensho Co., which operates the Sukiya chain, has used Australian beef instead of US beef since September 2004. Its spokesman said: "We found in our independent inspections of meatpacking plants in the US that the slaughtering process was quite lax. No blanket testing has been conducted, either. Until such points are rectified, we will never use US beef." A spokesman of Seven & i Holdings, said: "If the authorization serves to dissolve consumers' concerns, it could be a standard." Seiyu, which resumed the sale of US beef on March 31, takes the view that it remains to be seen if the OIE decision will work to expand consumption. A spokesman for Aeon, which has continued to suspend the sale of US beef, said: "We have no plans to resume sales in the near future." Consumers' reactions also vary. A male company employee, 20, who bought US beef at Seiyu Akabane yesterday, said: "I recognize no major differences among beef exported from various countries, so I do not care much. If the age-limit restriction is removed, more US beef will be placed on the market and its prices will eventually be lowered, so I welcome (the OIE's authorization of the safety of the US beef)." A housewife, 57, who bought domestic beef, said: "I have not eaten American beef over the past several years because I am worried about its safety. I feel that matters have gone as told by the US. I want the government to make a cautious response." (5) Imperial couple arrive in Estonia TOKYO 00002361 007 OF 009 SANKEI (Page 30) (Full) May 25, 2007 Mao Oshima, Tallinn The Emperor and Empress, now on a tour of five European countries, arrived on April 24 at Tallinn airport in Estonia from Sweden. It is the first visit to a former Soviet-bloc state for the Imperial couple. The Imperial couple visited Song Square in the suburbs of Tallinn. The chorus festival held once in five years in Song Square is called "Singing Revolution" because it became great power for national independence. The chorus festival is registered as an intangible cultural asset of UNESCO. The Emperor and Empress watched a chorus practice at the square, which can accommodate up to 300,000 people. The couple applauded vigorously. (6) Editorial: Will post-Kyoto framework bring in the US, China? YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) May 25, 2007 It should serve as the starting point for creating an international framework to fight against climate change. Prime Minister Abe announced his basic policy for the "post-Kyoto" era, because the Kyoto Protocol, which came into effect in 2008, will not cover beyond 2012. Abe's proposal indicated Japan's approach of how to build an international framework to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Abe is expected to present it to the upcoming Group of Eight (G-8) major industrialized nations summit in Germany in June. The Kyoto Protocol set country-specific numerical targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, Abe's proposal would have every country in the world confirm that they will aim for the same goal and then discuss how to attain that goal. One major feature in Abe's proposal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO2),to half the current levels by 2050. Making that target the common world goal, Abe suggests the need for technological development to bring about emissions reduction and economic growth together. The United States, the largest emitter in the world, remains outside the Kyoto Protocol. And though it is a matter of time until China outpaces the US in greenhouse gas emissions, it is not obligated by the protocol to reduce emissions. Taking these things into consideration, we think Abe's proposal is reasonable and appropriate. In order to make a new framework effective, it is absolutely required to have the US and China take part. Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) has set its own numerical target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 PERCENT or more from 1990 levels. Abe is reportedly determined to aim for "a flexible and diversified framework that considers each country's situation." In the process of creating the framework, whether to set numerical targets country by country must be discussed. In doing so, Japan will likely be TOKYO 00002361 008 OF 009 forced to make a difficult decision, sandwiched among the US, China, and the EU. The three working groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) under the United Nations Environment Programme released their reports in succession. The reports say that global warming has steadily advanced for the past century and predict that if society continues relying on fossil fuels, the average temperature could rise as much as 6.4 degrees. The reports also note that global warming could be stopped if appropriate measures were taken, urging every country to address climate change. Abe in his proposal mentioned financial and technical assistance to developing countries willing to take measures to combat climate change. Japan is a world leader in terms of energy-conservation, and this technology will serve as an effective tool to combat climate change. Japan is mandated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6 PERCENT from 1990 levels. But Japan saw its emissions increase by 8.1 PERCENT in 2005. A rise in emissions from office buildings and households is noticeable. It is important to continue steady efforts, such as turning up the thermostat on air conditioners. Japan, without making its utmost effort, will find its proposal unpersuasive. (7) Abe unveils climate initiative, with aim of playing up Japan's environmental contributions YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) May 25, 2007 Prime Minister Abe unveiled a global-warming initiative yesterday. The proposal is apparently aimed at underscoring, ahead of the G-8 Summit in Heiligendamm starting on June 6, Japan's eagerness to address environmental issues. Japan cannot ignore recent environmental deterioration in developing countries, such as loess from the Gobi Desert blown by wind through China and then to Japan. Given this, Japan is willing to make greater contributions in the environment area by making use of its cutting-edge technologies. The prime minister plans to place environmental issues high on the agenda for the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido next year. The climate proposal reflects Japan's desire to take the lead in debate on the issue. Strong appeal to US, China (Commentary) Prime Minister Abe proposed setting a global goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions across the world by 2050. The emission-reduction targets set in the Kyoto Protocol are to end in ¶2012. Abe's proposal reflects his desire to convey a strong message that if such major greenhouse gas emitters as the US and China are left outside a post-Kyoto framework, the framework will be meaningless. The total volume of greenhouse gases emitted by industrialized countries mandated to cut emissions under the Kyoto Protocol TOKYO 00002361 009 OF 009 accounts for only 30 PERCENT of total emissions worldwide. The US, China, and India - large greenhouse gas emitters - are not mandated to cut emissions. Listing these three countries, Abe stressed the need for a post-Kyoto framework that involves the entire global community. According to a report by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),it is possible to absorb about 3.1 billion tons of greenhouse gases, but 7.2 billion tons have been emitted across the world. This means that unless emissions are halved, global warming will not be contained. Abe proposed that the global community should strive to halve greenhouse gas emissions from current levels by 2050. The report is based on this proposal. Based on the judgment that even if country-specific goals are presented the US and China may not accept them, Japan aims to have the global community adopt a common goal first and then discuss such details as methods to cut greenhouse gas emissions and numerical targets. The prime minister also stressed the need to create a diverse framework that takes into account each country's abilities and circumstances. Such a view had never been presented before. Abe keeps in mind that China, which will be the largest emitter in the near future, should bear a heavier burden than other minor developing countries. A senior official of the Environment Ministry confidently said: "This is Japan's unique proposal. The US, Europe, and China are paying attention to it." However, some observers pose questions, wondering if Japan will be able to persuade other countries without showing its own long-term goal. Will this proposal be included in the G-8 joint statement in Heiligendamm? This will be the first test for Japan over whether it will be able to take the lead in future talks on global warming. SCHIEFFER