DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 06/04/07

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002480 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 06/04/07 INDEX: (1) Editorial -- North Korean defectors found outside Japanese port: Is our emergency preparedness adequate? (2) Main points of Russian President Putin's statement (3) New tasks across the seas (Section 3): Thinking of SDF as Japan's new garrison-SDF in transformation (Part 4): P-3Cs dispatched to Australia for multilateral security (4) "Brainwashing" to justify aggression: Yasukuni DVD adopted by Education Ministry (5) ABE government shaken (Part 3 - conclusion): Minshuto taking the offensive (6) JITCO collected 1.2 billion yen in fees from 20,000 foreign trainee-accepting firms in FY2006 (7) Prime Minister's schedule ARTICLES: (1) Editorial -- North Korean defectors found outside Japanese port: Is our emergency preparedness adequate? SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) June 4, 2007 A suspicious boat was spotted in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Aomori Prefecture's Fukaura Port, and four men and women, believed to have fled North Korea, were taken into protective custody. They are reportedly hoping to be sent to South Korea, but before doing so, Japan has to carefully verify facts, such as their identities, motives, and the route they used to flee North Korea. At the same time, Japan needs to see whether its monitoring system functions adequately at the water's edge. Also, Japan needs to reexamine its fundamental attitude toward North Korean defectors and measures toward them, including new legislation, and if there are any shortcomings, Japan needs to deal with them quickly. The number of North Korean defectors has been rising rapidly in recent years, presumably because of the tough economic conditions in North Korea. According to South Korean officials, their numbers began to increase in the latter half of the 1990s, when the economic crisis in the North worsened. The number of North Korean defectors who entered South Korea last year came to some 2,000, making a total of about 10,000. Most defectors, helped by support organizations, decided their final destinations, while hiding themselves in northeastern China, where many Koreans live, after crossing the China-Korea border. China, out of consideration for North Korea and concern that those defectors will become a factor for instability in Chinese society, has been strictly guarding the bordering area and catching smugglers. A maritime affairs official described the defectors this time, who crossed the Sea of Japan aboard a small boat only 7 meters long, as "reckless," and noted that there has been only one similar case in the past. Given difficulties in procuring a motorized boat in North Korea, similar cases are unlikely to happen frequently. However, given the public's growing discontent in North Korea, the TOKYO 00002480 002 OF 010 Kim Jong Il regime could collapse. If that were to happen, there would be an influx of refugees from North Korea. It is still fresh in our memory that Japan came under harsh criticism for the lack of measures toward refugees when North Korean defectors entered a Japanese consulate in Shenyang five years ago seeking shelter. In June 2006, Japan enacted a law on human rights in North Korea, which stipulates regarding the protection of North Korean defectors that the government "shall endeavor to take measures." But with the definition of protection left ambiguous, only ad hoc measures have been taken so far. Japan should sort out the matter quickly. The coastal monitoring system, as well, needs to be improved. Although it is difficult to seize small boats before they actually enter Japan, it is problematic that a small boat was easily able to enter a Japanese port. If that boat were a spy boat, the situation would have been more serious. Japan would be forced to reconsider its coastal preparedness. (2) Main points of Russian President Putin's statement NIHON KEIZAI (Page 7) (Full) June 4, 2007 Northern Territories We have been looking for measures to resolve the issue and will continue to do so. We however, afford no scope for discussion on the ownership of the four islands. This is a result of World War II. We understand well, however, that the Japanese side wants to put an end to the past problem. In the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration, the Soviet Union showed extremely high flexibility that it would turn over the Habomai group of islets and Shikotan Island after the two countries conclude a peace treaty and then another two islands would be returned to Japan later. Although the declaration ratified by the parliaments of the two countries was valid, Japan refused to accept it. Under such a situation, it is difficult to find new measures. I am looking forward to discussing this matter with Prime Minister SHINZO ABE at our planned meeting. If Prime Minister ABE wants to officially visit Russia, I welcome it. Crab exports We have not discontinued exports. We have banned poaching and smuggling. I expect cooperation with Japan, but that has yet to occur. There is a big difference between marine products imported to Japan and Japan's import statistics. It is a Russian problem, but we cannot resolve it without Japan's cooperation. I will discuss the issue with Prime Minister Abe. East Asia policy We are interested in strengthening economic relations with rapidly growing East Asia. Russia, as a member of the East Asia region, wants to cooperate with other members not only in the energy area but also the high-tech field. We believe such cooperation will lead to development of the Russian Far East. We have constructed an oil pipeline to the Pacific Ocean. We are now considering gas pipeline construction. We want to push forward with multilateral cooperation, including in the military field, with East Asia. TOKYO 00002480 003 OF 010 Missile defense In the wake of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE),Russia has withdrawn large weapons from the Ural Mountains and westward. We also decreased troop strength by 300,000. On the other hand, Bulgaria and Rumania constructed new bases. An MD system will be built in the Czech Republic and in Poland. Russia cannot help but worry about a unilateral military buildup. MS systems will function as part of latent US nuclear potential. They will shake the international security system. I do not rule out the possibility of the US giving up on its plan at the end. I expect common sense from the United States. Russia is not responsible for what will happen later. The Russian public is looking for stable security. We must think about what we can do. I cannot understand that only Russia and the US are not allowed to deploy intermediate-range nuclear weapons. Energy development The production sharing agreement (PSA) for Sakhalin-2 includes contents that are similar to colonial rule. Russia had long allowed the use of resources for free. If shareholders (Royal Dutch Shell and Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corporation) followed the rules, we would not have any chance to review this situation. Since the stockholders destroyed the environment, we were able to make improvements in the situation. With the participation of Russia's natural gas monopoly in the gas program, Japan was able to maintain liquefied gas imports. Presidential term I will continue my job in 2008 as well. I'm too young to retire. I cannot tell now what I will do. I have some choices. I will make up my mind after watching the political situation during the period from the end of the year through early next year. The Russian presidential term is four years and the president can serve for two terms. The president of France is elected for a five-year term with no limit on terms. The US presidential term is four years with two terms. It is correct to limit multiple elections, but four years for one presidential term is short in Russia. A five-year term, six-year term or seven-year term would be appropriate for Russia. (3) New tasks across the seas (Section 3): Thinking of SDF as Japan's new garrison-SDF in transformation (Part 4): P-3Cs dispatched to Australia for multilateral security TOKYO (Page 1) (Full) June 1, 2007 On June 3, 2006, a cluster of 46 Maritime Self-Defense Force officers were in the northern Australian city of Darwin. They were in Type-I full-dress uniforms with a stand-up collar and lined up in front of a war memorial there. Capt. Isao Watanabe, 50, was the commanding officer of those uniformed MSDF members. Watanabe offered flowers to the war memorial. The commander and all his men offered a silent prayer. A local newspaper also reported the Japanese rites. On Feb. 19, 1942, the year after the Pacific War started, the Imperial Japanese Army attacked Darwin. Its dive-bombing sank six battleships. The city's government office building and civilian facilities, including a hospital, were also bombed. As a result, a TOKYO 00002480 004 OF 010 total of 143 people lost their lives in Darwin-a small town with a population of about 5,000. Australia was born with English settlers, and Japan has since been the first-and the last-to attack the country. Capt. Watanabe was worried about local sentiment. "I thought people there might not have good feelings toward Japan," the commanding officer said. "But," he added, "things were quiet." The MSDF has made fleet visits to a number of countries around the world with its escort ships (destroyers) and training vessels, thereby deepening its exchanges with foreign governments and navies. The MSDF, after its repeated fleet visits to Australia, sent two P-3C patrol planes to the country from Air Squadron 9, an MSDF unit based in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. The MSDF P-3C aircraft had never made a goodwill visit to any foreign countries but the United States. "Ah, this brings back memories! We were also like this." So saying, one Australian military officer gave his impressions when he got on one of the two MSDF P-3C planes. Its cockpit display panels are different in shape and are incompatible. Moreover, their displays are black and white. Some of these instruments are inferior to even cellphones in data-processing capacity. In the case of P-3C scouts for Australian forces, their display panels are of the same shape and their display is in color. They were loaded with equipment of the latest model as well as P-3Cs for Canadian forces. Lt. Cdr. Koichi Indei, 40, piloted his P-3C plane to Australia. "I just saw their P-3C's exterior in Hawaii," Indei said. "But," he added, "I didn't thought it was so advanced." The Australian military has a total of 52,000 troops, and the Self-Defense Forces have 240,000 troops. The SDF outnumbers the Australian forces. However, Japan's defense spending is appropriated mainly for expensive missile defense systems and US forces stationed in Japan. The SDF's equipment is therefore becoming outdated. During the MSDF's P-3C visit to Australia, P-3Cs from the MSDF and the Australian forces conducted joint training to spot an Australian submarine. "It was easy to discover the submarine because the training was not intended to explore skills but was for friendship purposes," Lt. Cdr. Indei says. Australia has so far made five P-3C visits to Japan, seeking to strengthen its ties with Japan. This time around, the MSDF also made its P-3C visit to Australia at long last. This became a symbol that shows that Japan has made up its mind to step into multilateral security. On March 13 this year, Prime Minister SHINZO ABE and Australian Prime Minister Howard signed a joint statement on bilateral security between Japan and Australia. The declaration set forth trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States, and Australia, saying security cooperation between Japan and Australia will help strengthen the cooperation of Japan, the United States, and Australia. The joint declaration was issued with the United States' strong backing. "Japan and Australia will increase their surveillance in the Asia-Pacific region in place of the United States, which has its hands full with the Iraq war," a senior official of the Defense Ministry said. The aim is to create a Pacific triangle against the TOKYO 00002480 005 OF 010 emergence of China. As a matter of course, the Chinese media reacted all at once against the move, decrying it as aiming to constrain China. "Furthermore," Prime Minister ABE said, "I'd like to consider dialogue with India." With this, the premier clarified his intent to sandwich China. In April, Japan conducted trilateral joint training exercises with the United States and India in the sea near Japan for the first time. The symbol of a navy is a fleet of battleships. Japan, however, has a total of roughly 100 P-3C patrol planes. After the Soviet Union's collapse, Japan reduced its deployment of P-3Cs to 70. However, the scope of their activities has expanded. "Our overseas flights used to be bound for the United States," one MSDF P-3C pilot said. "And now," he added, "our flights are extended to Australia and Singapore." The MSDF once planned to send a squadron of three P-3Cs and 200 troops to the Indian Ocean in order to support an MSDF supply fleet's underway replenishment there. Will the MSDF become the 'pilot' of a new security strategy? (4) "Brainwashing" to justify aggression: Yasukuni DVD adopted by Education Ministry SHIMBUN AKAHATA (Page 3) (Excerpts) May 18, 2007 Lawmaker Ikuko Ishii of the Japanese Communist Party during a meeting of the Special Committee on Education Revitalization on May 17 brought up an animated DVD movie titled "Pride" produced by the Japan Junior Chamber Inc (JJCI). The movie, produced as a research project consigned by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT),is full of words justifying Japan's aggressive war and colonial rule as follows: "I want to protect my beloved country. I want to liberate Asians from White people. I think there was always that feeling when Japan fought war." A young man from the past speaks in front of a Yasukuni Shrine gate: "That feeling has disappeared in the postwar decades. Both adults and children have received education that the one at fault was Japan. Only a sense of atonement for their sin has been implanted in the minds of the Japanese." Impact on children The movie repeats the remarks through narrations by the young man: "Japan fought in order to protect itself," or "The war was for the sake of liberating Asia." The words "colonial rule" are not used in describing what happened on the Korean Peninsula or in Taiwan. The young man from the past says, "Japan built roads and schools in order to modernize those Asian countries." The movie does not refer to the ill Japan did to Asian people, including recruiting wartime comfort women and drafting locals (for forced labor). The DVD is a teaching material for the Modern and Contemporary History Education Program, which the JJCI is promoting as a joint campaign with local JJCIs. They show this movie at schools as part of general studies based on that program, followed by discussions with the JJCI chair acting as a coordinator and providing detailed explanations. They drew such remarks from children as "Japan perhaps had no other choice but to fight a war in order to protect its own country" or "I did not know that Japan fought the war in order to protect its own country." TOKYO 00002480 006 OF 010 Even JJCI sources voiced doubts about such contents of the DVD. A source close to a local JJCI, who has come to know the contents of the DVD on the JJCI's website said, "This is like brainwashing children. I thought it's appalling. They should stop doing that." Major contents of DVD The animated movie "Pride" follows the story of high school student Kokoro listening to the stories of a young man called Yuta, who has come from the past. They visit Yasukuni Shrine together. The following is the history of the war as told by Yuta. (Russo-Japanese War) Russia advanced southward as part of its strategy to expand its territories. Japan wanted to protect itself against Russia. The war developed into the Greater East Asia War, involving neighbors in a fashion that was different from they originally envisioned. (Sino-Japanese War of 1937-45) Russia began engineering various plots against Japan, while shrewdly manipulating the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, which were fighting for power. Japan, unaware of that, found it impossible to pull out of mainland China and found itself engaged in a messy war. (War with the US) "In those days, Japan called the war between Japan and the Allies, including the US, the Greater East Asian War, as it regarded liberating Asians from White rule the great cause of the war." "Japan was pressed to choose between following a path to ruin or plunging into war. It was forced to make the difficult decision to make war against the Allies, starting with the US." (Tokyo Trials, GHQ) "The Tokyo Trials were a trial of revenge, in which victor nations unilaterally judged the defeated nations." "The GHQ brainwashed the Japanese, implanting the image that heinous Japanese solders perpetrated atrocities. " Yuta says at Yasukuni Shrine: "I feel that the underlying thinking of Japan when it fought the war was that it wanted to protect its beloved country and liberate Asians from White rule." Hearing Yuta's story, Kokoro says in his mind: "We are here now thanks to many people who built the base of Japan in the past. What is important is to know facts correctly." (5) ABE government shaken (Part 3 - conclusion): Minshuto taking the offensive MAINICHI (Page 2) (Almost full) June 1, 3007 The main opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan),has gained strength due to the plummeting approval rates for the ABE cabinet and the suicide of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka. The party had been struggling to set TOKYO 00002480 007 OF 010 clear campaign issues for the House of Councillors election in July. Whether the largest opposition party can catch the tailwind from public opinion is a major question. At 5:00 p.m. on May 29, Minshuto President Ichoro Ozawa instructed Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama to adopt this strategy for dealing SIPDIS with Diet affairs: "The pension issue slightly differs from the 'politics and money' scandals. It is related to everyone's financial situation, but the politics and money issue is not. Therefore we should put all our energies into the pension problem." Minshuto sees the plunge in cabinet support rates as a negative reaction by the public against the government's mishandling of the pension issue. So the party decided to place priority on the pension issue. Ozawa focused on this issue when questioning Prime Minister Shinzo ABE in a one-on-one debate on May 30. Minshuto was able to get a favorable political wind in 2004 by criticizing former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's explanation on the unpaid national pension premium scandal that 'there were all kinds of people." So the main opposition party expects the same thing will occur. The fact that Minshuto decided on its policy stance based on the errors of its enemy means that the party will face a bumpy road ahead. Minshuto started in earnest soon after the consecutive holidays (from late April to early May) the work of formulating a manifesto (set of campaign pledges). On May 7 an intensive debate of the Policy Research Committee ran from 10:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. without reaching any conclusion. Lower House member Sumio Mabuchi expressed a sense of futility. Minshuto first tackled the unified local elections in April. In the 44 prefectural assembly elections, the party won 375 seats (up 60 percent from the previous election). However, many said that the party gained local assembly seats simply because it increased the number of candidates and warned that it could not successfully fight in the summer election with the income gap issue alone. Some lawmakers coming from urban areas even tried to make their own manifestos. Ozawa has continued his stumping tour of electoral districts where single seats are up for grabs in the Upper House election. The 29 districts where singles seats are reelections are regarded as the key to a victory in the Upper House race. Ozawa aims to strengthen his party's regional organizations, slicing down rural areas, which are the support base of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Some in the party, however, have criticized this strategy. There was an argument that which Ozawa prioritizes local organizations or mood. The plummeting support rates and Matsuoka's suicide completely changed the situation. A junior lawmaker shying away from Ozawa made this comment: "I did not expect this. This is a welcome miscalculation." The party will take a strategy of attaching priority to the pension fiasco. Public outrage against the issue of unpaid pension premium benefits is just what Minshuto needed. Some in the party, however, have said that neglecting the scandals -- money and politics issue -- would not be wise. A senior party member has underscored a stance of carefully watching public TOKYO 00002480 008 OF 010 opinion, noting, "If we blame the dead, it could back fire on us." Although the LDP shows a stance of pursuing Ozawa's political fund management organization's possession of real estate, political observers predict that the LDP will not do so out of the fear of a backlash. About 50 days are left until the Upper Hose election. Will that be enough time to turn the tables? (6) JITCO collected 1.2 billion yen in fees from 20,000 foreign trainee-accepting firms in FY2006 MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) June 1, 2007 It is believed that the amount of support fees paid to the Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo) by organizations and corporations accepting foreign trainees topped l.2 billion yen as of the end of fiscal 2006. JITCO insurance commission paid by trainees is also believed to have exceeded 100 million yen. The system that produces profits from money collected from cash-strapped small- and medium-sized corporations and trainees is now being questioned. Under the JITCO system, trainee-accepting organizations (such as small firm business unions and agricultural cooperatives) pay a minimum 100,000 yen a unit and also pay 50,000 yen per a trainee-accepting corporation (such as textile-processing companies and farmers) under their umbrellas. The number of supporting organizations stood at 925, or 9,857 firms, as of the end of FY2001. The number increased to 1,493 organizations, or 17,232 companies, at the end of FY2005. Their support fees also grew from 786 million yen to 1.161 billion yen. It is certain that the number of supporting companies topped 20,000 and support fees exceeded 1.2 billion yen as of the end of FY2006. The foundation also runs "JITCO insurance" targeting trainees in collaboration with 11 major insurance companies. It recorded about 100 million yen in commission revenue in FY2005. The foundation collects 27,000 to 37,000 yen in annual insurance premium from trainees who make an average 66,000 yen a month. Meanwhile, state subsidies and agent service fees have been dropping due to the government's spending cuts. For instance, the amount declined from 785 million yen in FY2001 to 628 million yen in FY2005. Support fees have covered the shortfalls. The system contains many labor law violations, such as long working hours and low wages, and human rights violations, such as taking bankbooks and passports away from trainees. JITCO is required to play a central role in eliminating such problems. But given surging support fees, a trainee-accepting organization executive took this view: "I wonder if JITCO can give strong instructions to its supporting members, who are its de facto fee-paying customers." Another corporate executive said: "Guidance always follows an advance notice, and that makes things easy for us to deal with the situation." A Chinese trainee criticized JITCO, saying, "I consulted with JITCO about the unpaid wage, but it didn't take any concrete steps." Another corporate executive took this view: "The government should provide subsidies to small firms struggling against the recession rather than to foundations that offer jobs to retired government officials." TOKYO 00002480 009 OF 010 (7) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) -- Prime Minister's schedule, June 1 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) June 2, 2007 01:39: Returned to his official residence after ending a Lower House plenary session. 08:06: Attended a strategic council on assisting children and families at Kantei. 08:32: Attended a cabinet meeting. 09:46: Met at Kantei with Lower House member Norihiko Akagi in the presence of Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki. 10:00: Attended a Lower House Cabinet Committee meeting. 12:13: Viewed at Kantei a next-generation auto and fuel demonstration. 13:27: Met at Kantei with Economy and Fiscal Policy Minister Ota and advisor Nemoto, joined in by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka and others. 13:59: Met Nemoto, followed by Deputy Foreign Minister Kono, Economic Affairs Bureau chief Otabe and others. 16:12: Made an informal representation at the Imperial Palace and attended an attestation ceremony for new Agriculture Minister Akagi. 17:01: Handed a letter of appointment to Akagi and had a photo session with him. 17:16: Exchanged views with member of the National Council on Beautiful Forests. Afterward attended an Education Rebuilding Council meeting. 18:25: Met Vice Finance Minister Fujii and Finance Bureau chief Tango. 19:16: Attended an informal Education Rebuilding Council meeting at the Hotel Okura. 19:28: Dined at the Hotel Okura with former Prime Minister Mori and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba joined in by critic Tetsuya Miyazaki. 21:46: Returned to his official residence. -- Prime Minister's schedule, June 2 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) June 3, 2007 08:28: Attended an LDP-sponsored Tama River Clean Campaign on the dry riverbed in Setagaya Ward. 09:03: Attended a Kawasaki-sponsored Tama River Clean Campaign on the dry riverbed in the city's Takatsu Ward. TOKYO 00002480 010 OF 010 10:56: Returned to his private residence in Tomigaya. 10:56: Delivered street speeches in front of JR Shibuya Station with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki, advisor Nakayama and others. 11:46: Returned to his official residence. 15:02: Returned to his private residence. -- Prime Minister's schedule, June 3 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) June 4, 2007 08:36: Departed JR Tokyo Station on Hikari 365. 10:50: Arrived at JR Yonehara Station. 11:12: Visited the Kurokabe Glass Museum at Kurokabe Square, Nagahama Hikiyama Museum and other places accompanied by Shiga Gov. Kada, Upper House lawmaker Hidetoshi Yamashita and others. 12:10: Left Nagahama Port on a sightseeing boat to cruise Lake Biwa and take a firsthand look at Takeshima islet suffering from otter droppings. 13:31: Arrived at Imazu Port in Takashima City in the prefecture. 13:38: Exchanged views with local assemblymen at the Imazu Sun Bridge Hotel. 14:12: Visited the Harie district accompanied by Lower House member Mineichi Iwanaga and others. 16:02: Attended a meeting to discuss "a beautiful Japan" held by the LDP Shiga chapter at the Lake Biwa Hall in Otsu City. 18:09: Left JR Kyoto Station on Nozomi 38. 20:30: Arrived at JR Tokyo Station. 20:49: Had a haircut at a barber in the Hilton Tokyo. 22:41: Returned to his official residence. SCHIEFFER