JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 06/27/07-2

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 002898 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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 06/27/07-2 North Korea problem: 14) Distrust growing in government, political circles of US' conciliatory stance toward North Korea 15) Government alarmed about the abduction issue with North Korea stagnating 16) Japan-China talks of E. China Sea gas fields hang up over areas to be subject to joint development 17) UN Ambassador Oshima resigns; successor will be Minister to US Embassy Takasu Political agenda: 18) LDP, New Komeito issue joint election campaign pledges that stress pension issue, downplay constitutional revision 19) Pension issue splits LDP with Koichi Kato critical of its political handling 20) In order to stop leaks, MSDF to transfer personnel with foreign spouses to units not handling classified material 21) Panel releases proposed revisions of the Anti-Monopoly Act, but the report did not unify the penalty system Articles: 14) Abe's US diplomacy stumbling: Tokyo distrustful of Washington's conciliatory attitude toward DPRK over North Korean issue NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) June 27, 2007 "The important thing is for North Korea to fully first implement the first steps (toward abandoning its nuclear program)," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki said yesterday regarding US Assistant SIPDIS Secretary of State Christopher Hill's recent statement that the SIPDIS United States wanted to start within the year four-party talks among North Korea, the United States, China, and South Korea to discuss a peace mechanism for the Korean Peninsula. Shiozaki's remark revealed a sense of alarm toward the move for setting a framework for talks on North Korea without Japan's participation. Creating a four-party framework to discuss how to build a peace system on the Korean Peninsula to replace the current truce is the long-cherished desire of North Korea, which has aimed at reconciliation with the US. No doubt North Korea strongly pushed Hill during his recent stay in the North to do so. However, no one at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) was aware of Hill's statement as of yesterday morning, according to an aide to the prime minister. That was why Shiozaki was surprised when asked about it by reporters. In addition, it was the morning of June 21 that the Kantei was informed of the assistant secretary's plan to visit North Korea that day. Reportedly, the prime minister was surprised when he was informed of that plan. A Kantei official expressed discontent: "Mr. Hill is out of control." On the surface there is no change in the US government's consideration to Japan. "Upon arriving at Osan Air Base (in South Korea) after (the visit to North Korea),I first telephoned Ken TOKYO 00002898 002 OF 007 Sasae," Hill said at a press briefing on June 25. By citing the name of Kenichiro Sasae, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Foreign Ministry, Hill played up Japan-US cooperation. However, the Bush administration is revising its policy toward North Korea with an eye on its term of office, which is to expire in one and a half years. "We want to have six-party talks in early July and a six-party foreign ministerial in late July," Hill said. Overwhelmed by his "speed," all the Japanese side did was just to check him. Japan and the US are apparently out of step. Japan welcomes progress on the nuclear issue made in the recent US-North Korea talks, but it is becoming distrustful of America's conciliatory attitude toward North Korea, with one Japanese official noting, "We might be left in the dark." In the days of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who visited North Korea twice, the US was irritated at where Japan-DPRK relations would go, but now the situation has changed with the change of government in Japan. 15) Government to urge US to respond carefully to four-party Korean Peninsula peace plan for fear of abduction issue being put on back burner YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) June 27, 2007 US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, US chief delegate to the six-party talks, has proposed a plan to establish a body composed of four countries -- the United States, China, South Korea, and North Korea -- to work toward restoring peace on the Korean Peninsula to replace the current Korean War armistice. This has put the Japanese government on alert, with one official speculating that the United States might have shifted its policy line toward dialogue with North Korea. Desperately wanting to avoid the envisaged four-party framework alone moving forward while leaving the six-party talks on the nuclear and abduction issues behind, Tokyo plans to call for Washington's cautious response. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki at a press conference yesterday expressed a sense of displeasure with Hill's plan to build a new framework, saying: "First of all, it is essential for (North Korea) to completely implement the initial steps." In September 2005, the six countries agreed that countries that participated in the Korean War would discuss the establishment of a framework on permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. A similar expression was included in the six-party agreement reached in February. Japan, as a country that did not participate directly in the Korean War, did not hope to join such a framework. However, given the North's call to exclude Japan from the six-party talks, there is a possibility that Pyongyang will try harder to remove Japan from the multilateral framework by exhibiting eagerness to join the four-party structure. Shiozaki suggested that Japan might seek membership in the envisaged new framework, saying: "Peace on the Korean Peninsula concerns the Japan-US security setup, as well. (Parties directly concerned) are not defined as the four countries, and things will be worked out through future discussions." TOKYO 00002898 003 OF 007 16) Japan-China talks: Gaps exist over sea areas for joint development MAINICHI (Page 9) (Full) June 27, 2007 Hiroko Akimoto Japan and China held the ninth round of working-level talks to discuss gas field development in the East China Sea in Tokyo yesterday. Discussion focused on the area of joint development, but there was no progress, with both sides being far apart. The two countries intend to continue talks to reach a conclusion by this fall, but it is unclear whether they will be able to do so. Joining the talks from Japan were Kenichiro Sasae, the director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, and Natural Resources and Energy Agency Director-General Harufumi Mochizuki. After the meeting, Sasae told reporters: "Both sides have deepened our understanding of each other but failed to reach agreement. . . . China appears eager to accelerate the talks, but their views do not match ours." In the talks, the Japanese side asserted that four gas fields, including Chunxiao (Shirakaba in Japanese),which is being developed independently by China near the Japan-China median line, should be jointly developed. Meanwhile, China reportedly again asserted that joint development should be carried out in waters near Japan. 17) Ambassador to UN Oshima to resign; Takasu, deputy chief of mission in Washington, to be next ambassador ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) June 27, 2007 The government yesterday informally decided to appoint Yukio Takasu, currently minister at the embassy in Washington, to be the successor to Ambassador to the UN Kenzo Oshima. Takasu's appointment will be decided in a cabinet meeting in July. Oshima has led Japan's UN diplomacy since November 2004. Although he aimed at an adoption of a resolution calling for reform of the UN Security Council along with three other countries, including Germany, he gave up on the idea since the United Stated did not support it. He made efforts to secure support from many counties for a sanction resolution on North Korea's missile test last October. Takasu entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1969. He has been serving in the current post since August 2006, after having served in such posts as director general of the International Cooperation Division and ambassador in charge of US reform. The government will review its strategy of requiring UNSC permanent membership under the leadership of Takasu. 18) Upper House election: Pension issue tops list of public commitments issued jointly by LDP and New Komeito; Specific argument on constitutional revision not included MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged) June 27, 2007 The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito yesterday TOKYO 00002898 004 OF 007 released a set of key policies as joint public commitments for the upcoming Upper House election. The package of key policy proposals focuses on the introduction of a card system starting in 2011, which allows public pension contributors to check their pension information at any time, following the missing pension premium payment records. Regarding a revision of the Constitution, the main focus of the prime minister's call for breaking free of the postwar regime, due to resistance from New Komeito, which is alarmed about the idea of revising Article 9, the report simply stated that a "broad-based national discussion should be deepened." Concerning the pension issue, the package stressed that efforts will be made so that every eligible pensioner can receive his or her due pension benefits. Though both parties' individual manifestos did not include the introduction of a card system, it was incorporated in the package following the prime minister's proposal for the introduction of a personal number covering the pension and medical services system. Regarding a timeframe for revising the Constitution, the package simply noted, "A Diet session in 2010 or after will be taken into mind." The LDP's manifesto mentions the initiation of constitutional revision in a Diet session in 2010. However, the New Komeito, whose manifesto says "a bill adding clauses to the Constitution will be drafted possibly in three years' time," was reluctant to mention a specific timeframe. The LDP-proposed wording "taking the lead in discussions by the Diet Constitution Screening Council" has been changed to "deepen discussions," with a senior New Komeito official noting, "Such words will give the impression that the ruling parties will railroad the bill through the Diet." The prime minister has a strong desire to reform the public servant system. The report notes that the lukewarm nature of trade unions should be rooted out. Thus the package included proposals with a strong awareness of opposition parties, which are supported by trade unions. 19) Arguments over party leadership raised in ruling and opposition camps; LDP's Kato criticizes Machimura faction; Minshuto warns against optimism TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) June 27, 2007 At a press conference yesterday, Koichi Kato, former secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),criticized former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, a member of the Machimura faction (Seiwakai),to which Prime Minister SHINZO ABE used to belong, for saying that "there would be no need for the prime minister to take responsibility in the event the ruling coalition fails to keep its majority in the House of Councillors election." Kato referred to the July 29 Upper House election at the press meeting, saying, "There is one faction that historically has not taken responsibility even if the party is defeated in the election." The LDP suffered a crushing defeat in the 1998 Upper House election. Kato as secretary general along with Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto stepped down from their posts to take responsibility for the loss. Referring to this, Kato commented about the Machimura TOKYO 00002898 005 OF 007 faction: "I though it was only natural for me to resign. It is tradition for such factions with a strong sense of mainstream conservatism as Kochikai (to which Kato used to belong) and Keiseikai (currently Tsushima faction) to quit posts to take responsibility." SIPDIS In the 2004 Upper House election, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who belongs to Seiwakai (Machimura faction),did not step down, although the number of votes obtained by the LDP was less than that of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan). Minshuto lawmakers are also talking about the responsibility of President Ichiro Ozawa in case the party fails to force the ruling coalition into a minority in the Upper House race. Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama took this view at a press SIPDIS conference: "It is only natural that arguments for the president to assume responsibility will come up if we fail to win. President Ozawa should announce how he plans to take responsibility." Appearing on a TV program, Supreme Advisor Kozo Watanabe clearly stated: "Should the opposition fail to secure a majority, Ozawa will resign as party president to assume responsibility." The largest opposition party now senses that it has a good chance to trade places with the ruling camp, seeing the results of recent various opinion polls backed by the pension record management fiasco. The arguments about Ozawa's responsibility are a part of Minshuto's strategy to run against Prime Minister SHINZO Abe, who has said, "I always assume the greatest responsibility." The Minshuto leadership has warned party members not to assume the party will win an easy victory. Observers see Watanabe's remarks as a warning to Ozawa in preparation for a failure to score big gains in the election. However, Ozawa has yet to make his position clear about his responsibility, just saying, "I will reveal my view sometime soon before the election." 20) MSDF to remove personnel with foreign spouse from intelligence posts SANKEI (Top play) (Abridged) June 27, 2007 In the wake of recent Aegis data leaks, the Maritime Staff Office of the Maritime Self-Defense Force has now decided to transfer MSDF personnel from their current workplaces to other sections in case they have a foreign spouse and have access to highly confidential information, such as information falling under the category of "special defense secret" or "tokubetsu boei himitsu." There are about 10 MSDF members who are subject to transfer. Their transfer will be officially announced along with regular personnel changes taking place in August and later. The United States, which is Japan's ally, is turning a severe eye to Japan due to the leakage of Aegis data. The decision this time is a desperate measure intended to prevent classified information, which could undermine national defense, from leaking to foreign countries. According to an MSDF officer, the MSDF was under fire from the US TOKYO 00002898 006 OF 007 Navy, US Forces Japan, and some US government officials for the leakage of Aegis data. In order for Japan to recover the United States' confidence, it is urgently necessary for Japan to investigate the case and prevent such an incident from recurring. The decision on their transfer can be taken as a measure for that purpose. The MSDF has a total of about 40,000 members. According to its in-house survey, about 150 MSDF members are married to foreign nationals. About 100 of them are Chinese, and about 50 are Philippine, South Korean, or other foreign nationals. The MSO will transfer about 10 personnel who are among those personnel and are currently assigned to workplaces that can access an extremely high level of classified information like defense secrets, such as the structure and performance of vessels and SIPDIS airplanes provided by the United States. 21) Amendment to AML: Administrative surcharges, penalties not to be unified; "Having two systems boosts constraint on violation of the law," notes study council's report MAINICHI (Page 2) (Almost full) June 27, 2007 The Anti-Monopoly Law Basic Problems Discussion Council (chaired by Tokyo University honorary professor Hiroshi Shiono),which reports to the chief cabinet secretary, has looked into the possibility of revising the Anti-Monopoly Law (AML) and released a report yesterday. A major feature of the report is that it calls for stricter application of the law, including strengthened administrative surcharges to be imposed on companies that engaged in bid-rigging activities. However, the panel decided not to unify the administrative surcharge system and the criminal penalty system as requested by Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation). Since the LDP has indicated a cautious stance toward strengthening regulations, coordination of views for revising the AML will likely encounter complications. The report noted that having both systems would be appropriate, as it boosts constraints on violation of the AML, declining a request filed by Nippon Keidanren that the two systems should be unified into the administrative surcharge system. Regarding the level of administrative surcharges, the report said that surcharges should be set at a level that discourages a motive to violate the law. However, since surcharges were raised only in January last year, the panel stopped short of making a specific proposal with Chairman Shiono noting, "We will leave the setting of figures to government officials and politicians to work out." Regarding the umpire system, under which the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) judges appeals against decisions it made, the report said, "It is appropriate to maintain the current system for the time being." The report thus turned down Nippon Keidanren's claim that it is distrustful of the system of the FTC serve as an adjudicator and an umpire, Concerning exclusion-type private monopolization, meaning companies shut out competitors from the market by such means as dumping, only an order to stop an unfair practice can by issued under the existing law. The report indicated a policy of applying the surcharge system to such a practice. TOKYO 00002898 007 OF 007 SCHIEFFER