JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01/24/07

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01/24/07 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule Abe diplomacy: 4) Tokyo alarmed about Washington's new flexible stance toward North Korea in the six-party talks 5) Foreign Minister Aso, Secretary of State Rice confer by phone on Lebanon, North Korea 6) First strategic dialogue between Japan, Russia aims to build environment for territorial negotiations; Russian premier to visit Japan Feb. 27 Defense and security issues: 7) SDF troops to be dispatched to Nepal for PKO, the first such since international contribution became a main duty 8) Government in disarray as Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki, State Minister for Okinawa Takaichi differ on using original government plan for Futenma relocation 9) Prime Minister Abe: Original agreement on Futenma relocation will be followed 10) LDP's Yamasaki and other lawmakers to visit Guam to tour site planned for relocation of Marines from Okinawa Political merry-go-round: 11) Survey reveals 27 governors, or half the prefectures, accepting support from construction companies involved in public works projects 12) So-called "scandal Diet" to convene tomorrow with sparks expected to fly between LDP, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) over "politics and money" 13) Minshuto head Ozawa's fund management group, Rikusankai, owns 1 billion yen in property, holdings that would not be in compliance with political rules 14) Upper House Vice President Tsunoda, denying money-scandal charge, refuses to quit post, causing consternation in his party, Minshuto 15) Minshuto decides to put off decision on whether to support constitutional referendum bill 16) Controversial conspiracy bill to be put off until at least the fall Diet session 17) Prime Minister Abe to propose comprehensive environment-protection strategy as part of his energy diplomacy Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Japanese ova bank begins operating Mainichi: Nine ministers, including agriculture minister, report unaccounted for political funds of 10 million yen or more in 2005 Yomiuri: Kansai Telecasting cuts president's pay, reprimands officials over fabricated program TOKYO 00000321 002 OF 011 Nihon Keizai: Cross-shareholding deals multiply as firms worry about takeovers Sankei: Bird flu in Miyazaki again? Tokyo Shimbun: 156 lawmakers used offices in Diet members' building as fund management offices; 620 million reported as office expenses in 2005 Akahata: Article 9 of the Constitution effective for world peace 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Upper House vice president: Fed up with such explanation! (2) Construction firms' bid-rigging practices: Management responsibility being questioned Mainichi: (1) Bid-rigging over subway project: Managers, too, are responsible (2) Tax Commission Chairman Kosai: Debate on drastic reform should be started immediately Yomiuri: (1) Regular Diet session: Points at issue in polls need to be clarified (2) Science and technology-oriented country: Can Japan become a country that produce many Nobel Prize winners? Nihon Keizai: (1) Need for framework to apply brakes on space arms race (2) Urban gas companies should return to the starting line Sankei: (1) Regular Diet session: Erasing distrust in politics is important (2) Guidelines for new type of flu: Effective guidelines urged Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Upper House Vice President Tsunoda should realize weight of responsibility (2) Start of spring wage offensive: Wage hikes will boost the economy Akahata: Office expenses issue: Shed light on allegations! 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, January 23 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) January 24, 2007 09:32 Executive meeting at the party headquarters. 10:05 Cabinet meeting at the Kantei. Then met with Agriculture Minister Matsuoka and Vice Agriculture Minister Kobayashi. Then met with TOKYO 00000321 003 OF 011 Environment Minister Wakabayashi. 11:04 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Shimomura, Suzuki and Matoba. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki joined. 15:03 Met with Saudi Arabian Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Naimi. Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Ando and Resources and Energy Agency Director General Mochizuki joined. Then met with Finance Minister Omi and Vice Finance Minister Fujii. 16:16 Met with Public Security Intelligence Agency Director General Yanagi, followed by Senior Vice Foreign Minister Asano and Parliamentary Secretary Matsushima. Then met with former Prime Minister Mori. 18:07 Summit meeting with Mozambique President Guebuza. Then signing ceremony for grant aid cooperation. Then dinner meeting hosted by Prime Minister Abe and his wife. 20:29 Returned to the official residence. 4) Six-party talks: Government concerned about flexible stance of the US; Japan, China to meet today to discuss when to resume talks YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) January 24, 2007 Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General Kenichiro Sasae, chief delegate from Japan to the six-party talks, will today meet with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, chairman of the talks, in Beijing to discuss a schedule for resuming the talks. Chances are that such a schedule can be set as early as within this week, because concerned nations have already agreed that the talks be resumed at an early date. Following the defeat of the Republican Party in the midterm elections in the US, Washington is beginning to show a flexible stance toward Pyongyang. Some Japanese government officials are now alert to the emergence of a situation in which other participants in the six-party talks urge Japan to shift to a flexible policy. Foreign Minister Aso during a press conference after a cabinet meeting yesterday noted, "It will be meaningless to hold talks unless holding denuclearization talks becomes a concrete deal." He thus checked a flexible approach to North Korea. The US is pursuing substantial talks with North Korea, such as experts' meetings to discuss financial sanctions the US has imposed on the North, and bilateral talks in Berlin. Given this situation, some Japanese government officials take the view that Japan should dissuade the US from switching its approach to the North from pressure to dialogue, with one source noting: "Depending on how the US will respond, a flexible approach could provide the North with incentives for its nuclear test. Settling the abduction issue will become more difficult." The six-party talks broke up last December without substantial discussions with the North insisting that it would refuse to discuss the nuclear issue unless the financial sanctions were lifted. The US TOKYO 00000321 004 OF 011 and North Korea have started coordinating a schedule for talks in Berlin. Related countries are taking the move as meaning that Pyongyang would make certain concessions. 5) Aso talks with Rice over telephone NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) January 24, 2007 Foreign Minister Taro Aso held talks with US Secretary of State Rice over the telephone yesterday evening. Rice expressed her gratitude for Japan's aid to Lebanon. Aso told Rice that Environment Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi would participate in an international conference to be held on Jan. 25 for Lebanon. Aso and Rice also agreed to continue close cooperation on the North Korea problem. According to a New China News Agency (Xinhua) dispatch, Rice had a telephone conversation yesterday evening with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhao Xing, too. Rice and Li exchanged views over the Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue and US-China relations. 6) First strategic talks between Japan, Russia NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) January 24, 2007 Fumiyoshi Kendo, Moscow The governments of Japan and Russia held the first strategic talks of their foreign vice ministers in Moscow on Jan. 23. Both sides confirmed the need to accelerate efforts to implement the Japan-Russia action program worked out in 2003. They aim to establish a reciprocal relationship that will benefit both sides. A decision was also made for Russian Premier Fradkov to visit Japan on Feb. 27. Japan expects to give priority to expanding bilateral exchanges in the economic and security areas and pave the way for breaking the impasse in the stalled negotiations on the Northern Territories. In the meeting, First Vice Foreign Minister Denisov told Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi: "Promoting relations with Japan is one of the top priority issues for Russia. We would like to accelerate work to build a partnership." Yachi replied, "We want to discuss in a serious manner what should be resolved in order to improve bilateral relations" The main aim of the strategy talks is to deepen ties by accumulating layers of talks between the two countries. In its first round, both sides' confirmation of implementing the Japan-Russia action program reflects Japan's regret that the Koizumi administration's excessive eagerness for a settlement of the territorial issue only heightened the Russian government's sense of alarm. In the economic area, the vice ministers agreed that the two countries would cooperate in developing oil fields in East Siberia and constructing a Pacific pipeline. They reportedly also exchanged views about Japan's expansion of investment in Russia. 7) Government eyes dispatch of several SDF officers to Nepal on PKO mission YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) January 24, 2007 TOKYO 00000321 005 OF 011 The government yesterday started looking into dispatching several Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops to Nepal on a planned UN peacekeeping operations (PKO) mission as ceasefire monitors under the PKO Cooperation Law. If realized, this will be the first dispatch of SDF troops overseas since international PKO was designated as a main mission for the SDF when the Defense Agency was upgraded to defense ministry status. The UN Security Council plans to adopt a resolution shortly calling for supporting the political process in Nepal and request countries to dispatch their personnel there. Upon receiving such a request, the government plans to work out an action program that would specify the number of troops to be dispatched and their duty. The ceasefire monitoring team is to be joined by military officers from each country. Such officers will not be unarmed. In Nepal, the government and the Nepal Communist Party Maoist Group signed a comprehensive peace treaty last November, bringing an end to the civil war that lasted for more than 10 years. 8) Gov't in disarray over Futenma relocation MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) January 24, 2007 The government is getting out of step over the issue of relocating the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. Japan and the United States have concurred on relocating Futenma airfield to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the island prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago, and the government is seeking local understanding on this coastal relocation plan. However, Sanae Takaichi, state minister for Okinawa and the Northern Territories, insisted that the government should also discuss a revised plan presented by Nago. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki ruled out this possibility at once, but the government seems to be in disarray Takaichi, when she called on Shiozaki at the Kantei on Jan. 22, suggested the need for the government to consider Nago's proposed revision to the relocation plan in a meeting of its consultative body with Okinawa's prefectural and municipal governments on Futenma relocation. After that, Takaichi told reporters, "I think he (Shiozaki) is positive." In her press remarks yesterday, Takaichi insisted on her opinion, saying, "It's important to listen well to the earnest voice of local communities in a consultative meeting." Concerning Takaichi's assertion, Shiozaki, meeting the press yesterday, stated that the government would like to push ahead with Futenma relocation based on the coastal relocation plan as agreed between Japan and the United States. Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma also stressed that the government's basic posture would remain unchanged. Takaichi's standpoint is therefore likely to be taken as intra-cabinet disunity. 9) Abe stresses Futenma accord NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) January 24, 2007 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed again yesterday that the government would push ahead with its plan to relocate the US Marine TOKYO 00000321 006 OF 011 Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to (a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the northern Okinawa city of Nago) as agreed between Japan and the United States, even though Nago City has been asking for a revision of the plan. "I have told them to explain the government's stance in a sincere manner," Abe said. He was replying a question from reporters at his office. Meanwhile, Sanae Takaichi, state minister for Okinawa and northern territories, have said the government should consider Nago's revised plan. Asked about her remark, Abe indicated that there were no inconsistencies in his cabinet. "It's only natural to state various opinions in a consultative meeting," Abe said. 10) Yamasaki, other LDP lawmakers to visit Guam next month YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) January 24, 2007 Taku Yamasaki, chair of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's security affairs panel, will visit Guam on Feb. 3-4 with former Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura and former Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga, party sources said yesterday. Guam is where US Marines will be redeployed from Okinawa Prefecture. In Guam, they will see the local situation for Marine relocation. 11) 27 governors admit to receiving election backup from industrial circles; 31 stress "no problem" YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) January 24, 2007 The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a questionnaire survey of local governors in the wake of bid-rigging and payoff scandals recently exposed over public works projects. As a result, it became known yesterday that 27 governors have received election backing from industrial circles deeply related to public works projects. In the survey, 25 governors, including 14 of these 27 governors, said such election backup could lead to political corruption. However, 31 governors, or nearly 70% of all those surveyed governors, answered that there was "no problem" with their receiving of such industrial support. This survey reveals that gubernatorial elections often depend on industrial circles. The survey was conducted with all prefectures from late last month through the middle of this month, excluding Miyazaki Prefecture, which had no governor due to a bid-rigging case involving its governor. All governors responded to the survey. In the survey, they were asked if they have ever been funded by construction or other industries for their election campaign, including campaign staffing and office offering or recommendation. In response to this question, 27 governors, or 59% of all those surveyed governors, answered "yes." Among them, 11 governors, including the Tochigi and Hyogo governors, answered that they would continue to receive support. Meanwhile, 14 governors, including the Okayama governor, said they have yet to decide on whether to receive election backing. Only the Iwate and Tottori governors, who have announced that they would not run for another term, said they would not receive election support. Asked about interactions between industrial support and political corruption, eight governors, including the Kanagawa governor, answered that they were "very concerned" about industrial backup's TOKYO 00000321 007 OF 011 potential bearing on political corruption. In addition, 17 governors, including the Saga governor, said they were "somewhat concerned." Meanwhile, 15 governors said they were not concerned at all. 12) "Scandal Diet session" to convene tomorrow with focus on politics and money ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) January 24, 2007 The ordinary Diet session will convene tomorrow. The focus in the session is likely to be on the politics-and-money scandals disclosed from late last year through early this year, involving such lawmakers as former State Minister in Charge of Administrative Reform Genichiro Sata, Education Minister Ibuki, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Matsuoka. Even in Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan),an allegation involving Upper House Vice Chairman Giichi Tsunoda has also emerged. Some observers anticipate that both the Liberal Democratic Party and Minshuto might be hesitant about pursuing the politics-and-money issue in the upcoming session. The first case is a funds scandal involving Sata unveiled late last year. Sata recognized the case as "inappropriate." Early this year, it came to light that Ibuki and Matsuoka had made shady fund reports by listing large sums of money as rent payments for rent-free offices. Ibuki admitted he had used office expenses for wining and dining, but the two lawmakers have stopped shy of explaining for what purposes the money was used. LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa was also found to have declared winning and dining expenses as office expenses. In Minshuto, the political fund organization in a Diet members' office building of Minshuto Policy Research Council Chairman Matsumoto was revealed to have reported about 18 million yen as office expenses. In addition, it was found that President Ozawa had recorded 415 million yen, including the construction cost of a residence for his secretaries, as office expenses. In reaction to such a situation, DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama said, "It is a problem that expenses that should not be treated as office expenses, such as wining and dining, were reported," adding that in this response, there was "no improper entry" in the political fund reports of Matsumoto and Ozawa. Hatoyama emphatically said, "I have no intention of backing off from pursuing (the LDP lawmakers involved in scandals)." But LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa said, "(The amount of money used for acquiring the real estate possessed by Ozawa) is at a scale far beyond common sense." Furthermore, an allegation involving Tsunoda came to light. A official in charge of Diet affairs was overheard saying, "Even if Minshuto grills the LDP over 10 allegations, the main opposition party will inevitably be counterattacked if there is a scandal involving its members. It is better for the party to engage in policy debate squarely." As for office expenses, there are "expenses necessary for maintaining offices" as a gray zone. For such expenses, receipts are not required to be attached to political fund reports. Given this, a revision of the Political Funds Control Law is also likely to be on the agenda. TOKYO 00000321 008 OF 011 In the LDP, though, many members are calling for caution about a revision of the law. Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Toshihiro Nikai said: "This is not a matter of the LDP alone. Listening to views from other political party members, I will decide on a response." Minshuto Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshiaki Takagi also commented, "A legal revision is in my vision, but before doing that, it is necessary to discuss the actual situation." 13) DPJ head Ozawa's fund management organization found to have acquired real estate: LDP indicates move to regulate such action SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) January 24, 2007 The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) yesterday indicated that it would pursue the issue of Mutsuzan-kai, the fund management organization of Ichiro Ozawa, head of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto),having acquired real estate worth more than a billion yen under Ozawa's name. Party Discipline Committee Chairman Takashi Sasagawa triggered an avalanche of criticism. He during an executive liaison meeting held at the party headquarters in the afternoon pointed out: "Political funds are donated to be used for political activities. Is it all right to use such funds to purchase real estate? The issue should be discussed and sorted out." Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa told a news conference that the amount of real estate purchased by Mutsuzan-kai defies common sense. He revealed a plan to look into the propriety of regulating politicians' fund management organizations from obtaining real estate at the compliance taskforce of the party reform implementation headquarters to be held today. The existing Political Fund Control Law does not ban politicians' fund management organizations from acquiring real estate. However, it is not possible for fund management organizations to register property under their names. Real estate has to be registered under individuals' names. Regarding this point, Nakagawa said, registering property under an individual's name brings about a tax issue, such as the inheritance tax. Secretary General Toranosuke Katayama of the LDP caucus in the House of Councillors also criticized the DPJ, saying, "Obtaining a large amount of real estate with donations made for political activities is unreasonable from the viewpoint of national feelings." He expressed his view that the Political Fund Control Law should be revised to regulate the acquisition of real estate by politicians. 14) Minshuto fretting over handling of Tsunoda's political fund issue and Ozawa's office expenses issue NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) January 24, 2007 Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) is having a hard time over allegations that House of Councilors Vice President Giichi Tsunoda, whose Minshuto membership is on hold while he is in that post, failed to include in his report on political funds to the government donations he had received. The main opposition party leadership in the Upper House wishes to put an end to the matter with his press conference yesterday. The ruling parties intend, however, to see it as a problem along with the issue of purchasing real estates by the political funds management organization of Minshuto President Ichiro TOKYO 00000321 009 OF 011 Ozawa. Some in the main opposition party are now calling on Tsunoda to resign as Upper House vice president. The party will discuss the matter today at an executive meeting. The allegations over Tsunoda are that a total of 25 million yen his campaign headquarters received in July 2001 for the Upper House election was not included in his political funds report. Another allegations are that he received political donations from an entity affiliated with the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun). Tsunoda stressed at the press conference yesterday: "There is no evidence to back up the allegations." However, junior and mid-level lawmakers in Minshuto have said: "He should resign as Upper House vice president before the Diet session convenes"; and "The executive should fulfill leadership." A member who served in an executive post said: "It is only natural for him to give up the vice president's post. He should consider also giving up his Diet seat." Behind many calls for Tsunoda's resignation is a sense of crisis that the largest opposition party may not be able to grill the government and ruling coalition over the issue of politics and money that might lead to the July Upper House election. Some have noted that non-mainstream forces in Minshuto are indirectly criticizing Ozawa in connection with reports he has listed huge amounts of money as his office expenses. 15) Minshuto puts off decision on national referendum bill YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) January 24, 2007 The main opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) generally decided yesterday to postpone a response to a national referendum bill that would set procedures for amending the Constitution. The party will make a final decision after keeping close tabs on deliberations on the legislation at the House of Representatives Special Committee on the Constitution, as well as moves of the ruling coalition. At a meeting yesterday of Acting President Naoto Kan, Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and Policy Research Committee Chairman Takeaki Matsumoto, a view was raised, "Is it necessary for Minshuto to take initiative in deciding a response to the bill?" The expectation is that debate on the bill will start in March or later after deliberations on the state budget for fiscal 2007 are completed. At a discussion on the bill between the ruling and opposition camps, coordination has yet to be finished between the ruling parties, which have asserted the scope of a national referendum should be limited to constitutional amendments, and Minshuto, which has called for applying it to important national issues, as well. 16) Ruling coalition to defer on passing conspiracy bill during regular Diet session TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) January 24, 2007 TOKYO 00000321 010 OF 011 The ruling coalition has decided to give up on pushing through a bill to amend the Organized Crime Law that would make conspiracy a crime during the upcoming regular Diet session, which will open tomorrow. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Jan. 19 directed Justice Minister Jinen Nagase to do his best to pass the legislation through the Diet, but on the 22nd he decided to leave the matter to the ruling camp. Since many in the ruling coalition were cautious about the bill, its passage will be postponed. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa expressed his view of not insisting on the passage of the bill during the regular Diet session. He said: "I think the Diet should consider how to handle the bill." A senior LDP Upper House Diet Affairs Committee member pointed out: "We cannot do things that will adversely affect the Upper House election." A senior LDP Lower House Diet Affairs Committee member also stated: "If we take a vote on the conspiracy bill, we will be unable to conduct deliberations on other bills." The conspiracy bill was first submitted to the Diet in March 2003 and it was killed. It was again submitted and killed. Although the legislation is aimed at preventing crimes by such international criminal organizations as terrorists and crime syndicates, it also targets crimes that have little relation to organized crime. The largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), therefore, has strongly opposed it. Given that the ruling coalition has giving up on passing the bill during the upcoming regular session, it is now looking for the possibility of enacting it at an extra Diet session in the fall or later after drastically revising it after the Upper House election. 17) Energy diplomacy: Prime Minister orders formulation of environmental strategy with aim of facilitating greenhouse gas emission cuts TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) January 24, 2007 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday called in Environment Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi to the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and ordered him to compile an environmental strategy for the 21st century designed for Japan to contribute to the international community in the environmental area. The prime minister then underscored to reporters, "I think that Japan should contribute to efforts to settle global environmental problems displaying leadership." Referring to the Kyoto Protocol, which sets numerical targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions to be achieved by signatory nations, Abe stated, "This year is a crucial year for Japan in achieving its target and compiling a post-Kyoto Protocol." The prime minister recently visited various European countries and exchanged views on how global warming can be prevented with leaders of those countries. He also announced on Jan. 15 during the East Asia summit held in the Philippines his intention to exercise energy diplomacy based on Japan's energy-conserving technology, which is on the cutting edge in the world. The prime minister's side wants to come up with a new Abe stamp with TOKYO 00000321 011 OF 011 Japan playing a leading role for the resources and environmental issues, which are drawing attention from all over the world. The order Abe gave this time to the environmental minister is aimed at materializing this initiative. The Kyoto Protocol stipulates that signatory nations cut greenhouse gas emissions over five years starting in 2008, but it is viewed difficult for participants, including Japan, to achieve their targets. As such, Abe aims at enhancing the efficacy of the Kyoto Protocol through the compilation of a strategy. SCHIEFFER