JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/30/07

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 004015 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 08/30/07 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 4) Fuji-Sankei poll: Support rate for ABE cabinet leaps from 22 PERCENT to 38 PERCENT , while non-support rate plummets from 64.8 PERCENT to 42.9 PERCENT Anti-terror law's extension: 5) Fuji-Sankei poll finds 54.6 PERCENT of Japanese public against extending the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law further deepening DPJ confidence 6) Germany's Chancellor Merkel tells Prime Minister ABE she hopes to see extension of anti-terror law that allows MSDF service in Indian Ocean 7) Germany using "gaiatsu" or foreign pressure tactic to get Japan to extend anti-terror law 8) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to refuse any revision of the anti-terror bill, as party members silently swallow President Ozawa's policy line 9) DPJ readying counterproposal to anti-terror law that would withdraw MSDF from Indian Ocean and send civilians into Afghanistan to provide assistance 10) DPJ's Fujii reiterates party's opposition to extending anti-terror law to US Embassy's Deputy Political Chief Knapper 11) Hatoyama: DPJ will file censure motion against ABE if LDP tries to force anti-terror bill through the Diet; Party to send mission to US to explain stance Defense and security issues: 12) Tokyo government planning full-fledged missile-defense response exercise for mid-September 13) Defense Ministry sets standards for providing subsidies to Nago City and other USFJ realignment-affected locations Political scene: 14) Presence of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano in the Prime Minister's Official Residence being felt, as mood of conciliation with bureaucracy, opposition grows Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: DPJ to work out alternative for Antiterrorism Law Mainichi: LDP subcommittee proposes state withdraw all appeals against suits by A-bomb victims seeking enhanced care Yomiuri: Former Kyushu regional welfare bureau chief got luxury car as gift Nikkei: Dam construction costs expand to 9 trillion yen Sankei: Poll: Support rate for ABE cabinet rises to 38 PERCENT TOKYO 00004015 002 OF 010 Tokyo Shimbun: 1967 Japan-US summit: US conditioned Japan's sharing of military responsibility for discussion on reversion of Okinawa; Japan vowed to educate Japanese people and approved US bases remaining in Okinawa Akahata: Six years of Afghan war: Private citizens suffering from stalemated war 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano, implement solid economic policy (2) Release of ROK hostages: Japan should learn from the kidnapping incident Mainichi: (1) Return to Asashoryu: Nihon Somo Kyokai has heavy responsibility for remaining on the sidelines (2) Industrial waste disposal facilities: Strict screening necessary to prevent illegal dumping Yomiuri: (1) Japan-Germany summit: Japan, Germany should cooperate to fight global warming (2) Release of South Korean hostages: Our joy is not without reservation Nikkei: (1) Japan should learn from the great alliance of German politics (2) Nursing care services must follow law to restore public confidence Sankei: (1) Cabinet support rate: New cabinet should gain public understanding for key policies (2) Shortage of electricity: Both households and workplaces need energy saving Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Asashoryu returns to Mongolia: Nihon Sumo Kyokai should have a clear policy (2) Abductions of South Korean nationals: Security is a must Akahata: (1) Digitalization: Need for all possible measures for those who won't be able to watch TV 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, August 29 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) Augusts 30, 2007 09:02 Special cabinet meeting at the prime minister's official residence (Kantei). The met with Foreign Minister Machimura. 10:27 Reported to the Emperor in private. Then attended an attestation TOKYO 00004015 003 OF 010 ceremony for senior vice ministers. 12:49 Photo session with senior vice ministers at the Kantei. Then gave assignments to the senior vice minister for the Cabinet Office. Attended a meeting of senior vice ministers. 14:57 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba. 15:20 Met with Lower House member Yoichi Miyazawa and Keiko Miyazawa, the eldest daughter of the late former Prime Minister Miyazawa. 17:00 Met with German Chancellor Merkel. Then joint press conference. 18:41 Hosted a dinner party to welcome the German chancellor. 4) Poll: ABE cabinet's support rate rises to 38 PERCENT after shuffle SANKEI (Top play) (Abridged) August 30, 2007 The Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News Network (FNN) conducted a joint public opinion survey on Aug. 27-28 right after Prime Minister Abe's launch of his new cabinet to probe public attitudes. In the survey, the rate of public support for the ABE cabinet leaped to 38.0 PERCENT , up 16 percentage points from the 22.0 PERCENT rating in an FNN survey taken July 31 and Aug. 1. The nonsupport rate was 42.9 PERCENT , down 21.9 points. Yet, disapproval still outpaces approval. The ABE cabinet has now rebounded in public support. This can be taken as reflecting public endorsement to the ABE cabinet's new lineup that is dignified unlike its previous lineup that was cynically called "otomodachi naikaku" or a cabinet of friends. In the survey, respondents were asked if they thought the ABE cabinet's new lineup is fresh. To this question, however, negative opinions substantially outnumbered affirmative ones, with "no" accounting for 66.9 PERCENT and "yes" at 17.9 PERCENT . In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party stood at 28.2 PERCENT , up 5.2 points from the last survey. In the survey this time as well, the LDP remained lower than the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),which scored 30.9 PERCENT , down 1.9 points. 5) Poll: 54.6 PERCENT opposed to antiterror law extension; DPJ more confident SANKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) August 30, 2007 Those opposed to extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law accounted for 54.6 PERCENT in a joint public opinion survey conducted by the Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News Network (FNN). The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),which is clearly against extending the antiterror law, is becoming more confident. "The people have the same feeling as ours. We're encouraged." This comment came from Takeaki Matsumoto, who chairs the DPJ's policy board. The government and the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito have a growing sense of TOKYO 00004015 004 OF 010 crisis. The Maritime Self-Defense Force has been working on refueling activities in the Indian Ocean to back up an antiterror drive in Afghanistan under the antiterror law. "The public feels that it's not helpful for peace in Afghanistan," DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama told reporters yesterday. "The government should give consideration to public sensitivities," he added. With this, Hatoyama reiterated his party's stand against the idea of extending the antiterror law. The DPJ and other parties on the opposition bench may cite the need for the Diet to hold thoroughgoing deliberations on a government-sponsored bill revising the antiterror law as a reason to protract Diet deliberations in the opposition-controlled House of Councillors on the legislation. In that event, the antiterror law will expire after Nov. 1. The government and ruling parties are now in a fix, with a senior official of the Foreign Ministry noting that whether to recall the MSDF is in the hands of the DPJ. In the survey, however, 34.2 PERCENT of all respondents supported extending the antiterror law. Among DPJ supporters as well, opinions in favor of extending the law accounted for 24.3 PERCENT . The government and the ruling coalition are poised to seek public understanding while explaining the efficacy of MSDF activities and Japan's contribution to its strengthened alliance with the United States. One veteran lawmaker of the DPJ voiced concern, saying: "The Antiterrorism Special Measures Law is intended to help Afghanistan. The people are probably mixing up this law with the Iraq problem, and I think that is why the people are against the legislation. Public opinion is facing the wrong direction." 6) Japan, Germany to work together to combat global warming; German chancellor expresses hope for "extension of the antiterrorism law" YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) August 30, 2007 Prime Minister ABE yesterday evening met with German Chancellor Merkel at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, and the two leaders confirmed they would work in closer cooperation to fight climate change, a subject that is likely to take center stage in the Group of Eight (G-8) summit slated for next July in Lake Toya, Hokkaido. ABE conveyed to Merkel his intention to extend the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which expires on Nov. 1, by getting understanding from the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties. In the session, ABE mentioned a post-Kyoto Protocol framework, which would set the targets of greenhouse emission reductions for the years beyond 2013, and stressed: "I think it is essential to have an effective framework that will involve major emitters, including the United States, China, and India (that are not obligated at present to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions)." Merkel responded: "Basically, we are moving in the same direction as Japan. The important thing is to set binding reduction targets. It's essential for the industrialized countries to set reduction targets as quickly as possible and involve developing countries." On the question of extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, Abe expressed his resolve, saying: "The Maritime Self-Defense TOKYO 00004015 005 OF 010 Force's (MSDF) refueling operations in the Indian Ocean have served as an important base for Germany and other countries to prevent terrorists on the sea. I will make utmost efforts to obtain the opposition parties' understanding." Merkel expressed hope for an extension of the antiterrorism law, telling Abe: "Japan's refueling activities are providing significant assistance to German vessels. We have appreciated it. Every leader of every country must be adamant." On the reform of the United Nations Security Council, both the leaders confirmed that their countries would continue to work together. 7) Prime Minister ABE uses gaiatsu (foreign pressure) for extension of antiterrorism law, emphasizes significance expressed by German chancellor TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) August 30, 2007 Nakahiro Iwata A major task for Prime Minister SHINZO ABE in his meeting yesterday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel was to get her to call on Japan to continue its Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling activities in the Indian Ocean, which are going on as part of the antiterrorism operations. Whereas the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto),which has now become the leading party in the Upper House, has raised objection to the government's policy of extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, a legal basis for the MSDF's refueling operations, ABE has repeatedly emphasized the Self-Defense Forces' (SDF) "international contributions." Germany is one of the 11 countries receiving refueling services from the MSDF. Its vessels have been refueled 29 times from the MSDF (as of Aug. 20). This figure can't be compared to 350 times for US vessels and 139 times for Pakistani vessels, but a request by a country receiving refueling services for the continuation of such services can be used as a good cause to appeal widely to the Japanese public about their importance. In the meeting with Merkel, ABE started by saying, "I want to extend the antiterrorism law by getting the opposition parties' understanding." In response, Merkel expressed strong hope for the continuation of refueling operations, saying, "Japan's refueling activities are providing significant assistance to German vessels. We must not give in to terrorism." The meeting went as ABE expected. But it is not to say that he has now a good prospect for the extension of the law. In fact, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano noted, "We can't indefinitely remain rigid in our ideas." Many in the government are suggesting compromising with the DPJ, including holding discussion on revisions to the (government-sponsored) bill extending the antiterrorism law. But there is no sign that the DPJ will soften its attitude at present. The DPJ is pressing the government to disclose information about the SDF's operations. Reportedly, the DPJ intends TOKYO 00004015 006 OF 010 to stick to its opposition. It would be difficult for the government to overcome this difficult situation unless it makes open to the public the information indicating how important it is to keep SDF troops deployed abroad instead of simply using gaiatsu. 8) DPJ has no counterproposals to antiterrorism law; Ozawa's strategy forces party members to keep silent MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) August 30, 2007 The Democratic Party of Japan basically does not intend to hold revision talks with the government and ruling coalition regarding an extension of the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which is likely to be the biggest bone of contention in the upcoming extraordinary Diet session. The party fears that once talks are held, it would play into the hands of the government and ruling parties. DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa intends to keep opposing the law's extension by reiterating his argument that activities in the Indian Ocean require a UN resolution. Although some in the DPJ think Ozawa's argument is outdated and too rigid, there are no calls in the party to come up with its own counterproposals because everyone is being forced to keep silent owing to Ozawa's strategy of giving top priority to Lower House dissolution. Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama underlined the need for a change in SIPDIS cabinet first in the wake of flexible comments from new cabinet ministers, including Defense Minister Masahiko Komura, about altering the bill. The position of the DPJ, which regards the government's foreign policy as "blindly following the United States," is that not only the antiterrorism law but also the administration's foreign policy are both unacceptable. Nevertheless, there is no move in the party to translate Ozawa's UN-centered diplomacy into specific policy. Ozawa, in his talks on August 8 with US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer, exhibited a flexible stance about sending SDF troops to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan by citing a UN Security Council resolution. But a DPJ executive described sending troops to Afghanistan where security is deteriorating as totally unrealistic. In fact, Ozawa has never mentioned the option since. 9) DPJ to produce counterproposals to antiterrorism law to withdraw MSDF and assist Afghan people ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts) August 30, 2007 The Democratic Party of Japan decided yesterday to come up with counterproposals to an extension of the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which is expected to take center stage in the extraordinary Diet session slated to open in September. The counterproposals are expected to center on livelihood-oriented assistance, such as medical and food aid to Afghanistan. The party is considering presenting a bill as well. The DPJ, which has been opposing the law's extension beyond November 1, intends to drive the government into ending the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean. The envisaged counterproposals are TOKYO 00004015 007 OF 010 intended to present specific alternatives to the MSDF's refueling operation as Japan's international contributions. DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa has clearly expressed his opposition to the law's extension. In reaction, Defense Minister Masahiko Komura and others on August 28 touched on the possibility of altering the bill in a bid to obtain the DPJ's support. Meanwhile, the largest opposition party, rejecting prior talks with the government and ruling coalition, still intends to challenge them through Diet deliberations. In its counterproposals, the DPJ is expected to present its own assistance measures other than refueling services. The party, which has already learned ways to assist Afghan people from experts, is studying a system to make contributions without involving the SDF. Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said yesterday: "Is the refueling SIPDIS operation contributing to peace in Afghanistan? For instance, we are considering providing assistance in the area of poverty. We are planning to come up with counterproposals in that direction." The party specifically envisages providing medical and food aid and assisting the Afghan government in reforming the police organization instead of supporting the US-led operation to eliminate remnants of the former Taliban government. The DPJ is considering presenting its counterproposals to the Upper House timed with the start of Lower House deliberations on the law's extension. The party, however, might delay or give up the plan depending on the response of the government and ruling coalition. 10) DPJ's Fujii reiterates to US side his party's opposition to Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) August 30, 2007 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) lawmaker Hirohisa Fujii, a former deputy president of the party, met in the Diet on Aug. 29 with Marc Knapper, deputy political section chief of the US Embassy. Fujii restated his party's view on the oil-refueling activities of the Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Indian Ocean, based on the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law: "One cannot say that (the activities) are unrelated to combat operations. The Japanese government, as well, takes the position that the right of collective self-defense should not be exercised, so those activities absolutely must not continue." 11) If LDP in deliberations on the anti-terror bill tries for force passage, DPJ will file a censure motion against the prime minister and other cabinet members; Hatoyama considering sending lawmakers delegation to US on Afghan aid YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) August 30, 2007 Appearing on a TBS television program yesterday, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama stated this about the next Diet session: "If the Diet stalls and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) tries to ram through the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law, we might file a censure motion (against Prime TOKYO 00004015 008 OF 010 Minister ABE and his cabinet). Should that pass, it would have extremely great significance. Dissolution of the Lower House and a snap election would then be possible." Hatoyama also yesterday attended a scheduled meeting of the labor union Jichiro, held in Takizawa Village in Iwate Prefecture. He there expressed his view that he would like to send a delegation of DPJ lawmakers to the United States and Europe in order to help the party compile its own set of measures to assist Afghanistan. 12) Missile defense drills planned for Tokyo YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 30, 2007 The Defense Ministry plans to carry out missile defense training in mid-September with ground-to-air guided missiles deploying to Tokyo for the first time, officials said yesterday. The Air Self-Defense Force will move Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) missiles to Tokyo from its Iruma base in Saitama Prefecture. The Defense Ministry's scenario is to intercept ballistic missiles targeting the heart of Tokyo. The ASDF will redeploy PAC-3 batteries to several locations, including the Ground Self-Defense Force's Ichigaya garrison in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, where the Defense Ministry is headquartered. The ASDF will check to see if there are architectures standing in the way of missiles to be launched. In addition, the ASDF will also check the environment of communications with radar sites. The PAC-3 is designed to shoot down ballistic missiles in their terminal phase. However, the PAC-3's defensive area is small as it can only cover a radius of 15-20 kilometers. If Tokyo is highly likely to be attacked at its centers with ballistic missiles, the ASDF will deploy an air defense missile unit that is made up of missile launchers, radar systems, and fire control systems. This air defense missile unit needs a spacious site for its deployment of long standing with no high-rise buildings around. In addition to the Ichigaya garrison, the Defense Ministry is considering the GSDF's Nerima garrison in Tokyo's Nerima Ward and parks in Tokyo for the simulation of PAC-3 deployment this time. 13) Realignment of US forces; Defense Ministry sets grant payment guidelines: Nago City nominated as eligible for grants; Point system to be introduced to gauge burden of host municipalities YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 30, 2007 The Defense Ministry yesterday decided on guidelines for paying realignment grants to municipalities whose burden will increase as a result of the realignment of US forces in Japan and put related ministry ordinances into effect. Under the guidelines, a point system has been introduced, under which, for instance, 1 point will be given to a municipality where base area has increased by more than 100 hectares, minus 1 point to a municipality where base area has decreased and 3 points to a municipality that will host a large airport. The mechanism is that municipalities given higher points will receive higher sums of subsidies. Forty municipalities, including Nago City and Ginoza Village in TOKYO 00004015 009 OF 010 Okinawa Prefecture, are candidates eligible for grants. Of the 40, the ministry will designate municipalities that have agreed to accept the realignment plan as eligible for grants. The grants will be, in principle, paid over a 10-year period. The value of grants will be revealed when eligible municipalities are designated. The value of grants will increase in stages each year: (1) 10 PERCENT of the upper limit to municipalities that have accepted the realignment plan; (2) 25 PERCENT at the time of the launching of environmental impact assessments; (3) 66.7 PERCENT at the time of the start of construction work; and (4) 100 PERCENT when realignment is completed. The ministry has earmarked grants worth 5.1 billion yen in this fiscal year's budget. If construction work is suspended for such reasons as that a host municipality has changed its mind and decided to oppose the acceptance of base facilities, the payment of grants will stop. Even if procedures for environmental impact assessments and construction work get underway, no grants would be paid if concerned manipulates do not announce their decision to host base facilities. A site for the construction of landing practice facilities for carrier-based aircraft has yet to be chosen. If the location of the site is fixed, the number of municipalities eligible for grants would increase. 14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano promoting political presence as bridge between Kantei, Kasumigaseki, and opposition camp MAINICHI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) August 30, 2007 Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano, who Prime Minister SHINZO ABE appointed as a key person in his new cabinet, has already been displaying his political presence. He referred at a press briefing to the need to revise the structural reform drive, which has been carried out by the Koizumi and ABE governments. He is now trying to create a reconciliatory mood, changing the adversarial stance against the bureaucracy and the opposition, which had been taken by his predecessor, Yasuhisa Shiozaki. Picking two bureaucrats familiar to him, Yosano is gradually setting up a "Yosano team." The growing view in the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) is that Prime Minister ABE will find it difficult to show his political identity. When asked at a press conference yesterday about his view on the fact that postal rebels were included in the 22 senior vice ministers, Yosano responded: "Since postal privatization is a past event for me, I cannot give you any feedback." Yosano was chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Policy Research Council at a time when the LDP was at odds over the postal-privatization issue. He was in a position against the postal rebels, but his comment indicated that he let bygones be bygones. Also at a press meeting on Aug. 27, he indicated the possibility of breaking away from the structural reform policy, saying, "We need to carry out reforms that would be good for the public." He also stated on the relations between politics and the bureaucracy: "Since both the Kantei and Kasumigaseki (bureaucrats) are part of the government, there is no standoff between them." He stressed that he would repair relations with Kasumigaseki, which have remained cool due to reform of the civil servant system, among other matters. TOKYO 00004015 010 OF 010 There will likely be a change in managing Diet affairs. In the latest ordinary Diet session, the ruling coalition took forced votes backed by its possession of two-thirds of the House of Representatives seats, urged by the Kantei. Some ruling coalition members were unhappy with such actions. Yosano, however, said: "I was once called a policy specialist, but I have served mostly in such posts related to managing Diet affairs as deputy chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee and chairman of the General Assembly of the LDP Lower House Members." He also revealed that he was a teacher of Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan, regarding the game of Go. He has tried to display a flexible stance as a veteran lawmaker. DONOVAN