PANEL ANALYZES FUKUDA, JAPANESE POLITICS, REGIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 004901 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT. PLEASE PASS TO USTR/MBEEMAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 2017/10/16 TAGS: PREL PGOV JA SUBJECT: PANEL ANALYZES FUKUDA, JAPANESE POLITICS, REGIONAL DISPARITIES Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer for reasons 1.4 (b,d) Summary and Comment -------------- ¶1. (C) Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Japanese politics were two of the topics discussed on October 11 by a Jiji press panel consisting of a politician, a bureaucrat, a Chinese researcher, and a member of the media. The panelists also commented on the income gap and regional disparity issue, the Indian Ocean mission, the need for think tanks in Japan, and the U.S.-Japan relationship. ¶2. (C) Former Minister of Finance Masajiro Shiokawa, a spry 86, drew laughter from the audience several times and clearly enjoyed the freedom to speak his mind now that he is no longer a member of the Diet. Former Ambassador to the United States Kunihiko Saito said less than his colleagues, but brought to bear his experience in the United States during the first Gulf War. Chinese scholar Ryu Ka, a Senior Research Fellow at Fujitsu Research Institute, relished the opportunity to offer advice and criticism to a country he has called home since 1988. Speaking in fluent Japanese, Ka entertained the audience with dry assessments of Japan,s failings. Asahi Shimbun editorialist Hiroshi Hoshi demonstrated his deep knowledge of Japanese politics with clear analysis of some of its shortcomings. End Summary and Comment. Fukuda,s Character -------------- ¶3. (C) Former Minister of Finance Masajiro Shiokawa opened the discussion by assessing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda from the viewpoint of a private citizen as well as a public servant. (Note: Shiokawa and Fukuda served together in the Koizumi administration.) Shiokawa described Fukuda,s character as &can-do,8 adding that Fukuda always keeps his promises. Shiokawa noted that Fukuda does not rush to judgment, instead taking time to consider an issue carefully and following through once he has made a decision. Shiokawa also observed that Fukuda is not flashy. ¶4. (C) Former Ambassador to the United States Kunihiko Saito regards Fukuda as a very calm, relaxed person who has changed very little over the years, adding that the Prime Ministership calls for someone calm and deliberate like Fukuda. Saito thought that Fukuda would pursue cooperative diplomacy and that he would operate in a realistic manner. Saito noted that these were difficult times, especially in terms of the North Korea issue, and added that Fukuda would have to work hard to find the right balance with the United States. Saito also thought Fukuda would get good cooperation from his cabinet. ¶5. (C) Chinese scholar Ryu Ka, a Senior Research Fellow at Fujitsu Research Institute, suggested that the relationship between Japan and China will go more smoothly under Fukuda than it did under former Prime Minister Koizumi. That said, Ka worried that this government might not last long. Ka hoped to see an Asia Common Market emerge, but noted that such an endeavor requires leadership. Japan might have its best opportunity to provide that leadership with Fukuda in charge, he mused. ¶6. (C) Asahi Shimbun editorialist Hiroshi Hoshi suggested that an election is necessary to legitimize the new administration. He also commented that Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential candidate Taro Aso remains a serious rival for Fukuda, but added that former Prime Minister SHINZO TOKYO 00004901 002 OF 003 Abe had been too immature for the job. Japanese Politics -------------- ¶7. (C) Hoshi noted that recent poll results indicated the Japanese public gets most of its information from television rather than newspapers -- 50 percent versus 36 percent. Former PM Koizumi in particular had known how to use television as a stage. Hoshi promised that the media would do a better job covering the issues in the next election. ¶8. (C) Shiokawa suggested that a third party might emerge, consisting of politicians from the LDP and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). He called on the DPJ to act more responsibly in its new role as controller of the Upper House. Hoshi compared the LDP,s loss of the Upper House to the Upper House election under then Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto. He said it would be difficult to dissolve the Diet before the budget passed and it also would be difficult for politicians to change parties before the next election. Hoshi thought that the DPJ would not be able to come up with enough candidates by the next election. ¶9. (C) Saito warned that changing prime ministers so frequently is bad for Japan. He said there were four prime ministers while he was Ambassador to Washington. With the G8 Summit next summer, it would be better to have the same one we have now, he said. Regions and Income Disparity -------------- ¶10. (C) Ka asked whether the privatization of Japan Post is the most important reform PM Koizumi could have pursued in his drive to reform Japan,s economy. Ka argued that education is far more important and pointed out that, in recent years at the &Knowledge Olympics8 China, Russia and the United States had traded the top three spots among themselves, completely shutting out Japan. Ka noted that children are the future and called on Japan to increase investment in them. He commented on Japan,s lack of philosophers, saying that without philosophers Japanese civilization is lost. Ka also suggested that some regional disparity is inevitable; what is important is to manage it well. ¶11. (C) Shiokawa complained that no policy exists to deal with regional disparity, but added that little could be done about the urban-rural income gaps. The regions should stop asking for handouts and try a little self-help. They also need to use their money wisely, he said, but politicians also needed to take responsibility for the state of things. Saito agreed and added that regions must become free from bureaucrat-centered policy making and instead depend on their own creative thinking. Indian Ocean Mission -------------- ¶12. (C) Hoshi offered a brief explanation of the LDP,s new anti-terrorism bill slated for October 18, noting its four main points: -- activities must be UN-authorized; -- activities must be focused on refueling; -- there must be reports on the activities; and, -- the activities have a length of no more than two years. ¶13. (C) Saito noted that during the first Gulf War he had TOKYO 00004901 003 OF 003 been Ambassador to the United States. He reminded the audience that during that war, despite Japan,s economic power, Japan had allowed other countries to do most of the work. The Cambodian peace-keeping operation in which Japan had participated was an example of how Japan could contribute, but he called on Japan to do more. Saito worried that Japan,s limited participation in the current war on terror would damage the U.S.-Japan relationship -- especially as the Indian Ocean mission expired. Think Tanks -------------- ¶14. (C) Ka commented that Japan lacks think tanks, which are ubiquitous in the United States, as well as China, South Korea and Thailand, he said. Ka argued that think tanks take a serious look at issues and bring wisdom to the process, which in turn strengthens politicians. He added that think tanks should not be confused with consulting firms because think tanks make policy recommendations. Ka also said that skills rather than technology are what an economy needs to grow. U.S.-Japan Relationship -------------- ¶15. (C) Saito assessed that under the Fukuda administration, the U.S.-Japan relationship would not worsen, but &it would require some adjustments.8 SCHIEFFER