DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 10/29/07

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 005032 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 10/29/07 Index: (1) Editorial: US ambassador's advice must be utilized regarding abduction and delisting issues (Sankei) (2) Government, ruling bloc decide to have antiterrorism passed by Lower House in deference to US; DPJ to be pressed for collective responsibility (Yomiuri) (3) War on terror-Japan's option: Japan's immature view of security; US growing doubtful of Japan; US strategy overshadowed (Mainichi) (4) Editorial: New antiterrorism legislation from a commonsense viewpoint unnecessary (Mainichi) (5) Poll on new Fukuda cabinet, political parties (Nikkei) (6) First month of Fukuda cabinet (Part 2): Two LDP boatmen to row the party to the next Lower House election (Nikkei) (7) First month of Fukuda cabinet (Conclusion): New Komeito growing more concerned and too worn out for next Lower House election (Nikkei) (8) Guide to ensuring security: India preparing to counter rising China in contrast to Japan, which lacks a policy (Nikkei) (9) Government, steelmakers to develop hydrogen-powered blast furnace to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 PERCENT (Sankei) (10) TOP HEADLINES (11) EDITORIALS (12) Prime Minister's schedule, October 27 (Nikkei) ARTICLES: (1) Editorial: US ambassador's advice must be utilized regarding abduction and delisting issues SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 27, 2007 It has been reported in the United States that US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer had sent an official telegram to President George W. Bush urging him not to delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. In March 2006, Ambassador Schieffer visited the site in Niigata City where Megumi Yokota had been abducted. At the site, Schieffer said: "This is one of the saddest, if not the saddest, stories I have ever heard. I don't think anyone that could walk the streets could not be touched and affected by what happened. It's something that is so awful that you just can't imagine it, and yet I could feel it today." In April 2006, a meeting took place between President Bush and Sakie Yokota, mother of Megumi, reportedly owing to efforts by Ambassador Schieffer. The advice by Ambassador Schieffer, who takes an accommodating view toward the abduction issue, is an encouraging message to the Japanese government, which is wary of the United States delisting TOKYO 00005032 002 OF 013 the North before the abduction issue makes any progress. The government should take advantage of the ambassador's advice in Japan's policy toward the United States. Visiting the United States, Vice-Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi and others have been briefed by US State Department officials on the question of delisting the North and other matters in the run-up to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's visit to the United States in mid-November. Prime Minister Fukuda must clearly tell President Bush that he is opposed to delisting the North unless the abduction issue is settled. In 1987, a KAL jetliner was bombed by North Korean agents, including Kim Hyon Hui who had learned Japanese from Japanese abductee Yaeko Taguchi. As evidenced by this, the abduction of Japanese nationals was committed by the state as part of its acts of terrorism. Megumi Yokota and Japanese abductees were also forced to teach Japanese to North Korean agents. To Japan, North Korea will remain as a terrorist state or a state sponsor of terrorism unless the abduction issue is resolved. Prime Minister Fukuda met with representatives of the Association of the Families of Victims of Kidnapped by North Korea on the night of Oct. 26 in which the premier said: "I would like to mend relations with North Korea, if possible. The abduction issue is the first step to that end." There was every reason for the prime minister to meet with abductees' families. He should have done so earlier. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who is reportedly eager to delist the North, has told a subcommittee of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs: "I will continue urging North Korea to respond to Japan's concern." Triggered by Ambassador Schieffer's advice, we hope to see heated debate in the US Congress on the abduction and delisting issues. (2) Government, ruling bloc decide to have antiterrorism passed by Lower House in deference to US; DPJ to be pressed for collective responsibility YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) October 28, 2007 The government and ruling parties have decided to have a new antiterrorism bill passed by the House of Representatives and then send it to the House of Councillors. Behind the decision lies their intention to play up Japan's commitment to the international community, as well as consideration to the United States, which spearheads the war on terrorism. The decision is also designed to press the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto),the largest party in the Upper House, to share responsibility. But given the DPJ's adamant opposition to the legislation, the fate of the bill remains to be seen. The Maritime Self-Defense Force's services to provide fuel and water to naval vessels of such countries as the United States, Britain, and Pakistan in the Indian Ocean have been a symbol of Japan's commitment to the international community. There is strong concern in the government that discontinuing the MSDF operations would end up sending the wrong message to the international community that Japan has given up on the war on terrorism. TOKYO 00005032 003 OF 013 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is scheduled to visit the United States in mid-November. He is expected to reaffirm the Japan-US alliance and exchange views on the war on terrorism (with President George W. Bush). A government source said on Oct. 27, "The Diet must not be out of session while the prime minister is visiting the United States. We cannot afford to give up on the new antiterrorism." The decision to have Lower House approval for the new legislation is tinged with the ruling bloc's strategy against the DPJ. Once the bill is sent to the Upper House, a decision on whether to vote it down, kill it without finishing deliberations, or carry it over to the next Diet session would be left to the DPJ. A senior LDP lawmaker took this view: "The DPJ's view on the war on terrorism would be exposed. The party would not be able to act irresponsibly." LDP Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki has exhibited an intension to discuss with the DPJ the question of extending the current Diet session beyond Nov. 10. The government and ruling parties intend to undertake final coordination for a timetable for Lower House approval of the new legislation and the length of an extension based on such events as sworn Diet testimony on Oct. 29 by former Vice-Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya and party-head debates on Oct. 31. They intend to extend the Diet session by three weeks to one month so that it would not affect budget compilation for the next fiscal year that would begin in earnest in mid-December. In the event the bill is voted down in the Upper House, the ruling camp would be pressed for a decision on whether to go for re-adoption by the Lower House by using a two-thirds majority rule. There is a view in the ruling camp that they should not hesitate to resort to re-adoption by the Lower House, for such is stipulated in the Constitution. At the same time, cautious views are deep-seated especially in the New Komeito. Re-adoption of the bill by the Lower House might be followed by the DPJ-led Upper House's approval of a censure motion against Prime Minister Fukuda that would result in Lower House dissolution for a snap general election. The New Komeito, which wants to delay Lower House dissolution, is reluctant about the bill's re-adoption. Meanwhile, the DPJ, alarmed at Diet business proceeding at the ruling bloc's pace, intends to focus on uncovering facts about the Moriya scandal and alleged diversion of Japanese fuel. With views in the party split over the MSDF operations, the DPJ's effort to come up with its own counterproposal is facing difficulty, however. A DPJ lawmaker commented, "If the Diet is extended, we would receive growing calls from the ruling bloc for a counterproposal. We might find it difficult to respond to those calls." (3) War on terror-Japan's option: Japan's immature view of security; US growing doubtful of Japan; US strategy overshadowed MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) October 24, 2007 "Japan is undertaking the burden of keeping the sealanes in the Indian Ocean and holding the terrorists at bay. If Japan TOKYO 00005032 004 OF 013 discontinues its refueling activities, another country will have to fill the gap. It's not in Japan's interests." With this, US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer and other high-ranking US government officials have repeatedly played up the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The MSDF has been tasked with antiterror activities in the Indian Ocean. In Japan, all eyes are on the MSDF's refueling activities only, with a strong propensity to interpret the MSDF's activities there in a narrow sense. In the United States, however, counterterrorism in the Indian Ocean has a broader meaning. Antiterror operations there are considered helpful in deterring terrorists to block their drug trafficking and their international movements. In the globalized world economy, the security of sealanes in the Indian Ocean-ranging from East Africa to Southeast Asia-is gaining in strategic importance. Asia, including India and other South Asian countries, is now the world's growth center. Japan, which depends on the Middle East for 90 PERCENT of its crude oil imports, is rapidly expanding its trade with countries in the region. So are the United States and Europe. That is why both France and Germany, which strongly opposed the Iraq war, are participating in coalition activities in the Indian Ocean, where they are undertaking security and deterrence operations. A war is usually fought between the armed forces of a country and another country. This conventional notion of a war, however, cannot cope with the war on terror, which is termed "asymmetrical." Even more multilateral approaches are needed for the war on terror. The constant security of sealanes is also one of these polygonal efforts. For the Bush administration, which is calling for an expansion of freedom, the war on terror-as well as the Iraq war-is synonymous with a battle on which to stake its fate. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Japan has played a proactive role in fighting the war on terror. The US government is increasingly becoming concerned about Japan's future course of action, with US Ambassador Schieffer noting that Japan's breakaway from the war on terror will not only affect its relations with the United States but will also cause repercussions on the international community. Japan, in the international community, is seen as a special country for the United States. The US government is highly concerned about a chain of negative reactions Japan may bring about after its breakaway from the war on terror; if the United States lets Japan go, other countries may also break away from the war on terror. Against the backdrop of the deteriorated situation in Afghanistan, Germany and Italy among North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members that constitute the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have already rejected the United States' request for reinforcements. In Canada and the Netherlands, there are also arguments calling for pulling out their troops. Washington sees Japan's breakaway from the front at this point as the worst case. Former US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Pace thinks that it would not be militarily impossible for US forces to take over Japan's refueling activities. Politically, however, it has a different meaning. A US military official presumes that Japan would lose its presence in the region. TOKYO 00005032 005 OF 013 President Bush and former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi built "the strongest alliance ever between Japan and the United States." Such a rocksolid alliance between the two countries has hit its peak and is in a downward phase. Nowadays, the warning light is on. After the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's rout in this summer's election for the House of Councillors, Japan made an about-face from its backup of the US-led war on terror to the option of breaking away from it. Many of the US government's officials are surprised at the "immaturity" of Japan's security policy, including Japan's understanding of the war on terror. "Japan jeopardizes our bilateral alliance." With this, one of them looked disappointed. Basically, the US strategy toward Japan was to have Japan expand its role in the international community, develop Japan into a strong country, strengthen the bilateral alliance further, and enroll Japan in order for the United States to work together with Japan in countering China and North Korea. However, the United States has a growing sense of distrust in Japan. The United States' distrust of Japan is also generating doubts about the reliability of its basic strategy. (4) Editorial: New antiterrorism legislation from a commonsense viewpoint unnecessary MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) October 26, 2007 Mikio Morishima Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or JDP) President Ichoro Ozawa's constitutional argument over the war on terrorism is significant in the sense of raising questions for the government and the general public to consider. If it had not been for the divided Diet where the DPJ holds a majority in the House of Councillors, Ozawa's assertion would not have received this much attention, and an extension of the refueling operation would have been approved smoothly. The government has given the following reasons that the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission is constitutional: (1) it does not constitute the use of armed force, and (2) it is not being carried out in a combat zone. Ozawa on the other hand is insisting that the mission is unconstitutional, saying that Japan cannot support US operations that are self-defense unless use of the right to collective self-defense is allowed. Against the background of the government's standoff with Ozawa, political motives are involved that go beyond the dimension of policy discussion. As a result, there is no room for compromise in the Diet battle. The matter can only be settled by ramming the new legislation through the Diet or letting it die. According to Ozawa's logic, the government has been carrying out unconstitutional activities for the last six years. I do not want to think of it that way. The Mainichi Shimbun, too, has never regarded the dispatch of SDF troops to the Indian Ocean as unconstitutional. That is because we thought that the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, stipulating logistical support in non-combat zones, would never require use of force. We also thought that in order to deal with terrorism that can happen anywhere in the world, Japan would not be TOKYO 00005032 006 OF 013 able to fulfill its responsibility as a member of the international community simply by enhancing its own defense capabilities alone. At the same time, we have repeatedly called for the strict and careful application of the law. But the story takes on a different aspect if the fuel provided by Japan had been diverted for use in the Iraq war. That is a diversion from the law's objectives. Suspicions about the fuel diversion must be dispelled. The US Department of Defense has released a statement admitting difficulty tracking Japanese oil completely, while denying any diversions. Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said about the statement: "There are no clear grounds that (Japanese oil) has been diverted for (other purposes). This is a mature argument based on international commonsense." We also heard a commonsense view six years ago from then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. In the Diet debate on the antiterrorism legislation, Koizumi dodged the opposition camp's questions by saying, "Let's stop the rhetorical argument and make a decision from a commonsense viewpoint." The constitutional debate was put on the backburner because of the Koizumi-style logic, and the MSDF was sent to the Indian Ocean. Whenever a problem arises, trying to settle them by bringing up commonsense is not desirable. In a recent Mainichi Shimbun opinion poll about continuing the refueling operations, neither those who were "for" nor "against" could reach a majority. The general public does not fully understand the government's view or Ozawa's argument. Additionally, 60 PERCENT of respondents did not think the refueling operations were helpful to prevent terrorism. The antiterrorism law now in force will expire shortly and the refueling operations would be discontinued. At this point, it would be wiser to reformulate measures to provide human contributions acceptable to many people than expediting efforts to enact the new legislation. (5) Poll on new Fukuda cabinet, political parties NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 29, 2007 Questions & Answers (Figures shown in percentage. Parentheses denote findings from the last survey conducted in late September.) Q: Do you support the ABE cabinet? Yes 55 (59) No 31 (27) Can't say (C/S) + don't know (D/K) 14 (14) Q: Which political party do you support or like now? Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 38 (43) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 32 (31) New Komeito (NK) 4 (3) Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3 (3) Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 2 (2) People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) TOKYO 00005032 007 OF 013 New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) Other political parties 0 (1) None 15 (13) C/S+D/K 6 (5) Polling methodology: The survey was taken by Nikkei Research Inc. over the telephone on a random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, samples were chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over across the nation. A total of 1,582 households with one or more voters were sampled, and answers were obtained from 911 persons (57.6 PERCENT ). (6) First month of Fukuda cabinet (Part 2): Two LDP boatmen to row the party to the next Lower House election NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 26, 2007 Some members in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have said that there are two secretaries general in the LDP. They are Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki and Election Committee Chairman SIPDIS Makoto Koga. Following the inauguration of the Fukuda cabinet, the LDP set up an Election Committee. The source of the secretary general's authority is to coordinate party candidates for elections. Both Ibuki and Koga have said they are carrying out such coordination. This is the reason why there seem to be two secretaries general in the LDP. SIPDIS In a meeting yesterday of the national secretaries general and policy chiefs, Ibuki firmly stated: "We will definitely win the next election. I want to concentrate on that point in managing Diet affairs, carrying out public relations activities and making policies." Koga, who delivered a speech following Ibuki, stressed: "First we will win the election and then stabilize the political atmosphere and politics. This is the LDP's responsibility to the nation and the public." What the two stressed was the election situation. The LDP suffered a defeat in the July House of Councillor election. SHINZO Abe, who declared he would remain in his prime minister's seat soon after the Upper House election, suddenly announced his intention his resignation on Sept. 12. It is not an exaggeration that Prime Minister Fukuda refer to his cabinet as "having its back against the wall." Due to the present political distortion in the Diet, in which the opposition camp controls the Upper House and the ruling bloc holds a majority in the Lower House, deliberations in the current extraordinary Diet session have completely changed gears. It will be difficult for the ruling coalition to pass the new legislation to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) refueling operation in the Indian Ocean because the opposition camp is opposed the mission. There is a sense of crisis in the LDP that the party might lose the next election and fall into the opposition side. Therefore, coordination of candidates in electoral districts has been tough. On Oct. 24 freshman lawmakers, the so-called "Koizumi's children," bowed their heads to Election Committee Vice Chairman Yoshihide Suga, saying, "We are determined to offer our assistance." They expected to talk to Koga. For the "Koizumi children," who yet to have their own set constituencies, Koga's coordination of electoral districts is crucial. Koga now uses the office which used to be the secretary general's. TOKYO 00005032 008 OF 013 On Oct. 21, Ibuki invited to his private residence People's New Party (PNP) head Tamisuke Watanuki and his wife and independent lawmaker Takeo Hiranuma and his wife on the pretext of celebrating Hiranuma's getting well from a stroke. Although Watanuki and Hiranuma left the LDP because they had opposed the postal-privatization program, there is no change in relations between the two and Ibuki. There is a possibility that the next Lower House election will become a close contest. The factor to win the race in the end could become a human relationship. Ibuki poured Watanuki and Hiranuma a glass of wine, saying: "This bottle of wine is the one that Mr. Hiranuma gave me before." With the divided Diet, prior deliberations between parties are now more significant than before and the secretary general's involvement in decision-making has increased. On the 23rd, Ibuki told Cabinet Office Vice Minister Shunichi Uchida: "The Cabinet Office should make more efforts. Your office should not become a subcontractor of the Finance Ministry." He meant that the government-ruling coalition council on social security and tax reform was being managed under the Finance Ministry's initiative. One senior government economic agency official said with a forced smile: "There are two policy chiefs in the LDP." (7) First month of Fukuda cabinet (Conclusion): New Komeito growing more concerned and too worn out for next Lower House election NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 27, 2007 According to an analysis conducted by the religious sect Soka Gakkai, the main backer of the New Komeito, the party that is the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),30 PERCENT of the party's supporters voted for the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) in the July House of Councillors election. The figures were shocking for the New Komeito and Soka Gakkai. The New Komeito has had a coalition with the LDP for eight years. The link between the New Komeito and Soka Gakkai has been often criticized by opposition forces as violating the principle of separation of state and religion. However, the linkage between the party and the sect is gradually changing as the prospect grows for an early House of Representatives election. New Komeito Chief Representative Akihiro Ota delivered a speech on Oct. 26 in front of JR Akabane Station, in which he stressed: "The New Komeito does good things for the public but it does not do bad things." His party suffered a setback in the July Upper House election. The dominant view in the New Komeito is that the party fell victim to public's view of the scandal-ridden LDP, but its supporters are taking a severe view at the New Komeito itself. Before Ota attended the first meeting on Oct. 22 of the government-ruling coalition consultative council on social security and tax system reform, Election Policy Committee Chairman Yosuke Takagi told him that he would take a firm stance. Takagi's major concern was that the New Komeito might succumb to the LDP's alibi for raising the consumption tax. New Komeito lawmakers, in reflecting on their party's situation concluded that the party failed to make its policy of emphasizing peace and welfare well-known to the public. This is the reason the party has touted a policy of suspending the plan to increase medical TOKYO 00005032 009 OF 013 co-payments for the elderly. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has sensed the atmosphere that has developed between the New Komeito and its religious backer. On Oct. 19, when Fukuda dined for the first time with senior ruling coalition members, Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshio Urushibara gave his impression of the meeting: "Compared with the previous cabinet, the Fukuda cabinet is giving us scrupulous consideration." The reason is because Fukuda even gave consideration to the seating arrangements -- he seated himself between senior New Komeito members. The late Takeo Fukuda, the father of Prime Minister Fukuda, was on friendly terms with Soka Gakkai Honorary Chairman Daisaku Ikeda when he was prime minister. Ikeda wrote in a book that Takeo Fukuda called at Soka Gakkai headquarters unaccompanied by a secretary. This seems to be one reason that the New Komeito and Soka Gakkai look at Fukuda favorably. But there is no guarantee that the ruling coalition will be able to overcome the next Lower House election with unity alone. The Japanese Communist Party (JCP),an opposition party, does not intend to field candidates in electoral districts where the percentage of votes for it in previous elections was low. Senior Soka Gakkai members are concerned about a possibility that the votes the JCP would have gained will go to the DPJ. "Due to the defeat in the Upper House, we are still not ready for another election. There is a possibility that an early Lower House election might bring about a trading of places between the ruling and opposition camps." (8) Guide to ensuring security: India preparing to counter rising China in contrast to Japan, which lacks a policy SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) October 26, 2007 By Hiroyuki Noguchi A radar and wiretapping facility set up by India on leased land in northern Madagascar, Africa, was secretly set in motion in early July. This is India's first military facility established overseas with the aim of monitoring moves by naval ships in the Indian Ocean in a bid to protect its interests. This is a result of India faithfully following the principle that military affairs are part of diplomacy. Japan's approach, however, is quite different. The Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling mission in the Indian Ocean will be halted on Nov. 1, when the antiterrorism law backing the operation is to expire. Japan remains unable to make use of its military organization to support its diplomacy, although it has emphasized the importance of civilian control. Such a stance is strange. India's new military facility is also tasked with monitoring moves by terrorists or pirates. Japan and India are both aiming at joining the United Nations Security Council as permanent members In view of military contributions to international peace, India has left Japan far behind. But India's current main purpose is to counter China, which has established connections in Africa and the Middle East and built bases for shipping energy resources and for its Navy to escort such ships in countries near India, such as Pakistan, Burma, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. This is part of its efforts to secure energy resources. About 90 PERCENT of India's oil imports also TOKYO 00005032 010 OF 013 depend on sea transportation. India is planning to construct a similar facility on an atoll reef leased from Mauritius. If the new facilities in Madagascar and Mauritius are linked to the existing monitoring facilities in Mumbai and Cochin, India's monitoring and warning capabilities for the route to transport oil from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arabian Sea through the Mozambique Channel will significantly improve. Last year, India inked an agreement with Mozambique for regular patrolling along the coast of Mozambique. By dispatching its naval vessels to the eastern coast of Africa, India is playing up its presence. Foreign Minister Mukhergee said: "Ocean diplomacy is an indispensable part of India's foreign policy. Our marine interests are expanding far beyond our territorial waters." Japan should have been in the advantageous position in securing marine interests, such as ocean bottom resources and energy transport routes. That is because Japan has naval power capable of navigating the high seas for a long period of time. A country's navy is not only responsible for military affairs but also allowed to exercise naval police authority to control pirates and others. In addition, a navy is equipped with authority to promote diplomacy and friendship, such as port calls for friendship purposes and joint training. With "military power," "police power," and "diplomatic power" forming a triangular shape, it becomes possible for a country's navy to change its system freely in accordance with which power the organization gives priority to in response to the needs of the times and the government. The strategy of the Japanese Empire's Navy in World War I was to build an extension of this "triangular" policy line. When the European war reached a deadlock, the Allied Powers urged Japan to dispatch its army. Once Japan declined this request, Britain, its ally, also criticized Japan, so Japan decided to send its fleets to the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean to defend the sea lanes. As a result, the Allies approved Japan's rights over its occupation areas. Japan was also able to avoid rupturing the Anglo-Japanese alliance. This result proves that the government at that time had an understanding of the diplomatic power of the Navy. Japan is now under a similar situation to that at the time of WWI. According to an estimate by the US Navy, 1000 vessels are necessary in order to ensure the safety of key sea lanes across the world, but the US Navy has only 280 deployable ships. Aid from its allies is indispensable. Many politicians stress the significance of the MSDF refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, defining it as contributing to strengthening the Japan-US alliance and to maintaining the safety of sea lanes for Japan, an import-oriented nation. But the opposition bloc has spent a great deal of time questioning the volume and other details of MSDF-provided fuel. Discussion based on the principle that international politics is controlled by power and interests was never discussed. Hans Morgenthau, professor at the University of Chicago and an international political scientist from Germany, once said: "Motives for human behaviors are interests, and the purpose of foreign policy is also to pursue interests. The concept of pursuing power and interests sometimes takes preference over moralism and legalism in international politics." TOKYO 00005032 011 OF 013 Sun Tsu, a military commander in the Spring and Autumn Period in ancient China, made a similar assertion 2500 years ago. (9) Government, steelmakers to develop hydrogen-powered blast furnace to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 PERCENT NIKKEI (Top Play) (Slightly abridged) October 29, 2007 The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will launch a project jointly with Nippon Steel Corporation and JFE Steel Corp. to develop a new type of blast furnace that emits about 30 PERCENT less carbon dioxide (CO2) than the existing ones. For the new furnace, hydrogen, instead of coke, will be used. METI plans to invest 25 billion yen in the project starting in FY2008 to commercialize the technology in 10 years. With this, the ministry aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the steel industry, from which huge volumes of CO2 have been discharged. A project office will be established in the Japan Iron and Steel Federation early next year. The government will announce this project at the Lake Toya Summit to be held in Hokkaido next summer and will discuss a post-Kyoto framework for combating global warming beyond the 2012 timeframe set under the Kyoto Protocol. METI will first request the allocation of 600 million yen in the budget for next fiscal year. The ministry plans to build a prototype furnace at a cost of 10 billion yen over five years to establish basic technology and then test several furnaces before the new one is commercialized. It plans to earmark 15 billion yen for the testing but also intends to ask private firms to provide financial contributions. The method of using hydrogen, instead of coke, contains many problems to resolve in view of technology and cost. It was difficult to use hydrogen to power blast furnaces and to handle a large quantity of hydrogen safely. The ministry also expects to develop ways to utilize waste heat from the furnaces, as well as a technology to isolate CO2 from blast furnace emissions and sequester it underground. METI expects a 30 cut in CO2 emissions in the entire process owing to such technical innovation. The steel industry is the biggest emitter of CO2 in the industrial and energy sector, accounting for 41.2 PERCENT of the sector's total emission, or 13 PERCENT of the total national emission. in the nation. The ministry aims to have the new technologies ready by the latter half of 2010, when many of Japanese blast furnaces will be due for repairs. Countries that plan to participate in the project hope to obtain CO2 emission rights in exchange for providing the technologies to steelmakers in China, India and other emerging countries. (10) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: 70 PERCENT of major cities now incinerate plastic as burnable trash TOKYO 00005032 012 OF 013 Mainichi: Kanagawa Prefecture's personal information protection panel orders education board not to keep names of teachers refusing to sing Kimigayo Yomiuri: Nova gave 100 million yen to Sahashi group starting in FY2000 Nikkei: Government, steelmakers to develop hydrogen-powered blast furnace to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 PERCENT Sankei: PENTAX Co. mulling filing damage suit against Matsushita Battery Industrial Tokyo Shimbun: Fukuda cabinet support rate drops 7.6 points to 50.2 PERCENT Akahata: National rally in Tokyo provides good chance for people to move politics (11) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Establish welfare state of solidarity Mainichi: (1) US additional sanctions against Iran: How is US going to deal with suspicions of nuclear development by North Korea, Syria? (2) Transfer of Tsukiji market: Think of food safety first Yomiuri: (1) Put end to Minamata disease problem with new package of rescue measure (2) China's launch of first lunar orbiter: Japan's space strategy shows up badly Nikkei: (1) Will showdown between US, Iran enter new phase? (2) Local governments urged for legislation to ban multiple election Sankei: (1) Start of discussion o basic pension financed entirely by tax revenues: Discussion on how to secure financial resource for raising public burden should come first (2) Expectations places on effect of sale of insurance policies at banks' windows Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Rengo center to support part-time, dispatched and contract workers must meet expectations (2) Increase number of criminal lawyers to prevent false charges Akahata: (1) Top 15 firms specializing in military equipment receive 475 ex-Defense Ministry, receive 70 PERCENT of contracts, and contribute huge amount of money to LDP TOKYO 00005032 013 OF 013 (12) Prime Minister's schedule, October 27 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 28, 2007 09:59 Attended a memorial service for SDF personnel killed in the line of duty, held at the Defense Ministry. 11:33 Returned to his residence in Nozawa. Spent afternoon at his residence. Prime Minister's schedule, October 28 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) October 29, 2007 09:59 Met Defense Minister Ishiba at GSDF Eastern Army Headquarters in Oizumi-gakuen, Tokyo. 10:26 Attended an SDF review ceremony held at GSDF Camp Asaka in Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture. 11:55 Met Ishiba at GSDF Eastern Army Headquarters. 13:01 Took a look at the prime minister's official residence. 15:25 Returned to his residence in Nozawa. SCHIEFFER