JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 12/19/07

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 12/19/07 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) Defense and security issues: 4) Japan successfully intercepts missile in Hawaii test, but debate over cost effectiveness of MD continues, with 1 trillion yen allocated for system (Mainichi) 5) Government to change guidelines for emergency responses to allow missile intercepts under prior-approval set up (Mainichi) 6) Antiterrorism bill to allow MSDF refueling mission to continue expected to be finally rejected by the opposition-controlled Upper House on Jan. 11 (Nikkei) 7) Former GSDF Samawah commander turned lawmaker makes pitch in Upper House for adopting the antiterrorism special measures bill (Yomiuri) 8) Agreement between U.S., Japan reached on host-nation support, but issue of phasing out labor allowances for Japanese employees remains (Yomiuri) 9) Differential pay to local employees remains as the sole issue in the now settled host-nation support agreement (Nikkei) Defense scandals: 10) Moriya to be re-arrested yet again as more bribe money uncovered, but his wife released from jail (Mainichi) 11) Former Yamada Corp. exec Miyazaki, now under arrest, gave "fixer" Akiyama 100 million yen to set up channels between Japan, U.S. that he could tap (Mainichi) 12) Akiyama to be summoned to testify before the Diet as a sworn witness (Mainichi) 13) LDP's Taku Yamasaki sets up political subcommittee on the Korean Peninsula, aiming at normalizing Japan's relations with the DRPK during Fukuda tenure (Sankei) 14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura, who says he absolute believes in UFOs, unhappy with government's official view rejecting their existence (Sankei) DPJ election strategy: 15) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to focus election strategy on the urban voter, plans to run female candidate in Tokyo against former defense chief Koike (Tokyo Shimbun) 16) DPJ expects to have 250 candidates lined up by early next year to run in next Lower House election (Yomiuri) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Wheat price to be raised again in April, likely to affect bread, noodle prices Mainichi: Moriya rearrested over taking 3.64 million yen in bribes Yomiuri: Moriya served fresh arrest warrant for allegedly extending favors for 7 types of defense equipment in return for 3.63 million yen in TOKYO 00005603 002 OF 010 bribes Nikkei: Matsushita, Canon, Hitachi in talks to form alliance to build flat TV panels Sankei: MSDF succeeds in missile intercept test, paving way for major role in MD system; Constitutional review imperative Tokyo Shimbun: New students at nursing care schools drop 13 PERCENT Akahata: Hokuriku Electric Power Co. hides 8 active faults near Shiga nuclear power plant 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Former Vice-Defense Minister Moriya rearrested (2) Austerity essential in compiling supplementary budget Mainichi: (1) MD test: It is not a dream system yet (2) Medical fees must be used to stop doctors from leaving hospitals Yomiuri: (1) Moriya's acceptance of cash must be condemned (2) Medical-related budgets expose limits to automatic cuts Nikkei: (1) Economy needs close watch (2) Lisbon treaty gives flexibility to EU Sankei: (1) Moriya rearrested: Shed light on possible involvement of lawmakers (2) Strengthened Japan-U.S. alliance expected to follow successful Aegis missile test Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Moriya rearrested: MOD procurement system must be corrected (2) Working conditions must be reviewed in order to stop declining birthrate Akahata: Unidentified pension accounts issue requires greater efforts 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, December 18 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 19, 2007 08:11 Attended a private-sector/government executive council meeting on promoting work/life balance. Later, attended a study meeting on priority strategy for supporting children and families. TOKYO 00005603 003 OF 010 09:03 Attended a cabinet meeting in the Diet building. Later met Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Masuzoe. Then met Education Minister Tokai. Followed by New Komeito President Ota. 10:07 Met former Secretary General Nakagawa at the Kantei. Followed by Resources and Energy Agency Director General Mochizuki and Deputy Vice METI Minister Toyoda. 11:04 Met Lower House member Taku Eto. Later, LDP headquarters chief Sakamoto, and others. 13:21 Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 15:14 Met Futahashi. Followed by Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 16:01 Met Cabinet Office Vice Minister Uchida. Later, met Deputy Foreign Minister Yabunaka and Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Sasae. 17:02 Attended a ceremony to grant certifications for special reform district plans, regional revitalization plans, and shopping district revitalization plans. Later, attended a meeting of cabinet ministers responsible for monthly economic reports. 18:10 Met New Komeito Policy Research Council Chairman Saito. 19:11 Returned to his private residence in Nozawa. 4) MD test successful: Cost effectiveness the next topic of discussion MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) December 19, 2007 The Maritime Self-Defense Force successfully carried out a sea-based Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) interceptor test off a U.S. Hawaiian island. Japan has already deployed the ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) interceptor system. The government will now start operating Japan's missile defense (MD) shield system consisting of the SM-3 and the PAC-3. The government plans to lay down a MD network throughout the country by fiscal 2012 in order to deal with the threat of North Korea's ballistic missiles. The total cost of SM-3 and PAC-3 shielding, however, is estimated at 800 billion yen to 1 trillion yen. It will be even more costly to introduce an advanced MD system of the next generation. This will likely give rise to arguments for cost effectiveness due to the country's dire fiscal straits. "I wonder if you can gauge the effectiveness of something or the cost of saving the lives of people. You only say the price is so high. That doesn't hit the nail on the head, and you are thinking with your heart rather than your head," quipped Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, visibly upset in a press conference when asked about TOKYO 00005603 004 OF 010 the cost effectiveness of MD and aware that the high cost of introducing an MD system has been a target of criticism. Ishiba is concerned about the threat of North Korea's ballistic missiles. In 1998, North Korea launched a long-range Taepodong ballistic missile that flew across over Japan. At the time, the then Defense Agency had just started its study of an MD system. The agency then geared up for its introduction. According to the Defense Ministry, the budget for MD introduction will peak at 186.3 billion yen in the current fiscal year, the initial year of interceptor missile deployment. The MD budget for the remaining fiscal years up to 2012 is estimated to be lower than the current fiscal year's budget, according to the Defense Ministry. Japan and the United States plan to co-develop an advanced SM-3 system of the next-generation type by fiscal 2014. The government has yet to decide on whether to mass-produce the advanced MD system. However, the government's financial burden will skyrocket if the new MD system is to be introduced. The interceptor missile fired off Hawaii was imported from the United States for approximately 2 billion yen. A domestic defense-related business also says, "The MD budget is huge, but there's no merit for us. It doesn't have a future-oriented aspect to it." 5) Prior intercept order eyed for SDF counteraction MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged) December 19, 2007 The Maritime Self-Defense Force successfully shot down a projectile in its test-firing of a sea-based Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) interceptor, and the SM-3 will go operational early next month. Ahead of SM-3 deployment, the government decided yesterday to revise its emergency action guidelines for missile defense (MD) operation. The government will revise the MD guidelines for the ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) interceptor system, which was first deployed in March. If and when a foreign country prepares to launch ballistic missiles, the defense minister will be allowed to order the Self-Defense Forces in advance to intercept ballistic missiles with the SM-3. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will hold a joint meeting of its defense-related divisions today to approve revising the MD guidelines. The government will shortly make a cabinet decision on this matter. 6) DPJ executive predicts that new refueling bill will be voted down in Upper House on Jan. 11 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full December 19, 2007 A senior member of the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) indicated yesterday that the bill to resume the refueling operation in the Indian Ocean would be voted down in a House of Councillors plenary session on January 11. After New Year's break, the Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is scheduled to meet on Jan. 8 and 10. The senior DPJ member indicated that chances are high for the committee's adoption of the bill on Jan. 10 and the plenary session's vote on Jan. 11, saying, "We will work hard until the last moment." If a vote is not taken on Jan. 11, TOKYO 00005603 005 OF 010 60 days will have passed on Jan. 12 since the legislation was sent from the House of Representatives, allowing the ruling camp to regard the Upper House's inaction as de facto rejection under the Constitution. 7) "Mustached commander" appeals to public YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) December 19, 2007 "People don't know very much about the new antiterror legislation's significance and importance." On Dec. 18, the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee met. Masahisa Sato, a House of Councillors member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, expressed his view before the committee. Committee members present in the room were straightened up when the committee meeting was in a mood to wind up. Sato headed an advance team of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, and he is known as the "mustached commander." The LDP yesterday set up a corner on the Japanese version of YouTube. On it, Sato explains the new antiterror legislation as an SDF-member-turned lawmaker. He also visits various places in the country to speak on the legislation. He seems to be most directly feeling the public's lack of understanding on the legislation. In the committee meeting, Sato talked about his visits to Niigata, Hokkaido, and Fukushima for three days from Dec. 15. He stated: "I explained the bill's significance. One person said, 'Oh, is that so? Then I support it.'" "We've now discussed the bill." With this, the ruling coalition is now seeking to take an early vote on the legislation. The LDP has told its members to limit their question time to about 10 minutes. However, Sato continued his questions for about 20 minutes. He made an appeal there: "It's important to give easy-to-understand explanations about how we are actually affected (in the aftermath of halting the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean). I will do so. I want the government to do so together." 8) Review of sympathy budget settled, but setting timeframe for abolishing pay allowances remains a challenge YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) December 19, 2007 Now that an agreement has been reached between the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union (Zenchuro) to abolish the allowances to Japanese employees working at U.S. bases, the question of reviewing Japan's host nation support (the so-called sympathy budget) for U.S. Forces Japan has generally been settled. Although a MOD official described the agreement to abolish the allowances as a major achievement, a timeframe for the phase out has yet to be determined. Given the nation's tight fiscal situation, the government aimed at deep cuts in Japan's HNS as a whole, which is far higher than that of other countries. At the same time, the government needed to give consideration to Japan-U.S. relations which have become unstable due to the suspension of the refueling operation in the Indian Ocean and TOKYO 00005603 006 OF 010 other factors. This prompted the government to put emphasis on reducing the differential pay and language allowance to Japanese employees that would not increase the burden on the United States. Although Zenchuro agreed to abolishing the allowances at an early stage, talks with MOD on measures to mitigate radical changes face rough going. Zenchuro staged two strikes, which started to worry the U.S. side about the effect on base operations. The government had to heed to a U.S. request for making efforts to avoid strikes, and MOD settled the matter by making concessions to Zenchuro. MOD intends to end the drastic change alleviation measures in five years. But a senior Zenchuro official said: "From the perspective of their welfare, the allowances will have to stay beyond the next five years." There still remains a seed of conflict for future talks. 9) Sympathy budget generally settled; Step to be taken to alleviate drastic change in differential pay NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 19, 2007 Negotiations on Japan's host nation support (the so-called sympathy budget) for U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) have generally been settled. An agreement was reached between the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union (Zenchuro) to abolish the "differential pay" of adding a 10 PERCENT allowance to the civil servants' base bay and the language allowance. The only remaining matter is how to handle the USFJ facilities maintenance costs that will go into in the fiscal 2008 budget bill. Labor and management also agreed to abolish the pay raise system that allows salaries to increase beyond the pay scale. In the fiscal 2008 budget bill, the sympathy budget will be reduced by 370 million yen from this year. As a measure to alleviate drastic change, MOD will pay 50 PERCENT of the differential pay and the language allowance for five years and review them thereafter. 10) Moriya rearrested over bribes MAINICHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) December 19, 2007 The special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office rearrested former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya yesterday on suspicion of accepting about 3.64 million yen in bribes from a former executive of defense contractor Yamada Corp. The former executive was also rearrested for giving the alleged bribe. It has been found that Yamada Corp. spent a total of approximately 7.5 million yen in bribes and expenses for golf trips for Moriya. Prosecutors also rearrested Osamu Akiyama, former chief of Yamada Corp.'s US subsidiary, for giving the bribe the same day. Moriya's wife Sachiko, who had been arrested over her involvement in Moriya's receipt of bribes, was released for the reason that she played a minor role and that she regrets what she did. 11) Yamada Corp. former executive gave 100 million yen to Japan-U.S. center in anticipation of influence peddling MAINICHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) TOKYO 00005603 007 OF 010 Evening, December 18, 2007 It is now suspected that Yamada Corp. gave funds not only to former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya but also to Naoki Akiyama, executive director of the Japan-U.S. Center for Peace and Cultural Exchange. Akiyama is close to lawmakers lobbying for defense interests. Motonobu Miyazaki, a former executive of the defense contractor, told persons around him that he transferred approximately 100 million yen into a bank account of Akiyama. He also admitted to the remittance during questioning by the special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, saying: "We offered money in anticipation of its influence peddling to help us receive orders." Akiyama reportedly has acted as an intermediary between Japanese and American defense companies and politicians. The Japan-U.S. center makes arrangements for visits to the U.S. by Japanese lawmakers and regularly holds a meeting of the Japan-U.S. Security Strategy Council by inviting American defense experts. Since fiscal 2003, the center has arranged visits for 21 lawmakers, including Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga and former Democratic Party of Japan President Seiji Maehara. 12) Upper House committee decides to summon Akiyama as sworn witness MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) Evening, December 18, 2007 The House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has decided to summon Naoki Akiyama, executive director of the Japan-U.S. Center for Peace and Cultural Exchange, to the Diet as a sworn witness. The committee initially planned to summon him on Dec. 20, but since Akiyama has said he would accept the summons, a decision on the date has been entrusted to the chairman. 13) In first meeting of LDP North Korea panel, Yamasaki says ties should be normalized under Fukuda administration SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) December 19, 2007 The Liberal Democratic Party's subcommittee on issues related to the Korean Peninsula, chaired by former Defense Agency Director General Seishiro Eto, held its first meeting at party headquarters yesterday. The panel was created to back up the government's policy toward North Korea. Former Vice President Taku Yamasaki, who assumed the post of supreme advisor, expressed hopes that the party will strengthen ties with North Korea through the panel, saying: "I would like to normalize diplomatic ties between Japan and North Korea under the Fukuda administration." The first meeting brought together about 30 members of the Diet, including former Defense Agency Director General Gen Nakatani. Yamasaki emphasized that the establishment of the panel is in accordance with Prime Minister Fukuda's wishes. He then implied that he would visit to Pyongyang, remarking: "We will be very busy next year in dealing with issues with the Korean Peninsula. The party will take proper steps to address the situation." Yamasaki is known for having his own personal networks in North Korea. In April 2004, he held a meeting with Jong Thae Hwa, then TOKYO 00005603 008 OF 010 ambassador for normalization talks with Japan in Dalian, China. He also visited North Korea this January and reportedly met with Kim Yong Kon, National Defense Committee counselor, and others. The visit was criticized as "dual diplomacy." 14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura: UFOs definitely exist, unhappy with government's formal response SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) December 19, 2007 Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura stated in a press conference yesterday: "I am sure that unidentified flying objects exist." He elaborated: "Otherwise, it is impossible to explain the Nazca Lines (in Peru, which some believe were created by aliens), isn't it?" The government yesterday adopted in a cabinet meeting an official response to a question by Ryuji Yamada, a Democratic Party of Japan member. The statement says that the government has not confirmed the existence of UFOs. It was the first time for the government to deny the existence of UFOs. Machimura, while stressing that it was his personal view that UFOs exist, said: "The government has offered only a boilerplate response in its formal statement." 15) DPJ to place importance on urban areas in next Lower House election TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) December 19, 2007 The largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) has begun setting forth a clear stance of placing importance on policy measures for urban areas in campaigning for the next House of Representatives election. The DPJ won a sweeping victory in the July House of Councillors election, by playing up its policy of giving priority to improving regional economies by narrowing socioeconomic disparities regional. What are reasons for the party trying to review its campaign strategy? DPJ head Ichiro Ozawa along with Takako Ebata, a former associate university professor, whom the party has informally endorsed as its candidate to run in the Tokyo No. 10 electoral district held a press conference yesterday. In it, Ozawa emphasized: "We must do our best to have her win the race." Ebata will compete in the race with former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike. It is unusual for Ozawa to introduce a candidate in a press conference. Ozawa stressed his party's policy of attaching emphasis on urban areas, saying: "We must set our goal to secure the majority of seats in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which includes Tokyo and three other prefectures, the Kansai region such as Osaka and Hyogo Prefecture, and Fukuoka Prefecture in the Kyushu region." In the background, there are many single-seat constituencies in urban areas. In the 2005 Lower House election, the DPJ suffered a crashing defeat. Ozawa noted: "If we are defeated in those areas, it will be difficult for us to get the majority of the Lower House seats." He predicts that the outcome of races in the urban areas will be the key to a change of government. TOKYO 00005603 009 OF 010 However, election cooperation between opposition parties seems difficult in some electoral districts in Tokyo and Kanagawa in which candidates backed by the DPJ and Social Democratic Party are decided to run. The DPJ has many challenges to overcome, including coming up with policy measures attracting unaffiliated voters. DPJ to field woman candidate in Tokyo No. 10 district, facing off LDP's Koike The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) decided yesterday in a meeting of its standing secretaries general to file eight candidates for the next House of Representatives election, including Takako Ebata, 47, former associate professor at the University of Tokyo, who will run in the Tokyo No. 10 electoral district. Former Defense Minister Koike now represents the No. 10 district. The DPJ has not filed candidates in 72 districts of the 300 electoral districts across the nation. 16) DPJ to be ready to field 250 candidates by early next year for next Lower House election due to delay in coordination on candidates YOMIURI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) December 19, 2007 The government and ruling parties have decided to set up a national council on social security affairs. The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) sees this move as a favorable wind blowing in its direction. The DPJ, however, has yet to craft a strategy for the next House of Representatives election due to a delay in coordinating candidates and other reasons. When asked by reporters yesterday about the plunging approval ratings for the cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in opinion polls by various news companies, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa responded: "(Regarding the issue that identifying holders of a huge number of national pension accounts have become difficult) distrustful and irresponsible remarks by Prime Minister Fukuda and other government officials have enraged the public." He continued: "I want to see a dissolution of the Lower House as early as possible for a snap general election. If public opinion calls for an election, (the Prime Minister) will have no choice but to dissolve the Lower House and call it. It is not a technical issue to manage Diet affairs." Even if the House of Councillors adopts a censure motion against the Prime Minister, it would not be legally binding, although there is a view that the adoption of a censure motion should trigger Lower House dissolution. In the DPJ, a cautious view on the submission of a censure motion is spreading, with one senior party member saying, "We won't be able to get public support only by the Lower House's overriding a decision by the Upper House on the new antiterrorism special measures bill. I think it is not enough even with the pension-record fiasco." The DPJ has been slow in its election coordination. In a meeting yesterday of its standing secretaries general, the largest TOKYO 00005603 010 OF 010 opposition party informally endorsed candidates to run in eight electoral districts. The number of the DPJ candidates now totals ¶227. Therefore, the party's target of filing 250 candidates before the end of the year is likely to slip to early next year. The DPJ has not yet fielded candidates in eight of the 25 electoral districts in Tokyo. The reason is that the party has not overcome the legacy of a crushing defeat in the 2005 Lower House election, in which it won only one seat out of 25; and so it has worked on the selection of candidates from scratch, considering that the Tokyo races would affect its performance across the nation. SCHIEFFER