JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 02/20/07-1

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000701 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 02/20/07-1 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule Visit of Vice President Cheney: 4) Vice President Cheney arrives today but there are problems underlying the US-Japan "honeymoon" 5) Cheney to ask Japan for extended support for Afghanistan, Iraq 6) Cheney will not meet Defense Minister Kyuma during his 3-day Japan visit for "scheduling reasons" 7) Kyuma's critical remarks about the US have had a diplomatic price: no meeting with Vice President Cheney Kyuma problem: 8) Ambassador Schieffer in meeting with Komeito head says he finds Defense Minister Kyuma's remarks on Futenma plan "strange" 9) - Schieffer expresses concern about Kyuma's desire to revise agreement on Futenma relocation Opinion polls: 10) ABE Cabinet's non-support rate jumps 8 points to 39.2% in Jiji poll 11) Asahi poll: 40% non-support rate for ABE Cabinet now outpacing 37% support rate, with majority of public dissatisfied with premier's income disparity policy 12) 53% of public want Health Minister Yanagisawa to resign for his remarks about women: Asahi poll 13) Yomiuri poll: As ABE Cabinet support rate continues to slip now at 45.3% majority of public chide premier for "lack of leadership" 14) Jiji poll finds half of Japanese public cautious about a permanent law for overseas dispatches of SDF troops 15) Prime Minister Abe: Will rebuild confidence through policies Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Poll: Disapproval for ABE cabinet at 40%, exceeds approval; 54% dissatisfied with anti-disparity measures Mainichi: Elderly people caged, chained to beds in Urayasu nursing-care facility Yomiuri: Japanese Association for Acute Medicine drafts guidelines on ending life-support Nihon Keizai: Talks underway for Misuzu Audit Corp. to hand auditing to three major corporations in summer to avoid adverse effect on end of fiscal year Sankei: Education Ministry to allow local boards of education to become involved in administration of private schools Tokyo Shimbun: TOKYO 00000701 002 OF 011 37 prefectures to issue in FY2007 bonds worth 300 billion yen - three times greater than original amount - to cover baby-boomers' retirement allowances Akahata: Japan Federation of Medical Workers' Unions Poll: 96% of hospital doctors work 32 hours nonstop three times a month 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Plummeting cabinet support spells trouble (2) Opening sidewalks not enough to deal with bicycles Mainichi: (1) Kidney transplant scandal requires thorough investigation (2) Corporate world may change depending on Sapporo TOB Yomiuri: (1) ABE must try to restore confidence in cabinet (2) Rising grain prices: Structural shift results from supply-demand balance Nihon Keizai: (1) Armitage report shows Japan-US challenges (2) Kidney transplants outrageous Sankei: (1) Cheney's Japan visit: Japan, US, and Australia need strategic cooperation (2) Tokyo marathon a festival for a megalopolis Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Government's growth enhancing strategy raises questions (2) Matsuzakaya-Daimaru merger plan: Traditions and cultures must be maintained Akahata: Lawmakers must clearly explain their office expenses 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, February 19 NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) February 20, 2007 10:32 Met Secretary General Nakagawa at the Kantei. 11:05 Met Ambassador to the US Kato. Followed by Special Advisor Koike. 12:05 Attended a government and ruling parties liaison council meeting. Later met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba. 14:00 Met Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Matsuoka, Forestry Agency Director General Hayashi, and others. Followed by Education Minister Ibuki and others. TOKYO 00000701 003 OF 011 15:30 Met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 16:03 Social Insurance Agency Director General Murase, with Special Advisor Nemoto. 16:55 Handed recommendation certificates in the Diet building to the LDP-backed candidates for the Gunma and Tokushima gubernatorial elections, and Shizuoka mayoral election, with Secretary General Nakagawa and others present. Later, attended an LDP executive meeting. 17:49 Attended a meeting of cabinet ministers responsible for working out a monthly economic report at Kantei. 18:54 Dined at a Japanese restaurant in the Hotel Okura with former Finance Minister Shiokawa and former BOJ Deliberation Council member Nobuyuki Nakahara. 20:34 Returned to his official residence. 4) US Vice President Cheney to arrive in Japan today as honeymoon ties begin to cool ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) February 20, 2007 Naonori Fujita US Vice President Dick Cheney will arrive in Japan today. "It is meaningful in order to strengthen the Japan-US alliance for the world and Asia," Prime Minister SHINZO ABE said. But as Japanese cabinet members have openly criticized the Bush administration's Iraq policy recently, differences in foreign policy approaches between the two countries, including toward North Korea, are becoming increasingly prominent. With things no longer the same as they were in the Koizumi-Bush honeymoon relations, the ABE administration has faced a number of difficulties in its approach toward the US. North Korea: Gaps on abduction issue "It was as if we were skating on thin ice," a senior Cabinet Secretariat official remarked. SIPDIS The agreement released on Feb. 13 by the recent round of six-party talks stated that the US "will begin the process of removing" North Korea from its designation as a terror-sponsoring state. One reason for this designation is the abduction issue caused by North Korea. So, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Yuriko Koike, who was then in the US, swiftly asked the State Department for a cautious response. On the night of Feb. 14, ABE and President George W. Bush confirmed that they would act together to deal with North Korea. Concerns about discord between Japan and the US, however, had already spread in the ruling parties and other quarters. The Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) somehow soothed the situation TOKYO 00000701 004 OF 011 with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki noting, "Of course, it's incorrect to think that the removal of the designation has been agreed on." But according to Keio University Professor Naoyuki Agawa, a former minister to the US, the general view in Japan is that "In Americans' eyes, the threat of North Korea is essentially less acute that those of Iran and Iraq." In order to make Japan-US ties look closer, during his stay in Japan Cheney is to declare America's support for Japan's position on the abduction issue. Also, he is likely to reaffirm the importance of the Japan-US alliance and seek Japan's understanding and cooperation regarding America's actions, such as the additional deployment of troops to Iraq. Japan reluctant to extend assistance to Iraq with the upcoming Upper House election in mind Japanese cabinet members have recently expressed critical views of America's Iraq policy. For instance, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma stated: "Isn't it that the decision to go to war might have been a mistake?" Foreign Minister Taro Aso noted, "(The post-war governing policy) was naive." During his visit to Japan this time, Cheney has no plan to meet with Kyuma. Kyuma made such a remark apparently as a precaution to contain objections from the ruling parties and the public before the start of debate on whether to extend the term of airlifting assistance to Iraq by the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF),which is to expire in July. His and other cabinet members' remarks critical of the US forced the prime minister to warn them not to make comments thoughtlessly. The chief cabinet secretary, too, was forced to say: "Those remarks were inappropriate." There is no change in Abe's position that the Japanese government's endorsement of America's opening of the war in Iraq in 2003 was correct, as he has stated, "Iraq continued to violate a number of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions over a period of 12 years. It was unwilling to the end to respond to the international community's sincere efforts." However, in order to revise the Iraq Special Measures Law, ABE needs to pay due consideration to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Upper House caucus, as well as junior coalition partner New Komeito, given that his hold over the party is declining in line with the cabinet's falling approval ratings. The US expects Japan to extend the term, but ABE has yet to reach a final conclusion about such matters as how long the airlift would be extended. Ahead of Cheney's visit to Japan, the Japanese government obtained a cabinet approval on Feb. 16 for the prevention of the transfer of funds relating to Iran's nuclear development programs. Although it came to light that day that US beef was suspected of violating Japan's import requirements concerning BSE, the prime minister tried to quiet down the news, noting, "I have been informed that SRMs were not included." Nonetheless, it is undeniable that Japan has tended to be slow to deal with issues involving the US now that the honeymoon relations between Koizumi and Bush are over. On the relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, a focal point in the US force realignment that was agreed on between TOKYO 00000701 005 OF 011 the Koizumi administration and the Bush administration, the coordination process involving the central and local governments has been deadlocked. No session of the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee (2+2) of the foreign and defense ministers has occurred yet since the start of the ABE administration. Abe stated that in order to enhance the reliability of the Japan-US alliance, "We will study individual cases specifically to see what will be identified as exercising the right to collective defense." In response, the press officer of the US Embassy in Japan commented, "We welcome his pledge to review the hitherto known legal obstacles." But a full-scale study is unlikely to start so soon, as a senior Foreign Ministry official commented, "It would start after the Upper House election at the earliest, but that will depend on the result of the election." 5) Cheney to arrive in Japan on Feb. 20, expected to ask for Japan to make more contributions in Iraq, Afghanistan YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) Evening, Feb. 17, 2007 Takashi Sadahiro, Washington Responding to questions by representatives of press companies on Feb. 16, prior to the planned visit to Japan by Vice President Dick Cheney starting on Feb. 20, a senior United States government official revealed that the vice president would ask the Japanese government to make greater contributions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The official also indicated that the vice president would discuss with Prime Minister ABE and other Japanese government officials on Feb. 21 "where we need more efforts and what contributions each country would be able to offer in the two countries (Iraq and Afghanistan)." The US has decided to dispatch over 20,000 more troops to Iraq on a security-restoration mission. The US government is expected to call on Japan and other its allies to provide more personnel and financial aid for reconstruction projects in Iraq. The US official, while appreciating the airlift aid in Iraq and fueling at sea by the Self-Defense Forces, commented, "The US hopes that Japan will be a general partner to it." 6) US Vice President Cheney to visit Japan starting on 20th but will not meet Defense Minister Kyuma for "scheduling reasons" SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) February 18, 2007 By Hideya Yamamoto in Washington Vice President Cheney will visit Japan for three days starting on Feb. 20. In addition to meeting with Prime Minister SHINZO ABE and other top officials to exchange views on such topics as the North Korea nuclear issue, the Vice President also will visit the US Navy base at Yokosuka to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance. However, a senior US official on Feb. 16 confirmed to the press corps that a meeting with Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma, who has repeatedly criticized the United States on the Iraq war and on base TOKYO 00000701 006 OF 011 relocation, will not occur. "Scheduling problems" were cited as the reason for not setting up a meeting. The senior official, commenting on the adoption by the six-party talks of a joint statement on the North Korea nuclear issue, predicted that the Vice President would transmit that the US would continue to back Japan on the abduction issue, which would be taken up in a working group between Japan and North Korea. Another topic that would be brought up would be China's military moves, including its test use of an ASAT weapon to shoot down a satellite. The official indicated that there was concern not only by the US but also across the Asia region, as well. The Vice President will visit Australia, as well, passing through Guam on the way. The visit is to show the US' stance of placing emphasis on two of Japan's most important allies in the word -- Japan and Australia. 7) Diplomatic impact of defense minister's critical remarks about the US: Vice President Cheney will not meet Defense Minister Kyuma during his Japan visit; Kyuma has turned silent TOKYO (Page 2) (Full) February 18, 2007 Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma has recently turned cautious in his remarks. He previously had repeatedly criticized the United States, calling the Iraq war a "mistake," and saying that "the US should not make such high-handed remarks" regarding the issue of relocating the US forces' Futenma Air Station. It appears that Kyuma has taken seriously the US' strong reaction and has recently stopped coming out with his true feelings on these issues. As it stands now, though, he has not been able to arrange a meeting with Vice President Cheney, who arrives in Japan on Feb. 20.' Kyuma stressed in the Lower House of the Diet on Feb. 16 that his criticism of the US on the Iraq war was "my feelings at the time." Now that he is a cabinet member, he indicated that he would follow a posture of following the government's policy line of supporting the US' launching of that war. Kyuma has constrained his criticism o the US, but his words already have had a major diplomatic impact. A Security Consultative Committee (2-plus-2) meeting between Japan and the US planned originally for January has been delayed until at least late March. Although Vice President Cheney is not scheduled to see Kyuma, he will meet with Prime Minister ABE and Foreign Minister Aso in separate sessions to discuss the Iraq war and the North Korean nuclear issue. One senior Defense Ministry official pointed out: "Kyuma made a big mistake in thinking that since it was himself, it was permissible (to even criticize the US)." Kyuma says that he will now watch what he says, so the period of self-imposed silence is likely to continue. 8) US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer finds Defense Minister Kyuma's remarks "strange" MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) February 17, 2007 TOKYO 00000701 007 OF 011 New Komeito President Akihiro Ota met with US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer on Feb. 16 in the Lower House Diet Members Building. In their meeting, Ambassador Schieffer raised the question of statements by Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma that have been critical of the way the US government has handled the relocation of the US forces' Futenma Air Station (Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture). He said: "Although I am not upset by them, I find them strange since the US and Japanese governments have already reached an agreement." 9) US Ambassador to Japan concerned about statements by Defense Minister Kyuma YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) February 17, 2007 US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer met on Feb. 16 with New Komeito President Akihiro Ota. Referring to criticisms by Defense Minister Kyuma of the US for not responding to calls for revision of the relocation plan for Futenma Air Station, the Ambassador expressed concern, saying: "The US and Japanese governments negotiated and concluded a (relocation) agreement. We were perplexed when he said he wanted to change the agreement." 10) Jiji Press opinion poll: ABE Cabinet non-support rate jumps 8 points to 39.2% TOKYO (Page 2) (Abridged) February 17, 2007 According to the results of Jiji Press' February opinion poll completed on Feb. 16, the support rate for the ABE Cabinet declined 5.8 points from last month's level to 34.9%, the third straight month for it to drop. On the other hand, the non-support rate jumped 8.3 points to reach 39.2%, surpassing the support rate for the first time since the launching of the ABE administration last September. There seems to have been a major impact in the polls of such problems as the statement by Health Minister Yanagisawa comparing women to "baby-bearing machines," and the issue of a lack of clarity about office expenses by cabinet members. The survey was carried out between Feb. 9-12 among 2,000 adults nationwide using a face-to-face interview method. The effective response rate was 66.3%. This was the first time for the prime minister's support rate to fall before the 40% level. The non-support rate, which was 15.9% in the first poll last October after ABE took office as prime minister, has been rising in the monthly poll ever since. The main reasons for non-support (multiple choices) were: "can't expect too much of him" (22.3%, rising for the first time over 20% ),and "no leadership" (17% ). Regarding party support, the LDP received a 21.4% support rate, down 2.8 points since Jan., and the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) was at 9.7%, slipping 1.4 points. Those supporting no party rose slightly 0.3% to 60.7%, as high as it has ever been. There seems to be no stopping the trend of voters deserting organized parties. 11) Poll: Cabinet support down to 40%, tops support rate ASAHI (Top play) (Full) February 20, 2007 TOKYO 00000701 008 OF 011 The rate of public support for Prime Minister Abe's cabinet was 37% in a telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey conducted by the Asahi Shimbun on Feb. 17-18. Meanwhile, the ABE cabinet's nonsupport rate was 40%. The ABE cabinet's disapproval rating topped its approval rating for the first time. Asked about Abe's job performance since coming into office, nearly 40% answered that it was "short of expectations." In addition, more than 50% were negative about the ABE cabinet's efforts to deal with the nation's social divide. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's support rate also dropped to 29%, failing to reach 30% for the first time in 22 months. The figures show that the public is about to distance themselves both from the ABE cabinet and from the LDP. The ABE cabinet made its debut with high popularity at 63%. However, its support rate has not stopped falling in surveys taken thereafter. The ABE cabinet's nonsupport rate topped its support rate five months after its inauguration. Among women, the ABE cabinet's support rate was 39%. Among men, it was 36%. The ABE cabinet's support rate among women has tended has been higher than that among men. However, the support rate among women fell below 40% for the first time. Among those in their 20s to 50s, nonsupport was higher than support as in the previous survey taken in January this year. In the latest survey, however, the support rate among those in their 60s dropped from 49% to 38% and closed in on the nonsupport rate (36% ). What lies behind the drop in the ABE cabinet's support rate seems to be the public's disappointment. In the survey, respondents were asked about the ABE cabinet's job performance so far. In response to this question, 37% of them answered that it was "short of expectations," topping all other answers. Among other answers, 32% said they had "no expectations from the beginning," with 25% saying it was "up to expectations" and 1% saying it was "beyond expectations." The survey this time also shows strong dissatisfaction with the ABE cabinet's policies. The ruling and opposition parties are squaring off over the issue of a social divide, such as economic disparities. The prime minister has set forth his strategy of backing second chances and boosting Japan's economic growth. However, only 21% answered "yes" and 54% were negative when they were asked if they appreciated such efforts. LDP supporters were also split, with 38% saying "yes" and 36% saying "no." In the survey, respondents were also asked if they appreciated the agreement reached at the six-party talks on energy aid to North Korea over its nuclear weapons programs. In response to this question, 56% answered "no," with 31% saying "yes." As seen from these figures, negative opinions outnumbered affirmative ones. Meanwhile, ABE has declared that Japan will not provide energy aid to North Korea if there is no progress in the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea. Asked whether to support this stance, "yes" accounted for 81%. It accounted for 88% among those who support the ABE cabinet and 78% even among those who do not support the ABE cabinet. ABE is now troubled with his cabinet's unpopularity, but the general public seems to be supportive of his stance of prioritizing the abduction issue. The LDP's support rate was 29%, down from 32% in a previous survey taken last month. The leading opposition Democratic Party (Minshuto) TOKYO 00000701 009 OF 011 also dropped from 16% to 13%. The proportion of those with no particular party affiliation increased from 45% to 51%. The LDP failed to reach 30% for the first time since April 2005 when it was split over postal privatization. The proportion of those unaffiliated also topped 50% for the first time since then. People are distancing themselves from political parties, with this summer's House of Councillors election ahead. 12) Poll: 53% urge welfare minister to resign ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) February 20, 2007 In the Asahi Shimbun's latest survey, respondents were asked if they thought Prime Minister ABE should dismiss Welfare and Labor Minister Yanagisawa over his recent gaffe in which he called women "childbearing machines. In response to this question, 53% answered "yes," with 39% saying there is no need to do so. "Yes" accounted for 56% among men and 51% among women. "Yes" was higher than 50% in all age brackets, with the exception of those aged 70 and over. However, it accounted for 60% or so among women in their 20s to 30s and among men in their 50s to 60s, calling for the prime minister to take severe action. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Kyuma said the United States launched the Iraq war but that decision was "wrong." In the survey, respondents were asked if they agreed with Kyuma. In response, "yes" accounted for 57%, with "no" at 26%. As seen from these figures, affirmative opinions outnumbered negative ones. 13) Poll: Cabinet support rate at 45.3%, close to nonsupport rate; 57% see ABE as lacking leadership ability YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) February 20, 2007 The rate of public support for Prime Minister Abe's cabinet was 45.3% in a face-to-face nationwide public opinion survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun on Feb. 17-18, down 3.1%age points from the 48.4% rating in a survey taken in January. The ABE cabinet's support rate dropped for the fourth month in a row from its inaugural 70.0% rating in a survey taken in October last year. The ABE cabinet's nonsupport rate was 42.7%, up 3.8 points from last month. The ABE cabinet's approval and disapproval ratings were close in the latest survey. This can be taken as reflecting scandals involving cabinet ministers, such as Welfare and Labor Minister Yanagisawa's gaffe in which he called women "childbearing machines," so more people presumably doubted Prime Minister Abe's governing capability. The ABE cabinet's support rate among men was 43% and among women was 48%. Among men, the nonsupport rate was 48%, topping the support rate. In the survey, respondents were asked if they thought ABE has displayed his leadership in steering his government. In response to this question, 57% answered "no," with 18% saying "yes." In addition, 56% answered "no" to a question asking respondents if they thought ABE has appropriately dealt with his cabinet ministers' TOKYO 00000701 010 OF 011 scandals and gaffe. 14) Half the public cautious about idea of establishing permanent law on overseas dispatch of SDF troops, according to Jiji poll TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) February 19, 2007 Jiji Press carried out a poll to gauge views on the establishing of a permanent law enabling the overseas dispatch of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel. According to the results of the survey, wrapped up on Feb. 18, only about 10% of pollees replied such a law was "necessary," while a half of them called for a cautious approach, saying " It is necessary, but there is no need to hurry." The poll, conducted from Feb. 9 through the 12th based on face-to-face interviews, covered 2,000 adult males and females throughout the nation. The effective response rate was 66.3%. According to the findings, 12.5% of the respondents replied, "A permanent law is necessary." Those who took a cautious view reached 50.5% combining those who replied, "Necessary but need to hurry," and, "It is better to deal with the matter not with a permanent law but with special measures laws." The number of those "against" the overseas dispatch of SDF troops itself came to 18.5%. Regarding the easing of standards for weapons use, an act that is allowed only for legitimate self-defense emergency evacuation, views were divided with 21.5% saying, "They should be eased, and "31.5% noting, "They should be eased, but there is no need to hurry" and another 34.5% saying, "They should not be eased." On the establishment of the Defense Ministry on Feb. 1, 37.7% replied either, "I highly evaluate" or "evaluate," equaling the 35.3% who said, "I am opposed." 15) Prime Minister: "I will regain people's trust with my policies" YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) February 20, 2007 Referring to the fallen approval rate for the cabinet in the opinion poll carried out by the Yomiuri Shimbun, Prime Minister ABE told reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, "I want to regain the trust of the people by explaining my policies in a lucid manner and then implement them." He thus indicated his intention to make efforts to regain popular trust as seen in the approval ratings for his cabinet through the carrying out of his policies. ABE underscored: "It has been several months since the inauguration of my administration. This is just the beginning. I am not administering politics for the sake of public support rates. I am grateful that such a large number of people support me." Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki indicated that the administration has yet to make more efforts to explain its policies to the people. Ho noted: "The government is properly doing what it should do. We must seriously take why our efforts are not being understood." Some opposition party members noted that blunders by cabinet ministers, such as Health Minister Yanagisawa likened women as baby-making machines, have led to the fallen approval ratings. TOKYO 00000701 011 OF 011 Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Nakagawa urged the solidarity of the government, noting, "We must challenge in unison, while examining ourselves so that internal discipline and spirits will not relax." Yoichi Masuzoe, chairman of the Upper House Policy Deliberation Commission of the LDP pointed out: "The fallen authority of the cabinet is reflected in the declining approval rates. One such case is the Yanagisawa statement. Cabinet ministers lack a sense of tension. I do not see any efforts to help the prime minister from Defense Minister Kyuma and Foreign Minister Aso." New Komeito Ota also said, "I think the Yanagisawa statement has affected the polls." SCHIEFFER