JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/18/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 001065 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 04/18/08 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) Court ruling on ASDF Iraq mission: 4) High court: ASDF mission in Iraq unconstitutional (Asahi) 4 5) ASDF Iraq mission "unconstitutional in part" (Yomiuri) 6) Gov't account overruled (Asahi) 7) No problem: Prime Minister Fukuda (Tokyo Shimbun) 8) Japan to continue ASDF deployment (Yomiuri) 9) Gov't, LDP denies repercussions on ASDF airlifts (Nikkei) 10) Opposition parties again call for pullout (Nikkei) Japan-China ties: 11) Foreign Minister Koumura in meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi suggests need for China to hold talks with the 14th Dalai Lama (Nikkei) 12) Foreign Minister Koumura urges China to hold dialogue with Dalai Lama (Tokyo Shimbun) 13) Chinese President Hu Jintao's Japan visit set for May 6-10 (Nikkei) 14) Ex-LDP policy chief Nakagawa, other LDP lawmakers blame China over Tibet issue (Yomiuri) 15) DPJ's Ozawa raps China over Tibet (Asahi) 16) 'No, thank you' to Chinese security guards in blue tracksuits: Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura (Asahi) Defense & security issues: 17) Foreign Minister Koumura in Diet panel says MP officer's action as questionable (Yomiuri) Climate change & economic topics: 18) Prime Minister Fukuda welcomes President Bush's CO2 emission target plan (Nikkei) 19) G-8 business leaders in Tokyo work out post-Kyoto statement (Asahi) 20) METI releases 'critical technology' list (Nikkei) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Tokyo Shimbun & Akahata: Nagoya High Court: ASDF mission to Iraq runs counter to Article 9 of the Constitution Mainichi & Sankei: ASDF's airlift ruled unconstitutional Yomiuri: Companies employed more than 2 million people aged 65 or over last year, up 30 PERCENT in four years Nikkei: ASDF's Iraq operations "partially unconstitutional" 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) SDF dispatch to Iraq ruled unconstitutional TOKYO 00001065 002 OF 009 (2) U.S. President Bush does not understand world trend on global warming Mainichi: (1) Ambiguous explanation on ASDF activities in Iraq unallowable (2) "Zero reply" on decentralization reform unforgivable Yomiuri: (1) ASDF airlift in Iraq not use of force (2) Need for sufficient vaccine for new flu Nikkei: (1) Debate on collective defense needed now (2) Protect children from Internet crimes Sankei: (1) ASDF mission in Iraq ruled unconstitutional: Does high court reject peace cooperation? (2) Policy consultative organ: Consensus in ruling parties is top priority Tokyo Shimbun: (1) ASDF airlift in Iraq unconstitutional; SDF overseas deployments to be affected (2) Use all possible measures to deal with new flu Akahata: (1) Hansen's disease basic law: Final battle for former patients 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, April 17 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 18, 2008 10:04 G-8 business summit at Japan Business Federation in Otemachi. 10:31 Arrived at the official residence. 10:45 Met with Special Advisor Ito at the Kantei. 11:19 Met with LDP Reform Headquarters head Takebe, followed by Asahi Shimbun columnist Wakamiya. 12:39 Imperial garden party at the Akasaka Palace. 15:04 Arrived at the official residence. 15:53 Met with Deputy Vice METI Minister Toyoda and Trade Policy Bureau Director General Ishige. 16:04 Met with former Upper House member Keizo Takemi and Tadashi Yamamoto, director of the Japan International Exchange Center. Then TOKYO 00001065 003 OF 009 met with Secretaries General Ibuki and Kitagawa. Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura was present. Then met with Finance Minister SIPDIS Nukaga and Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka. 17:57 Education Revitalization round-table. 19:16 Received a joint statement of the G-8 Business Summit from Japan Business Federation Chairman Mitarai at the official residence. Then hosted dinner party. 4) Nagoya High Court rules ASDF mission in Iraq unconstitutional ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts) April 18, 2008 In a ruling yesterday on a lawsuit seeking to end the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops to Iraq, the Nagoya High Court under Presiding Judge Kunio Aoyama said that the Air Self-Defense Force's (ASDF) airlift of multinational troops to Iraq's capital of Baghdad violates Article 9-1 of the Constitution. But the verdict did not side with the plaintiffs. This is the first case among similar lawsuits filed across the country in which the court ruled (the dispatch of the ASDF to Iraq) unconstitutional. The plaintiffs have taken the ruling as being in their favor in essence and declared they will not appeal. The government won the case in actuality, and that is why it cannot appeal the case to a higher court. Accordingly, the high court's ruling is expected to be a final ruling. The verdict looked at the current situation in Iraq and said, "The combat in Iraq is in effect an extension of the attack on Iraq that began in March 2003. It is an international conflict between a multinational force and armed elements." The ruling recognized Baghdad as a "combat zone" as defined under the Iraq Special Measures Law because it is a "region where acts are being committed to kill and maim people and destroy property as part of an international armed conflict." The verdict also said, "In modern warfare, supply activities, including transport, are an important part of combat activities." Referring to the ASDF's activities, the ruling said, "The ASDF's airlifting of armed soldiers in the multinational force to the Baghdad combat zone were acts that could be identified as being involved in the use of force by other nations, and the ASDF could be viewed as having used force." The ruling concluded: "Part of the ASDF duties had violated provisions of the Iraq Special Measures Law banning the use of force and Article 9 of the Constitution." 5) ASDF operations in Iraq "partially unconstitutional," Nagoya High Court rules YOMIURI (Top Play) April 18, 2008 Members of citizens' group opposing the dispatch of the Self-Defense Force to Iraq had filed a lawsuit against the state seeking confirmation of the unconstitutionality of the deployment of Self-Defense Forces (SDF). The Nagoya High Court yesterday handed down a ruling in this appeal trial with Presiding Judge Kunio Aoyama TOKYO 00001065 004 OF 009 noting that the Air Self-Defense Force's (ASDF) mission is unconstitutional. He said that airlifting armed troops from multinational forces to Baghdad, a war zone, is an act integral to the use of force by other countries and that such an act runs counter to the special law to allow the SDF to provide humanitarian support for Iraq's reconstruction efforts and Article 9 of the Constitution. The Court, however, rejected the plaintiff's call for to rule the entire deployment unconstitutional and demand a suspension of the dispatch of SDF personnel as unlawful. 6) Court ruling overturns government's previous grounds ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) April 18, 2008 Analysis The Nagoya High Court's ruling on a demand for an injunction against the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) dispatch to Iraq did not side with the plaintiffs, but it rejected the government's previous grounds. The government has so far explained that the SDF are operating in a noncombat zone and are not involved in activities using force, but the court's ruling identified the (Air Self-Defense Force's) airlifts to Baghdad, which is still in turmoil, as "acts that have been involved in other countries' activities using force." This was the first time for a court to rule that the ASDF airlift violates Article 9-1 of the Constitution banning the use of force. The basis for that ruling is that ASDF transport planes have airlifted soldiers in the multinational force. The verdict also said, "Supply activities are an important part of combat activities." It is only natural to say that in terms of the aspects of the war, but the government has until now reiterated the concept of a noncombat zone. 7) Fukuda says in response to Nagoya High Court's ruling that ASDF Iraq mission is unconstitutional: "ASDF activities are not problematic" TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) April 18, 2008 The Nagoya High Court ruled yesterday that the Air Self-Defense Force's mission in Iraq is unconstitutional. But the government intends to have the ASDF continue its mission. The court, though, dismissed the plaintiffs' lawsuit demanding a suspension of the SDF dispatch to Iraq. Given this, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said: "(The ruling) concludes that the state's judgment is valid." He then emphasized that the ruling will not affect the ongoing ASDF mission, remarking: "There is no problem. We will not change our policy." 8) Government to continue SDF dispatch YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) April 18, 2008 Commenting on the Nagoya High Court's decision, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura on April 17 said, "Baghdad Airport is a SIPDIS noncombat zone. We cannot accept such a ruling. It will have no TOKYO 00001065 005 OF 009 influence on the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces." He then announced the government's policy of continuing the dispatch, saying, "Airlifting activities will be continued." Prime Minister Fukuda also told reporters, "There is no problem with the Air Self-Defense Force's activities." 9) Government, ruling bloc do not expect court ruling to affect ASDF airlift; Prime minister rules out reviewing mission, saying, "There are no problems" NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 18, 2008 In response to the Nagoya High Court's ruling that part of the Air Self-Defense Force's airlift mission in Iraq is unconstitutional, the government contends that activities have been carried out in non-combat zones and are not integrated with military actions. The government believes the decision will have no negative impact on the ASDF's activities. The ASDF's airlift mission started in March 2004. Based in Kuwait, an ASDF C-130 cargo plane has been airlifting personnel from the UN and multinational forces and medical supplies to Baghdad and Arbil up in the north. According to the basic plan adopted by the cabinet, the areas of ASDF activities are specified as non-combat zones, such as an airport in Baghdad. Before the press at his office last night, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda rejected a review of the airlift mission, saying: "There are no problems. We have no intention of altering it." Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, too, said in a press briefing: "The SIPDIS high court's decision is unacceptable, because we still believe areas of activities meet the necessary requirement of non-combat zones." LDP Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki told the press, "The ruling won't immediately affect the operation." New Komeito Representative Akihiro Ota described the decision as somewhat abrupt. At the same time, the decision might cast a pall on the ongoing discussion on a permanent law (general law) allowing the government to send the SDF on overseas missions as necessary. The duration of the ASDF mission is until July 2009. The court's decision might affect the government's response in the event a need for an extension arises. A government source said yesterday, "Once the decision becomes final, we will consider releasing a statement," adding that given the ruling in favor of the state, it would be difficult for the plaintiffs to appeal. He expressed the perception that in order to avoid adverse effects on the discussion on the overseas dispatch of the SDF, the government will have to consider some kind of response. 10) Opposition parties again call for SDF withdrawal from Iraq, envision resubmission of bill aimed at scrapping Iraq special legislation NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 18, 2008 TOKYO 00001065 006 OF 009 Following the Nagoya High Court's ruling, the opposition parties have began calling for an immediate withdrawal of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops from Iraq. The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has begun considering resubmitting to the Upper House during the current session of the Diet a bill aimed at scrapping the Iraq Special Measures Law, although a similar bill was killed in the last extraordinary Diet session. At a news conference yesterday, DPJ Deputy President Naoto Kan criticized former Prime Minister Junichio Koizumi for his Diet replies, in which he said, "The area where the SDF are conducting their activities is a noncombat zone." Koizumi served as prime minister when the SDF were first dispatched to Iraq. Kan added: "The court's verdict could be taken as rejecting his misleading accounts." The Japanese Communist Party's Diet Affairs Committee Chairperson Keiji Kokuta noted, "We'd like to again call on the government to pull out (the Air-Self Defense Force's) troops (from Iraq)." The Social Democratic Party's President Mizuho Fukushima told a Nikkei reporter: "The government must take the verdict seriously and must withdraw the SDF. It's an encouraging thing, for we are trying to prevent the move to submit a permanent law on dispatch of the SDF to the Diet." 11) Tibet: Koumura during foreign ministerial urges China to hold direct dialogue; "It is a domestic issue," replies Yang NIKKEI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) April 18, 2008 Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura yesterday met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the Foreign Ministry's Iikura State Guest House in Tokyo. Koumura sought further disclosure of information on the riots that have occurred in the Tibetan Autonomous Region. He also urged him to hold a direct dialogue with the 14th Dalai Lama. Yang replied, "The obstacle to a meeting is not China but the Dalai Lama." He continued, "The Tibet issue is China's internal affair. Foreign countries should not interfere." Regarding the Tibet issue, Koumura suggested, "It is important to hold a meeting, securing transparency. Why not hold talks without attaching any conditions?" Yang fiercely criticized the 14th Dalai Lama, characterizing him as the leader of the riots. He said, "The Dalai Lama's group has caused the riots, by organizing and maneuvering them." He at the same time said, "The door to talks is open. If he abandons his stance of seeking the independence of Tibet and stops using violence and obstructing the Beijing Olympic Games, then we want to hold talks with the Dalai Lama at any time." Concerning the tainted Chinese-made gyoza dumplings, they agreed to deepen cooperation between investigators of both countries to shed light on what happened. However, regarding the East China Sea gas field issue, they simply confirmed both countries' stance of continuing efforts for an early settlement. 12) Japan-China foreign ministerial: Koumura calls for dialogue with Dalai Lama; Yang calls it internal matter TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) TOKYO 00001065 007 OF 009 April 18, 2008 Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura held yesterday a meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the Foreign Ministry's Iikura Guesthouse. Koumura urged China to engage in a dialogue with the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, saying: "Revealing the circumstances while securing full transparency will be in China's interest. China should consider a dialogue without attaching any conditions." In response, Yang rebutted: "It is an internal matter. Other countries should not intervene." He also criticized the Dalai Lama, saying: "He has incited violence in collusion with pro-independence forces at home and abroad." Yang added: "We will respond to a call for contact and dialogue if he abandons the drive for independence, stops violence, and suspends activities to destroy the Beijing Olympics." 13) Chinese President Hu to visit Japan May 6-10 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) April 18, 2008 The foreign ministers of Japan and China confirmed yesterday that Chinese President Hu Jintao will visit Japan May 6-10. Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura stated in a press conference the same day: "We should make the upcoming presidential visit a success by all means. I would like to dramatically promote strategic reciprocal relations." 14) Conservative LDP lawmakers adopt resolution criticizing China YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) April 18, 2008 A group of Liberal Democratic Party conservative members, led by Shoichi Nakagawa, a former LDP policy chief, yesterday adopted a resolution criticizing the Chinese government's handling of the Tibet issue, calling on Beijing to immediately halt its suppression of human rights. 15) DPJ head Ozawa criticizes China's handling of Tibet ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) April 18, 2008 Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),the largest opposition force, commented on the issue of Tibet in a speech yesterday: "Set off by ethnic issues, the contradictions China holds have now come into the open. The existence of a communist autocratic government and political freedom do not go together." Ozawa also added: "In order for a communist regime to survive in changing times, the regime itself has to change." 16) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura: Japan will not use Chinese guards' help for torch relay in Nagano; 3,000 police to be mobilized TOKYO 00001065 008 OF 009 ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) April 18, 2008 The National Police Agency (NPA) decided yesterday to guard the Beijing Olympics torch relay to be held on April 26 in Nagano using about 3,000 police officers. The NPA plans to have several dozen police officers run along with the runners. Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura declared that Japan would not use help from Chinese guards. The Nagano prefectural police had initially planned to have about 500 police control traffic and prevent confusion without getting help from neighboring prefectural police. However, Nagano police drastically reviewed their plan, learning from the disturbances in other countries over the Tibet issue. At present, Nagano police will mobilize about 1,500 officers, nearly half the force. Nagano has now decided to get the support of more than 200 riot police from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, as well as neighboring prefectural police. 17) Koumura: "There might be problems under SOFA" YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) April 18, 2008 U.S. Marine police officers tool into custody two sons of U.S. Marines who shoplifted at a clothing store in Chatan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 13. The U.S. side did not comply with the Okinawa prefectural police's request for the handover of their custody. Touching on this matter, Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura said before the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday, "There might be problems depending on the facts under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement." Thus, Koumura indicated that the government has sought an explanation from the U.S. 18) Fukuda welcomes Bush's proposal to fight global warming, NIKKEI (Page 7) (Full) April 18, 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda last night praised the United States' new target for fighting global warming, saying: "I hear that the target covers a wide range of areas. I welcome it." On the question of whether Japan will present a mid-term target prior to the G-8 Summit (Lake Toya Summit) in July, Fukuda said: "Japan has its own stance as the host nation. Also keeping in mind the need to form a framework that involves major greenhouse gas emitters, we will make a decision." In the Japanese government, however, some are critical of the U.S. target as lacking specific measures. Japan has set the goal of bringing the growth of emissions across the world to the minus column in 10 to 20 years. But "it will be difficult to attain (Japan's proposal) if emissions are reduced at the pace suggested by the U.S.," said a senior officer of a relevant government ministry. Even so, the European Union (EU) has set forth a positive reduction goal, and Japan's stance is closer to that of the U.S. Japan needs to cooperate with the U.S. in taking the initiative in forming a post-Kyoto framework. Given this, Japan has refrained from outwardly criticizing the U.S. approach to global warming. TOKYO 00001065 009 OF 009 19) G-8 business leaders come up with joint statement on post-Kyoto scheme ASAHI (Page 7) (Full) April 18, 2008 The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) held a meeting of business leaders from the Group of Eight countries in Tokyo yesterday. In a joint statement released after the meeting, the G-8 business chiefs called on their governments to ensure that all major greenhouse gas emitters join a post-Kyoto framework and that progress be made in sector-specific approaches. Fujio Mitarai, chairman of Nippon Keidanren, handed the joint statement to Prime Minister Fukuda after the meeting, asking him to reach an agreement at the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido in July. This was the second G-8 business summit. The joint statement included as measures to curb global warming "promoting the development and spread of low-carbon technologies" and "ensuring that measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions be fair for all major emitters," reflecting the views of the Japanese government and Keidanren. But the joint statement stopped short of referring to a cap-and-trade system, to which business circles are reacting fiercely. On ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the statement just called for flexibility and diversity to be ensured so that suitable measures will be worked out for each country. 20) METI releases list of key technologies for new products, services NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) April 18, 2008 The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) released a technology strategy map 2008 yesterday. The report includes motives for developing key technologies in major industries and research goals. Predicting the time when new products or services will make it to the market, the report lists technologies indispensable for creating them. The report also explains the current state of applications for patents and market share. The report will be used when the government draws up a technology strategy. It also includes information useful for companies to chart business strategies. METI will post the list on its website today. SCHIEFFER