DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 06/13/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TOKYO 001620 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 06/13/08 INDEX: (1) No repercussions on realignment plan: Maher (Ryukyu Shimpo) (2) Coordination underway for regional special committee on U.S. military base issues: Foreign Ministry official (Ryukyu Shimpo) (3) AWWA donates 700 million yen over 36 years: "We want to maintain good relationship of trust with Okinawa," chairperson says (Ryukyu Shimpo) (4) Time for change in U.S. foreign policy (Yomiuri) (5) Many difficult issues in next extra Diet session (Yomiuri) (Corrected copy) G-8 finance ministerial to start today (Mainichi) ARTICLES: (1) No repercussions on realignment plan: Maher RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) June 13, 2008 U.S. Consul General in Okinawa Kevin Maher, meeting the press yesterday, laid emphasis again on the United States' stance of pushing for the agreement with Japan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to the coastal area of Henoko in the city of Nago, while referring to the fact that the opposition camp opposing Futenma airfield's relocation to Henoko won a majority of the seats in Okinawa Prefecture's assembly as a result of its recent election. "I don't think we will have a big problem for the U.S. military realignment plan," Maher said, adding: "The security arrangement is based on a policy at the national level. In terms of legal authority, an environmental impact assessment requires authorization from the governor, not from the prefectural assembly. I hope the prefectural assembly will also take a realistic view of things." The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) has indicated that it would aim to have Futenma airfield relocated to another prefecture in Japan or otherwise to an overseas site. "If there is a new proposal, there will be no change in the facts (about Futenma relocation within Okinawa Prefecture)," Maher said. "Even if we discuss this matter from scratch," he added, "I believe we will have the same result," In connection with a potential impact on the planned realignment of U.S. forces in Okinawa, Maher also indicated that an intergovernmental agreement should not be affected by the outcome of an election. "If we need to review it whenever there is an election, we cannot mitigate the burden at all," he said. Meanwhile, the United States will elect its new president in time. Asked about its potential impact on the U.S. military realignment, Maher answered: "I don't think it will be affected even if there is a change of administration under the Republican Party or the Democratic Party." Meanwhile, Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has been calling for the planned Futenma replacement facility to be moved to an offshore location. "The runway location is not a strategic matter at the presidential level but is a technical matter, so there will be no change," Maher said. TOKYO 00001620 002 OF 006 (2) Coordination underway for regional special committee on U.S. military base issues: Foreign Ministry official RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) June 12, 2008 Japan and the United States have launched a working team, which is made up of representatives from U.S. forces in Okinawa Prefecture, Japanese government organizations, and base-hosting local governments to discuss how to prevent incidents involving U.S. military personnel. The Foreign Ministry held a meeting of the working team's core group yesterday at its Okinawa Liaison Office, inviting local officials from Okinawa City, Chatan Town, and Kin Town, which have been involved in such incidents. In the core group meeting, Osamu Izawa, director of the Status of U.S. Forces Agreement Division at the Foreign Ministry, referred to the fact that the governors of prefectures hosting U.S. military bases have called on the Japanese government to set up a regional special committee of representatives from U.S. forces and base-hosting local governments under its intergovernmental joint committee with the United States. In this regard, Izawa reported that the Japanese and U.S. governments are currently in coordination so its meeting can be held. The regional special committee is now highly likely to be set up. In the meeting, Izawa referred to community patrol (CP) and other preventive steps already announced by the U.S. military. In addition, he also explained the progress of the Japanese government's ongoing study of measures. Meanwhile, base-hosting local communities are concerned about U.S. military personnel living outside their bases. However, Izawa did not touch on anything about how to deal with their case. One local official therefore noted the need for a further explanation. "This matter is not discussed from the perspective of recurrence prevention but is discussed from the perspective of administrative services, so it's inappropriate to take up this matter in a meeting of the working group," Hideaki Kuramitsu, deputy chief of the Foreign Ministry's Okinawa Liaison Office, told reporters after the meeting. According to Izawa, the U.S. military will shortly announce the number of off-base U.S. military residents as of April this year. Mark Franklin, chief of the office of the regional coordinator of U.S. forces in Okinawa, reported the U.S. military's efforts, noting that the U.S. military has set up a sexual assault response committee (SARC),which is made up of U.S. military officials to prevent sexual crimes. He also explained that the U.S. military would inform the Japanese government of deserters. (3) AWWA donates 700 million yen over 36 years: "We want to maintain good relationship of trust with Okinawa," chairperson says RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 22) (Full) June 13, 2008 The American Women's Welfare Association (AWWA, chaired by Tamala Smith) has continued exchanges with local residents through donations to welfare institutions in Okinawa since the foundation of the association in 1972. Their activities are appreciated by many people at those institutions. The AWWA donated approximately 15 TOKYO 00001620 003 OF 006 million yen in fiscal 2007, bringing the total amount of donations made over 36 years to approximately 700 million yen. More than 500 members, mainly the wives of U.S. servicemen, run a gift shop and a secondhand store on U.S. military bases and use the proceeds to help local communities. The areas of their activities include such isolated islands as Miyako Island, Ishigaki Island and Nishiomote Island. They have so far donated vehicles, washing machines, and Braille printers to welfare institutions. Joy Burns (30),a board member for this fiscal year, looked happy when she explained, "If you actually visit welfare facilities and see people pleased about our donations, you would learn how they appreciate them." Cathleen Leonard (42) showed her gratification, noting that they were able to know the lives of local residents through their activities. She said, "We can see the Yuimaru spirit (mutual aid) of Okinawa through contacts with physically challenged persons and children." Ryoko Murata (55),head of the Support, Employment, Living and Participation Center (SELP) in Urasoe City, who has had contacts with the AWWA for more than 10 years, expressed gratitude to the AWWA, saying: "I am so grateful to the AWWA. They make follow-up visits even after they donate various welfare goods. They say that being disabled is nothing unusual. They find something nice in handicapped persons and praise it. Their understanding of physically handicapped persons is deep. We have learned from them that people can help each other regardless of country or race." The U.S. military imposed a curfew following a series of crimes involving U.S. servicemen in February, coinciding with the time when AWWA members were to visit facilities in isolated islands. Special permission to leave the base was reportedly given to AWWA members, because the AWWA has won confidence for their past activities, and the purpose of their activities was understood. Chairperson Smith (30) told us that the AWWA has built a good relationship of trust with people in Okinawa, which the AWWA wants to maintain, by helping local communities through its activities. (4) Time for change in U.S. foreign policy YOMIURI (Page 13) (Excerpts) June 13, 2008 University of Tokyo Law Dept. Professor Fumiaki Kubo -- Japan-U.S. alliance as bedrock of America's Asia policy In U.S. presidential races in the past, black candidates tended to represent only black interests. Senator Barack Obama, on the other hand, has spoken of issues common to whites and blacks. Young people, people with high academic backgrounds and high income, and unaffiliated voters reacted strongly to Obama's speech that went: "If America becomes one, we can accomplish matters that were thought to be impossible." To those who voted for Obama, making him president in itself is their objective. The Democratic Party has been ahead of the Republican Party in opinion polls asking, "Which party do you want to see in power?" Nevertheless, voters tend to judge presidential candidates as individuals. John McCain is highly popular as an individual, so the TOKYO 00001620 004 OF 006 chance (of Obama winning the race) is 50-50. If a Democratic administration comes into office, substantial changes are expected to occur. Even if another Republican administration under McCain is launched, there would be change in the United States' Iraq policy and the administration would also take policy that is more flexible than that of the Bush administration toward the global environment issue. The basic diplomatic tone would also be less unilateral than the Bush administration's. As for policy toward Japan, a McCain administration would considerably follow the Bush administration's policy course and deal with Japan as an ally. In the event Japan's level of cooperation falls short of America's expectation, the administration might feel disappointed. I believe the Obama camp, too, regards the Japan-U.S. alliance as the bedrock of America's policy toward Asia. Many Japanese government and business leaders are alarmed at a Democratic administration because they still remember that the United States shifted its focus to China amid heated trade conflicts with Japan during the Clinton administration. Their view is also based on Japan's "honeymoon relations" with the Bush administration (that followed the Clinton administration). China has drastically changed over the last decade, and even a Democratic administration would find it difficult to pursue China policy unconditionally by defining it as its strategic partner. Japan-U.S. relations are already on a supra-partisan base in the United States, but some groups in both the Democratic and Republican parties have harsh views on China. The Democratic Party's foreign policy that multilaterally tackles development aid is not out of line with Japan's foreign policy. Japan and the United States will be able to cooperate even under a Democratic administration. National Defense Academy President Makoto Iokibe -- Japan needs bargaining power in dealing with U.S. and China Criticism of the Iraq war is growing inside and outside the United States. Japanese people like stability and continuity, while the United States is a society where starting a revolution is regarded as a civil right, so to speak. The U.S. system requires revolution in every eight years (the President is allowed to serve up to two four-year terms). When deadlocked, American people seeking change would look back and pursue new possibilities. In view of the economic situation as well, it seems politically reasonable for the Democratic Party to wrest power from the Republican Party. Needless to say, accidents cannot be ignored. Anything can turn around the trend. Personality and leadership are also vital factors in a race. The trend can shift with how one presents himself, his policy, and strategy, and what he says and does at a moment of truth. The United States has often made mistakes, such as the Vietnam War and the Iraq war. But in the United States, a society of diversity and freedom, mistakes draw criticism and criticism results in a new horizon. I would like to see the presidential race turn into a new historic drama, overcoming the past. TOKYO 00001620 005 OF 006 China's Hu Jintao administration puts high priority on relations with the United States. But the United States would probably continue putting efforts into the Middle East. For the stability of East Asia, it is critically important for Japan and South Korea to encourage and urge the United States as its allies. Sooner or later, China would experience economic difficulties. It would inevitably bounce back and restore stability, however. Japan and the United States would have to get China engage in the international community so that it will not throw the world into turmoil by doing something strange with its power projection. A superpower acts on its own will. Once it makes up its mind, no one can change it. Dealing with two superpowers at a time is not easy, but Japan has to have the capability to do so. Cherishing the alliance with the United States and pursuing cooperation with China so that it can advance as a healthy major power are an extremely important challenge for Japan in the 21st century. I hope to see that this presidential race will serve as a good turning point for the Asia-Pacific community. (5) Many difficult issues in next extra Diet session YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) June 13, 2008 The opposition parties, excluding the Japanese Communist Party (JCP),yesterday began boycotting Diet deliberations after approving a censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on June 11. To counter the passage of the non-binding censure motion, the ruling parties yesterday adopted a resolution of confidence in the Fukuda cabinet based on Article 69 of the Constitution. Given that, deliberations in the current Diet session have now wrapped up in effect. The ruling and opposition parties are eyeing the next extraordinary session, and the government and ruling coalition will likely continue to find it difficult to manage Diet affairs in the extra session as well. The question of whether to retain the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which will expire on January 15, 2009, will be the biggest issue in the next Diet session. The reason is that the measure was voted down in the opposition-controlled House of Councillors during the previous extra session, and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is certain to oppose a bill revising the legislation. The handling of bills such as one amending the government health insurance subsidy special measures law that are expected to be carried over to the next extra session for deliberations in the Lower House will be an issue. Referring to a bill scrapping the new health insurance system for people aged 75 or older, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima clearly stated: "The bill will be carried over to the next session for deliberations." It will become a source of contention in the next extra session. With an eye to the constitutional rule that allows the Lower House to revote on a bill 60 days after it has been sent to the Upper House, the government and ruling camp aim at an early submission of important bills, including one amending the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. If they set a term for the session and a timetable for deliberations with that in mind, the opposition is certain to react negatively. Many take the view that the government will have to walk a tightrope in managing Diet affairs before the TOKYO 00001620 006 OF 006 compilation in December of a state budget. A senior LDP member yesterday said that even if the extra session is convened in late August in order to wrap it up in November, it would take time before starting deliberations due to a clash with the opposition camp. DPJ Upper House Chairman Azuma Koshiishi told the press yesterday: "We will not ignore humanitarian and urgent issues, or issues that affect people's daily lives." He indicated that the DPJ might cooperate with the ruling coalition. However, there is smoldering discontent among ruling coalition members that they cannot trust the DPJ's outwardly cooperative stance. The government has submitted 80 bills to the current Diet session, a figure smaller than that of most Diet sessions. The number of bills enacted by June 12 is 63 or 78.8 PERCENT , a major decline from the 91.8 PERCENT in last year's regular session. (Corrected copy) G-8 finance ministerial to start today MAINICHI (Page 9) (Full) June 13, 2008 The two-day Group of Eight nations finance ministerial, joined by Japan, the U.S. European countries and Russia, will start in Osaka on June 13. The focus of the meeting will be to what extent participants can agree to cooperate over measures on a growing concern about global inflation due to the rise in crude oil prices linked to the weak dollar, the steep rise in grain prices, and the global warming issue. The G-8 finance ministerial will start on the evening of the 13th at a dinner meeting joined by finance ministers and officials from Australia, Thailand, China, South Korea Brazil and South Africa as well as the G-8 member nations. Japan, the host nation, will aim at strengthening cooperation with Brazil and China for the prevention of global warming in the run-up to the G-8 Summit to be held in Hokkaido in July. Discussions at the plenary meeting on the 14th will focus on the movements of the global economy and the turmoil in the financial market following the subprime mortgage crisis. The meeting will close on the 14th, after releasing a joint statement on the afternoon. Talks between Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga and U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson will take place on the afternoon of the 13th prior to the G-8 finance ministerial. The stance of the U.S., which has recently repeatedly issued statements checking the weak-dollar trend, will be watched with attention. SCHIEFFER