JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 06/17/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 001643 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 06/17/08 Index: Opinion polls: 1) Fuji-Sankei poll finds 61.3 PERCENT of public not supporting the Fukuda Cabinet, up 2.3 points, while only 22 PERCENT support it, a drop of 1.8 points (Sankei) 2) Yomiuri poll has the cabinet support rate at 25.1 PERCENT , a one point drop from last month, and the non-support rate up 1.3 PERCENT to 63.4 PERCENT (Yomiuri) 3) 59 PERCENT of the public prefer revision of the medical services system for the elderly over scrapping it, and 53 PERCENT are negative about the opposition camp's Diet stance (Yomiuri) 4) Asahi poll shows a slight recovery of the cabinet support rate to 23 PERCENT , but the public is split over evaluating the opposition's censure motion against Fukuda (Asahi) 5) With the Fukuda cabinet's support rate still sliding, the ruling parties are becoming even more alarmed about its political future (Yomiuri) 6) Daniel Russel picked as director of the State Department's Japan Desk (Sankei) 7) Policy debate intensifies in the Liberal Democratic Party over whether to stick to a pressure policy toward North Korea or opt for a dialogue approach (Tokyo Shimbun) Taiwan crisis: 8) After the sinking of a Taiwan fishing boat near the disputed Senkakus, Taiwan's representative to Japan resigns, angry over cries that he "sold out" Taiwan (Asahi) 9) Prime Minister Fukuda pleas for constraint on both sides of the ship-sinking incident (Asahi) 10) Japan, China to announce later this week an agreement on E. China Sea joint gas field development, including the Asunaro site (Sankei) Political developments: 11) The Democratic Party of Japan's refusal to deliberate anything in the Diet following the censure motion is tearing apart the opposition alliance (Nikkei) 12) Former DPJ President Okada, apparently seeking the LDP presidency again, comes out with his first book that is critical of political realignment (Tokyo Shimbun) 13) International symposium in Kuala Lumpur worries about Prime Minister Fukuda's leadership (Asahi) 14) Prime Minister's panel on economic and fiscal policy set to include a proposal for an environmental tax in the 2008 set of policy guidelines (Mainichi) 15) Kishida named space development minister (Asahi) Articles: 1) Poll: Disapproval for Fukuda cabinet tops 60 PERCENT SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) June 17, 2008 The Sankei Shimbun conducted a joint public opinion survey with Fuji News Network (FNN) on June 14-15, in which the rate of public TOKYO 00001643 002 OF 009 support for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and his cabinet reached a new low of 22.0 PERCENT , down 1.8 percentage points from the last survey taken Apr. 2-3. The nonsupport rate also rose 2.3 points from the last survey to 61.3 PERCENT . In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party stood at 24.0 PERCENT , down 3.4 points from the last survey. The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) rose 0.3 points to 24.6 PERCENT , topping the LDP for the first time under the Fukuda government. In the survey, respondents were asked about the form of government they would like to see after an election for the House of Representatives. To this question, 44.9 PERCENT chose a grand coalition of the LDP and the DPJ, topping all other answers. Among other answers, 30.2 PERCENT picked a DPJ-led coalition, with 16.5 PERCENT preferring an LDP-led coalition. 2) Poll: Cabinet support at 25 PERCENT YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) June 17, 2008 The public approval rating for Prime Minister Fukuda's cabinet was 25.1 PERCENT , down 1.0 percentage points from the preceding month, the Yomiuri Shimbun found from its face-to-face nationwide public opinion survey conducted June 14-15. The disapproval rating for the Fukuda cabinet improved to 63.4 PERCENT , showing a decrease of 1.3 points. In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party stood at 26.0 PERCENT , down 2.5 points from the previous month. The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) was at 20.5 PERCENT , up 2.1 points. The Diet's current session became the first opportunity for full-fledged debate in its divided situation, with the ruling coalition holding a majority of the seats in its lower chamber and the opposition parties controlling its upper chamber. In the survey, respondents were asked if they thought the Diet has functioned as a place to decide on important policies for Japan. In response to this question, "yes" accounted for only 17 PERCENT , with "no" reaching 73 PERCENT . Respondents were also asked if they approved the LDP and the DPJ when it comes to their Diet policies. To this question, 66 PERCENT answered "no" to the LDP, with 59 PERCENT also saying "no" to the DPJ. Meanwhile, the House of Councillors passed a motion presented by the DPJ and other opposition parties to censure Fukuda. Asked about this, 50 PERCENT answered that it was meaningless because it is not legally binding, with 36 PERCENT saying it was meaningful because it made clear the upper chamber's intention. 3) Poll: 59 PERCENT support healthcare review for elderly YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) June 17, 2008 According to findings from a recent nationwide public opinion survey taken by the Yomiuri Shimbun, 36 PERCENT answered "yes" and 61 PERCENT said "no" when asked if they approved of the government's newly introduced healthcare system for the elderly. However, "yes" increased 6 percentage points from the preceding month, with "no" decreasing 8 points. The public seems to have a better understanding on the new healthcare system. The government and the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic TOKYO 00001643 003 OF 009 Party and New Komeito have come up with a plan to improve the new healthcare system, including measures to lighten the burden on those in lower income brackets. In the survey, 59 PERCENT answered "yes" and 38 PERCENT said "no" when respondents were asked if they approved of this plan. Meanwhile, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) and other opposition parties are calling for restoring the previous healthcare system for the elderly. This opposition standpoint was also approved by 53 PERCENT . 4) Poll: Cabinet support inches up to 23 PERCENT ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) June 17, 2008 The rate of public support for Prime Minister Fukuda's cabinet inched up to 23 PERCENT in a telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey conducted June 14-15 from the 19 PERCENT rating in the last survey taken May 17-18. The nonsupport rate was 59 PERCENT (65 PERCENT in the last survey). The support rate picked up but still remains low. Meanwhile, public opinion was split over the House of Councillors' recent passage of a motion censuring Fukuda, with 42 PERCENT saying "yes" and 39 PERCENT saying "no" when asked if they approved the motion. Among those who support the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),63 PERCENT answered "yes" when asked if they approved the passage of the censure motion against Fukuda. Among those with no particular party affiliation, "yes" accounted for 41 PERCENT to the same question, with "no" at 35 PERCENT . Among those who support the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, 26 PERCENT answered "yes." One of the reasons for censuring Fukuda was the government's newly introduced healthcare system for the elderly. The government and the ruling parties have decided to amend and maintain the system, while the opposition camp is insisting on abolishing it. In the survey, respondents were asked which side they approved. To this question, 30 PERCENT chose the ruling coalition (no change from 30 PERCENT in the last survey),with 49 PERCENT picking the opposition camp (53 PERCENT in the last survey). There is still a strong backlash to the system. The Diet has now substantially wound up its current ordinary session. In the survey, respondents were asked about the Diet's divided situation, in which the ruling coalition holds a majority of the seats in its lower chamber while the opposition camp controls its upper chamber. When asked if it was good, 41 PERCENT answered "yes," with 36 PERCENT saying "no." Among those who support the DPJ, which has had some of its standpoints adopted in the Diet, "yes" accounted for 59 PERCENT . Among those unaffiliated, "yes" accounted for 37 PERCENT , with "no" at 33 PERCENT . Even among LDP supporters, "yes" accounted for 30 PERCENT . It seems that the public does not necessarily take a negative view of the Diet's divided situation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fukuda has proposed a comprehensive package of environmental countermeasures, including a long-term goal for greenhouse gas emissions cuts. In the survey, 74 PERCENT answered "yes" while 13 PERCENT said "no" when asked if they approved this proposal. The government plans to start emissions trading this fall. Asked about this system, "yes" accounted for 45 PERCENT , with "no" at 25 PERCENT . TOKYO 00001643 004 OF 009 Respondents were also asked about the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea. North Korea has now promised to look again into this issue, and the Japanese government has decided to ease some of its sanctions on North Korea. When asked if progress could be expected, "yes" accounted for only 12 PERCENT , with "no" reaching 80 PERCENT . In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP stood at 22 PERCENT (leveling off from the 22 PERCENT rating in the last survey),with the DPJ at 22 PERCENT (26 PERCENT in the last survey). 5) Poll: Cabinet approval rate falls to the lowest level YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) June 17, 2008 The approval rating for the cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has fallen to 25.1 PERCENT , nearly unchanged from the rate registered in the previous survey, according to a June poll conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun. There is a view in the ruling parties that the declining cabinet support rate has now bottomed out. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki told the press yesterday: "The public trust in the Prime Minister, who has made various instructions and has taken the initiative in dealing with matters, led to the approval rate." The ruling coalition has analyzed that the cabinet's efforts for enacting a bill revising the civil servant system and measures to prevent global warming were supported by the public. However, the approval rates still remain at a low level. LDP Upper House Chairman Hidehisa Otsuji told reporters: "We cannot be pleased at the fact by saying the cabinet approval rate has stopped falling." Prime Minister Fukuda told the press corps yesterday: "Since that is outside my control, I have no choice but to take the outcome." Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said: "The disapproval rates greatly surpassed the approval rates. The Prime Minister should take them as a no-confidence motion." 6) Daniel Russel to be appointed Japan desk director at U.S. Department of State SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) June 17, 2008 A source connected to U.S.-Japan relations revealed yesterday that Osaka-Kobe Consul General Daniel Russel will be appointed as Japan desk director at the U.S. Department of State. His formal appointment is expected in early July. Russel served as an assistant to Ambassador Mike Mansfield from 1985 to 1987 at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. He is a Japan expert with ample experience in working in Japan. He also served at the U.S. mission in the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 1989 to 1992. He served as deputy chief of mission in Cyprus from 1999 to 2002 and as deputy chief of mission in the Netherlands from 2002 to 2005. TOKYO 00001643 005 OF 009 7) Pressure or dialogue? Divisions intensifying in LDP due to government's decision to partially lift sanctions on North Korea TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) June 17, 2008 In the wake of the government's decision to partially lift sanctions on North Korea, the conflict is intensifying in the Liberal Democratic Party between those calling for pressure and those for dialogue in dealing with the North. Those critical of the Fukuda administration's measures include former Prime Minister SHINZO Abe, former Policy Research Council Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa, and Lower House member Keiji Furuya, who have insisted on the need to apply pressure by means of economic sanctions and other steps. Fearing that an excessive tilt toward dialogue would end up putting the abduction and nuclear issues on the backburner, ABE expressed a sense of alarm, saying: "The policy course rejecting pressure has not resulted in anything." Furuya, who is the chief secretary of a parliamentary league on the abduction issue, released a statement yesterday urging the government to immediately implement stiffer sanctions against the North in the event there is no specific progress (on the abduction issue). Meanwhile, such members as former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki and former Secretary General Koichi Kato, who have urged the prime minister to shift the policy direction to dialogue in the view that pressure would not bring progress to outstanding issues, have repeatedly made comments welcoming the government's measures. Yamasaki appearing on a television program on June 16 said: "Although my prediction that the government would decide on energy aid (to North Korea) has not come true, (the latest Japan-DPRK talks) have proven fruitful." Yamasaki and Kato eye acceleration of the dialogue policy course by, for instance, exploring a supra-partisan delegation to the North. 8) Sinking of Taiwanese fishing boat near Senkaku Islands: Top representative in Japan expresses intention to step down, upset by criticism that he is a "traitor" ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) June 17, 2008 Koh Se-Kai (73),head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, who was recalled to Taiwan on June 15, held a press conference on the 16th and expressed his intention to quit over the sinking of a Taiwanese fishing boat after a collision with a Japan Coast Guard patrol boat near the Senkaku Islands. As a reason for his decision to resign, Koh noted that when he called for a calm response in Taiwan, lawmakers of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) harshly criticized him as a traitor. He said that it is intolerable to remain in office any longer. TOKYO 00001643 006 OF 009 Koh conveyed his intention to the Foreign Ministry. Upon receiving approval, he will formally step down. He is an elder of Taiwan's independence movement. Having lived in Japan for more than 30 years, he has many acquaintances in Japanese political circles. The Taiwanese parliament and Ministry of National Defense yesterday conferred on the dispatch of Navy vessels to waters around the Senkaku Islands, which Taiwan is looking into on the basis of demonstrating its sovereignty and protecting its fishing boats. However, no decision was reached. Concerning growing anti-Japanese sentiments in Taiwan, the Exchange Association, Japan's point of contact in Taiwan, on the 16th alerted Japanese residents in Taiwan, noting that with an anti-Japanese mood growing, there is the possibility of the safety of Japanese living in Taiwan being affected. 9) Prime Minister Fukuda calls for self-restraint both from Japan and Taiwan ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) June 17, 2008 Prime Minister Fukuda on the evening of June 16 indicated his stance to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) that both Taiwan and Japan need to exercise self-restraint. He said: "Japan and Taiwan have had a good relationship. It is necessary for both sides to exercise self-restraint. In particular, Taiwan needs to cope with the matter in a cool-headed manner. I believe our country should also tackle the issue in a cool-headed manner." 10) Japan, China also agree on joint development of Asunaro gas field SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) June 17, 2008 Japan and China have agreed to jointly develop the area encompassing the Asunaro (Longjing in Chinese) gas field, splitting the development costs on a 50-50 basis, it was learned yesterday. The two countries have engaged in negotiations on the development of four gas fields in areas straddling the median line between the two countries in the East China Sea. Coordination is now underway in preparation for the official announcement of the joint development plan by the end of this week. Joint development has been a thorny issue between the two countries since Japan protested China's independent development of a gas field in June 2004. But the dispute is now likely to come to a resolution of sorts. Even so, there is a slight perception difference between the area encompassing the Asunaro gas field as Japan envisions and the area encompassing the Longjing gas field as China cites. Given this, both sides have to iron out the difference. As the demarcation line between Japan and China, Japan has cited the median line, while China has insisted on the Okinawa Trough. In the talks held so far, the two countries separated the demarcation issue and agreed on the joint development of the areas that straddle the median line. China has invested significant funds in the development of the Shirakaba (Chunxiao in Chinese) gas field, triggering a dispute with Japan. Japan will also finance the TOKYO 00001643 007 OF 009 development of this gas field and be given some concession rights. But Japan will not allow China to develop gas fields, including joint development, in areas on the Japanese side and will invest only in developing gas fields in areas on the Chinese side. Both countries will continue negotiations on cooperation in developing the remaining two gas fields named Kusunoki (Duanqiao) and Kashi (Tianwaitian). 11) DPJ's boycott of deliberations creates discord among opposition parties; Lower House committee meeting toady to discuss quake damage; JCP calls for deliberations on bill abolishing medical insurance system for elderly NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) June 17, 2008 The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan's strategy of boycotting Diet deliberations has caused visible discord among opposition parties. The DPJ has decided, however, to attend deliberations on matters connected with Saturday's major earthquake as an exceptional case in view of their highly urgent nature. The Japanese Communist Party is also calling for starting Lower House deliberations on a bill abolishing the medical insurance system for those aged 75 and older. Both hard-line and flexible views exist in the DPJ as well. The DPJ leadership from President Ichiro Ozawa on down is now under pressure to make a difficult decision while with an eye on public opinion. In yesterday's Lower House Anti-disaster Special Committee directors meeting, the ruling and opposition blocs agreed to hear the government's measures for the Iwate-Miyagi Inland Earthquake from Disaster Minister Shinya Izumi in a committee meeting on June 17. In an Upper House Anti-disaster Special Committee meeting, the DPJ also called for a committee meeting, but it was postponed because the LDP expressed unwillingness. After the Upper House adopted a censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on June 11, the DPJ came up with a policy course of boycotting all Diet deliberations, including talks on a timetable. Nevertheless, in a June 15 meeting of the Diet affairs chiefs of three opposition parties -- the DPJ, Social Democratic Party, and the People's New Party - they confirmed a policy direction of handling deliberations on matters connected with the earthquake as exceptions. JCP Secretariat Head Tadayoshi Ichida in a press conference yesterday expressed his party's eagerness to explain even independently (the bill abolishing the medical insurance system for the elderly) and take questions in the Diet, saying: "Like disaster relief, the medical insurance system is urgent and concerns people's lives." JCP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Keiji Kokuta requested in a meeting with his DPJ counterpart Kenji Yamaoka a session between the secretaries general of the two parties for returning to deliberations. In response, Yamaoka bluntly said, "There is no one in the Diet." One DPJ member complained about the stance of his party, saying: "Our party's posture is hard to understand for the general public." A Diet Affairs Committee executive also commented: "The bill abolishing the new medical insurance system is closely associated with the people's livelihood, so we should deliberate on it." TOKYO 00001643 008 OF 009 12) DPJ's Okada in book: Political realignment argument irresponsible TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) June 17, 2008 Katsuya Okada, a vice president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),will publish on June 18 for the first time a book titled Political Change Will Change This Country. In his first book, Okada criticized calls for political realignment for "totally irresponsible." He also writes that it is difficult for him to understand moves of some DPJ lawmakers taking part in the political realignment argument. Okada in the book details his political career from 1993 when he left the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) through the DPJ's defeat in the 2005 House of Representative election. During that period, Okada made efforts to bring about politics that would enable political change. He, however, does not refer to the internal party situation, including his assessment of DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa. Although speculation has been rife that publishing a book prior to the September party leadership race is his expression for challenging again the presidential post, Okada denied such speculation, saying: "I wrote the book in order to bring about political change. It has nothing to do with the leadership race." 13) Question about Fukuda's leadership raised in World Economic Forum ASAHI (Page 10) (Full) June 17, 2008 (Kono, Kuala Lumpur) "In Japan, there has been a change of prime ministers frequently. Can Prime Minister Fukuda take the leadership, although his term office is expected to be short?" One participant asked the above question to former Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi in a luncheon, hosted by Japan, at the East Asia Conference of the World Economic Forum held through June 16 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The question came when she was showing during her speech a videotape in which Prime Minister Fukuda spoke of his enthusiasm for the upcoming Lake Toya Summit in July. Kawaguchi, who is proficient in English, first said: "Prime Minister Fukuda's term of office might be long," adding: "In Japan, there are frequent changes in prime ministers, but the Liberal Democratic Party has held political power for a very long time." She thus emphasized that there is no cause of concern about the hosting the G-8 Summit and the policy management after the Summit. 14) Draft basic policy guidelines note consideration of introduction of environment tax: No mention of specific timeframe for consumption tax hike MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) June 17, 2008 The draft of basic policy guidelines on economic and fiscal TOKYO 00001643 009 OF 009 management and structural reforms for the fiscal 2008 national budget, which the government will adopt at a cabinet meeting later this month, was revealed yesterday, June 16. Regarding the drastic reform of the tax code in the wake of the reallocation of special-purpose road construction revenues for other uses, the draft mentions that the overall tax code should be reviewed from the viewpoint of promoting a low-carbon society, including the handling of the envisaged environmental tax. In line with this policy proposal, the draft puts forward a stance of looking into the introduction of an environmental tax, including the reform of the gas tax to secure revenues from provisional rates imposed on the gas tax and other related taxes. However, a decision on when to actually implement the drastic reform of the tax code, including a consumption tax hike, has been put off with the draft simply noting that the drastic reform of the tax system, including the consumption tax, should be realized at an early date. State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Hiroko Ota will submit the draft to the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy chaired by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on June 17. The will then be adopted on the 23rd after coordination between the government and the ruling parties. It will be formally adopted at a cabinet meeting at the end of the month. The draft notes that the package reform of expenditures and revenues designed to achieve fiscal soundness, included in the basic policy guidelines for fiscal 2006, should be kept in place. According to this policy line, it indicates a stance of realizing a zero-waste government, based on the introduction of a private-sector business management method, noting that maximum spending cuts is to be carried out without backing off previous reform efforts. 15) Kishida tapped as space development minister ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) June 17, 2008 Prime Minister Fukuda decided yesterday to appoint Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Fumio Kishida as space development minister to be newly set up based on the Basic Space Law, which was enacted in May. Kishida will be formally appointed today. The Basic Space Law lifts the ban on the use of space for defense purposes. The law also upgrades space development to a national strategy and governs how to arrange a system led by the government. Specifically, a space development strategy office will be established in the cabinet, with the prime minister as head and the chief cabinet secretary and the space development minister as deputy heads. The strategy office will be tasked with drawing up a basic space plan to comprehensively promote measures related to space development. SCHIEFFER