JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07/01/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 001795 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 07/01/08 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials G-8 Summit: 3) G-8 Summit leaders to jointly announce goal of halving greenhouse gases by 2050 (Mainichi) 4) Nikkei poll shows 67 PERCENT of Japanese public appreciate Prime Minister Fukuda's environmental policy vision (Nikkei) 5) G-8 Summit may be increased to 13-country membership (Sankei) Visit of UN Secretary General Ban: 6) Prime Minister Fukuda, meeting with UN Secretary General Ban, asks for help on the abduction issue, while Ban presses Japan on greenhouse-gas reduction (Asahi) 7) Fukuda formally tells Ban that Japan will be sending SDF officers to UNMIS headquarters in Sudan (Yomiuri) 8) Fukuda plans to appeal its UNMIS dispatch in playing up Japan's Africa assistance at the G-8 Summit (Yomiuri) North Korea problem: 9) Fukuda says the coordination is still going on to set the method of reinvestigation of the abduction issue, as promised by the DRPK (Yomiuri) 10) Prime ministerial adviser Nakayama finds herself sandwiched between North Korea hardliners favoring pressure and softliners seeking dialogue (Sankei) Defense and security affairs: 11) GSDF officer lost memory chip showing U.S-Japan training deployment map, but the incident never reported to Defense Minister and U.S. (Mainichi) 12) USFJ releases population figures for its troops, employees, and families in Japan (Yomiuri) 13) With soaring world food prices, Russia, with G-8 summit in mind, leaning toward easing food export restraints (Asahi) 14) Monitor poll shows Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara losing public support, with a record low 42 PERCENT now satisfied with his policies (Tokyo Shimbun) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Russia to ease restrictions on food exports, probably with upcoming G-8 in mind Mainichi: GSDF officer lost USB memory device containing Japan-U.S. drill deployment plans; Did not inform defense minister, U.S. Yomiuri: 200 million people expected to become refugees for environmental reasons in 2050 Nikkei: Matsushita teams up with three city gas companies on household fuel cells TOKYO 00001795 002 OF 009 Sankei: Britain, France to propose expanded Summit: Group of 13 nations on agenda of G-8 Tokyo Shimbun: Yamada Denki Co. forces 240 suppliers to dispatch employees for nonpaying jobs: FTC orders practice eliminated as a violation of Antimonopoly Law Akahata: Canon to stop dispatching temp workers: Chairperson Shii inspects Nagahama Plant 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Dispatch of Self-Defense Forces personnel to PKO in Sudan: Expand Japan's role (2) False labeling of eels: Malicious intent Mainichi: (1) PKO in Sudan: It is meaningful to take part in peace-building activities (2) Learning about the Battle of Okinawa: Fruitful education hoped for Yomiuri: (1) Examining achievement tests: Make best use of "gold mine" (2) Lead SDF vessel's China visit to enhanced transparency of military matters Nikkei: (1) Clarify objective of tax code revision (2) Undemocratic election in Zimbabwe Sankei: (1) Molestation by school teachers: Inflict severe punishment to prevent them from returning to class (2) Zimbabwe: International community should make stern response Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Correction of public pension contribution record errors: Continue corrective effort to the end (2) Doping: Firm stance needed to bring the matter to light Akahata: (1) Lake Toya Summit: Measures to deal with market blunders to be called into question 3) Lake Toya summit declaration to specify halving greenhouse gases by 2050 as common G-8 target MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) July 1, 2008 An outline of the draft declaration on global warming to be adopted at the July G-8 Lake Toya summit was unveiled yesterday. The declaration would have the G-8 members share the global target of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and press developing countries, as well. Specifying the need for R&D, the declaration calls for the creation of an international framework for promotion TOKYO 00001795 003 OF 009 and development of technology. In last year's Heiligendamm summit, Japan proposed the long-term target of halving greenhouse gases by 2050, which made the summit declaration a subject of serious consideration. Thinking that a common goal is necessary for the entire world to combat global warming, the government intends to include the same target in this year's G-8 summit declaration. The United States, however, is reluctant to agree to Japan's idea, saying that major emitters that are not G-8 members, such as China and India, should also share the target. Final coordination is underway. To achieve the target, the draft declaration also highlights the need to develop carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology and innovative solar power generation. The International Energy Agency (IEA) and each country will aim at the target by sharing a long-term technological development roadmap. Coordination is underway for a plan to spend 10 billion dollars annually on the development fund. An agreement is also mentioned on the need to set a total volume to be reduced by capping G-8 members' emissions. The draft declaration also refers to a Japan-proposed sector-specific approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as an effective means. 4) Nikkei poll: 67 PERCENT hail Fukuda's global warming vision NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) July 1, 2008 In a Nikkei opinion poll conducted on June 27-29 regarding Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's global warming countermeasures (Fukuda Vision),positive views added up to 67 PERCENT , far greater than the negative views that stood at 19 PERCENT in total. By party, 76 PERCENT of LDP supporters gave a positive assessment to the Fukuda Vision. Among DPJ supporters, too, positive views totaled 60 PERCENT . By age, positive views among people in their thirties were the highest at 81 PERCENT , followed by those in their twenties at 70 PERCENT , and those in their forties and fifties at 69 PERCENT each. The Fukuda Vision includes a long-term target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60 PERCENT -80 PERCENT from current levels by ¶2050. 4) G-8 to discuss 13-nation framework, proposed by Britain and France; Japan under pressure about China 5) SANKEI (Top play) (Excerpts) July 1, 2008 In the Group of Eight Lake Toya summit scheduled to open on July 7, the option of expanding the present G-8 framework to a G-13 structure to include five newly industrializing countries -- China, India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa -- will formally be discussed, it was learned yesterday. The step is in line with the wishes of Britain and France, which have been calling for an expanded framework. Japan, which is alarmed at China's greater influence, finds it necessary to respond to the call. Even if the G-8 summit fails to make a decision, a course might be set for a 13-nation framework. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is likely to be pressed for a difficult decision. TOKYO 00001795 004 OF 009 The idea of expanding the G-8 framework to a G-13 structure came from French President Nicolas Sarkozy during his India tour in January this year. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown soon echoed his idea. The reason is because global issues, such as climate change, poverty, and international trading, cannot be dealt with sufficiently unless the five emerging economies, such as China and India, are not made into formal summit members. Japan has been reluctant to accept the idea. In his meeting with Prime Minister Fukuda in Rome on June 3, President Sarkozy directly made a proposal on expanding the G-8. Fukuda rebutted the idea, saying: "The G-8 summit is a venue for a small number of top leaders sharing heavy international responsibility to frankly exchange views." Japan takes pride as the only summit member in Asia and fears that its influence might waver. Japan especially does not want to allow China to become a formal summit member. 6) Fukuda asks Ban for cooperation in resolving abduction issue, cutting greenhouse gas emissions ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) July 1, 2008 In a meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Fukuda and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon exchanged views on the North Korean nuclear issue. Ban said: "It is progress that North Korea produced a declaration of its nuclear programs and destroyed the cooling tower at its main atomic reactor." In response, Fukuda said: "In an effort to denuclearize North Korea quickly, we will continue to make efforts in cooperation with the countries concerned." He also asked Ban for cooperation in resolving the issue of North Korea's past abductions of Japanese citizens. On the climate change issue, which will be high on the agenda at the upcoming Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido, Fukuda stressed the need to create a new international framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that also involves China and India, in addition to the industrialized countries, and called for UN cooperation. On a mid-term goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Fukuda said: "Japan also thinks it is necessary to set a mid-term goal." Ban remarked: "I highly appreciate Japan's 'low-carbon society' vision." Further, Fukuda stressed it is necessary to quickly reform the UN Security Council (UNSC). Japan is eager to become permanent member on the UNSC. Fukuda called on Ban to display leadership on this issue. 7) Fukuda in meeting with UN Secretary General Ban formally reveals plan to dispatch SDF officers to Sudan YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) July 1, 2008 Prime Minister Fukuda met with visiting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon at his official residence yesterday. There, Fukuda formally announced that Japan would dispatch Self-Defense Force (SDF) officers to the Headquarters of the UN Mission (UNMIS) for peacekeeping operations (PKO) in southern Sudan. The government TOKYO 00001795 005 OF 009 plans to send about 2 personnel based on the UN PKO Law. It intends to dispatch a survey team to Sudan in July to start full-scale preparations. Fukuda also revealed Japan's plans to (1) send SDF personnel as lecturers to strengthen the functions of PKO training centers in Africa; and (2) provide extend the PKO training center in Malaysia with one million dollars in financial aid. Ban lauded Fukuda's policy plans and expressed his appreciation. 8) Fukuda aims to play up emphasis on Africa by announcing SDF dispatch to UNMIS YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) July 1, 2008 Prime Minister Fukuda yesterday formally announced that Japan will send Self-Defense Force (SDF) personnel to the Headquarters of the United Nations Mission (UNMIS). The announcement at this time stems from a desire to demonstrate, ahead of the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido, Japan's willingness to make efforts to bring about peace into Africa in accordance with its pledge to make the nation a "peace cooperation state". When he met with Fukuda yesterday, visiting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon praised Japan's decision on the dispatch of SDF personnel to peacekeeping operations (PKO) in Sudan and then expressed his hope for Japan's further international contributions. Ban said: "Japan's positive response to PKO has encouraged us. We would be grateful if Japan boosts SDF's contributions in the fields of airlift, ground transportation, and shipment of supplies." The government plans to send about two SDF personnel to Sudan. Among the Group of Eight (G-8) members, several countries, including Russia and Germany, have dispatched troops to UNMIS. The numbers of their troops are far larger than that under Japan's plan. But a person concerned said: "If Japan continues to refrain from sending even one SDF personnel despite its emphasis of the pro-Africa policy, it would not worth talking about it. Even if the number is several, it will be far better than Japan sending none." In the government, difficult coordination continued until the last moment. The Defense Ministry has been cautious about the dispatch plan, while the Foreign Ministry has been positive. The Defense Ministry cites these reasons for its opposition: (1) There is concern for security; and (2) it is undecided what duty will be assigned to SDF officers to be dispatched. When Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura, Foreign Minister Koumura, and Defense Minister Ishiba met on June 25, too, the defense minister voiced opposition to the plan. The SDF officers to be dispatched are expected to engage in administering database at the headquarters. A Defense Ministry official grumbled: "Is this kind of work worth for SDF personnel to do in Sudan?" The ministry is still unwilling to dispatch SDF personnel to Sudan. 9) Coordination of reinvestigating of abductions still underway, says premier YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) TOKYO 00001795 006 OF 009 July 1, 2007 Referring to the reinvestigation into the abduction issue North Korea has pledged, Prime Minister Fukuda yesterday evening said, "Full coordination of views on how to conduct an investigation has yet to take place. There may be various ways, but this is something I will reveal after consultations." The prime minister made this statement at the Kantei in response to a question from a reporter. 10) Advisor Nakayama caught between pressure and dialogue approaches to North Korea SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) July 1, 2008 Since Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is now shifting the government's North Korea policy to attaching importance to dialogue with North Korea, Kyoko Nakayama, advisor to the prime minister on the abduction issue, who has pushed ahead with a policy of applying pressure on the DPRK, is now in a tough position. She enjoys the confidence of the families of victims kidnapped by North Korea, who have called on the government to maintain a hard-line stance against Pyongyang. She, however, must support the Fukuda cabinet. She thus finds herself caught between the families of the abductees and the Fukuda cabinet. In a gathering calling for a resolution of the abduction issue held on June 29 in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, some family members of the abductees criticized the government for supporting the U.S. government's decision to start the process of delisting North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. Shigeo Iizuka, representative of the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, said: "I can't feel that there is any enthusiasm (for resolving the abduction issue)." Nakayama, who took part in the gathering, then had to explain the government position, saying: "There is no change in the Japanese government's policy of rescuing all the victims. I will continue to do my best for bringing an early resolution to the abduction issue." Nakayama assumed the post of Cabinet Secretariat councilor in September 2002, when the first meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was held. After leaving the Kantei for a while, she then returned to assume her current post in September 2006. When then Chief Cabinet Secretary General Fukuda tried to return five repatriated abductees to North Korea, she and then Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary SHINZO Abe prevented it. Since then, she has built a relationship of trust with the families of abductees. 11) GSDF lost CPX layout plan, failed to report fact to defense minister, USFJ MAINICHI (Top play) (Full) July 1, 2008 In February last year, a Ground Self-Defense Force lieutenant colonel at the time with the Intelligence Department of GSDF Middle Army Headquarters in Hyogo Prefecture's Itami City lost a USB memory device that contained a layout plan for GSDF and U.S. Army troops in a command post exercise (CPX),sources have revealed. The lost USB TOKYO 00001795 007 OF 009 device contained CPX information, such as where to position U.S. military helicopters and tanks. GSDF Chief of Staff Ryoichi Oriki, who was the then commanding general of the GSDF Middle Army, and other brass officers covered up the loss of the USB drive, and he did not report it to then Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma or the United States. "I decided to keep it private at my own judgment," Oriki explained. "But," he added, "I think I should have reported it to the United States." In March last year, after Aegis ship data leaks were brought to light, the United States reportedly filed a protest with Japan. One U.S. source was quoted as saying, "We don't know why Japan, which is our ally, cannot understand the importance of classified information." The GSDF went so far as to cover up the fact. The focus will be on how the United States will react to the problem this time. The bilateral joint CPX drill was conducted at the GSDF's Itami garrison in the city of Itami on Feb. 8-16 last year with the participation of about 4,800 troops from the GSDF and the U.S. Army's 1st Corps from the U.S. Its specifics have not been made public. According to an informed source, the USB device contained information not open to the public, such as the anticipated enemy and its scale, and where U.S. military tanks and helicopters would be positioned. On or around Feb. 14 last year, during the joint CPX drill, a lieutenant colonel handed the USB device to a master sergeant. The master sergeant left the USB device on a desk and went home. The next day, the master sergeant found it missing when he came to his office. GSDF police searched for the lost device but could not find it. The USB device's data was in the category of "chui" or "handle with care." Even if information under this category is leaked, it is not subject to criminal punishment and is not required to be reported to the defense minister. However, the GSDF did not check whether the information related to U.S. forces with the U.S. Army. There is no knowing if it was appropriate to designate the information as "handle with care" only, the source said. Furthermore, USFJ leaked a similar CPX layout plan on the Internet in 2000. Japan filed a protest with the United States. USFJ later deleted it. Given this fact, the GSDF is believed to have covered up the loss of the USB device, for the GSDF brass was aware that the lost information was critical. Information under the category of "handle with care" is not subject to reporting requirements. However, a senior official of the Defense Ministry noted: "We have no permission from the United States to make public the USB device's information. In light of the bilateral alliance, we should report it to the defense minister and the United States. I'm doubtful whether it was appropriate to designate it in the handle-with-care category. It can't be helped if they say we covered up the fact." 12) USFJ population unveiled YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) July 1, 2008 The Defense Ministry yesterday announced the number of those attached to U.S. Forces across Japan. USFJ annually reports the TOKYO 00001795 008 OF 009 number of its personnel dwelling in Japan as a measure to prevent crimes involving U.S. military personnel. As of the end of March, they total 99,295, broken down into 49,364 service members, 45,753 family members or dependents, and 4,178 civilian employees. Those living off base number 4,808, an increase of 2,923. By municipality, Okinawa Prefecture's Okinawa City, which has a population of approximately 133,000, has the largest USFJ population at 13,975, followed by Kanagawa Prefecture's Yokosuka City (with a population of approx. 422,000) at 12,152, and Aomori Prefecture's Misawa City (with a population of approx. 43,000) at 7,316. 13) Soaring food prices: Russia to ease export restrictions probably with G-8 in mind ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) July 1, 2008 Food-exporting countries are beginning to ease restrictions of food exports, which are considered as one factor contributing to the surging food prices. Russia, the only country among Group of Eight nations that has restricted exports, will ease an export tax imposed on flour and barley, starting on July 1. Ukraine and Vietnam have also decided to abolish restrictions or resume exports. Their policy switch is due to an outlook for good harvest. However, it is also viewed that their decisions are motivated by the desire to stave off criticism, because the soaring food prices are expected to be a main item on the G-8 agenda. Ukraine, Vietnam follow suit Following the sharp rise in grain prices, Russia imposed an export tax of 10 PERCENT on flour and 30 PERCENT on barley. In January this year it raised the tax rate on flour exports to 40 PERCENT . However, since it expects abundant crop this year, Agriculture Minister Gordeyev has recently indicated an outlook that an export tax on grain would not be extended after July 1. The Japanese government has confirmed the Russian government's policy. However, the Foreign Ministry Russian Division noted that whether Russia would scrap all export taxes or just lower tax rates is not known. According to press reports from Ukraine, that nation had adopted export quotas for flour and barley since last fall. However, it in late May decided to abolish such. The Japanese Foreign Ministry noted that it had already decided the policy at a cabinet meeting and the government gazette reported the decision. The reason for the policy switch is that good harvest for grain is expected. Prime Minister Dung of Vietnam, the second-largest rice exporting country in the world, in mid-June notified grain traders of the government decision to resume exports. The nation had placed a ban on grain exports, excluding a government-contracted amount, due to damage caused by disease and pest. It has allowed traders to sign exports contracts for up to 3.5 million tons until the third quarter this year. Exports are to be actually resumed in July. Regarding global market share in flour exports, Russia accounts for 11 PERCENT (estimate for 2007-2008),ranking third in the world. Ukraine accounts for 1 PERCENT (estimate for the same period). Vietnam's share in rice exports is 17 PERCENT (estimate for the TOKYO 00001795 009 OF 009 same period). 14) Poll: 42 PERCENT of Tokyo residents satisfy Ishihara government, first drop to below 50 PERCENT TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) July 1, 2008 The Tokyo metropolitan government revealed yesterday that 42 PERCENT , a 9.4 points drop from the result of the poll conducted the previous year, said that they were satisfied with the management of Gov. Shintaro Ishihara in a questionnaire survey it had conducted toward 500 residents through Internet as to how they assessed the metropolitan government. It was the first time drop to below 50 PERCENT for the Ishihara metropolitan government since it was inaugurated in 1999. Among the 58 PERCENT of respondents who were unhappy with the metropolitan government, a largest number of the respondents cited the issue of Ishihara putting additional 40 billion yen in ShinGinko Tokyo as a main reason. The metropolitan government conducts an annual monitoring research, selecting men and women from the Tokyo residents. This year, it carried out the survey in May through Internet and 488 residents replied to the questioners. According to the metropolitan government, 1.8 PERCENT said they were happy with the recent metropolitan government and 40.2 PERCENT answered that they were more or less happy with it, while 10.5 PERCENT replied that they were unhappy with it and 47.5 PERCENT said that they were more or less unhappy with it. In the 2000 survey, 74.6 PERCENT , the highest rate ever, said that they were satisfied with the Ishihara metropolitan government. The respondents who were unhappy with the Ishihara government said that they saw the additional investment in ShinGinko Tokyo as a problem, with one saying: "Tokyo residents' tax money was wasted." Another said: "(Ishihara) should stop evading responsibility." Some highly valued Ishihara's strong leadership, while one respondent said: "I now feel his arrogance that I felt as his creativeness when he assumed office." The respondents split into those for and against the metropolitan government's decision to hold the Olympic Games in 2016. Toward the question about what they paid most attention to in the past one year, 51.8 PERCENT cited the additional investment in ShinGinko Tokyo, followed by the Tokyo marathon event, and effort to promotion of internationalization of Haneda Airport. SCHIEFFER