JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01/04/08

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01/04/08 Index: Age of oil at $100 a barrel: 1) High price of crude oil weighs heavy on the Japanese economy, but endurance much better than in past oil crises (Nikkei) 2) Survey of 120 major companies finds 58 PERCENT positive about economy recovering in 2008, but concern about U.S. economy and high price of oil (Mainichi) Defense and security: 3) Intelligence analysts to be unified under the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) (Tokyo Shimbun) 4) Hard drive stolen from NTT affiliate had defense information on it (Mainichi) 5) Some Defense Ministry secret materials leaked out and found in the home of Chinese person (Sankei) Political agenda: 6) Democratic Party of Japan's presidential election: If held before Diet dissolution, Ozawa is a shoo in (Yomiuri) 7) Reformist governors to form new political alliance (Tokyo Shimbun) Articles: 1) High price of crude oil a burden on Japan's economy, but durability has risen with the lowering of dependency on oil NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) January 4, 2008 The soaring price of crude oil will likely have an impact to a certain extent on the Japanese economy. The rising cost of raw materials will bear down of corporate profits, and the rise in petroleum products, such as gasoline and kerosene will be a burden on family budgets. Compared to the sub-prime loan problem that has affected individual mortgage holders in the U.S. and lowered confidence in the U.S., as well as impacted on housing starts, the high price of crude oil has become the main risk factor for the Japanese economy. According to a computer simulation by NEEDS, the Nikkei Digital Media's comprehensive economic data bank, if the price of oil remains at $100 dollars a barrel after the January-March quarter of 2008, corporate returns for fiscal 2008 will be driven down 2.0 PERCENT , compared to the standard scenario of oil at $80 a barrel. Sluggish corporate earnings could become a factor for suppressing capital investments. With a rising sense of uncertainty about the economy, small to medium sized businesses, which are especially vulnerable to rising costs, will find it difficult to transfer costs (to customers). The Small Business Agency, in a survey last November, found that an 88.9 PERCENT share of small to medium-sized companies said they found it difficult to pass along the rising price of crude oil and petroleum products to their customers, a 2.3 point increase since a survey in July. And 92.5 PERCENT of small to medium companies replied that there would be moderate to great impact on their profits from the rising price of oil. If the costs are passed along by the companies, family budgets would be adversely affected. The per capita wages of salaried workers TOKYO 00000021 002 OF 006 since the beginning of 2007 have been dropping, compared to the previous year. On the other hand, set off by the high price of crude oil, consumer prices have been rising. Real income, which excludes the effect of price fluctuations, has been experiencing downward pressure. The real purchasing power of consumers has been dropping. However, even with crude oil prices at their highest level ever, these are nominal prices which do not take into consideration the effect on price fluctuations. The exchange rate, as well, has greatly moved in the direction of yen appreciation since the first oil crisis occurred in 1973, when the yen was at approximately 280 to the dollar. If the real base, which excludes the effect on prices of the entry price of crude oil, is looked at, making August 1981, when prices reached their highest point in the past, the base of 100, the price of oil in Nov. 2007 was no more than 85. Moreover, since then, conservation of energy in Japan and the diversification of energy resources have both advanced. The import volume of crude oil since 1973 has dropped 15 PERCENT . The proportion of crude oil as a primary energy (rate of reliance on oil) has been reduced from 77 PERCENT in 1973 to approximately 50 PERCENT now. That is because "oil" as a portion of corporate and family expenses has dropped. Even at the current price level, many economists say that the shock experienced at the time of the earlier oil crises can be avoided. 2) Survey of major 120 companies: Those who see economic recovery continuing drops to 58 PERCENT , express concerns about U.S., rising oil prices MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) January 4, 2008 Shun Kimura A survey conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun of major 120 firms found that they are increasingly cautious about the outlook for the Japanese economy. In response to the question of asking about the current situation of the Japanese economy, those companies that see the Japanese economy "recovering, albeit in a moderate way," reached 58 PERCENT , the largest figure, but as much as 39 PERCENT said "the economy is leveling off." In the survey conducted one year ago, 83 PERCENT said the economy is "recovering in a moderate way." But now optimistic outlooks recede and instead the analysis that business conditions continue to be at a standstill is spreading. The survey was conducted at the end of last year. Regarding an outlook for businesses for 2008, the largest figure of 63 PERCENT said "business conditions will stay the same." The survey conducted one year ago also indicated the similar percentage, but at that time, in the midst of the moderate recovery of the economy, most firms said "business conditions will stay the same." But in the survey this time, noteworthy is those firms that said "the economy will continue to be at a standstill." Yet, despite the deepened subprime mortgage loans issue in the United States and soaring oil and raw material prices, only 11 PERCENT of the firms responded said the business conditions for this year "will worsen than now (compared to 6 PERCENT in the last survey). Firms that take a pessimistic view about the business TOKYO 00000021 003 OF 006 conditions are still a minority. In response to the question of citing three concerns for the Japanese economy, 88 PERCENT cited "the future of the U.S. economy," followed by "soaring prices of raw and processed materials (77 PERCENT ) and then "sluggish personal consumption" (37 PERCENT ). Their concerns stemmed mainly from the U.S. economy, which is rocked by the subprime mortgage loans issue, and rising oil prices. 3) Post of intelligence analyst to be established in fiscal 2008 to centralize intelligence in the Kantei TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) January 4, 2008 The government will establish the post of cabinet intelligence analyst in fiscal 2008 with the aim of strengthening the cabinet's function of collecting and analyzing intelligence. It will also establish a counterintelligence center that will safeguard the government's intelligence. Currently, intelligence is collected separately by each government office, such as the National Police Agency, the Defense Ministry, and the Foreign Ministry. The aim is to centralize such intelligence under the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) to reflect it in government policies. As related expenses, the government has earmarked in its fiscal 2008 budget 240 million yen, which is 12 times greater than that in fiscal 2007. The government is expected to have a total of five intelligence analysts for specific regions, such as North Korea, and for specific themes, such as nuclear weapons and terrorism. 4) MOD's information on communications network found to have been stolen from commission NTT Communications MAINICHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) January 4, 2008 Akihiro Kawakami, Hiroshi Sasaki, Toshiki Koseki An external hard disk drive (HDD) that recorded the network the Ministry of Defense (MOD) used for communications of secrets was stolen last June from an NTT Communications' office (in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward),sources revealed. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested a male temporary worker (32) who had worked at the NTT office, but the HDD contained information about the locations of facilities that might be targeted by terrorists. This incident exposed the MOD's poor management of information. The theft occurred at the NTT's office at Uchisaiwai-cho in Chiyoda Ward on the night of June 23 of last year. What was stolen was a HDD that had recorded information on the NTT Communications' exclusive networks, including information about MOD. A few days later, the man was arrested by the MPD on charge of stealing one HDD (equivalent to 5,000 yen). NTT Communications leases lines to government offices and firms for their exclusive use and provides them with networks linking several locations specified by customers via relay stations. Reportedly, MOD uses its exclusive lines for its Defense Information Infrastructure (DII) to link its head office to the Ground, Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces' bases. Also, those lines are reportedly used at the time of commanding troops to communicate coded classified TOKYO 00000021 004 OF 006 information. 5) Police found "secret" GSDF information when investigating the home of a Chinese person on drug charges SANKEI (Top play) (Excerpts) January 4, 2008 It was learned yesterday that an organizational chart of the Ground Self-Defense Force, which was classified "secret" under the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) Law, had been discovered in the room of a male Chinese national living in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward. The document was found when police raided the room as part of an investigation into a drug case. The organizational chart is one used as a basis for strategic planning in the event of a contingency. The Chinese man submitted the chart on a voluntarily basis. Police authorities are investigating how and why the chart leaked out. Last year, the leakage of classified information on the Aegis system was uncovered, and a Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) lieutenant commander was charged with leaking the classified information. The SDF has once again displayed evidence of sloppy management of intelligence about national security with another leakage case revealed. According to police authorities, as part of an investigation into a drug case, last August the police raided a suspicious man's house located in Shinjuku Ward and discovered documents, including the GSDF organizational chart placed in a cardboard box in the room. The documents, in view of their contents, seemed to be created before 2003. They consist of 50 sheets of papers. The word "secret" was printed on every sheet. The front cover of the documents was cut away, but as a result of examining them, it was learned that they contained the opening portion of chart that revealed all GSDF units, the names of the GSDF bases, a portion of each unit's equipment and capabilities, and where the units belonged to. The man living in the room raided by the police responded to questioning by the police: "These belonged to another Chinese who had rented the room before me. I didn't know what was in the box." Police authorities are continuing investigations to identify the Chinese who had rented the room in the past and the people who had visited the room in the past. Obtaining cooperation from the GSDF, the police are investigating how the documents came to be passed to the person in that room in Shinjuku. According to an informed SDF source, the chart is important information to be used as a basis for reorganizing troops to be dispatched in a tactical way that meets the nature of situation. The chart is classified as "secret." Usually, each unit securely stores the chart in a safe. 6) Next Lower House election likely to affect DPJ presidential race; If presidential election is held before Lower House dissolution, Ozawa expected to stay on in office beyond September; Party members to cast votes for first time in six years YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) January 4, 2008 The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) will hold a presidential election in September this year as TOKYO 00000021 005 OF 006 incumbent president Ichiro Ozawa's term of office expires. Views supporting Ozawa's continuation in office are dominant at this point in time. This comes from the fact that the party unanimously dissuaded Ozawa from resigning from office in early November 2007, pleading him to spearhead the election campaign for the next House of Representatives election. At the same time, some in the party think that in order to increase the party's strength, full-fledged policy debates should be conducted among several candidates. The DPJ's presidential race is likely to be swayed substantially by the timing for the next Lower House election and its results. If regime change is realized On Jan. 1, Ozawa held his usual New Year party at his Tokyo residence. Ozawa there expressed his New Year resolve to aim at a change of government through the next Lower House election, saying: "We will achieve a majority in the next Lower House election. I will make utmost efforts for achieving that major goal as long as my physical ability allows." Over 50 DPJ lawmakers attended the party. A person close to Ozawa said with confidence, "The party exposed Mr. Ozawa's strong support base." The dominant view in the party is that the next Lower House election will take place before the DPJ presidential election in September and that if a change in government is realized, Ozawa will naturally become the prime minister and his reelection would follow. If DPJ fails to take reins of government In the event the party fails to take the reins of government even thought it was able to add a large number of seats to its current strength of 113 seats (including Vice Speaker Takahiro Yokomichi),a "dump Ozawa" move might arise. There is this opinion among mid-level and junior DPJ lawmakers: "Mr. Ozawa has said that he would risk his political life. If he fails to bring about a change in government, the party should have a new president." As candidates to replace Ozawa, such persons as former Deputy Presidents Katsuya Okada and Seiji Maehara and former Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshihiko Noda are being mentioned. In the party leadership, however, the view is prevalent that even if the opposition bloc fails to win a majority in the Lower House election, the DPJ would still have large gain in seats, so Ozawa should stay on in office. If DPJ presidential election is carried out before the next Lower House election If the next Lower House election was put off until September or later and the DPJ presidential election was carried out ahead of the national election, calls for Ozawa's continuation in office are expected to grow louder. "The party's overwhelming victory in the Upper House election last summer owes much to Mr. Ozawa's leadership. In order for us to win again the next Lower House election, we need strength," one member explained. Late last November, former Lower House Vice-Speaker Kozo Watanabe, a veteran lawmaker, invited such DPJ leaders as Okada, Maehara, and Noda to a Japanese restaurant. Watanabe told them: "The Liberal Democratic Party is in a terminal state. The party must be united under Mr. Ozawa at least until after we win the next Lower House TOKYO 00000021 006 OF 006 election." Watanabe reportedly said to persons close to him, "If a strong candidate vies with Mr. Ozawa in the presidential race, that could result in a schism in the party." 7) Reformist governors to launch decentralization promotion federation, while seeking consent of nonpartisan lawmakers TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Excerpts) January 4, 2008 It became clear yesterday that former and incumbent reformist governors, such as Masayasu Kitagawa of Mie, Shigefumi Matsuzawa of Kanagawa, and Keiji Yamada of Kyoto, will shortly launch what is tentatively called the Bunken kaikaku rengou (Decentralization reform federation) to aim at structural reform from the viewpoint of average citizens. Knowledgeable persons from the private sector also will join the new group. The new organization will be supported by the National Council for Building a New Japan (National Congress on 21st Century Japan),which is jointly represented by Kitagawa, former University of Tokyo President Takeshi Sasaki and others. They will aim at establishing an organizers' group later this month. With the next Lower House election that could occur later this year in mind, the group will aim at reforms in cooperation with lawmakers of all parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan. The reformist federation will aim at achieving reforms independently while applying pressure on the political parties and the Kasumigaseki bureaucratic district, making a clear distinction with conventional groups tasked chiefly with lobbying the political community and central government agencies. The reformist federation's position is that efforts by the central political community, Kasumigaseki, and six local groups, including the Association of Prefectural Governors, are insufficient. There is a possibility that it will become a group of actions replacing the six groups. The group will also be joined by municipal chiefs, such as Mayor Tamio Mori of Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture. The group is also calling for participation by reform-oriented assemblymen of local assemblies, such as the Mie Prefectural Assembly. As specific policies, the group will propose not to shy away from discussing a consumption tax hike. It will also urge the central government to promote decentralization by fundamentally reviewing the subsidy system regarding the relationship between the central and local governments. It will also propose specific efforts for creating a society that can achieve economic growth while addressing environmental issues. DONOVAN