JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/18/08

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/18/08 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's weekend, daily schedules (Nikkei) Political issues: 4) Child porn legislation to be in focus (Mainichi) 5) Diet expected to open Sept. 12 (Nikkei) 6) LDP's Yamasaki suggests need to pass war-on-terror legislation within November (Yomiuri) 7) Fukuda cabinet's support arte up to 23.6 PERCENT in Jiji press poll (Tokyo Shimbun) 8) LDP's Aso seen as best choice for post-Fukuda premiership in Jiji Press poll (Tokyo Shimbun) 9) LDP's Mori backs Aso as next prime minister (Yomiuri) 10) GOJ poll shows 34 PERCENT feel their standard of living has worsened (Nikkei) Lower House Speaker Kono in action: 11) Kono to meet with U.S. House Speaker Pelosi in Hiroshima, ask her about U.S. nuclear policy (Asahi) 12) Kono says NPT should be strengthened (Nikkei) Beef: 13) Japan to send inspectors to U.S. plant (Asahi) Int'l cooperation: 14) Japan, China to boost cooperation on 'gyoza' probe (Yomiuri) 15) Japan announces emergency aid to Georgia (Nikkei) 16) Japan, Uzbekistan sign investment deal (Nikkei) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: Icho wins gold medal in wrestling final, Hamaguchi settles for bronze Nikkei: Emerging markets overtake U.S., Europe as profit source for major Japanese manufacturers in April-June quarter 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Bolt sets world record in 100-meter final (2) Subprime loans: Aim at attaining economic growth by avoiding bubble economy Mainichi: (1) Swiftly reflect school survey results in policies (2) Secrecy protection legislation: Principle should be information disclosure to the last Yomiuri: (1) Review budgetary allocations among SDF branches (2) Graffiti on cultural assets might lead to restricting publication Nikkei: TOKYO 00002264 002 OF 008 (1) Auto industry now faces turning point in terms of growth Sankei: (1) Trial of Karadzic: Clear up truth and bring about reconciliation among ethnic groups (2) Minimum wage naturally should exceed welfare benefits Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Foreign nurses should be received warmly (2) Accelerate review of local agencies with local zeal 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, August 15 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) August 16, 2008 09:59 Attended a cabinet meeting at the Kantei. Finance Minister Ibuki stayed on. 10:42 Returned to his official residence. 11:24 Offered flowers at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery for the War Dead. Afterward chatted with former Lower House Speaker Doi. 11:51 Attended the memorial ceremony for the war dead held at the Nippon Budokan Hall. 13:19 Met MAFF Minister Ota and MAFF Vice Minister Shirasu at his official residence. 14:44 Met LDP Secretary General Aso, Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Oshima and Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. Machimura stayed on. 15:39 Met advisor Ito. 16:40 Met Mitsui Global Strategic Studies Institute President Jitsuro Terashima. Prime Minister's schedule, August 16 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) August 17, 2008 Morning Spent time at his official residence. 14:56 Met advisor Ito. Prime Minister's schedule, August 17 TOKYO 00002264 003 OF 008 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) August 18, 2008 10:06 Arrived at his private residence in Nozawa. 14:16 Arrived at his official residence. 4) Ruling camp, DPJ to start talks on revising child pornography law, aiming enactment in November MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) August 18, 2008 The ruling coalition and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) have decided to start talks in the next extraordinary Diet session in the fall on revising the Child Prostitution and Child Pornography Prevention Law to strengthen restrictions on child pornography, with the aim of enacting legislation in November. The focus of attention is on the question of to what extent Japan will criminalize the individual possession of child pornography. The ruling camp calls for banning even simple possession of child pornography currently held by individuals, while the DPJ insists on prohibiting the possession of materials acquired only after a revision bill is enacted into law. The two sides have yet to find common ground. The 1999 law enacted by House members prohibits the production and sale of child pornography but does not ban simple possession. Japan and Russia are the only members of the Group of Eight (G-8) that do not criminalize possession of child pornography. The ruling camp submitted a bill amending the law calling for punishing possessors to the last regular Diet session and carried the bill over to the next extraordinary Diet session. The DPJ also intends to submit its own bill to the fall session. 5) Ruling and opposition blocs considering convening next extraordinary Diet session on Sept. 12 for two months NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) August 18, 2008 The ruling and opposition blocs yesterday came up with the idea of convening the next extraordinary Diet session on September 12. There is also a plan to set the session's period at two months. The Liberal Democratic Party plans to coordinate views with the New Komeito early this week, which has been opposing the idea of setting the session's period based on the assumption that a bill extending the Indian Ocean refueling law would be readopted by the House of Representatives. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is scheduled to make a final decision on when to convene the session and other matters, and the plan will be finalized at a government and ruling bloc liaison meeting on August 19. 6) LDP's Yamasaki: Antiterrorism law must be enacted in November YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) August 18, 2008 Former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki delivered a speech in a Yamasaki faction workshop held yesterday in Karuizawa Town, Nagano TOKYO 00002264 004 OF 008 Prefecture. Touching on legislation extending the term of the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, he said: "We cannot afford to withdraw from the war on terror. We should convene the next extraordinary Diet session early and enact the legislation in November." Regarding the fact that the New Komeito is cautious about having the Lower House readopt the legislation, Yamasaki emphatically said: "A failure to readopt it would result in a political collapse. That would escalate into a question of how the Fukuda administration should take responsibility. The ruling parties must band together to enact it." 7) Poll: Cabinet support up to 23.6 PERCENT TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) August 16, 2008 The public approval rating for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's cabinet was 23.6 PERCENT in an opinion poll conducted by Jiji Press on Aug. 8-11. The Fukuda cabinet's support rate rose for the second month in a row. However, it rose only 2.5 percentage points. The disapproval rating was 54.6 PERCENT , down 2.5 points from last month. Fukuda shuffled his cabinet on Aug. 1 to boost his administration. Fukuda made an appeal on his reform-oriented policy for the public. However, the cabinet shuffle seems to have limited its effect partly because of the Japanese government's failure to make public the fact that there was food poisoning from frozen Chinese-made 'gyoza' dumplings in China as well. The survey was conducted across the nation on a face-to-face basis with a total of 2,000 persons chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over. The response rate was 65.8 PERCENT . 8) Poll: Aso seen as most suitable for prime minister TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) August 17, 2008 Taro Aso, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, ranked top at 22.9 PERCENT as the politician most suitable for prime minister in a recent poll conducted by Jiji Press on Aug. 8-11. Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi ranked second at 15.4 PERCENT . Ichiro Ozawa, president of the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),ranked third at 8.1 PERCENT , with DPJ Vice President Naoto Kan in fourth place at 4.2 PERCENT . Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was in fifth place at 4.0 PERCENT . In a similar poll conducted in April, Aso was in second place. In the latest poll, however, Aso topped all others. Among LDP supporters, 40.3 PERCENT chose Aso. He made a comeback as LDP secretary general with Fukuda's appointment of a new lineup of LDP executives, so he seems to be more acknowledged as the LDP's likely 'post-Fukuda' leader. Meanwhile, Fukuda was down 3.1 percentage points from 7.1 PERCENT in April. Even among LDP supporters, his popularity rating was only 10.3 PERCENT . The poll was conducted across the nation with a total of 2,000 persons chosen from among people age 20 and over. The response rate was 65.8 PERCENT . 9) Former Prime Minister Mori: Secretary General Aso would be TOKYO 00002264 005 OF 008 suitable successor to Prime Minister Fukuda YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) August 18, 2008 Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, appearing on a TV Asahi program on Aug. 17, revealed his view that Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Taro Aso would be a suitable successor to Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. Mori said: "In consideration of his way of thinking and personality, many LDP members want Mr. Aso to be the successor (to Fukuda as LDP president and prime minister). Of course, I think so, too." 10) Poll: 34 PERCENT feel living standard worsens NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) August 18, 2008 The Cabinet Office on Aug. 15 released the results of its public opinion survey regarding living standards. The proportion of people who feel their standard of living has worsened as compared with last year reached 34.1 PERCENT , according to a government survey conducted by the Cabinet Office and released Aug. 16. The figure is up 9.6 percentage points from the previous survey taken in July last year and is the second-highest level following the 1974 survey (34.6 PERCENT ). The survey this time also posted a sharp increase in the number of people who want the government to stabilize prices and boost the economy. It clearly shows that economic stagnation and rising prices are impacting on people's daily lives. Asked about daily life as compared with last year, 61.3 PERCENT answered that it remained unchanged, down 9 points. Meanwhile, 4.4 PERCENT said it had improved, down 0.4 points. When asked about their future outlook, 36.9 PERCENT expected things to worsen, up 7.8 points. The survey also found that 70.8 PERCENT were worried about their everyday life, topping the preceding year's figure for the fourth year in a row. Respondents were further asked to pick one or more things that worry them. In response to this question, "planning for old age" accounted for 49 PERCENT , followed by "health" at 49 PERCENT and "future earnings and assets" at 42.4 PERCENT . Respondents were also asked what they want the government to pursue. To this question, "social security reform, including healthcare and pensions" topped all other answers at 72.8 PERCENT , following the preceding year. "Price stabilization" accounted for 56.7 PERCENT , up 21.8 points from the preceding year. "Boost the economy" also accounted for 56.1 PERCENT , up 6.5 points. Many in big cities wanted the government to boost the economy. The survey was carried out across the nation in mid- and late-June of a total of 10,000 persons aged 20 and over on a face-to-face basis. The response rate was 61.5 PERCENT . 11) Lower House Speaker Kono plans to ask U.S. House Speaker about nuclear policy ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) TOKYO 00002264 006 OF 008 August 16, 2008 Lower House Speaker Yohei Kono held a press conference on August 15 in the Diet building regarding the G8 Summit of Lower House Speakers to be held in Hiroshima on September 2. Touching on participation in the event by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Kono said: "There may be discussion on nuclear policy in the ongoing U.S. presidential race. I would like to ask her views on such matters as whether the United States will continue the current Republican-led nuclear policy." The Lower House speakers meeting will be held at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The members will discuss nuclear disarmament under the theme of the meeting's role in peace and disarmament on the morning of September 2, and in the afternoon they will exchange views on the decision-making process in a bicameral legislature. Kono said: "It bothers me a bit that discussion has been centered on nonproliferation lately with no debate on nuclear disarmament. I hope the event will help the representatives of those countries feel various things in Hiroshima." 12) Lower House Speaker Kono to call for enhanced NPT NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) August 16, 2008 Lower House Speaker Yohei Kono, in a media interview yesterday regarding a G8 Lower House chiefs' meeting to be held in Hiroshima in September, indicated that he would call for efforts to strengthen the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) regime. He said: "People say that the NPT has been relaxed slightly. It bothers me that discussion has been focused on nonproliferation rather than on nuclear disarmament." He also said about a draft treaty banning cluster munitions: "I would like to see the government make efforts to get the Diet approve it at the earliest possible time." 13) U.S. report attributes shipment of beef containing SRM in April to "human error in packing process" ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) August 16, 2008 The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare yesterday announced a report presented by the U.S. government on the issue of specified risk materials (SRM) found in a beef shipment from the U.S. in April. The paper attributed the cause of the incident to "human error in the packing process." The two ministries will dispatch officials to the U.S. meatpacker that shipped the beef in question tomorrow, with an eye on resuming imports. The beef with SRM was found in a box of beef that Itochu Corporation imported for Yoshinoya Holdings, the nation's largest beef bowl chain, from the California plant of the National Beef Co., a leading U.S. meatpacker. According to the Agriculture Department's report on investigation results, an inspector found damage to a box on the production line for meat destined for countries other than Japan. When he repacked the product, the inspector mistakenly used a box labeled "bound for Japan." TOKYO 00002264 007 OF 008 The National Beef has compiled a package of preventive measures, and the Agriculture Ministry has concluded the measures are satisfactory. In their upcoming investigation in the U.S., the two Japanese ministries intend to check whether the company has properly implemented the improvement measures. A spokesman for Yoshinoya Holdings, which has purchased beef from another plant of the National Beef since the misshipment was discovered, said: "Once the safety of its products is confirmed, we would like to resume imports from the California plant." Daiei switched suppliers from the California plant to another plant of the same company, and Maruetsu changed to another company. These two companies have said they have yet to decide on what to do. 14) Japanese, Chinese foreign ministers agree to solve dumpling poisoning issue as quickly as possible and boost cooperation on probe YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) August 18, 2008 Jun Kato, Beijing Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura met on Aug. 17 in Beijing separately with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Koumura and senior Chinese officials agreed that the two countries' investigative authorities would boost cooperation to solve as early as possible poisoning cases involving Chinese-made frozen gyoza dumplings. In the meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Koumura urged Yang to further disclose information on the poisoning cases, with an eye on the fact that people in China also had been poisoned by pesticide-tainted dumplings. Yang promised Koumura that he would have the office in charge of the poisonings provide Japan with information in order to push forward with cooperation with the Japanese government. Koumura told Yang: "It is necessary to show the public specific cooperation between the two countries to shed light on the truth. It is important to put all our efforts into resolving the poisoning cases, including a link between the dumpling poisonings in Japan and China." Yang stated: "The Chinese government has placed importance on food safety. We would like to solve the issue as quickly as possible by stepping up cooperation between the investigative authorities of the two countries." 15) Japan to provide Georgia with 1 million dollars in emergency aid NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) August 16, 2008 The Foreign Ministry announced on Aug. 15 that Japan will provide up to 1 million dollars in emergency humanitarian aid to Georgia, where tensions have emerged over the armed conflict with Russia. Japan is TOKYO 00002264 008 OF 008 expected to send food, medical products, blankets and tents. Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura then released a statement saying: "We hope Georgian evacuees will be relieved as quickly as possible. We will continue to closely watch the situation so that the ceasefire agreement will be implemented without fail." 16) Government signs investment accord with Uzbekistan NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) August 16, 2008 The Japanese government signed on Aug. 15 an investment agreement with Uzbekistan in order to help Japanese companies make inroads there. Uzbekistan is the 14th country for Japan to conclude an investment accord with. It is the first time for Tokyo to sign such an agreement with a Central Asian country. Based on the accord, Japanese companies that set up in Uzbekistan will be able to receive the same treatment with firms already there. Japanese companies will likely expand investment opportunities, including the development of resources. Since Uzbekistan is a mineral rich country, Japan has imported mainly gold. Japan invested about 11 billion yen in Uzbekistan in ¶2007. As Japanese machinery manufacturers are expected to boost investment in the country, chances are that Uzbekistan will become a base for Japanese firms to carry out business in Central Asia. The investment accord bans the Uzbekistan government from demanding local procurement of raw materials and technical transfer in case Japanese companies promote direct investment in the country. SCHIEFFER