DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 09/11/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002505 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 09/11/08 INDEX: (1) ASDF to withdraw from Iraq this year as time limit of UN resolution for stationing troops runs out (Mainichi) (2) Opposition parties in Okinawa Prefectural Assembly to ask about purpose of governor's U.S. visit, may revise extra budget (Okinawa Times) (3) Seven years since 9/11 (Nikkei) (4) Camp Zama's forward deployed command different from main body: U.S. commander (Asahi) (5) Scanner column: Nakagawa at odds with Mori in Machimura faction; junior Tsushima faction members launch "coup d'etat" (Yomiuri) (6) Drifting policies - Agriculture: Goal of 50 PERCENT self-sufficiency rate moving away (Asahi) (7) TOP HEADLINES (8) EDITORIALS (9) Prime Minister's schedule, September 10 (Nikkei) ARTICLES: (1) ASDF to withdraw from Iraq this year as time limit of UN resolution for stationing troops runs out MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged) Eve., September 11, 2008 The government this morning revealed that it plans to withdraw this year the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) personnel dispatched to Iraq for reconstruction support activities. At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura stated: "We have begun giving consideration to ending the mission of the ASDF in Iraq later this year." With this, the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq that has lasted close to five years will be over. The decision was made this morning at a meeting of the chief cabinet secretary, foreign minister, and defense minister. As the reason for the withdrawal, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura explained: "The domestic public-security situation in Iraq has improved, and the goal of the special measures law for Iraq reconstruction assistance has been achieved." He made it clear that the Iraqi government, as well, was considering reviewing the operations of the multinational force, and has indicated its understanding of Japan's plan to withdraw its troops. The United Nations resolution that forms the basis for stationing troops in Iraq will expire in late December, and the United States has decided to reduce its troops by approximately 8,000 by next February. The U.S. has indicated it will transfer the personnel to Afghanistan, now the focal point of the war on terror, so the decision by the Japanese government is in accord with that move. Regarding continuing the Indian Ocean oil-refueling mission by the Maritime Self-Defense Force that runs out on Jan. 15, Japan's response will be all the more under scrutiny. At the press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura stressed: "Every TOKYO 00002505 002 OF 009 country is strengthening its approach to Afghanistan, so we must continue by all means our refueling mission in the Indian Ocean." (2) Opposition parties in Okinawa Prefectural Assembly to ask about purpose of governor's U.S. visit, may revise extra budget OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Full) September 11, 2008 Six opposition parties in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly held a representatives meeting yesterday to discuss what strategy they should take in a regular meeting on Sept. 17. The parties decided to question in representative and other interpellation sessions the main purpose of Governor Hirokazu Nakaima's planned visit to the U.S., expenses for which have already been earmarked in the prefecture's supplementary budget. The opposition bloc adopted in a regular meeting in June a resolution against a plan to construct a new facility in the Henoko district of Nago City, Okinawa, to replace the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. If Governor Nakaima expresses in the U.S. a willingness to promote the relocation plan, the opposition side, which holds a majority in the assembly, might revise the supplementary budget (to take away funding for the trip). In a regular press conference on the 5th, Nakaima announced the prefecture's view about the relocation of the Futenma Air Station. He refuted the opposition camp's resolution, saying: "The plan is different in nature from what the resolution calls 'the construction of a new base'." He then indicated that he would move the relocation plan forward, in order to eliminate the risk from Futenma Air Station. Yonekichi Shinzato, the largest opposition group's chairman, said: "The view presented by the governor challenges our resolution. The people of Okinawa are opposed to the relocation plan. If the purpose of the U.S. visit goes against the public will, we cannot approve it. (3) Seven years since 9/11 NIKKEI (Page 6) (Abridged slightly) September 11, 2008 Restricted freedom widely accepted Hiroyuki Nakamae, New York Today marks the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the Untied States in which nearly 3,000 people died. The weight of antiterrorism measures has declined, with economic policy taking the center stage in the ongoing U.S. presidential race. The wounds of terrorism are still casting dark shadows over American society, as seen in the enactment of legislation authorizing wire tapping without a court order and in tightened controls on U.S. immigration. At the final stage of the U.S. presidential race, people tend to criticize the economic policies of the two candidates, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, with one saying, "McCain doesn't understand the economy," and another predicting, "Obama will raise taxes." TOKYO 00002505 003 OF 009 In an opinion poll conducted by the New York Times in mid-August, 40 PERCENT of the American people -- the largest group -- cited the economy and employment as the most important factor in selecting candidates. In contrast, only 9 PERCENT and 15 PERCENT of people pointed to "antiterrorism measures and security" and the "Iraq war," respectively -- factors that are said to have dictated the outcome of the presidential election four years ago. Witnessing a slowdown in the economy resulting from the financial crisis, in addition to the absence of another terrorist attack on the country, Americans seem to have changed their views of what they expect of the next president. Despite such shifts, there are no signs of revisions being made to President George W. Bush's hard-line stance against terrorism, which has been criticized by liberals, who attach importance to civil rights. In July, Senator Obama voted for the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) Amendment Act authorizing warrantless surveillance of international terrorist suspects. His action was denounced by some Republican and Democratic lawmakers as a betrayal. His compromise was seemingly aimed at winning more support from conservative and middle-of-the-road voters. A CNN opinion poll in July showed that 35 PERCENT of people believed that there would be a terrorist attack on the United States within several weeks. This can partly explain why the United States cannot lower its guard down against terrorism. Helped by the growing inward-looking trend, antiterrorism measures against foreigners have repeatedly been tightened in the United States. Starting this spring, the Department of Homeland Security has begun collecting fingerprints from international visitors upon arrival at major U.S. airports. Beginning January 2009, visitors from Visa Waiver Program (VWP) participating countries, including Japan, will be required to register online their names, where they will stay, and other personal information no less than 72 hours prior to travel to the United States. At U.S. airports, even U.S. citizens have to take off their shoes as part of security inspections. In the United States, freedom has been sacrificed for security since 9/11. Although the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are continuing, there are no signs of the United States restoring the freedoms that have been lost. No exit in sight for Bush administration's war on terrorism Hiroshi Maruya, Washington On Sept. 9, two days before the seventh anniversary of 9/11, President Bush emphatically said: "There are difficult issues still left for the future." He declared an end to major combat operations in Iraq in May 2003. He could not have imagined that he would be urging people to be ready for a long war more than five years later. The Iraq war has cost the U.S. military over 4,000 lives and 858 billion dollars (about 92 trillion yen) the Congress has approved. The President was forced to send additional troops to Afghanistan, where the Taliban Islamic fundamental group was supposed to have been defeated. No exits are in sight for the two wars on terror. TOKYO 00002505 004 OF 009 The loss of power of the United States has allowed Russia to challenge the international order, as seen in the Georgia conflict. The world has become multi-polarized, but the president's belief remains unchanged. In closing his speech on Sept. 9, the president categorically said, "We will leave behind a safer and more peaceful world for our children and our grandchildren," while repeating the "power of freedom" three times. (4) Camp Zama's forward deployed command different from main body: U.S. commander ASAHI (Kanagawa edition) (Page 29) (Full) September 10, 2008 Taichiro Ogawa, Mitsuo Sekine U.S. Army Japan (USARJ) Commanding General Francis Wiercinski met the press yesterday at Camp Zama, a U.S. Army base straddling the Kanagawa cities of Zama and Sagamihara, where he said the U.S. Army 1st Corps' forward deployed command, which was set up (at Camp Zama) in December last year, is "an organization that is quite different from the 1st Corps on the U.S. mainland." The commander added: "Its main functions are command and control. This does not mean that combat vehicles and many soldiers will come." Meanwhile, local residents are worried that the 1st Corps may relocate its main body's functions (to Camp Zama). In this regard, he almost ruled out that possibility. USARJ Commanding General Wiercinski arrived at his post in late June. He concurrently heads the 1st Corps' forward deployed command as its commanding officer. He met the press for the first time since his arrival. He stressed there that the forward deployed command is another organization. "The First Corps in the U.S. mainland (state of Washington) will go to Iraq," he said. "But," he added, "we won't go there." He further stated: "Some people say hundreds or thousands of soldiers will be coming with tanks and airplanes. That's a misunderstanding." The Zama-based forward deployed command's functions focus on command and control, Wiercinski said. The U.S. military will therefore bring communication equipment and delivery vehicles. The U.S. Army has since 9/11 been redesigning its troops into 'modular' units instead of mobilizing troops in large units like divisions. "This change is still underway," Wiercinski said. He also said, "We're learning to pull out and put together necessary functions for other troops." In connection with the 1st Corps' forward deployed command, former USARJ Commanding General Perkins, who is Wiercinski's predecessor, remarked in February this year that the U.S. military was planning to station 300 more personnel at Camp Zama for the relocation of the 1st Corps' functions from the U.S. mainland to Zama. The local communities around Camp Zama were strongly opposed to that reinforcement plan, claiming that it would expand the base's functions. Local residents were therefore concerned about the plan. Meanwhile, the U.S. military plans to build a new facility at the U.S. Army's Sagami Depot for the forward deployed command's use. The planned facility is called the "Battle Command Training Center." Concerning this facility, Wiercinski said the U.S. military is now putting on the finishing touches. He revealed that the U.S. military TOKYO 00002505 005 OF 009 would hold bidding in four to six weeks and that construction work would start before the summer of 2009 and would be completed in the fall of 2010. Wiercinski explained that the training center is a "highly digitalized facility" and that small groups can be trained there for battle command. He said, "We will also conduct joint training exercises with the Ground Self-Defense Force, and we want to step up our cooperation in preparation for emergencies." (5) Scanner column: Nakagawa at odds with Mori in Machimura faction; junior Tsushima faction members launch "coup d'etat" YOMIURI (Page 3) (Slightly abridged) September 10, 2008 Most factions in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have decided to let their members cast their votes on their own in the party's presidential election on Sept. 22. The official campaign will kick off today. This is noticeably different from the past elections. In the Machimura faction, the largest in the LDP, there is conflict between former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori and former LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa. The Tsushima faction, which was derived from the Tanaka and Takeshita factions that enjoyed an "iron-clad unity," has lost its unity. Faction heads can no longer control their members. Machimura faction On the morning of Sept. 9, Nakagawa, former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike and other lawmakers, who support Koike's bid for the LDP presidential election, got together in a room of ANA Intercontinental Hotel Tokyo. Nakagawa complained: "I may be left out in the cold." In a meeting on Sept. 8 of the Machimura faction, Nakagawa felt as if he were lying on a bed of nails. Nakagawa, in the meeting, said: "If the faction as a policy group forces its members to follow its decision, it will not meet the public's thinking." Yoshiro Mori, a supreme advisor to the faction, told Nakagawa with a displeased look: "Cut it out." Nakagawa, however, did not stop, and said: "Ms. Koike is running in the election at the risk of her political career. I understand that our faction members want to support her as like-minded persons. As Mr. Mori often says there will be no enemies, when the election ends." Mori then spoke for about 40 minutes. He stressed: "I will back Mr. Aso. He supported the ABE and Fukuda cabinets as secretary general. I don't care that people call me a politician of the old LDP. I don't force fellow faction members, but we should not forget our moral obligation." A veteran faction lawmaker said: "With Mr. Mori's speech, a trend to support Aso will probably emerge. Since former Prime Minister SHINZO Abe will likely support Abe, Nakagawa, who backs Koike, will be gradually isolated in his faction. TOKYO 00002505 006 OF 009 Meanwhile, a junior faction lawmaker supporting Koike stressed: "A clampdown by the faction will not work." On Sept. 9 at a party held in Toranomon, Tokyo, Nakagawa said emphatically as if to encourage himself: "If you don't want to be placed in an unduly position, you should not become a politician. Factions must not apply pressure on their members for the presidential election." Tsushima faction The Tsushima faction is in a serious situation. Such junior faction members as Wataru Takeshita, younger brother of former Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita, and Gaku Hashimoto, second son of former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, made efforts to file the name of former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the presidential election. LDP General Council Chairman Takashi Sasagawa and other senior faction members were working on supporting Aso, while Mikio Aoki, former chairman of the LDP caucus in the Upper House, was taking a stance of backing Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano. Under such circumstances, Takeshita and Hashimoto were maneuvering to field Ishiba. In the Tsushima faction, former Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga had long been regarded as a presidential candidate. Nukaga expressed his eagerness for running in two elections in the past, but he consequently gave up. The junior faction members intended to bring about a generational change to the faction by skipping Nukaga. In a faction meeting on Sept. 5, Upper House member Hiromi Iwanaga refused to back Ishiba, saying, "We, Upper House members, will take action on our own." Takeshita said in a strong tone: "The way that you don't listen to us is the same as Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa's." A senior member who happened to be there took it as criticism of Aoki and felt that Aoki's influence was diminished. Koga, Yamasaki factions Both the Koga and Yamasaki factions have decided to let their members to cast their vote freely. In the Koga faction, Yoshihide Suga, former Internal Affairs and communications minister, supports Aso; LDP Deputy Secretary General Hiroyuki Sonoda backs Yosano; and Fumio Kishimoto, former state minister for Okinawa affairs, supports Ishihara. Although LDP Election Strategy Council Chairman Makoto Koga is believed to back Aso, he has yet to make up his mind. Bothe Koga and Aso are from Fukuda Prefecture. In the Yamasaki faction, Ishihara will run in the election, but Akira Amari, senior faction member and former economy, trade and industry minister, supports Aso, while Tsutomu Takebe, former secretary general, backs Koike. Taku Yamasaki, former LDP vice president, has reiterated that his decision is still a "blank slate." (6) Drifting policies - Agriculture: Goal of 50 PERCENT self-sufficiency rate moving away ASAHI (Page 7) (Excerpts) September 11, 2008 TOKYO 00002505 007 OF 009 Prime Minister Fukuda: "What is the main reason for the drop (of the food self-sufficiency rate) to 39 PERCENT ? Are there any measures to raise the rate?" Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Wakabayashi (at that time): "I would like to establish a policy mechanism to increase the rate to more than 50 PERCENT ." The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) set the goal of raising the food self-sufficiency rate to 50 PERCENT under the instruction of the prime minister on July 2, just ahead of the Hokkaido Toyako Summit. Grain prices have steeply risen across the world since last year. Due to soaring prices, eve riots arose in countries in Africa and other areas. In the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama in May, Prime Minister Fukuda indicated his determination to address the food security issue. In the food summit in Room in July, Fukuda also declared: "By promoting agricultural reform and enhancing its self-sufficiency rate, Japan would like to contribute to stabilizing the world's balance between supply and demand." Encouraged by the prime minister's "international pledge," the government and the ruling camp began to move to switch the conventional acreage-reduction policy. In August, the government came up with a decision to increase the output of rice flour for bread and noodle, as well as rice for livestock feed. However, rice flour and rice for feed are priced at only 20 to 30 PERCENT of the prices of rice as a staple food. To maintain equilibrium between income and expenditures, state subsidies are needed for such producers. MAFF requested 52.6 billion yen in its fiscal 2009 budget request as fiscal resources to fund a system in which 50,000 yen is paid per 10 ares. The ministry has sought a total of 302.5 billion yen to finance measures to raise the self-sufficiency rate, accounting for 10 PERCENT of the total budgetary estimate. These measures, however, are expected to enhance the self-sufficiency rate only by 0.5-1 percentage point annually. In addition, the international price of wheat has dropped 30-40 PERCENT from its peak, alleviating the impending crisis about skyrocketing food prices. In a questionnaire survey conducted in May by the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Finance Corporation, the largest number of respondents (41.3 PERCENT ) cited "safety" as the factor most concerned for consumers, followed by "domestically produced food (25.8 PERCENT ),both two times larger than in the previous survey (in January). In the aftermath of the food-poisoning cases in Japan triggered by Chinese-made frozen dumplings, an increasing number of consumers now pay more attention to safety and opt for domestic products. Despite such a trend, the government remains unable to take the next step to enhance the self-sufficiency rate. The 50 PERCENT goal might end up with just a dead letter. No progress in project to foster large-scale farm families To improve the nation's self-sufficiency rate, it is imperative to foster highly motivated farmers and expand the scale of farming. The average area under cultivation of a Japanese farm household is 1.7 TOKYO 00002505 008 OF 009 hectares, while it is 84 hectares in the U.S. and 380 hectares in Australia. Even with quality and safety taken into consideration, Japan must expand the average area at least to 5-10 hectares, in order to strengthen its international competitiveness in terms of cost. To that end, MAFF has prepared measures to reform the nation's farmland system, aiming to regenerate fallow land, which account of 8 PERCENT of all farmland across the nation, and to consolidate such land for motivated farmers. Even under the current system, local government heads are allowed to order the owners of idle farmland to lease such land to farmers. But it will take time to go through the necessary procedures, so there is no precedent case. MAFF has worked eagerly to improve the current legal system. The ministry intends to submit bills amending relevant laws to the ordinary Diet session next year. But the legislation might be delayed due to Fukuda resignation as prime minister and the next general election.'' The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has criticized the subsidy system for large-scale farmers the government has introduced since last fiscal year as "bullying small-scale farmers." Following the DPJ's overwhelming victory in the House of Councillors election last summer, the LDP has also made small-scale farmers eligible for the subsidy system. The DPJ has proposed creating a system worth one trillion yen designed to give income support for individual farmers in its policy package. If the LDP comes up with countermeasures, the two parties might fall into a port-barrel battle. To seriously nurture large-scale farmers, a review of the land tax system will also become necessary. In order to facilitate companies to establish incorporated agricultural procedures, advisors have suggested the need for deregulation, but nothing has been done yet. The new round of World Trade Organization (WTO) global trade talks (Doha Round) ended in rupture in the latest session, but its working-level talks have been resumed since Sept. 10. Ministerial talks will be resumed in two to three years. Japan will unavoidably be pressed again to lower the tariffs it has imposed on rice and other sensitive items. There is no much time left for Japan to reconstruct its agricultural policy. (7) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Aso gains upper hand in LDP presidential election Mainichi and Tokyo Shimbun: 2 firms in Aichi Prefecture also found to have sold tainted rice Yomiuri and Sankei: Majority of LDP lawmakers support Aso Nikkei: Honda to launch electric motorcycles in 2011 Akahata: JCP determined to abolish medical insurance system for people 75 and older (8) EDITORIALS TOKYO 00002505 009 OF 009 Asahi: (1) LDP presidential race underway (2) Great anxiety at North Korea's 60th anniversary Mainichi: (1) LDP presidential race: Campaign pledges too ambiguous (2) U.S. financial bailout plan only first step to restoring international trust Yomiuri: (1) LDP presidential candidates must present big picture (2) Supreme Court's decision on land readjustment project Nikkei: (1) Countdown to next general election (2) What happened in North Korea? Sankei: (1) LDP presidential race: Discuss ways to break political gridlock Tokyo Shimbun: (1) LDP race: Consumption tax ignored (2) Waiver of nuclear trade with India inappropriate Akahata: (1) 7th anniversary of 9/11: Ending the war on terror (9) Prime Minister's schedule, September 10 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) September 11, 2008 10:35 Met at Kantei with Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura, Cabinet Office Senior Vice Minister Tanimoto and Decoration Bureau Chief Fukushita. Met later with Machimura and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 11:00 Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 12:14 Met with Futahashi. 14:40 Met with Special Advisor Ito. 15:04 Met Untied Nations University president. 17:06 Met with Consumer Administration Minister Noda. 18:10 Returned to his official residence. ZUMWALT