DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 12/12/08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 16 TOKYO 003383 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 12/12/08 INDEX: (1) Override vote today on refueling extension for another year; Japan avoids breakaway from war on terror (Yomiuri) (2) Editorial: Refueling mission; Mandate-given administration must work out comprehensive assistance measures (Mainichi) (3) Opposition parties in Okinawa assembly to approve expenses for governor's planned U.S. visit (Okinawa Times) (4) Former ASDF Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami speaks his mind; U.S. forces must withdraw from Japan, Japan must discuss nuclear option (Part 1) (Shukan Gendai) (5) Physicians distancing themselves from the LDP a serious problem (Yomiuri) (6) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Yomiuri) (7) TOP HEADLINES (8) EDITORIALS (9) Prime Minister's schedule, December 11 (Nikkei) ARTICLES: (1) Override vote today on refueling extension for another year; Japan avoids breakaway from war on terror YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) December 12, 2008 International commitment Today, the Diet is expected to pass a bill amending the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law for a one-year extension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. Government officials are relieved, but the United States hopes Japan will do more in the war on terror. It is certain that Japan will be urged to take even more difficult measures in the offing. In its meeting yesterday, the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee voted down the government-introduced bill amending the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law with a majority of votes from the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) and other opposition parties. The bill is expected to be voted down in a plenary sitting this morning of the opposition-controlled upper chamber as well. However, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito will take a second vote on the legislation in a plenary sitting this afternoon of the House of Representatives with a majority of two-thirds to override the upper chamber's decision. The government has positioned the MSDF's refueling mission as a "minimum contribution," according to Foreign Minister Nakasone. Japan has made a de facto international commitment to continue its refueling activities in the Indian Ocean, and the refueling bill is now expected to pass the Diet. "We're now spared the worst-case scenario," a senior official of the Foreign Ministry said. TOKYO 00003383 002 OF 016 One government source stressed: "If the international community moves away, the Afghan government will go under. The war on terror is a must to uphold Japan's alliance with the United States. Working at sea is less dangerous than in Afghanistan. Besides, there are great needs for fuel." However, the MSDF's refueling (of U.S. and other foreign naval vessels in the Indian Ocean) peaked at 184,400 kiloliters in 2002 and has since been decreasing from year to year. In 2008, the MSDF's refueling totaled 10,940 kiloliters as of November. According to the Defense Ministry's account, that is because there was a decrease in the amount of fuel provided to U.S. naval forces that had many large ships. However, a DPJ executive says the refueling role is over. In Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force or ISAF for short, which is made up of troops from 41 countries, has been working to maintain public security and already has nearly 1,000 casualties. Japan sits out due to its constitutional constraints. Actually, Japan's contributory role is now less important. Meanwhile, Hisashi Tokunaga, a DPJ lawmaker seated in the House of Councillors, attended a meeting of the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday and explained why his party was opposed to the refueling bill. He stated before the committee: "The United States and other countries are laying emphasis on their activities on the military side, but such activities cannot improve the war on terror. Even if Japan continues refueling, that will not be a fundamental solution to the problem in Afghanistan." DPJ Representative Ozawa has been insisting that it is unconstitutional to back up activities that are not endorsed by a United Nations resolution. The DPJ has yet to clarify what to do about the MSDF's refueling activities if the party takes the reins of government. However, a government source presumes that the DPJ would call off the MSDF's refueling activities and recall the MSDF. Last year, the DPJ presented a legislative measure of its own to the Diet. The DPJ-proposed legislation featured a plan to send the Self-Defense Forces to Afghanistan, where the SDF is to be tasked with humanitarian and reconstruction assistance activities in Afghanistan, such as road construction and medical support, if militants and other armed groups there agree to stop their conflicts. The DPJ-introduced bill was voted down. However, the DPJ, if it takes the reins of government, will present the same bill to the Diet again, according to Keiichiro Asao, who is defense minister in the DPJ's shadow cabinet. Obama administration Having seen such a situation in Japan, the United States-which is at the center of the war on terror-is growing frustrated In late June, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Bobby Wilkes visited Japan. On that occasion, the visiting Pentagon official sounded out the Japanese government behind the scenes on sending CH-47 heavy-lift helicopters to Afghanistan and sharing the burden of costs amounting to nearly 2 trillion yen for such purposes as training Afghan forces. In September, U.S. Secretary of Defense Gates virtually named Japan for funding contributions, saying: "Some of our allies have not sent out combat troops to Afghanistan. This is a good chance for them to provide financial assistance to the TOKYO 00003383 003 OF 016 Afghan forces." In January next year, U.S. President-elect Obama will be sworn in. Obama is believed to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq and send reinforcements to Afghanistan. One aide to Obama said, "We will continue to ask Japan for assistance." In June, Japan also sent a government fact-finding team to Afghanistan. The government has earmarked costs in its fiscal 2009 budgetary estimate for such purposes as bulletproofing heavy-lift helicopters in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan. However, the Diet was divided with the ruling bloc holding a majority of the seats in its lower chamber and the opposition bloc controlling its upper chamber to share legislative power. The then prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, and his government were unable to make the SDF dispatch decision. In September, Fukuda stepped down. The Diet still remains unable to deepen its debate. On Dec. 8, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who knows Japan well, met with DPJ Deputy President Katsuya Okada in Washington. Armitage then told Okada, "'Boots on the ground' does not only mean military boots." With this, Armitage asked Okada and his party to consider sending civilians to Afghanistan in cooperation with the government and ruling parties. In Afghanistan, however, Kazuya Ito, a member of Peshawar-kai, which is a nongovernmental organization, was shot to death in August. As seen from this fact, that country is in a dangerous situation. The Japanese Red Cross Society has sent a team of doctors and pharmacists to the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. According to a JRCS official, they are strictly prohibited from going out of their hotel except for moving to and from a hospital. It is extremely difficult for a large number of civilians to work in Afghanistan. There is also an idea for Japan to send civilians to provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs). However, one government official is negative about this idea, saying: "They will have to work under the protection of foreign troops. We can't take responsibility." The United States is growing impatient. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Schieffer wonders why Japan will not join the international community's efforts to assist Afghanistan. "If Afghanistan becomes a failed state and becomes a habitat for terrorists," Schieffer noted, "every country will be exposed to danger." Japan has outlaid a total of 1.45 billion dollars in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan since September 2001. Japan has tackled such activities as disarming former soldiers, helping them with social rehabilitation, disbanding illegal armed groups, defusing landmines, and working against drugs. Another possible option for Japan is to go ahead with additional funding cooperation. However, one official is concerned about this option, saying: "They will say, 'Again, Japan is trying to do nothing but give money.' Japan will come under international fire." The Foreign Ministry is going to hold specific consultations with the incoming U.S. administration on Japan's possible contributions in Afghanistan. The DPJ will also work out its Afghan policy around the turn of the year, with an eye to the new U.S. administration's debut. However, Japan, should it fail to set forth a sufficient contributory plan, may have to make the "worst start" with the Obama administration, according to a senior official of the Foreign TOKYO 00003383 004 OF 016 Ministry. (2) Editorial: Refueling mission; Mandate-given administration must work out comprehensive assistance measures MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) December 12, 2008 A bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, which expires in January, was voted down in a committee meeting of the House of Councillors. The bill is expected to be rejected in an Upper House plenary session today but later will be enacted by the ruling coalition's two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives. We consider the refueling mission to be within the realm of choices in waging the war on terror. But at the same time, the dispatching of Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops overseas is a theme involving the vary basis of our national security. Moreover, views over whether to extend the refueling service have divided the Diet. Given these factors, we have insisted on the need to ask for the public to take a stand in an election on what assistance Japan should offer to Afghanistan and what to do in the war on terror. Prime Minister Taro Aso, however, decided to use the overriding vote tactic, as the previous government did in January. We are unhappy about this choice. In addition, the bill requires on the cabinet's approval in adopting an implementation plan that specifies the area covered by SDF activities and their basic policy, as well as the size of a unit and equipment there. There is no reference in the bill to "Diet approval." This is apparently a strategy to deal with opposition parties by skipping the many committees they control in the Upper House. The commotion over a controversial historical essay written by former Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami disclosed that civilian control over SDF ranking officers is not properly functioning under the coalition government of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito. Only when the Diet, which reflects public opinion, is involved, can civilian control be guaranteed from the start, but bill, not requiring such Diet approval, is seriously defective. Since January, the government used the overriding vote tactic three times. The use of a revote is allowed under the Constitution, but the current ruling camp's strength in the Lower House was formed in a special election held after the Diet was dissolved over a feud in connection with postal privatization. At that time, the issue of extending the refueling operation was neither included in the LDP's campaign pledges nor was it a point of contention, either. We have to say that the revote tactic in that sense is politically illegitimate. Deliberations on the bill in both Houses of the Diet were far from those reflecting recent l changes in the environment in and around Afghanistan. The security situation in Afghanistan has been worsening, while momentum is gathering in the Karzai government and the U.S. TOKYO 00003383 005 OF 016 government for holding a dialogue with the moderate Taliban group, the former governing force. With the change of government in Pakistan, making an approach to that nation is becoming more important. Japan should come up with comprehensive assistance measures for Afghanistan, including aid in the military, public welfare, and diplomatic areas. Japan is expected to play a major role there. In the U.S., the Obama administration will be launched next month. President-elect Barack Obama, who has pledged to shift priority from Iraq to Afghanistan, is expected to call on Japan to offer financial cooperation and a personnel contribution to Afghanistan. How will Japan respond, in such a case? There should be limits to what the Aso administration can do now that it is losing political ground. In order for Japan to map out comprehensive assistance measures in the war on terror and to Afghanistan, a government holding a mandate from the people must first be established. (3) Opposition parties in Okinawa assembly to approve expenses for governor's planned U.S. visit OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Excerpts) December 12, 2008 Six opposition parties in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly approved yesterday the prefectural government's revised plan on earmarking expenses for Governor Hirokazu Nakaima's planned visit to the U.S., which was resubmitted to a regular meeting in November. A supplementary budget bill, which includes the travel expenses, is likely to be unanimously adopted on the final day of the session on Dec. 19, through deliberations at the General Coordination and Policy Planning Committee. If the budget is approved, Nakaima will leave for the U.S. on Jan. 6 and present the prefecture's requests to those who are expected to join the incoming Obama administration and U.S. Congress. He is scheduled to stay in the U.S. for 10 days. In California, the governor will take activities to bring U.S. firms into Okinawa. About 9.1 million yen will be set aside for the governor's U.S. tour. (4) Former ASDF Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami speaks his mind; U.S. forces must withdraw from Japan, Japan must discuss nuclear option (Part 1) SHUKAN GENDAI (Excerpts) (Pages 16-21) December 20, 2008 I have been dismissed from the post of Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) chief of staff. Since I have acted based on my belief, I have no intention of retracting my series of views. To begin with, I do not understand why I have to be criticized. I said, "Japan was a good country," and I was told, "You are fired." The assertion of the Aso administration and the Liberal Democratic Party was: "In the government's view, Japan was a bad country. You should not have described Japan as a good country." I was forced to leave public office because I praised my own country. Is there any country in the world that is as absurd as Japan? TOKYO 00003383 006 OF 016 As if to add insult to injury, not only the LDP but also the Democratic Party of Japan fiercely criticized me. They pursued the government's responsibility, saying, "Why did you make a person who says Japan was a good country the ASDF chief of staff?" The DPJ said: "A person who says Japan was a rotten country should become the top SDF officer." Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa wrote a book titled Blueprint for a New Japan, aiming to turn Japan into a normal country. His son was an SDF member, as well. I wonder what has happened to him and his party. After such a ridiculous argument, I was pressed to return my retirement allowance. It annoyed me. After all, I selflessly worked for the country for 41 years, including the National Defense Academy days. One described the circumstances in which a top SDF officer is allowed to make remarks freely as civilian control in danger. But I have no intention of denying civilian control. I did not leak any military secrets and I did not violate any rules. I simply stated my view on history. Despite that, lawmakers and media organizations labeled me as a dangerous individual. I became the object of public anger and ridicule and was fired. Freedom of expression is an important right that is guaranteed in Article 21 of the Constitution. If people are not allowed to discuss things freely, that is not a democracy. It's the same as North Korea. I am afraid that Japan might head in a direction that will tie its hands tighter because of its masochistic view of history that is gripping Japan today. I am concerned that unless someone stops it, Japan might fall in the near future. After the end of the war, the victorious nations, including the United States, have pressed upon Japan the Tokyo Tribunal's view that Japan's history until then had all been evil, prompting Japan to lose its pride as a state. As a result, important traditional Japanese cultures have been destroyed rapidly. A Japanese-version Cultural Revolution is underway, so to speak. I believe this must be stopped at all costs. My view is not outlandish. I believe many Japanese people share my view. Yahoo! News conducted an opinion survey on Nov. 4-11, asking: "Is there any problem with the Tamogami statement?" Answers came from 97,084 individuals. Of them, 44,269 people said, "There is no problem," and 12,412 indicated, "There are hardly any problems." In other words, 58 PERCENT of the total said, "There aren't any problems." Furthermore, on TV-Asahi's "Let's Discuss until Morning" program at night on Nov. 28, a fierce discussion took place under the theme of the Tamogami issue and the SDF. The program also solicited viewers' opinions and 497 sent in their views. Of them, 303, or 61 PERCENT , said, "I can relate to the Tamogami statement." The Asahi Shimbun has relentlessly attacked me, but over 60 PERCENT of the people support me. Of course, I believe a lot of SDF personnel that number 240,000 agree with my view at the bottom of their hearts. Lawmakers and media organizations are alarmed at a possible coup. Such will never TOKYO 00003383 007 OF 016 happen. In a democracy, it is not allowed to change society with violence, and SDF personnel are perfectly aware of that. In my essay, I deliberately took up a number of good things Japan had done in the past. Until now, only bad deeds have been trumpeted, so I argued against them that history is not that unilateral. In fact, Japan was on the invaded side during that period. From around the 15th century, white nations continued to invade colored nations. Japan was not invaded until the last. No one raises any questions today about such brutal history of white nations' invasions of Asia. Only Japan's advance onto the Korean Peninsula and Chinese mainland has been the subject of criticism. White nations exploited Asia for many years, whereas Japan endeavored for the development of Asia. For instance, Japan built many schools in Manchuria, the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan. We left behind significant improvements to the infrastructure that affects everyday life -- roads, power plants, water supply, etc. Before the war, there were nine imperial universities. We established Keijo Imperial University, the sixth, in Seoul in 1924, and Taipei Imperial University, the seventh, in Taipei in 1928. Osaka Imperial University was eighth and Nagoya Imperial University was ninth. The Japanese government built imperial universities in Korea and Taiwan even before Osaka and Nagoya out of consideration for the colonies. Such is totally inconceivable under control by white nations. That is why leaders of Asian nations at times have expressed their appreciation, saying that because Japan had fought with such countries as the United States and Britain, they have now become able to talk to them as equals. Clash with Chinese Lt. Gen. over historical issues I have repeatedly expressed such a view. I have introduced it in my contribution to an SDF journal and discussed it in my speeches, as well. In addition to within the SDF, I have openly expressed my stock argument toward China. In June 2004, I visited Beijing as the leader of a Joint Staff College training team. During the visit, I had an opportunity to interview for about 30 minutes Lt. Gen. Fan Changlong, the No. 2 officer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army general staff section. For the first 10 minutes, Lt. Gen. Fan eloquently criticized the Imperial Japanese Army's brutal acts. Feeling such was unbearable, I cut in: "I do not think the Japanese Army did bad things toward China. Assaults and murder occur even in peacetime." A portrait of President Ziang Zemin was on the wall, so I also told Lt. Gen. Fan that President Ziang was unpopular in Japan because during his visit to Japan in 1998, he extensively traveled in the country and criticized Japan by touching on its responsibility for past events. I did not plan to dampen the previous venue of exchanges by broaching the historical issue during my courtesy call on the Chinese military leader. But at that time, the other side first just talked on and on about the history issue, so I could not just bowed my head and come back, saying, "You are right." Because Japan has turned a deaf ear to such an argument, China TOKYO 00003383 008 OF 016 brazenly keeps beating a dead horse. I don't think that is good for the future of relations between the countries. In any case, my rebuttal seemed quite upset the Chinese side. Many Chinese officers did not show up at the party we hosted at the Beijing Hotel before leaving China. They all said, "Something came up." The visit to China planned for the following year was called off. Incidentally, the debated between Lt. Gen. Fan and me was officially reported to Tokyo in detail via a cable from the Japanese Embassy in Beijing. The Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office, and everyone else became aware of the event, but I was not punished in any way. That was not all. Some in the Defense Ministry even praised me for what I did. My view has always been the same and consistent. I don't understand why I have to be beaten up this time around. Japan forced to purchase U.S.-made equipment for prices twice as high Now, I am going to discuss what I think about the United States. It has already been 63 years since the end of war, but Japan, as a defeated nation, still acts in accordance with the wishes of the United States. National defense is a prime example of that. The Cold War ended over a dozen years ago, but the United States still plays a main role in the defense of Japan. There are many U.S. bases in Japan and U.S. troops are stationed there. And the SDF purchases major defense equipment from the United States. It can hardly be said that they are sold at fair prices. From my experience, I can honestly say that Japan has been ripped off quite a bit. There is a possibility that Japan has bought aircrafts of the same model at prices higher than those to other countries. In other words, the United States has siphoned off Japanese taxpayers' money unfairly. As far as the ASDF is concerned, it has purchased the F-104 (400 million yen apiece),F-4 (2 billion yen),F-15 (10 billion yen),and F-22 (50 billion yen; U.S. Congress has yet to approve) in chronological order. The price jumped five times every time new model came along. The United States also overcharged for a variety of other weapons, sometimes twice higher. At one time, the ASDF had a plan to procure air-to-air missiles for its fighters. Washington begrudged selling the kind of missiles Japan wanted. As a result, a Japanese maker independently developed similar missiles, and Washington all of a sudden expressed its willingness to sell the kind of missiles to Tokyo for prices much cheaper than those produced domestically. In 2000, when I was serving as the deputy chief of staff for logistics, the ASDF had a plan to introduce the Link-16, the latest model of the strategic data link system, to the Patriot (ground-to-air missile system). Japan needed to purchase its terminal equipment from the United States. In the process of negotiations, the United States raised the price of a set of terminal equipment from 100 million yen to over 200 million yen. TOKYO 00003383 009 OF 016 I lodged a protest with a senior U.S. Air Force Department official, who happened to be in Japan around that time. Three weeks after his return to the United States, the price dropped to the original level. The United States has taken advantage of Japan's weak position. In the world of equipment, there is something called the black box, which must be unfamiliar to civilians. It signifies the technical information not disclosed to Japan when procuring equipment from the United States. Software codes correspond to the black box. Such black boxes are on the rise. Preventing the outflow of technology is Washington's official position. I think that is its public stance; its true intention is to siphon money from Japan. That is because if a glitch occurs in a part concerning the black box, only the United States would be able to fix it. Weapons also require maintenance, and for that, Japan has to place orders to U.S. corporations semi-permanently. Simply put, the more the black box grows, the more the United States can rake in money. Reason why the abduction issue has not bee resolved I am not anti-American; I like the United States. To begin with, a state pursues its national interests. It is natural for the United States to make every effort to sell its products to other countries, including its allies. The problem lies in Japan. Japanese people are too good-natured. They are good-natured and masochistic. I believe such a country is rare in the world. A good country cannot be a victor in the international political scene. The world is filled with black-hearted people. Good people are destined to be used by black-hearted people. For example, why has the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North not been resolved? Let's say many U.S. citizens were abducted by the North. Would the North take the cold and overbearing attitude toward the United States, in the same way with Japan? I can say this with confident that if it was with the United States, the abduction issue would have been resolved a long ago. That is because America's military power is a threat to the North. With just a hint at an air strike by the United States, the North is certain to respond to a call for talks. Japan's attitude is poles apart from that of the United States. Japan's hands are tied because of its own constitution prohibiting the use of force. This encourages the North to use the abduction issue to apply pressure on Japan. Japan has created a national army enormously lacking in attack capability in the name of an exclusively defense-oriented policy of the postwar period. In order to conduct decent talks with the North, Japan needs at least to deploy air-to-ground missiles and ship-to-ground missiles to strike enemy territories. Japan has become such a good-natured country in the postwar period solely because of America's Japan policy. Japan has been transformed into a country convenient for the United States. TOKYO 00003383 010 OF 016 As was just discussed, Japan is now under the protection of America's great military power, but we must keep in mind that the United States take action based on its own national interests. For instance, if the United States finds it more beneficial to team up with China, it would abandon Japan overnight. During my stay in the United States this summer, I asked a high-ranking U.S. military officer: "If Japan and China clash over the Senkaku Islands, would the United States attack China as Japan's ally?" As expected, the officer offered an ambiguous answer. If China continues to build up its military buildup at the current pace, the Chinese ministry would surpass the SDF in five to ten years. The military gains strength in promotion to the money spent on it. The alliance with the United States allows Japan to be under America's umbrella and to be on America's coattails in the international political scene, so I think the alliance with that country is useful to Japan. Even so, I believe a country should be defended by its own people. In other words, we need to strengthen the SDF and U.S. force in Japan must leave the country gradually. I believe that's the way Japan should be. Without the withdrawal of the U.S. military, Japan cannot be called a truly independent country. (5) Physicians distancing themselves from the LDP a serious problem YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) December 12, 2008 Senior members of medical associations in such major cities as Sendai, Chiba, Nagoya and Fukuoka met on Nov. 15 at a hotel in Chiba City. A questionnaire result was distributed to each participant in the meeting. Many participants were amazed by the result. One member said: "So many members have distanced themselves from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)!" One of the questions was whether to support the LDP in order to realize policy measures the Japan Medical Association proposes. In responding, only nine percent said that they would support the ruling LDP, while 20 percent said that they would back the opposition parties so that a change in government would occur. A total of 2,362 doctors of regional medical associations in major cities responded to the questionnaire. Nakahiko Hakuno, chairman of the Chiba City Medical Association which conducted the questionnaire, said: "We had supported the LDP unconditionally. However, medical institutions are in a serious condition due to the policy the LDP implemented in the past few years. The figures show our sense of alarm." Under the Japan Medical Association (membership of 165,000),there are approximately 900 local medical associations comprised of physicians. The JMA has fielded its representatives as candidates TOKYO 00003383 011 OF 016 for an upper house election every time, and it is one of the strong support organizations for the LDP. One direct reason for the JMA having decided to distant itself from the LDP is that the administration of then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi decided in 2006 on a policy of reducing natural increase in social security spending by 220 billon yen annually. The JMA has sought the withdrawal of the spending cut policy for the reason that the policy has caused the collapse of medical institutions. Although the JMA has still supported the LDP, some local medical associations are now distancing themselves from the LDP. The Ibaraki Medical Association's political organization intends to recommend candidates on the official ticket of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in all the seven electoral districts in the prefecture. Ibaraki Medical Association Chairman Katsumasa Haranaka criticized the LDP, saying: "The LDP does not function well because in that party there are many lawmakers who succeeded to Diet seats held by their parents and grandparents. Since second-generation politicians just take over the stable electoral turf held by their parents or grandparents, they will not become politicians who can control the bureaucracy. The LDP should change, but it no longer has power to reform itself." Prime Minister Aso has taken a positive stance to a review of the spending-cut policy since he assumed office last September. Believing that Aso was considering also a review of the policy of curbing social security expenditures, persons connected to medical associations held high hopes for Aso. However, Aso made a gaffe (on Nov. 19): "There are many doctors who lack common sense." On Nov. 29, in a general meeting of the Niigata City Medical Association, in the face of LDP Lower House member, who were invited to the meeting, Chairman Kenichi Okawa severely criticized the Aso administration: "Prime Minister Aso's policy flip flops and the spate of gaffes are regrettable." Aso's slip of the tongue added fuel to the fire. A person closed to Aso said ostensibly calmly: "The JMA does not have many votes. So the impact on the election will be small." However, as seen in the result of the Chiba City Medical Association's questionnaire, the outlook is that if many local medical associations support the DPJ in an election, an impact on the election will not be that small. Hakuno said: "Since we conducted the anonymous survey, physicians responded genuinely. The support rate for the opposition party was twice higher than that for the LDP. This means that physicians are seriously angry." (6) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties YOMIURI (Page 9) (Full) December 8, 2008 Questions & Answers (Figures shown in percentage) TOKYO 00003383 012 OF 016 Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? Yes 20.9 No 66.7 Other answers (O/A) 1.4 No answer (N/A) 11.0 Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) Pick only one from among the following reasons for your approval of the Aso cabinet. Something can be expected of its policy measures 23.5 The prime minister has leadership 11.7 There's something stable about the prime minister 9.7 His cabinet's lineup is good 10.3 Because it's a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito 35.2 O/A 4.4 N/A 5.1 Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the foregoing question) Pick only one from among the following reasons for your disapproval of the Aso cabinet. Nothing can be expected of its policy measures 31.5 The prime minister lacks leadership 29.2 There's nothing stable about the prime minister 25.0 His cabinet's lineup is not good 1.4 Because it's a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito 10.3 O/A 1.1 N/A 1.6 Q: Which political party do you support now? Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 27.2 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 28.2 New Komeito (NK) 3.3 Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3.4 Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1.4 People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) --- Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) --- New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) --- Other political parties --- None 33.6 N/A 2.9 Q: Which one do you think is more appropriate for prime minister between Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa? Prime Minister Aso 28.8 DPJ President Ozawa 36.4 N/A 34.7 Q: Do you think the Aso cabinet is dealing exactly with the current economic situation? Yes 9.6 No 82.5 N/A 8.0 Q: Regarding a second supplementary budget for an additional package TOKYO 00003383 013 OF 016 of economic stimulus measures, the government and ruling parties will not present it to the Diet during its current session. This is because it will take time to prepare this extra budget and for some other reasons, according to their account. Instead, they will present it to the Diet when its ordinary session opens early in the new year. Do you think this is appropriate? Yes 19.6 No 66.5 N/A 13.9 Q: The government plans to hand out cash benefits totaling 2 trillion yen. Do you appreciate this? Appreciate very much 7.5 Appreciate somewhat 15.9 Don't appreciate very much 26.7 Don't appreciate at all 45.3 N/A 4.5 Q: Do you appreciate the DPJ's response during the current Diet session? Appreciate very much 6.6 Appreciate somewhat 21.6 Don't appreciate very much 34.3 Don't appreciate at all 24.9 N/A 12.6 Q: Do you think Prime Minister Aso's recent questionable remarks and gaffes will affect his political management? Affect very much 46.4 Affect somewhat 30.6 Don't affect very much 15.2 Don't affect at all 4.4 N/A 3.4 Q: When would you like the House of Representatives to be dissolved for a general election? Right away 21.7 Early in the new year 36.0 Around the spring of next year 22.4 Sometime before the current membership's expiry in September 14.3 N/A 5.6 Q: If an election were to be held now for the House of Representatives, which political party would you like to vote for in your proportional representation bloc? LDP 24.2 DPJ 40.2 NK 3.5 JCP 4.3 SDP 1.1 PNP 0.3 RC --- NPN 0.1 Other political parties 0.1 Undecided 20.5 N/A 5.6 TOKYO 00003383 014 OF 016 Q: What form of government would you like to see after the next election for the House of Representatives? LDP-led coalition government 12.2 DPJ-led coalition government 20.8 LDP-DPJ grand coalition government 25.4 Government under new framework after political realignment 32.9 O/A 0.2 N/A 8.4 Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Dec. 5-7 across the nation on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. Households with one or more eligible voters totaled 1,819. Valid answers were obtained from 1,091 persons (60.0 PERCENT ). (Note) In some cases, the total percentage does not become 100 PERCENT due to rounding. (7) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Ruling parties refuse to follow prime minister's order to specify "consumption tax hike in three years" in midterm program Mainichi: Tax reform outline to be decided on today; Corporate tax to be lowered to 18 PERCENT Yomiuri: Stimulus package to amount to 40 trillion yen Nikkei: Government mulls framework to buy 2 trillion yen in commercial paper Sankei: January-November period marks record number of indiscriminate attacks Tokyo Shimbun: Timeframe for consumption tax hike not to be specified Akahata: JCP Chairman Shii: Workers' counterattack began (8) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Law to strengthen banking sector: Small firms needs more funds (2) Court clerk scandal: Trust in courts undermined Mainichi: (1) Refueling mission: Comprehensive support necessary under mandate-backed administration (2) Tobacco tax hike shelved Yomiuri: (1) Six-party talks: North Korea's defiant attitude must not be allowed (2) Plan to cut social security costs has already failed TOKYO 00003383 015 OF 016 Nikkei: (1) Credit crunch must be stopped (2) Tough challenges for 30-year-old reform policy of China Sankei: (1) Employment and Human Resources Development Organization of Japan must be abolished (2) Utilize financial function strengthening law for resolving credit crunch Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Tax reform: Where is financial source for social security? (2) Japan-China-South Korea summit: Financial crisis requires joint step Akahata: (1) Refueling extension legislation too reckless (9) Prime Minister's schedule, December 11 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 12, 2008 09:41 Met at Kantei with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Konoike. 10:41 Met China's People's Daily President Zhang Yannong. 11:04 Met Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries Deputy Chairman Li Ziaolin, joined by Upper House member Katsuhito Asano. Met later with ROK-Japan Parliamentary League Chairman Lee Sang Duk, attended by Japan-ROK Parliamentary League Chairman Yosano. 11:42 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma. 12:58 Attended Upper House Financial Committee session. 15:51 Met at Kantei with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani, followed by LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hori and Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura. Hori remained. 16:19 Met with Yosano. Met later with Deputy Foreign Minister Sasae, Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs Shinohara and METI Trade Policy Bureau chief Okada, joined by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto. 17:08 Met with Finance Minister Nakagawa, Vice Finance Minister Sugimoto and Financial Services Agency Director General Sato. Met later with Indonesian Regional Representative Council Chairman Ginandjar, followed by Filipino Foreign Minister Romulo. 19:10 Dined with former Prime Minister Abe, Administrative Reform Minister Amari and Election Strategy Council Deputy Chairman Suga, later TOKYO 00003383 016 OF 016 joined by Finance Minister Nakagawa. 22:10 Returned to his official residence in Kamiyama-cho. SCHIEFFER