JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01/10/08

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01/10/08 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 4) Prime Minister Fukuda at G8 Summit will pledge 1 trillion yen in aid over five years to developing countries for measures to counter global warming (Nikkei) 5) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura welcomes possibility of a female U.S. president (Nikkei) 6) Reciprocal visits between Japan, South Korea confirmed (Nikkei) Diet agenda: 7) Antiterrorist bill to restart MSDF refueling in Indian Ocean will be enacted tomorrow by Lower House override of rejection vote by Upper House (Tokyo Shimbun) 8) Democratic Party of Japan's painful miscalculation: Forced to reverse decision on antiterrorist bill when other opposition parties balked at continuing deliberation (Mainichi) 9) DPJ wants resolution to respect views of Upper House in order to seek to constrain ruling camp's abuse of two-thirds vote (Tokyo Shimbun) 10) Lower House to charge former Defense Vice Minister Moriya, now under arrest for receiving bribes, for perjury when he testified as a sworn witness (Tokyo Shimbun) 11) Fukuda and DPJ head Ozawa engage in first party heads debate in the Diet but skirt sensitive issue of "grand alliance" discussed in prior meeting (Tokyo Shimbun) 12) Fukuda tells Ozawa in Diet debate that he does not agree there was a broken promise to the public on the missing pension account mess (Mainichi) 13) Exchange between Fukuda, Ozawa on the antiterrorist legislation (Tokyo Shimbun) Political agenda: 14) Fukuda favors establishing a "consumer agency" to focus attention of key issues like food safety (Yomiuri) 15) Fukuda wants to use consumer agency idea to appeal to public but even his cabinet is not fully on board (Yomiuri) 16) LDP asks well known political scientist Kabashima to run in Kumamoto gubernatorial race (Asahi) 17) Former Prime Minister ABE wants to make comeback by rallying together conservative political forces (Nikkei) Defense and security issues: 18) Local community is not welcoming the possibility of NLP practice by U.S. jets at Mage Island in Kagoshima (Yomiuri) 19) Government to toughen punitive measures for leaking defense secrets (Nikkei) SIPDIS 20) With eye on G8 summit, future Olympics, Tokyo developing high-tech system to detect presence of terrorists entering Japan (Tokyo Shimbun) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES TOKYO 00000068 002 OF 012 Asahi, Mainichi, and Tokyo Shimbun: New antiterrorism law to be enacted tomorrow Yomiuri: Prime minister eyes creation of "Consumer Agency" to ensure food safety Nikkei: Prime minister to announce that Japan will extend 1 trillion yen in aid in five years to developing nations to help cut greenhouse gas emissions Sankei: Government civil servant reform panel to call for compensation system to pursue retired government officials' responsibility for irregularities Akahata: Upper House committee to take vote on new antiterrorism legislation today 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Party-head debate needs more heat (2) Obama stealing U.S. presidential race Mainichi: (1) Fukuda-Ozawa debate failed to touch on grand coalition plan (2) Organization for revitalizing local economies to be launched Yomiuri: (1) Is this all we can expect of debate among leaders? (2) U.S. presidential race: Future course of "change" needs to be watched Nikkei: (1) Fundamental pension reform must be discussed in party-head debate (2) Management of official documents requires solid legal system Sankei: (1) Party-head debate: National administration a responsibility for ruling and opposition camps (2) Extra nighttime classes must help increase teachers' quality Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Lackluster Fukuda-Ozawa debate (2) U.S presidential face: Will change of tsunami occur? Akahata: (1) War-assisting legislation must be scrapped 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, January 9 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) January 10, 2008 09:51 TOKYO 00000068 003 OF 012 Arrived at Kantei. 12:04 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 14:31 Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. 15:00 Attended one-on-one debate with DPJ President Ozawa at Diet. 17:24 Met at Kantei with Deputy Foreign Minister Kono. 18:08 Met with Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Ota. 20:33 Returned to his private residence in Nozawa. 4) Global warming preventive measures: Premier to announce package of financial assistance worth 1 trillion yen for developing countries over five years NIKKEI (Top Play) (Full) January 10, 2009 A package of financial assistance to developing countries aimed at preventing global warming, which Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is expected to announce shortly, was revealed yesterday. The package features a total of 10 billion dollars (approximately 1.1 trillion yen) in the form of grant aid or yen loans according to purposes, such as emissions cuts and the dissemination of alternative energy sources. The government wants to consolidate conditions that developing countries, which are lagging behind in terms of the implementation of global warming preventive measures, would find acceptable, in creating a framework replacing the Kyoto Protocol, which is to end in 2012, Developing countries to be urged to take part in post-Kyoto framework talks Fukuda will announce this policy in a speech to be delivered this month at the outset of the regular Diet session and in a speech to be given at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (Davos Conference),regarding which coordination on his attendance is now underway. The Kyoto Protocol only targets industrialized countries. The challenge is whether it is possible to involve developing countries, whose greenhouse gas emissions are gradually increasing, in a new framework starting in 2013. Japan wants to help developing countries tackle global warming in the form of achieving a good balance between economic growth and emissions cuts, thereby taking the initiative in the creation of a new framework. The package mentions that unlike assistance to developing countries in the past, the new financial assistance is aimed at proactively changing recipient countries' policies through consultations with them. Specifically, the government has prepared three types of assistance measures: (1) assistance to developing countries alleviating global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; (2) TOKYO 00000068 004 OF 012 assistance for adaptation to global warming intended to help developing countries, such as Asian countries, map out a disaster prevention plan; and (3) the dissemination of alternative energies, such as solar and geothermal power. Projects eligible for Japan's assistance will likely include improving the efficiency of China's outdated coal plants and helping developing countries map out disaster prevention plans through the creation and monitoring of meteorological data. For the dissemination of the use of alternative energies, the government is considering helping agricultural villages shift to the use of electricity. Funds will be provided through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and trade insurance, as well as in the form of grant aid or yen loans. As the first step in that policy agenda, Japan has started talks with Indonesia. An agreement on specific measures will likely be reached as early as March. Funds will also be extended to Tuvalu, which is on the verge of being submerged due to the rise in sea level caused by global warming. Britain has announced a plan to set up an environment reform fund to provide 800 million pounds (approximately 170 billion yen) to developing countries over three years. Japan's assistance will exceed that amount. With an eye on the G-8 (Lake Toya Summit) in July, where prevention of global warming will top the agenda, Fukuda intends to rush to coordinate domestic and foreign views on the adoption of mid-term numerical targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, following the announcement of the package of financial assistance. Main points of new financial assistance ? Extending financial assistance worth 10 billion dollars to developing countries over five years ? Three forms of assistance measures, including assistance for alleviating the impact of global warming and assistance for adaptation to global warming ? Promoting global warming preventive measures through policy talks with developing countries ? Promoting participation of developing countries in post-Kyoto Protocol framework talks ? Helping developing countries achieve a good balance between environmental conservation and economic development, using energy-conserving technologies. 5) Machimura welcomes possibility of woman president NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) January 10, 2008 In a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura made the following comment about Senator Hillary Clinton vying for the U.S. presidency: "The image of the United States is that women are in a strong position. It would not surprise me if the country elected a female president. It's up to the American people, and I don't know their decision." 6) Resumption of Japan-ROK reciprocal visits confirmed NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) TOKYO 00000068 005 OF 012 January 10, 2008 Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi held talks in Seoul on Jan. 9 with Lee Gyong Suk, chairman of the preparatory committee for the new Korean administration to be launched in February. The two leaders confirmed a policy direction to make efforts to strengthening bilateral relations by, for instance, resuming annual reciprocal visits of the top leaders of the two countries. Yachi also expressed hope for resuming free trade agreement (FTA) talks, which have been on hold. They also agreed on working closely in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue. Regarding the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korea in the past, Yachi also asked for cooperation, saying, "We would like see (South Korea) actively address it from a humanitarian perspective." 7) New refueling bill to be enacted tomorrow TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Excerpts) January 10, 2008 The Upper House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense in its directors' meeting yesterday decided to take a vote at its meeting this afternoon on the government-sponsored new antiterrorism special measures bill (new refueling bill) that would allow the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) to resume its mission in the Indian Ocean. It will also vote on the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) counterproposal bill. Both bills are likely to be rejected by a majority of votes in a committee meeting. It has become certain that the new refueling bill, after being voted down in the Upper House plenary session tomorrow, will be put to the second vote on the same day in the Lower House, where the ruling bloc holds a two-thirds majority of seats, and enacted the same day. The ruling bloc's initial plan was that if the new refueling bill were not put to the vote in the Upper House plenary session by Jan. 11, the ruling bloc would put the bill to a second vote in accordance with the Constitution's provision that states the Upper House's failure to take final action within sixty (60) days after receipt of a bill passed by the Lower House may be determined by the Lower House to constitute a rejection of the said bill by the Upper House. Jan. 12 will mark the 60th day after the Upper House's receipt of the new refueling bill. The DPJ intended to shelve taking a vote on the new refueling bill in the Upper House in order to strongly show its criticism of the ruling bloc's "tyranny of the majority," but the Japanese Communist Party (JCP),the Social Democratic Party (SDP),and the People's New Party opposed the move. As a result, the DPJ's Upper House executives again discussed the party's previous policy and, switching gears, decided to take a vote after all on the new refueling bill. Meeting the press yesterday, the DPJ's Upper House Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Susumu Yanase explained the reason why the party had shifted its previous policy: "We did so because leaving the Upper House's resolution of the issue to history is something the public can easily understand." The DPJ does not hold a sole majority in either the Upper House plenary session or the Upper House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense. If the DPJ is unable to obtain cooperation from the other TOKYO 00000068 006 OF 012 opposition parties, it cannot carry over the refueling bill to the next Diet session. Apparently, these circumstances also forced the DPJ to reverse its previous policy. Yanase also declared that the DPJ had considered submitting a censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda as a counteraction to the ruling bloc's move to take the second vote on the new refueling bill, but that the DPJ would not do so. 8) DPJ decides in reversal to take a vote on new antiterrorism legislation at Upper House -- miscalculation for the party MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) January 10, 2008 The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) yesterday, at the last moment, shifted its stance of carrying over deliberations on a new antiterrorism special measures bill to the next Diet session after it failed to obtain approval from the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP). The DPJ had calculated that it would be easier for it to justify its decision to forgo a censure motion against the prime minister if the bill was not put to a vote at the House of Councillors, but it found that it had no choice but to show the "will of the Upper House," facing opposition from the other parties. The switch shows that the DPJ does not necessarily absolutely control the upper chamber of the politically divided Diet. Moreover, the uneasiness created in the coalition of opposition parties will likely affect their cooperation as a coalition in the next House of Representatives election. SDP Chairperson Mizuho Fukushima made an ironical remark at a press conference: "It is not true that the DPJ alone controls the Upper House. The DPJ has a misunderstanding about that. It is now in internal disarray." The number of seats the parliamentary group of the DPJ and People's New Party occupy in the Upper House falls short of a majority (122). Therefore, when the JCP (seven seats) and SDP (five) opposed the DPJ, it proved to be impossible to carry the deliberations on the bill over to the next session. The PNP also refused to carry them over. 9) Idea of passing resolution to respect the Upper House being floated in DPJ in order to seek to constrain ruling camp's abuse of two-thirds vote TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) January 10, 2008 The new antiterrorism special measures bill to resume Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean will be put again to a vote tomorrow in the House of Representatives. Following this, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) has come up with the idea of adopting on Jan. 15 in the Upper House plenary session a "resolution to respect the right to deliberate bills in the House of Councillors." According to a senior DPJ lawmaker, the party's intent in drafting a resolution is to constrain the ruling camp from abusing its two-thirds majority vote in the Lower House. Since the DPJ has decided to forgo a censure motion against Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, even if the new antiterrorism bill is readopted in the Lower House, it plans to show its stance of TOKYO 00000068 007 OF 012 criticizing the ruling bloc by approving the resolution at the Upper House. Prior to the Jan. 18 convocation of the ordinary Diet session, the DPJ also aims to shore up the coalition of opposition parties, which fell apart in the second half of the current session. The DPJ will carry out coordination with the Japanese Communist Party, Social Democratic Party, and People's New Party, aiming at approval of the resolution by all the opposition parties. 10) Lower House committee to charge suspect Moriya with perjury TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Excerpts) January 10, 2008 The Lower House Special Committee on Prevention of Terrorism (chaired by Takashi Fukaya) yesterday decided to charge former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya for violation of the Diet Testimony Law. The committee will approve this decision at a meeting today of its directors. And bringing a charge of perjury against Moriya will be approved during the current session of the Diet. The committee summoned suspect Moriya as a sworn witness on Oct. 29 of last year. At the time Moriya was asked whether he paid for day golf outings offered by the former senior managing director of the defense contractor Yamada Corp. and testified: "I paid 10,000 yen (for one round). Moriya also denied providing favors in connection with procurement of defense equipment. The committee judged such testimony by Moriya constituted perjury. 11) Prime Minister Fukuda's first party-heads debate in Diet with DPJ President Ozawa: Both skirt issue of forming "grand coalition" TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) January 10, 2008 Prime Minister Fukuda (president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)) held the first party-head debate yesterday in the Diet since taking office as prime minister with the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa. On the problem of the 50 million missing pension premium payment records, Fukuda said: "We must revamp the (pension) system into a reliable one that can convince the public. A swift resolution of this problem would lead to restoring the public's confidence." He emphasized his intention to devote every effort to resolve the problem. A party-heads debate between the LDP and the DPJ had not been held since last May, when former Prime Minister SHINZO ABE and Ozawa sparred. On the pension mess, Ozawa argued, "The public has paid pension premiums from money he or she sweated and slaved for. The problem must be resolved at any cost." In response, Fukuda again offered an apology: "The Social Insurance Agency has kept pension records in a sloppy manner over 40 years. All I can do now for that is to offer an apology." Meanwhile, referring to the new antiterrorism special measures bill (new refueling bill),Fukuda noted, "The (previous) antiterrorism special measures law was enacted in 2001. At the time, the DPJ gave TOKYO 00000068 008 OF 012 support to the law," and sought the DPJ's understanding about the new refueling bill. Neither Fukuda nor Ozawa touched on their meeting last fall, in which they discussed the idea of forming a grand coalition between their parties. The party-head debate between Fukuda and Ozawa was initially planned for the end of last October, but it was not realized because the two held their own dialogue ahead of the planned official debate. Since then the party-heads debate was repeatedly deferred. One reason was the confusion in the DPJ caused by Ozawa when he announced his intention to resign as president of the party. 12) Prime minister does not acknowledge breach of campaign pledge on pension problem in first debate with Ozawa MAINICHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) January 10, 2008 Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa held their first Diet debate yesterday. On the pension record-keeping fiasco, Ozawa pointed out that the Liberal Democratic Party violated its campaign pledge in the House of Councillors election to complete the identification process of all unidentified pension accounts by the end of March. He then said: "The problem will not be resolved only with (the prime minister's) apology." The prime minister offered an apology, remarking: "Considering what happened in the past, I must apologize to the people." But on the problem of a breach of the election promise, the prime minister just said: "(Whether the promise was broken or not) depends on how the public takes it. I have no intention of making any excuses." 13) Main points from Fukuda-Ozawa debate TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 7) (Abridged) January 10, 2008 The following is a gist of yesterday's parliamentary one-on-one debate between Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ichiro Ozawa. New antiterror legislation Ozawa: What is the government's principle, including constitutional interpretation, to send the Self-Defense Forces overseas? Fukuda: The Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean does not correspond to the use of armed force. It is for international peace activities. We don't have to bring up the Constitution. The Diet will close soon. I hope the House of Councillors will reach a conclusion. Ozawa: You say we don't have to bring up the Constitution? That's a serious statement. That means the government can send the SDF whenever the government thinks it's intended for international contributions. We can't say this does not conflict with Article 9 of the Constitution. How do you interpret the Constitution to say this does not conflict with the Constitution? Fukuda: Under Japan's contributions to the international community, this one does not fall under the (constitutionally prohibited) use TOKYO 00000068 009 OF 012 of armed force. If Japan stops its activities, it will likely give terrorists a chance. In 2001, the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law was enacted. Since then, we have sufficiently explained our constitutional interpretation. At that time, the DPJ also gave its approval regarding that legal thinking. 14) Prime minister eyes creation of consumer agency to place importance on such daily-life issues as food safety YOMIURI (Top Play) (Excerpts) January 10, 2008 Prime Minister Fukuda decided yesterday to study the possibility of creating a "consumer agency," with the aim of tightening regulations to protect consumers and unifying the administration of the tasks now being carried out by various relevant ministries. Given recent incidents undermining the credibility of products and services, such as the mislabeling scandals, the prime minister wants to drastically reform consumer affairs administration in order to ensure the safety and security of the people's daily lives. He is placing "administration that gives priority to ordinary citizens and consumers" at the front of his policy agenda. Based on this stance and also with an eye on the next House of Representatives election, he intends to launch a discussion shortly on specifics of his plan in the government and the ruling camp, with the goal of creating the new agency in 2009. Fukuda indicated a willingness to establish a consumer policy agency last night for the first time. Speaking before reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, he said: "It might be desirable to set up a unified agency that serves as a liaison center for consumers." The prime minister emphasized the need to reform the current administrative organization, remarking: "Setting aside whether the envisioned entity will be called the 'consumer agency,' we must rectify the current situation in which people point out that the administration (of consumer affairs) is difficult to grasp." On Jan. 4, the prime minister indicated his plan to push ahead with the unification of the authorities responsible for consumer administration, including food safety. The creation of a consumer agency will be a key measure to promote this plan. The envisioned new agency will be tasked with monitoring wrongdoings by producers and clamping down on fraudulent business practices. By establishing a unified body that will liaison with consumers, the government aims to enable relevant problems to be smoothly resolved. 15) Prime minister proposes creating consumer policy agency with viewpoint of people in mind, but some cabinet members remain cautious YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) January 10, 2008 (Commentary) Prime Minister Fukuda has decided to discuss a plan to create a consumer policy agency. He aims to make this concept a symbol of his policy of pursuing people-centered politics. TOKYO 00000068 010 OF 012 After he assumed office in late September, when public support for his cabinet was considerably high, the prime minister told his aides, keeping in mind a series of scandals involving such problems as falsified quake-resistance standards for housing, food mislabeling, and deaths caused by gas heaters: "The current politics and administration must be changed into consumer-friendly ones." He has been looking for specific measures. Early this year, Fukuda also said: "The reliability of the consumer administration has been undermined so seriously that even the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan has been listed as an object of reform." The prime minister now finds it difficult to demonstrate his own policy imprint because government-sponsored bills have not been easily enacted given the opposition's control of the Upper House, and also because a cabinet reshuffle has been delayed. Given the situation, Fukuda apparently expects that the concept of creating a consumer policy agency will be favorably accepted by the people, with an eye on the next House of Representatives election. This concept was initially discussed at the Liberal Democratic Party's council on consumer issues, chaired by Seiko Noda. However, some cabinet members remain cautious about this concept. Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura expresses his skepticism about the idea, remarking: "Even if all authorities concerned are unified, all problems will not necessary be settled." Since the concept will lead to reducing the authority of government agencies concerned, such authorities will inevitably put up resistance. To translate this concept into action, the prime minister's powerful leadership will be required. 16) LDP to ask Tokyo University Prof. Kabashima to run in Kumamoto gubernatorial race ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) January 10, 2008 The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Kumamoto prefectural chapter decided yesterday in a board meeting to ask Ikuo Kabashima, 60, professor at the University of Tokyo, to run in the May gubernatorial election of Kumamoto Prefecture. Kabashima is positive about his candidacy for the race, saying, "I take the decision seriously as the LDP's formal request." But he has yet to make a formal decision, noting: "I need support from many political parties, including the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)." Kabashima was born in Yamaga City, Kumamoto. He became a political scientist after studying in the United States. Before studying abroad, he worked at an agricultural cooperative in Kumamoto. LDP Kumamoto chapter head Hidehisa Yamamoto said: "Mr. Kabashima underwent hardships. He is well versed in agricultural affairs, which is a qualification for assuming the governorship. He is a person who represents Kumamoto." Since there is not much time until the election, the LDP will move its campaign into full gear before Kabashima announces his candidacy. The DPJ Kumamoto chapter also had looked into the possibility of backing Kabashima, but it will find ways to support another candidate or to allow its members to vote on their own decision. 17) Former Prime Minister ABE eager to rally conservative forces TOKYO 00000068 011 OF 012 together NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) January 10, 2008 Former Prime Minister SHINZO ABE of the Liberal Democratic Party has contributed an essay to the monthly magazine Bungei Shunju that will go on sale today expressing strong eagerness for bringing conservative forces together. The essay says about his future political activities: "In order to enroot full-fledged conservative politics in Japan, I will give my all and sacrifice myself." It also gives a positive assessment of a study group launched by Shoichi Nakagawa and others, saying that it is significant to establish a variety of study groups as venues for conservative forces to rely on. 18) Locals reconfirm opposition to U.S. military facility construction on Magejima YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) January 10, 2008 The government has now selected Magejima, an island belonging to the city of Nishinoomote, Kagoshima Prefecture, as the most likely candidate site for the construction of a permanent facility for U.S. carrier-borne aircraft's night landing practice (NLP) along with the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. On this issue, a consultative council consisting of municipal heads from the neighboring islands of Tanegashima and Yakushima reconfirmed their intention to oppose the construction of an NLP facility on the island of Magejima. They will send in a petition tomorrow to Kagoshima Gov. Yuichiro Ito against it. In February last year, Magejima was reported to be on the list of NLP candidate locations. In March last year, one city and three towns set up the consultative council. This is the second time for the local communities to send in a petition to the Kagoshima prefectural government. 19) Stricter punishments for defense secret leaks called for NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) January 10, 2008 The government's Defense Ministry Reform Council, an experts' panel chaired by Tokyo Electric Power Co. advisor Nobuya Minami, met yesterday at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) to discuss the Defense Ministry and the Self-Defense Forces. Currently, anyone who leaks "special defense secrets," "defense secrets," or "ministry secrets" faces prison terms of ten, five, and one years, respectively. Based on a leak of pivotal data on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis vessels, some panel members called for harsher penalties. One also said, "There are too many ministry secrets. They must be selected strictly in view of the need of SIPDIS information disclosure." 20) Security cameras to pick out terrorists in town TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 26) (Full) January 10, 2008 TOKYO 00000068 012 OF 012 With its bid to host the 2016 Olympics, Tokyo will beef up its countermeasures to crack down on terrorists. The Tokyo metropolitan government decided yesterday to develop a "face check system" that can identify terrorists from security camera footage on the spot. The Metropolitan Police Department will start joint research with a university and a private business in the new fiscal year for test operation in three years. The Tokyo metropolitan government is earmarking a total of 500 million yen in its new fiscal year budget for advanced systems to crack down on terrorists and provide for major disasters, using state-of-the-art technologies. In response to a gunman's shootout in the city of Machida, the MPD will introduce radar that can detect indoor human motion from an outdoor location. The face check system changes the mug shots of terrorists and wanted criminals into 3-D images, which will be registered with the MPD's server. The MPD will check its face data with images from security cameras in town and identify them in 0.01 second. Tokyo will start research in the new fiscal year to change face photos into 3-D images and check them in a shorter time. The metropolitan government plans to start model area test operation in fiscal 2010. In July this year, Japan will host the G-8 summit at Toyako (Lake Toya) in Hokkaido. Tokyo is the venue for a cabinet ministerial meeting to be held before the Toyako summit. The metropolitan government will also introduce hi-tech equipment, including a terahertz wave detector for the MPD that can check hidden weapons. DONOVAN