JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//08

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 000007 SIPDIS 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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//08 Index: Global warming: 1) Japan to buy China's emission rights in order to help attain own greenhouse gas reduction target under Kyoto Protocol (Yomiuri) 2) Cabinet Office's analysis shows that Japan's pace in CO2 reduction is too slow (Nikkei) 3) Japan, UK signed memo of understanding lining up position on achieving 80 PERCENT cut in greenhouse gases by 2050 target (Tokyo Shimbun) 4) Survey of top companies finds 80 PERCENT optimistic about economic recovery, 2 PERCENT growth (Yomiuri) Defense and security affairs: 5) Japan to strengthen cooperation with NATO, with possibility in mind of participation in ISAF operations (Sankei) 6) Japan, U.S. to draft MD-related comprehensive road map for intelligence sharing (Sankei) 7) More details come out about former defense chief Kyuma's acceptance of 100 million yen from acquaintance that was never reported on his assets statement (Mainichi) 8) Only 34 out of 53 countries invited plan to attend Japan's development conference on Africa (Yomiuri) Election fever: 9) Democratic Party of Japan President Ozawa in New Year's address says he is ready to go down in flames achieving goal of party winning the Lower House race (Yomiuri) 10) Poll on next election: 65 PERCENT see social welfare (pensions) as main campaign issue (Tokyo Shimbun) Articles: 1) Tokyo, Beijing reach general agreement allowing Japan to buy China's greenhouse-gas emissions rights under reductions achieved through ODA projects YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpt) January 3, 2008 It was learned on Jan. 2 that in order to reach the target for greenhouse gas reduction set by the Kyoto Protocol, Japan has reached a general agreement with China under which the Japanese government and companies will buy from China those emission quotas achieved through reductions of greenhouse gases brought about by yen-loan projects. The Japanese and Chinese governments aim to sign a formal agreement during the visit to Japan of President Hu Jintao in late March. If the transaction with China is successful, Japan will be able to make great progress in achieving its reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. 2) Japan slowing down in reducing CO2 emission in comparison with Germany, other countries, according to Cabinet Office's analysis NIKKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) January 3, 2008 Japan's effort to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is slowing down in comparison with other countries, the Cabinet Office analyzes. In terms of the movements of CO2 emissions per gross TOKYO 00000007 002 OF 007 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//08 domestic product (GDP) since 1975, Japan, compared with the United States and Germany, has been slow in reducing CO2 emissions and its reduction pace has been leveling off since the latter half of the 1980s. Japan is described as a country that uses energies efficiently and restrains greenhouse gas emissions, but Japan is no longer on a higher level in energy efficiency than it was before. The Cabinet Office computed GDP based on purchasing power parity and calculated CO2 emissions per one-million-dollar GDP from 1975 through 2004. Japan's CO2 emissions in 1975, right after Japan suffered the first Oil Shock, was 539 tons with 1,061 tons emitted by the U.S. and 843 tons by Germany. By the year 2004, Japan reduced its CO2 emissions by 31 PERCENT , while the U.S. reduced 48 PERCENT and Germany 54 PERCENT . As a result, in terms of CO2 emissions per one-million-dollar GDP in 2004, Japan emitted 371 tons, and Germany 387 tons. This means that the two countries were almost on the same level in emission reduction. Each country has special factors like the reunification of two Germanys. But in view of macro economic aspects, Japan has failed to raise the speed of reducing CO2 emissions since 1985, when Japan's GDP-based emission reduction marked below 400 tons. 3) Japan, U.K. exchanged memorandum stating, "It will be possible to attain the goal of reducing a maximum of 80 PERCENT of greenhouse gas emissions" by 2050 TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Excerpts) January 3, 2008 As part of their efforts to deal with climate change, the Japanese and British governments have exchanged a memorandum of understanding that it would be attainable for the industrialized countries to reduce a maximum of 80 PERCENT of the greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, sources revealed. This figure will be proposed ahead of the Group of Eight (G-8) summit conference in Lake Toya, Hokkaido, in July to be set as a numerical target for the major countries in the post-Kyoto Protocol period. By adopting a numerical target, the industrialized countries apparently aim to urge future "large emitters" of greenhouse gases like China and India to address climate change. Japan and Britain have discussed measures against global warming between their officials from the Japanese Environment Ministry and the British Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in line with the action program agreed on at the G-8 summit in Gleneagles, Britain. The memorandum makes policy recommendations like establishing an international carbon dioxide (CO2) market intended to promote the collection and storage of CO2 and putting labels showing the amount of CO2 emissions on products. The memorandum emphasizes that by so doing, it is important to encourage the public to act to prevent climate change so that the world will shift to a "low carbon society." Moreover, the memorandum mentions the need to manage forests globally, design and construct energy efficient housing and note that if such technologies are developed and such economical measures are taken, the industrialized countries can reduce 60 PERCENT -80 TOKYO 00000007 003 OF 007 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//08 PERCENT of the greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, citing the survey results. The Japanese and British governments are to hold a working-level session in Tokyo on Feb. 13-15 and will declare a set of policy proposals for the post-Kyoto Protocol age during the upcoming G-8 summit in Lake Toya, Hokkaido. 4) Outlook of 30 top companies: 80 PERCENT see economic recovery continuing, majority expect economy to grow at less than 2 PERCENT , lower than government's outlook YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) January 3, 2008 The Yomiuri Shimbun has carried out a questionnaire survey of the top managers of 30 major companies on their outlook for the economy this year. On the question of the state of the economy in 2008, 7 managers replied that growth will exceed the pace in 2007, and another 10 said that growth would be maintained at the same pace. If the seven managers who replied that growth would continue although at a slower pace, a total of 24 gave an outlook of economic recovery continuing into 2008, as well. The government, in its economic outlook approved by the cabinet last December, predicted that the economy in 2008 would experience 2 PERCENT real growth. In contrast, 15 of the 30 top managers expected the economy to grow in the 1.5 PERCENT to less than 2 PERCENT range. Another four managers predicted growth between 1 PERCENT and less than 1.5 PERCENT , so a majority of the executives gave an outlook that was more severe than the government's. However, the remaining 11 top executives expected the economy to grow in the 2 PERCENT to less than 2.5 PERCENT range. As for causes for concern (multiple choices of up to three responses),the most frequent response with 28 executives was a slowing of the pace of the U.S. economy. Next, with 15 executives each, came confusion in the financial markets caused by the U.S. sub-prime loan problem - housing loans to low-income persons - and the rise in the price of crude oil. The fourth most chosen response was a reduction in personal consumption. 5) Government, ruling parties to step up cooperation with NATO with ISAF participation in mind SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) January 3, 2008 It became clear yesterday that the government and ruling parties would take steps to strengthen cooperation with NATO regarding the war on terror in Afghanistan. Coordination is underway to send former LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa of the Machimura faction, to which Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda used to belong, to NATO member countries, such as Britain, in April to visit Brussels where NATO headquarters is located. During his stay in Britain and other countries, Nakagawa is scheduled to exchange views on the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan led by NATO. Debate on Japan's possible participation in ISAF is likely to intensity. TOKYO 00000007 004 OF 007 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//08 Nakagawa will visit Britain at the invitation last November by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) for Defense and Security Studies. Nakagawa is expected to be accompanied by several Machimura faction members. The group is slated to discuss with key British government officials and others Japan's participation in ISAF, cooperation with a new U.S. government to be launched after the presidential election in November, and other matters. Major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) President Ichiro Ozawa said in his contribution to the Sekai October 2007 issue that if his party holds the reins of government, he would bring about Japan's participation in the ISAF. The government, however, remains cautious about ISAF participation, as seen in Prime Minister Fukuda's comment, "We are concerned that if SDF personnel were (to join ISAF),that would bring about problems in connection with the Constitution." Despite that there is a persistent view in the government, mainly in the Foreign Ministry, that the path to ISAF participation should be kept open in order to make international contributions. Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba in December pointed out the possibility of ISAF participation being constitutional, saying: "(ISAF activities) are security operations, so (ISAF participation) is not totally out of the question theoretically." A government source also noted: "If the Taliban (antigovernment militant group) can be identified that it is not a state or a party pursuant to a state, Japan would be allowed to join the ISAF." 6) Japan, US to begin talks later this month on MD intelligence-sharing roadmap SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) January 3, 2008 It was learned yesterday that the governments of Japan and the United States would begin talks possibly later this month on drawing up a roadmap for smoothly implementing an intelligence-sharing arrangement for intercepting ballistic missiles using the missile defense (MD) system. The two governments will undertake coordination to conclude a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on sharing MD-related intelligence before the Air Self-Defense Force completes the new basic air defense system called BADGE in fiscal 2009. An agreement was reached on drawing up the roadmap in the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee of foreign and defense ministers (2+2) held in Washington in May 2007. But the plan has not proceeded due to strong U.S. concern about Japan's intelligence security system in the wake of a leak of pivotal information on the Aegis system. A senior Defense Ministry official said: "We were pressed to produce evidence that the information has not flowed out to other countries, so we could not bring up the subject of drawing up the roadmap." The Maritime Self-Defense Force is scheduled to deploy later this month the Aegis-equipped Kongo, the first vessel loaded with sea-based SM-3 missiles, to Sasebo base in Nagasaki Prefecture. In addition, the Air Self-Defense Force is slated to complete deploying the ground-to-air PAC-3 system at four locations in the metropolitan area in March. For this reason, the two governments reached an agreement to start talks early. The U.S. military has also deployed MD-related weapons and radar TOKYO 00000007 005 OF 007 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//08 systems in Japan. In order for the two governments to jointly deal with incoming ballistic missiles, it is essential to closely share intelligence on signs of missile launches, confirmation of launches, tracking missiles' trajectories, and a set of procedures for intercepting incoming missiles. In the event a ballistic missile is launched toward Japan by a neighboring country, it would land in Japan in about eight to 10 minutes, according to a Defense Ministry source. If intelligence sharing does not work properly, chances are that the MD system will not function, and the two countries would fail to intercept the incoming missile. The two governments will begin talks on the roadmap that would incorporate specific ways to utilize the intelligence and to establish an intelligence security system after determining the kinds of information and data that should be shared even in a matter of minutes in order to operate the MD system accurately. The roadmap is expected to be drawn up in line with progress on the implementation of the MD system. 7) Kyuma received 100 million yen as a certified check; Provider used check because he did not know Kyuma's bank account MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) January 3, 2008 In connection with allegation that former Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma received 100 million yen from a 64-year-old acquaintance, it has been found that the former defense chief had received the entire amount in certified check form. The provider of the money is usually not known in a cash transaction using such a check. After receiving the funds, Kyuma repeatedly remitted money via a bank account that left records, exposing the unnatural aspect of a money transaction that used a certified check. According to the acquaintance who provided the 100 million yen and who is also a former auditor of Tokyo's Koto Ward-based welfare equipment sales company OTI, he borrowed 100 million yen from OTI in late November 2005 and directly handed the 100-million-yen certified check to Kyuma in January 2006 after depositing the money. According to Kyuma, he cashed the check and put it in his bank account. Of that amount, 85 million yen was used for purchasing real estate on Tokunoshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, owned by a female acquaintance via a bank account held by IMEC (TN: phonetic) a Shinjuku-based company providing information on military, political and economic affairs, for which Kyuma served as a director. According to a financial source, one can use a certified check for a large sum of money, but in the event the check is lost and cashed by a third party, retrieving it would be difficult. For this reason, a bank account, which has high reliability, is usually used in a transaction to transmit a large sum of money. But with the use of a certified check, the source can remain anonymous. This can explain why such checks are often used in crimes. The acquaintance explained that he had used a check because he "did not know Mr. Kyuma's bank account." 8) Only 34 of 53 African countries notified Japan as of end of last year of their participation in 4th TICAD slated for May YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) TOKYO 00000007 006 OF 007 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//08 January 3, 2008 The government will host the 4th Tokyo International Conference on Africa's Development (TICAD) in May, but as of the end of last year, only 34 of the 53 African countries responded that they would participate in the conference. Foreign Minister Koumura will head for Tanzania today and ask that country to send head-of-state-level officials to the conference. The government intends to install former Prime Minister Mori in the post of chair of the TICAD, and it will ask Mori to visit Ethiopia and other countries possibly in late January to encourage by demonstrating Japan's emphasis on Africa those countries that have not declared their participation in TICAD to decide to come. Japan initiated TICAD in 1993, when the international community had lost interest in Africa after the end of the Cold War. In recent years, however, various countries have been eager to provide assistance to Africa in part because of the natural resources there. As a result, TICAD has a weak presence on the continent. In the 3rd TICAD, 23 African countries sent head-of-state-level officials to it, but when China hosted the China-Africa Cooperation Forum held in November 2006, 48 African countries took part in it. Of them, 35 countries sent their head-of-state-level officials to the forum. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) plans to secure the participation of more head-of-state-level officials than in China's forum with one MOFA official noting, "Japan, whether it likes or not, will be compared to China in terms of ranks and the number of participants." 9) DPJ President Ozawa expresses his "fireball" resolve in his New Year speech to grab a majority in Lower House election YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) January 3, 2008 The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) President Ozawa in a New Year's party held in his private residence in Tokyo on Jan. 1 expressed his views on the next Lower House election and his resolve to realize a change of government: "The Lower House election will definitely occur sometime this year. It will be the last opportunity for the public to make a choice. Without a change of government, Japan will only face a gloomy future. I am firmly resolved to become a fireball and do everything I can to grab a majority of seats in the Lower House." Ozawa spoke of the currently divided Diet where the ruling bloc holds a majority in the Lower House but the opposition parties put the Upper House under their control: "Because we have a majority in the Upper House, how much can we contributed to rectifying politics led by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito. As a result of our backing the pleas of drug-caused hepatitis C patients for compensation, the prime minister was forced to accept their demand." 10) Opinion poll on Lower House election: 65 PERCENT see social welfare as campaign issue, underscoring public's unhappiness with pension problem (Tokyo Shimbun) TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Excerpts) TOKYO 00000007 007 OF 007 SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 01//08 January 3, 2008 The Japan Research Institute, of which this newspaper is a member, carried out a national opinion survey on a direct interview basis on Dec. 1-2 last year on the unclear political situation with the two chambers of the Diet under different party control, and on the next Lower House election. Asked to pick up to two campaign issues expected in the Lower House election that could take place this year, the top selection with 65 PERCENT of respondents was "social welfare," followed by "the economy, jobs, and income disparity," with 40 PERCENT , and "tax and fiscal policy reforms," with 37 PERCENT . The result underscores there is deep public resentment about such domestic issues as the missing pension records. On the timing of the election, the most frequent answer with 31 PERCENT was before mid-year after the budget is passed, followed by "as soon as possible," with 30 PERCENT of the public. On the result of the Lower House election, 50 PERCENT replied that "it would better for the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito to maintain their majority," surpassing the 41 PERCENT who said they did not mind if the coalition lost its majority. DONOVAN