JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 05/11/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 001061 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 05/11/09 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's weekend schedule (Nikkei) 4) Yomiuri poll: Aso Cabinet support climbs to 28.7 PERCENT , while non-support drops to 59.7 PERCENT ; Over 70 PERCENT of public "unconvinced" by Ozawa staying on as DPJ head (Yomiuri) Political agenda: 5) Supplementary budget bill to pass Lower House on the 13th (Asahi) 6) Ruling parties eyeing 51-day extension of Diet session in order to clear the legislative backlog (Sankei) 7) Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Hatoyama acknowledges that party hear Ozawa is in a difficult situation (Yomiuri) 8) Ozawa remains reticent to explain his role in the Nishimatsu scandal, despite his public secretary's indictment on charge of accepting illegal donations (Tokyo Shimbun) 9) Lower House to pass resolution calling for nuclear ban (Yomiuri) Defense and security affairs: 10) JCP lawmaker Koike to pursue in the Diet treating USFJ troops like rest of population in dealing with new-type influenza epidemic (Akahata) 11) Cost to Japan of realignment of U.S. forces to run 2-3 trillion yen (Akahata) 12) Government to request USFJ for environmental survey of Futenma Air Station prior to reversion (Nikkei) 13) Unable to wait for MSDF, Japanese companies relying on EU to protect their vessels traveling in pirate-infested waters off Somalia (Mainichi) 14) Keidanren proposes a 4 PERCENT increase in the target for reduction of greenhouse gases (Yomiuri) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Education ministry to examine levels of entrance exams for public middle schools Mainichi: Fourth new-type flu infection confirmed in Japan Yomiuri: Poll: 70 PERCENT dissatisfied with Ozawa's continued leadership of DPJ Nikkei: Summer bonuses to post first-ever double-digit decline this year Sankei: Ruling camp likely to extend Diet session for 51 days Tokyo Shimbun: Another student infected with new-type flu TOKYO 00001061 002 OF 010 Akahata: Marine construction political organization contributes 100 million yen to LDP and its lawmakers 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Entrepreneurs: Let's nurture new way of working Mainichi: (1) Organ transplant law revision bill: Thorough study needed (2) Traffic jam due to 1,000 yen toll charge: Haste brings about confusion Yomiuri: (1) Job measures: Safety net alone insufficient (2) Juki net: Juki Net scofflaws must be made to comply Nikkei: (1) Consumer's view, business sense necessary for agricultural reform Sankei: (1) Putin's Japan visit: Depending on Russia risky (2) Restart of Kashiwazaki No. 7 nuclear power plant: Standards for safety and sound important Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Re-estimation of DNA: Eliminate acquittal by proactively using DNA appraisement (2) Child poverty: Indifferent adults' responsibility Akahata: (1) U.S. military's auto garaging violation: Policy of blindly following U.S. cannot prevent unlawfulness 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, May 9 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) May 10, 2009 10:36 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management Ito at the Kantei. 10:55 Took a walk around the official residence. 14:38 Inspected Mirai, a vegetable producer and seller in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture. 15:46 Inspected Abbey, a freezer manufacturer and seller in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. 17:20 Went to Tailor Moriwaki in Kita-Aoyama. 17:45 TOKYO 00001061 003 OF 010 Sorted out documents at Imperial Hotel. 20:20 Met with secretary at Nakata, a sushi restaurant at the same hotel. 21:35 Arrived at the official residence. Prime Minister's schedule, May 10 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) May 11, 2009 09:58 Took a walk around the official residence. 13:56 Sorted out clothes at his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. 14:59 Went to Tani Shirts Shokai in Hotel Okura. 15:12 Met with his secretary in Terrace Restaurant in the same hotel. 15:33 Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura at the official residence. 4) Poll: 70 PERCENT unhappy with Ozawa; Cabinet support rises to 29 PERCENT YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged) May 11, 2009 The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey on May 8-10, in which a total of 71 PERCENT answered "no" when respondents were asked if they could understand Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ozawa's remaining his party's head while his state-funded secretary has been indicted on the charge of violating the Political Funds Control Law. Meanwhile, "yes" accounted for 22 PERCENT . Respondents were also asked which one between Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa they thought would be more appropriate for prime minister. To this question, 40 PERCENT chose Aso, up from 34 PERCENT in the last survey taken April 3-5, with 25 PERCENT preferring Ozawa, down from 27 PERCENT . The rate of public support for the Aso cabinet rose from the 24.3 PERCENT rating in the last survey to 28.7 PERCENT . The nonsupport rate was 59.7 PERCENT (66.5 PERCENT in the last survey). In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party stood at 26.8 PERCENT (27.2 PERCENT in the last survey),with the DPJ at 23.4 PERCENT (24.2 PERCENT in the last survey). 5) Ruling parties plan to take roll call on extra budget on the 13th ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) May 10, 2009 TOKYO 00001061 004 OF 010 The government and the ruling camp have decided to get the largest-ever fiscal 2009 extra budget and related bills through the Lower House as early as May 13. In readiness for the Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) strategy to prolong Diet deliberations, they have also started looking into significantly extending the current session, which is to recess on June 3. The ruling and opposition camps have agreed to hold intensive deliberations on the 12th at the Lower House Committee. The ruling parties plan to take a vote on the extra budget, by holding a Budget Committee meeting after party head talks slated for the 13th, get it along with related bills through a Lower House plenary session to be held the evening of the same day and then send them to the Upper House. Their judgment is that amid DPJ members being in discord over President Ozawa's decision on his future and its approach to the party head talks, it would be advantageous to pursue deliberations in one sweep. However, since the DPJ is reluctant to hold the party head talks and the Budget Committee meeting the same day, the ruling camp will reach a final decision, after nailing down the political situation until the last moment. The ruling parties are in a hurry to get the extra budget through the Lower House in order to broaden options for timing for Lower House dissolution. If the extra budget is not adopted during the current session in the Upper House, where opposition parties have a majority, they intend to largely extend the session and secure Diet passage for the extra budget by mid-June, a time when the budget can secure Diet passage automatically, and for related bills by mid-July, a time when a revote in the Lower House becomes possible in accordance with the 60-day rule. They thus want to pave the way for Lower House dissolution. 6) Ruling camp likely to extend Diet session for 51 days; Timing of Lower House dissolution would be made clear after extra budget clears Diet SANKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) May 11, 2009 The government and ruling parties have started looking into extending the current Diet session, which will end on June 3, for 51 days until July 24. They have judged that in order to make certain that the first supplementary budget for fiscal 2009 and antipiracy bill are enacted, it is absolutely necessary to extend the ongoing session. This also means that they will give Prime Minister Taro Aso a free hand to dissolve the House of Representatives, with an eye on the Sept. 10 expiration of the terms of the Lower House members. Following the driving force for him, what strategy does Aso have for the second half of the current Diet session? "I don't think the (Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)) will oppose the extra budget draft, since it has agreed to hold a party-heads debate. What do you think?" Aso asked this of Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura yesterday afternoon at the prime minister's official residence. Aso indicated that he would like to clarify points of contention regarding the extra budget and antipiracy bill in the second debate between DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa and him, which will take place on May 13, and that he would urge Ozawa to agree to an early vote on them. Aso has placed top priority on passage of the extra budget totaling TOKYO 00001061 005 OF 010 57 trillion yen in projects. In addition, he also strongly hopes to enact the antipiracy bill, Consumer Affairs Agency establishment legislation, and a bill amending the National Pension Law. The ruling camp intends to get the supplementary budget draft through the Lower House by May 15 and automatically receive Diet approval on June 14 if the House of Councillors does not put the bill to a vote. Since the Consumer Affairs Agency establishment and National Pension Law revision bills cleared the Lower House April 17 and the antipiracy bill on April 23, it will be possible for the Lower House to take an overriding vote on the agency setup and pension reform bills on June 15 and the antipiracy bill on June 21 based on (Article 59 of the Constitution),which allows for a bill to be sent back to the Lower House if rejected by the Upper House or if the bill has not been voted on within 60 days after being presented to the upper chamber. If the six bills related to the extra budget clear the Lower House May 15, the Lower House will be able to take a second vote on July 13 or later. DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka said that the opposition would not drag out deliberations, but the ordinary session is allowed to be extended only once. The ruling coalition's judgment is that in order to avoid a risk, an extension of the session is indispensable. In short, if the Upper House rejects taking a vote on those bills, Lower House dissolution will slip to late July. However, there is a view that since 90 PERCENT of the second budget is implemented even if the related bills are not passed, the prime minister will still be able to dissolve the lower chamber. Therefore, chances are strong that the countdown for Lower House dissolution will start in late June. 7) DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama: Ichiro Ozawa in confused situation YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) May 9, 2009 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama yesterday at press conference revealed that DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa's political fund management organization had received a letter from a tripartite committee on how politicians, prosecutors and the media should deal with political funds problems. The committee is seeking an explanation about the fund-raising scandal involving Ozawa's accountant. Ozawa's organization on May 8 sent a reply to the committee, which is chaired by Jun Iio, professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. Hatoyama said: "There is criticism that (Ozawa) should explain politely. However, he gave explanations and answered questions at press conferences every day at that time. Regarding requests that he should explain what has already been disclosed (in political fund reports), President Ozawa appears to be confused about how he should fulfill his accountability." 8) Ozawa reluctant to explain about donations from Nishimatsu Construction TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) May 11, 2009 TOKYO 00001061 006 OF 010 Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa has not yet shown readiness to explain about donations received from the Nishimatsu Construction Co. Despite Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama's advice to hold a town meeting, Ozawa remains inactive. There has now appeared the possibility of his indecisive attitude fueling pent-up emotions leading to a call for his resignation. Ozawa and Hatoyama met twice in Tokyo during the Golden Week holidays. Hatoyama asked Ozawa, "I want you to hold an informal meeting so that people can understand what had happened. I want you to lend an ear to harsh opinions, as well. This is a matter of not so much as what you say, but a formality." Ozawa responded, "I understand." However, whether Ozawa will really hold direct talks with voters remains to be seen. A town-hall meeting has yet to take place despite Hatoyama's advice, which he has been giving for over a month using every available opportunity. Holding a town hall meeting is the idea suggested in early April by Columbia University Professor Gerald Curtis, a political scientist and a Japan expert. Alhough Ozawa restarted visiting local regions in late April in the run-up to the next Lower House election, all he has done was to attend supporters' meetings. He has not yet explained about the matter directly to voters. Becoming impatient about Ozawa because he has not yet held such a meeting, Curtis during a meeting of an experts council, which the DPJ set up in the wake of the sandal, criticized him, "Any person who lacks the capability to communicate with the people is not entitled to become prime minister." The experts' council was coordinating to hold a session to listen to the views of Ozawa and Hatoyama on May 7. However, the group has shelved the idea, citing that there could be confusion. As a result, Ozawa never had the occasion to give an account on the matter. Hatoyama in a reply to a questionnaire asking Ozawa's accountability, which the panel sent, defended Ozawa, noting, "Ozawa is discomfited by the idea of how he should explain what in order to fulfill his accountability and whether he can obtain understanding from the public by doing so." DPJ members are increasingly becoming dissatisfied with Ozawa not giving an account on the Nishimatsu Construction case, with one mid-ranking member saying, "Nothing can be done as long as the party head does not appear in front of the public." With dissolution of the Lower House and a general election just ahead, criticism of Ozawa is bound to mount if this situation continues. It is becoming unavoidable for Ozawa to hold a town hall meeting. 9) Lower House likely to adopt resolution calling for abolition of nuclear weapons YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) May 9, 2009 The House of Representatives Steering Committee launched coordination yesterday to adopt a resolution calling for eliminating nuclear weapons during the current Diet session. Highly evaluating U.S. President Barack Obama's speech calling for creating a nuclear weapons-free world, the resolution will stipulate that Japan will TOKYO 00001061 007 OF 010 step up its effort for the abolishment of nuclear weapons and nuclear arms reduction. At the request of Lower House Speaker Yohei Kono, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) also has drafted its own resolution. The opposition parties are now working on the matter. 10) JCP's Koike calls for application of domestic laws to U.S. forces in Japan as measure against new type of influenza AKAHATA (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) May 9, 2009 Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Akita Koike in a House of Councillors Health, Labor and Welfare Committee meeting on May 8 pressed the government to require U.S. forces in Japan to strictly follow the rules in Japan in connection with measures at the borders to keep out the new type of influenza, such as quarantine inspections. Koike asked the government if it has a thorough grasp of the numbers of U.S. service members and U.S. military-connected persons entering and exiting Japan. Foreign Ministry North American Affairs Bureau Director General Kazuyoshi Umemoto replied that the government receives a report periodically from the U.S. military. He also indicated that the government has not made public the specifics about U.S. forces in Japan, such as the number of U.S. military personnel entering Japan, because there is no bilateral agreement to do so. Umemoto also said: "The U.S. military has its own quarantine officers stationed at its every facility and area, but we are not aware of how many." Koike attacked Umemoto, saying: "You said that quarantine officers are stationed but you don't know their numbers? Your statement is contradictory. Such an answer is not appropriate as an official on behalf of an independent country." Under the Quarantine Law, people who entered Japan are required to report to the health centers in areas where they are staying and their health conditions are monitored for 10 days. Koike asked: "Are these rules applicable to the U.S. service members, civilian employees, and their dependents in the same way?" Umemoto replied that neither the Quarantine Law nor the Infectious Disease Law applies to U.S. forces in Japan. He also indicated that the government has simply "asked" the U.S. side, saying, "We have requested the U.S. side to conduct follow-ups." Koike press the government harder, saying: "Efforts for countermeasures at borders would end up wasted. (U.S. service members) should report to their nearby health centers and follow-up checks must be conducted." Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe replied: "We would like to request the U.S. military side to take thorough measures." 11) U.S. Defense Department budget plan specifies 2-3 trillion yen as Japan's share of USFJ realignment cost AKAHATA (Top play) (Abridged slightly) May 10, 2009 It has been learned that the U.S. Department of Defense submitted to TOKYO 00001061 008 OF 010 the Congress on May 7 its draft budget for fiscal 2010 (October 2009 - September 2010) in which the department has estimated Japan's total contribution to the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan (USFJ) at 20 to 30 billion dollars, or 2 to 3 trillion yen based on the exchange rate of 100 yen to the dollar. The total of 3 trillion yen is equivalent to 23,000 yen per capita, which is about twice the cash-handout amount. In other words, more than 90,000 yen must be borne by a family of four. The department emphatically explains in its report that the fiscal 2010 budget is designed to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance by realigning the composition of U.S. troops in Japan and moving some of them to Guam as part of a review of the global transformation of U.S. forces. In particular, the report points out plans to: (1) relocate the transport capacity of U.S. Marines in Okinawa (construction of a new base replacing Futenma Air Station) and maintain 10,000 Marines, and to (2) relocate 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to Guam. The report goes on to explain: "Japan will bear a large part of the cost of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, which is projected to come to 20 - 30 billion dollars. This includes Japan's contribution of 6.1 billion dollars for building necessary facilities for relocating U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam." The USFJ realignment plan includes the transfer of a carrier-based aircraft unit to Iwakuni Air Station in Yamaguchi Prefecture and the relocation of U.S. military aircraft training to six Air Self-Defense Force bases, in addition to the construction of the Futenma replacement facility and the transfer of U.S. Marines to Guam. In 2006, then U.S. Deputy Defense Undersecretary Richard Lawless estimated Japan's share at 26 billion dollars or 3 trillion yen based on the exchange rate at the time. In 2007, then USFJ Commander Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright presented the same outlook. Meanwhile, the Japanese government made it clear for the first time recently that the construction of the Futenma replacement facility would cost over 350 billion yen. The government has yet to reveal the total realignment cost. Now that (Japan's share) has been clearly specified in the U.S. Defense Department's official document, the Japanese government's stance of hiding the country's huge financial contribution from the public will be seriously called into question. 12) Gov't to ask USFJ for on-base survey before reversion NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) May 11, 2009 The government will embark on environmental improvements to push for the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, including the relocation of Futenma airfield in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. The government wants to conduct a preliminary environmental survey of U.S. military bases to be returned to Japan. For this purpose, the government will ask U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) to allow access to the bases. This is intended to provide consideration for base-hosting municipalities. The government hopes to see progress in the situation during fiscal ¶2009. TOKYO 00001061 009 OF 010 Japan and the United States have reached an intergovernmental agreement to move Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam, incorporating Japan's burden of up to 2.8 billion dollars. In the meantime, the Diet is expected to approve this Guam relocation pact on May 13. The U.S. government's position is that if the Futenma relocation is delayed, all other realignment plans will be affected. In the Diet, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) is opposed to the Guam relocation pact. However, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the New Komeito party, are now planning to take a vote in the Diet on the pact for its approval in defiance of the DPJ's opposition. The government will therefore need to show its utmost consideration toward Okinawa. Meanwhile, the government has been facing difficulties in its negotiations with Okinawa and its base-hosting localities, which seek to alter the government's Futenma relocation plan. The government believes that access to the bases before their reversion, if allowed, will likely serve to convince Okinawa. The government hopes to obtain information on base soil contamination and other environmental conditions before reversion. If it is possible to do so, the government expects that post-reversion land development planning will be easier and that local development will be facilitated. The government will propose this to the United States in a meeting of their intergovernmental joint committee during fiscal 2009 in order to reach an agreement. The government's on-site environmental survey plan includes Futenma airfield and other bases located south of Kadena Air Base in Kadena Town, Okinawa Prefecture. The survey is intended to look mainly into soil and water contamination. The government will ask USFJ to allow all on-base environmental surveys in principle. If contamination that could seriously affect public health is discovered, the government will then consider asking USFJ to decontaminate soil and water before reversion. 13) Japan firms depend on EU forces MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged) May 11, 2009 The European Union (EU) maintains a headquarters in a suburb of London for its naval operations. NYK Line, Japan's largest shipping company, has detailed a ship captain there since late March. It is unusual for a Japanese private business to locate an employee at a foreign military organization. However, the headquarters needed information about merchant ships to deal with pirates. NYK Line responded to the request, saying, "This is in return for valuable information we have received from them." Why do EU forces and Japanese businesses have such a link? That is because Japanese commercial shipping companies have had no choice but to depend on foreign naval forces against pirates. On the early morning of April 21, 2008, an NYK Line tanker was attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden off the eastern African coast of Somalia. A pirate ship fired a rocket, which hit the tanker. The tanker, with its fuel spilling out, somehow escaped the attack, and a nearby German naval vessel then rushed to the scene. The tanker used to zigzag at sea while monitoring foreign radio communications. However, this time, the tanker actually came under attack from the pirates. The company asked the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry for safeguards. But the ministry took no TOKYO 00001061 010 OF 010 specific action. Japanese commercial ships and Japanese-chartered ships passing through the gulf a total of about 2,100 times a year. They prop up Japan as a trading nation. They had no time to wait for the government to take action. Five days after the incident, an NYK Line executive flew to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO) in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. This executive also met with a staff officer of the Combined Task Force (CTF) in Bahrain. How will the pirates attack, and where is the comparatively safe sea area? Based on gathered information, NYK Line created its own security manual. "They were really open," said the NYK Line executive. NYK Line asked foreign naval forces for their convoy. The shipping industry and its seamen's union had expected the Japan Coast Guard to move out. However, the JCG gave up quickly, noting difficulties with its equipment and operation. The industry strongly worked on the government to send out Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels as soon as possible. However, the government did not move until China's announcement in late December of its naval deployment. The JCG cannot send any patrol ships? Why the MSDF? After such arguments, Japan sent out two MSDF destroyers. It was not until March 30, about a year and a half after the NYK Line tanker was attacked, that the MSDF began escorting Japanese ships there. 14) Nippon Keidanren opinion paper recommends 4 PERCENT increase as goal for greenhouse gas emissions YOMIURI (Page 9) (Full) May 11, 2009 The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) on May 10 revealed an opinion paper on goals for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Concerning the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, the report notes that among six proposals made by the government, between a 4 PERCENT increase and a 25 PERCENT cut compared with the 1990 level, the 4 PERCENT increase plan with the smallest amount of emissions cuts is the most reasonable. Industrial organizations, such as the steel industry, have shown a similar stance. Clashes of opinion with environmental groups, which are seeking a major reduction, will likely intensify. The opinion paper pointed out that it is especially important to ensure a level playing field internationally for industrial circles, which are facing global competition." ZUMWALT