Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO1076
2009-05-12 00:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 05/12/09

Tags:  OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1076/01 1320049
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120049Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2863
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 6241
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3909
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7711
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1544
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 4442
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9185
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5203
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4975
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 001076 

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 05/12/09

Index:
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 001076

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 05/12/09

Index:

1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei)

Visit of Ambassador Bosworth:
4) Ambassador Bosworth, MOFA Six-Party Talks delegate Saiki agree
to focus cooperation on restarting the talks (Yomiuri)
5) Bosworth, Saiki admit Six-Party Talks could bog down (Yomiuri)


Putin visit:
6) Japan, Russia to agree on oil rights in E. Siberia during Prime
Minister Putin's visit to Tokyo (Nikkei)
7) Prime Minister Aso meets Putin today with the northern
territories issue at the top of his agenda (Sankei)

Ozawa shock:
8) Ichiro Ozawa suddenly quits his post as head of the Democratic
Party of Japan; Okada seen as a front runner to succeed him (Asahi)

9) Ozawa criticized by every party for not providing sufficient
explanation about his money scandal, but other opposition parties
will continue to cooperate with DPJ (Nikkei)
10) Prime Minister Aso stresses that Ozawa's sudden resignation
will have no impact on his decision regarding Diet dissolution
(Yomiuri)

11) DPJ lawmakers crying unfair since LDP bigwigs also involved in
Nishimatsu Construction scandal were not pursued by the prosecutors
(Yomiuri)
12) Ozawa's successor could come from one of five prominent names
in the party (Yomiuri)
13) Will the resignation of Ozawa as DPJ head result in even worse
gridlock in the Diet? (Sankei)
14) Business leaders are concerned about the impact on the economy
of the Ozawa resignation (Sankei)
15) U.S. officials carefully watching situation in Japan following
Ozawa's resignation (Sankei) 10
16) Impact of Ozawa's fall on Japan's foreign policy is being
watched in Washington (Yomiuri)

17) Order to send P-3C patrol planes to spot pirates in waters off

Somalia will come on the 15th (Yomiuri)

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nikkei, Sankei, Tokyo Shimbun &Akahata:
DPJ President Ozawa announces intention to resign

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) DPJ leader Ozawa's resignation: DPJ should make effort to give
voters chance to choose an administration

Mainichi:
(1) Ozawa's resignation announcement: Politics finally move forward


TOKYO 00001076 002 OF 010


Yomiuri:
(1) Public disapproval drove Ozawa to quit

Nikkei:
(1) DPJ should compete on policy
(2) Humanitarian problem in Sri Lanka lamentable

Sankei:
(1) Ozawa's decision to resign as DPJ leader too late, DPJ has lost
public confidence

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) DPJ must hurry to rebuild party structure

Akahata:
(1) DPJ head Ozawa has not established accountability

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, May 11

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
May 12, 2009

09"03Reception for Singaporean President Nathan and his wife at the
Imperial Palace.10:00Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma
at the Kantei. Then met with U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen Tatiana
na
Duran.10:50Met with Vice METI Minister Mochizuki and Resources and
Energy Agency Director General Ishida. METI Minister Nikai was
present.11:43Conducted videotaping for government public
relations. Public relations officer Ogawa was present.12:17Met
with Administrative Reform Promotion Headquarters Chairman
Chuma.13:42Met with Nathan at the State Guest House in
Moto-Akasaka.15:15Met with Foreign Ministry Deputy Foreign
Minister Sasae, European Affairs Bureau Director General Tanizaki,
International Legal Affairs Bureau Director General Tsuruoka and
Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Science Department Director
General Sano, Ambassador to Russia Kono, and Ishida.16:25Met with
Japan-China Friendship Association Chairman Song Jiang. 17:00LDP
executive meeting in the Diet building.17:34Met with Election
Committee Vice Chairman Suga at the Kantei.18:29Arrived at the
official residence.19:15Dinner to welcome Nathan at the Imperial
Palace.22:31Arrived at the official residence.
e official residence.
4) Saiki, Bosworth to make efforts to resume 6-party talks

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
May 12, 2009

U.S. Government Special Representative for North Korean Affairs
Bosworth and Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau
Director General Akitaka Saiki met yesterday at the Foreign Ministry
and agreed to shore up the efforts of hosting country China to
restart the six-party talks on North Korea issues.

The six-party talks have not been held since they broke down last
December. North Korea said it would never again participate in them.
Pyongyang is also poised to go ahead with nuclear and
intercontinental ballistic missile tests. There are also moves to
explore bilateral talks between the United States and North Korea.
"I'm not in a position to oppose dialogue itself if that is within

TOKYO 00001076 003 OF 010


the framework of the six-party talks," Saiki told reporters after
the meeting, showing understanding for holding talks between the
United States and North Korea.

Meanwhile, Saiki sought to check North Korea, saying: "Our dialogue
with North Korea has been held in combination with pressure. We've
agreed to create a mechanism for North Korea to respond to
dialogue."

5) 6-party talks likely to hit snags

YOMIURI (Page 6) (Abridged)
May 12, 2009

Tokyo, Keiichi Honma

Stephen Bosworth, the U.S. government's special representative for
North Korean affairs, met yesterday with Akitaka Saiki, director
general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau,
and concluded his tour of Japan, China, and South Korea. Bosworth
stressed, "We basically agreed that it's important to resume the
Six-Party talks." However, the Six-Party Talks are now highly likely
to be deadlocked for the time being.

There were no obvious results from the trip. However, a negotiation
source said, "We will not offer anything in return to have North
Korea come back." Saiki also told reporters that it would not be
wise to give way to North Korea. However, if the Six-Party Talks are
not held, North Korea could escalate its threatening diplomacy and
go ahead with nuclear testing. The negotiation source stressed that
the diplomatic channel in New York is essential for trying to avoid
such a situation. This can be taken as indicating that the United
States would contact Pyongyang through North Korea's mission to the
United Nations and work on North Korea to return to the Six-Party
Talks.

6) Japan, Russia to jointly develop oil fields in Eastern Siberia

NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full)\
May 12, 2009

The government plans to obtain a mining right for underground
resources in two oil fields in the central part of Irkutsk, in
preparations for co-development of oil fields in Eastern Siberia.
The government aims to have Japanese firms begin test drilling
jointly with a local corporation next year, with the goal of
starting full-scale production in 2013. Japanese officials expect
that the oil fields could hold combined reserves of about several
hundred million barrels, based on their proximity to a promising oil
field. This is compatible with other midsize fields worldwide.

Japan and Russia plan to sign possibly today an agreement on the
joint development project to coincide with Prime Minister Vladimir
Putin's visit to Japan. Before leaving for Japan, Putin responded to
an interview with Japanese newspaper companies, including the
Nikkei, and expressed expectations for turning Japan-Russia energy
and other cooperation plans into reality.

Developing the two fields, which cover vast areas stretching roughly
8,100 square meters, is estimated to cost about 15 billion yen for
the period leading up to commercial production. Japan Oil, Gas and
Metals National Corp (JOGMEC) and Irkutsk Oil Co. will establish a

TOKYO 00001076 004 OF 010


joint venture.

The Japanese government-owned company expects to take a 49 PERCENT
stake, with the Russian company taking the remaining 51 PERCENT
stake.

The new company will conduct surveys and test drilling over the next
five years. Once commercial production is deemed feasible, JOGMEC
will transfer its stake to Japanese private-sector companies.

In Eastern Siberia, JOGMEC became the first Japanese entity to
obtain concession rights in an oil field in 2008. Test drilling
there is due to start later this month. The corporation aims to
secure concession rights in other promising oil fields in Eastern
Siberia. The oil produced in the region is expected to be delivered
to Japan through a pipeline now under construction. The government
is also aiming to reduce Japan's dependence on the Middle East for
fossil fuel supply.

7) Visiting Russian premier to discuss territorial and other issues
with Aso

SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts)
May 12, 2009

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrived at Haneda Airport by
special plane last night. He will meet Prime Minister Taro Aso today
to exchange views on the Northern Territories, cooperation on
developing the Far East and Siberia regions, and other issues.

This is the fifth time for Putin to visit Japan in the capacity of
president since he visited in November 2005, and the first visit
since he assumed the premiership in May of last year.

Putin has devoted himself to domestic affairs while President Dmitry
Medvedev has been responsible for foreign policies.

It has been reported, however, that since Putin has an influence
over Medvedev, the two leaders have jointly addressed key policies.

In the planned meeting with Aso, Putin is expected to seek Japan's
cooperation over such issues as energy development in the Far East
and Siberia regions, given that the Russian economy has been
seriously affected by the financial crisis that has swept the world
since last fall. Aso intends to indicate a positive stance on
cooperating with Russia in its efforts to develop the Far East
region, with the aim of establishing a vital partnership with Russia
in the Asia-Pacific region, which he emphasized in his policy speech
in January.

8) DPJ leader Ozawa to resign over funding scandal involving his
aide

ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts)
May 12, 2009

Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa, 66, last
evening held a press conference at party headquarters to announce
his intention to resign his post. Ozawa has been determined that in
order to aim at a change in government, unanimous party solidarity
is necessary. Calls for his resignation have continued since his
public-funded secretary was indicted in March over allegedly

TOKYO 00001076 005 OF 010


accepting illicit donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co. DPJ
Vice President Katsuya Okada, who is favored mainly by young
lawmakers, appears to be a strong candidate to succeed Ozawa.

The DPJ leadership yesterday accepted Ozawa's intention to quit his
post in an executive meeting and standing secretaries' meeting. The
party intends to elect a new leader as early as May 16 in a general
meeting of all party lawmakers from the two Diet chambers. It is
predicted that a party-heads debate between Ozawa and Prime Minister
Taro Aso planned for May 13 will be cancelled. The collapse of the
paradigm of confrontation between Aso and Ozawa, which has continued
since the inauguration of the Aso administration, will likely have
an impact on the election strategies of the ruling and opposition
parties.

Ozawa said in the press conference that he made the decision "to
strengthen party unity." He revealed that he had no intention to
resign as a Diet member or leave the party. He also said: "I want to
continue fighting as a member of the unified party at the frontline"
even after leaving the presidential post. He underscored a stance of
cooperating with the new party leadership. However, he did not refer
to the fundraising scandal involving his chief secretary. Meanwhile,
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama also revealed last night his
intention to step down from his post after the leadership election.


The DPJ leadership plans to hold the presidential race after the
fiscal 2009 supplementary budget draft clears the House of
Representatives probably, which the ruling camp envisions on May 13.
Hatoyama told reporters last night: "We want to carry out the
election fairly and squarely so that the public can see a new DPJ."

The names being floated as Ozawa's possible successor are former DPJ
presidents: Okada, who fulfilled the initiative in coming up with a
policy of putting regulations on the hereditary-seat system of
passing down Diet seats to descendants, as well as a policy of
completely prohibiting corporate and organization donations;
Hatoyama and Deputy President Naoto Kan. The new DPJ leadership will
be pressed to review the party's political platform, including the
manifesto (set of campaign pledges) for the upcoming Lower House
election. There is a rumor that Ozawa would be picked head of the
election headquarters after he resigns his present post.

9) Ruling, opposition parties criticize lack of DPJ head Ozawa's
explanation about why he steps down

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
May 12, 2009

Ruling coalition wary of DPJ's strength

Asked by reporters at the Prime Minister's Office yesterday about
Ichiro Ozawa's announcement of his resignation as Democratic Party
of Japan (DPJ) president, Prime Minister Taro Aso made this critical
comment:

"Hearing Mr. Ozawa's statement, I did not fully understand why he
decided to step down. He said at the outset that he made the
decision due to intraparty circumstances, but it was hard for me to
figure out if the intraparty circumstances meant election
circumstances."


TOKYO 00001076 006 OF 010


Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda
said: "He did not refer to what sort of responsibility he should
assume for the recent indictment of his aide in a political funds
scandal and how he intends to respond." While criticism of Ozawa's
resignation announcement is growing in the ruling camp, concerns are
also arising about a possible recovery of the strength of the DPJ,
which has seen public support falling over Ozawa's response to the
scandal prior to the next House of Representatives election.

Speaking before reporters in Tokyo last evening, former LDP
Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa said: "His resignation is a
matter of course. Rather, the question might be why it took as long
as two months." New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa
stressed the need for Ozawa to give an explanation of the scandal
over huge political donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co.,
remarking: "If he continues to insist that he was blameless, he
should give an account of the donation problem."

Former LDP Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told
reporters: "The other side's misstep has undoubtedly contributed to
boosting public support for our party."

Opposition bloc willing to maintain cooperation with DPJ

Opposition party members also criticized yesterday the lack of
Ozawa's account of the arrest and indictment of his close aide over
the Nishimatsu donation scandal.

Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Secretary General Tadayoshi Ichida
critically said in a press briefing yesterday: "It is apparent that
he had to decide to resign in the face of severe criticism among the
people. It was sort of a defiant press conference."

Social Democratic Party (SDP) President Mizuho Fukushima said: "He
gave no clear account of the scandal involving politics and money.
The fact that he did not respond to the questions of the people is a
serious problem."

People's New Party Secretary General Hisaoki Kamei said: "I guess he
judged that this timing (for his resignation) was the only choice in
the run-up to the next election. Our cooperative relationship will
remain unchanged."

Officials of the JCP and the SDP also expressed a willingness to
maintain cooperation with the DPJ.

10) Aso: Ozawa's resignation has no direct bearing on Lower House
dissolution

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
May 12, 2009

Prime Minister Taro Aso last night made the following comment in
connection with Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa's
announcement to step down: "(Lower House) dissolution for a general
election is being mentioned based on the prospective passage of the
(fiscal 2009) supplementary budget bill. The matter has nothing to
do with Mr. Ozawa's resignation. I will make a decision after giving
thought to a variety of factors." Aso indicated that Ozawa's
resignation would not affect the timing of Lower House dissolution
for a general election.


TOKYO 00001076 007 OF 010


The prime minister was responding to a question from reporters at
his office.

About Ozawa's announcement to step down, the prime minister also
said: "I don't know quite well why he has decided to step down. I
think the public also does not understand why he will resign, what
kind of responsibility he is trying to take, and why now."

11) DPJ finds prosecutors' investigations into Nishimatsu donation
scandals unfair; Ozawa's resignation is matter of another political
party, says Nikai

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
May 12, 2009

A special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public
Prosecutors Office has been investigating a case in which Nishimatsu
Construction Co., a second-tier general contractor, is believed to
have provided a political organization connected with Economy, Trade
and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai of the Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP) with an office for free, in tandem with political
donations from Nishimatsu to Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
President Ichiro Ozawa. As a result, the prosecutors' office has
built a case against (a secretary to) Ozawa for violating the
Political Funds Control Law but not against Nikai. This has drawn
criticism from within the DPJ as unfair. Nikai's response is likely
to draw attention again depending on how the investigation turns
out. Asked as he was leaving METI last night about his view on
Ozawa's decision to step down, Nikai said: "It's a matter of another
political party, so I am not in a position to comment." About the
investigation into the political organization connected with him,
Nikai also said: "That has nothing to do with the matter."

12) Ozawa becomes fifth consecutive DPJ president to step down
without serving out his term, following Hatoyama, Kan, Okada, and
Maehara

YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full)
May 12, 2009

In December 2002, then Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President
Yukio Hatoyama stepped down from his post over the question of
merging with the now-defunct Liberal Party. Since then, all DPJ
presidents -- Naoto Kan, Katsuya Okada, and Seiji Maehara - have
resigned from the post halfway through their tenure. (Yesterday)
Ichiro Ozawa became the fifth consecutive DPJ president to step down
without serving out his term, exposing the unstable management of
the party.

It took more than two months for Ozawa to announce his decision to
step down after his state-funded secretary was arrested on March 3
on suspicion of violating the Political Funds Control Law. Ozawa's
announcement conjured up memories of the resignation of Maehara in
2006 over the handling of a bogus email incident that spiraled out
of control.

March 24, the day Ozawa's secretary was indicted, served as a
critical point for Ozawa's decision on whether to stay on or resign.
But only a handful of junior members called for his resignation,
with the majority simply watching Ozawa's response. In April, there
was talk about formulating a "letter carrying signatures" of those
calling for Ozawa's resignation. But the talk was never put into

TOKYO 00001076 008 OF 010


action, with a junior member saying, "Deputy President Kan and
Secretary General Hatoyama were the only persons who could put the
proverbial bell around President Ozawa's neck, so to speak."

One of the vice presidents expressed his discontent with Ozawa's
move as a decision made too late. There is no denying that the
majority's attitude of staying on the sidelines allowed Ozawa to
think about his move for too long.

13) DPJ President Ozawa's resignation: Prime minister likely to find
exercising his right to dissolve Diet limited

SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts)
May 12, 2009

Prime Minister Taro Aso is now pressed to take a second look at his
Lower House dissolution scenario due to the sudden resignation of
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ozawa. That is because
although he has been searching for timing to dissolve the Lower
House, taking passage of the first fiscal 2009 extra budget and the
anti-piracy bill into account, he might find exercising his right to
dissolve the Diet extensively limited, if the Diet becomes stalled
due to commotion in the DPJ.

"To be honest, I was surprised to hear Mr. Ozawa's decision to step
down, because party head talks were to be held on May 13. I would
like the DPJ to deliberate on the extra budget, whether its head
steps down or not."

He made that comment without a smile when asked by reporters
yesterday evening about his view of Ozawa's resignation. It must be
a blow to the prime minister, because his calculation to give
impetus to early passage of the extra budget with the party head
talks as the occasion missed the mark.

However, many close to the prime minister had been taking the view
that Ozawa would step down as party president, while timing Diet
resolution.

However, even if the extra budget clears the Lower House on the
13th, if the Upper House refuses to take a vote on the extra budget,
the Diet cannot be dissolved until June 14, when the budget will be
adopted automatically. The Lower House can proceed with the bill as
if the Upper House has rejected it and put it to a second vote for
final approval on June 21. A revote on six budget-related bills will
stretch into mid-July.

Even if the six related bills cannot secure Diet approval, it is
possible to execute 90 PERCENT of the extra budget. However, in the
event that the Lower House cannot be dissolved until late June, the
G-8 Summit and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Assembly elections will
follow soon. This would largely reduce options for timing for Lower
House dissolution. Chances are that the DPJ in the meantime might
bring about a rollback.

14) Business community concerned about impact of DPJ President
Ozawa's resignation on economy: Some business leaders give some
praise to his decision

SANKEI (Page 2) (Full)
May 12, 2009


TOKYO 00001076 009 OF 010


Some business leaders paid their respect to Ozawa's announcement to
step down as president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),as
Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) Chairman Fujio Mitarai
said, "He presumably made a heartbreaking decision." Others
criticized it, with Japan Association of Corporate Executives
(Keizai Doyukai) Representative Director Masamitsu Sakurai saying,
"From the perspective of the people, there might have been a better
timing." He insisted that his resignation should not affect Diet
deliberations on the fiscal 2009 extra budget that will finance an
additional economic stimulus package.

Mitarai during a press conference held at 3 p.m. on the 11th called
for passage of the extra budget before the Lower House is dissolved,
noting, "What we want to see is the implementation of the extra
budget, including related bills." He also said, "I would like the
DPJ to realize policy-oriented politics, by holding constructive
talks with the government and the ruling parties on key bills in the
current Diet session."

Sakurai, after indicating his view that Ozawa's resignation came
late, made a request, "I want the DPJ as an open political party to
hold a public presidential election and show to the people its
governance and capability to run the government." Japan Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Chairman Tadashi Okamura paid his respect to
Ozawa's decision, saying, "He made the decision to prepare for Diet
dissolution and a snap election with an all-party setup. This is a
discerning decision."

15) U.S. paying close attention to post-Ozawa DPJ presidential
candidates

SANKEI (Page 2) (Full)
May 12, 2009

Takashi Arimoto, Washington

Though the U.S. government has not made any comment on the
resignation of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro
Ozawa, it has been closely watching his moves with a possible change
of government in mind. Secretary of State Clinton strongly hoped to
hold a meeting with Ozawa when she visited Japan in February.

Her judgment is that it would be necessary to communicate with
Ozawa, because he had raised an objection to Japan-U.S. cooperation,
as can be seen in his opposition to the Maritime Self-Defense
Force's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean.

Senior U.S. government officials plan to hold talks with People's
New Party Vice President Shizuka Kamei, now visiting the U.S., who
is close to Ozawa. They are continuing to take interest in Japan's
political situation.

16) U.S. to keep tabs on DPJ's foreign policy

YOMIURI (Page 6) (Full)
May 12, 2009

Satoshi Ogawa, Washington

Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ozawa has now
announced his intention to resign from his party post. A U.S.
diplomatic source close to the Obama administration said, "I'm very

TOKYO 00001076 010 OF 010


concerned about whether it will affect the DPJ's foreign policy."

In his recent remarks on the U.S. military presence in Japan, Ozawa
said the U.S. military presence in the Far East is enough with the
7th Fleet. Ozawa also remarked that he was opposed to confirming in
the Diet the intergovernmental agreement reached between Japan and
the United States to move Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam. Those
remarks, which could be taken as anti-U.S., alarmed the United
States. This February, Ozawa met with Secretary of State Clinton.
Later in the month, Ozawa met with Wang Jiarui, head of the Chinese
Communist Party's International Department. In this regard, one in
Washington thought Ozawa's response to Wang was better than that to
Clinton, saying Ozawa, if he comes into office, may become
pro-China.

DPJ Vice President Seiji Maehara, when he visited the United States
last month, referred to the possibility of reviewing the plan to
relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. Maehara had
been viewed to champion the Japan-U.S. alliance, so his remarks
shocked people in Washington. "If the DPJ takes office, our
bilateral relationship would unavoidably be shaken," one said. A
U.S. Democratic Party affiliated source on Japan-U.S. relations
said: "The DPJ's foreign policy will remain unclear (even after
Ozawa's resignation). Whoever may become the DPJ's president, it is
urgently necessary to expand a dialogue between the DPJ and the U.S.
administration."

17) Government to issue order for dispatch of P-3Cs on May 15 for
antipiracy mission

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
May 12, 2009

The government decided yesterday to issue an order on May 15 to
dispatch two Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol planes to join
the antipiracy operation in waters off Somalia. Defense Minister
Yasukazu Hamada will invoke the maritime policing provision of the
Self Defense Forces Law. The P-3Cs will keep watch on pirate ships
from the sky. They are scheduled to be dispatched in late May to
begin activities in early June. Ground Self-Defense Force troops
will also be dispatched for the security of the P-3Cs.

ZUMWALT