JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 05/19/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 001126 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 05/19/09 Index: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) Prime Minister's daily schedule 4) Foreign Ministry poll in U.S. finds 80 PERCENT of Americans trust Japan (Yomiuri) Political agenda: 5) Fuji-Sankei opinion poll finds Democratic Party of Japan is again overtaking Liberal Democratic Party, with 14 point difference in voter preference for DPJ (Sankei) 6) LDP alarmed by sagging polls following DPJ reorganization (Yomiuri) 7) New party head Hatoyama launches with new DPJ lineup (Yomiuri) 8) Upper House starts deliberating supplementary budget (Tokyo Shimbun) 9) A 50-day extension of the Diet is now envisaged (Nikkei) 10) Island Summit to start in Hokkaido on 22nd (Sankei) 11) Prime Minister Aso pledges to make COP-15 a success (Mainichi) Defense and security affairs: 12) Kyoto used-car dealer arrested for exporting banned vehicle to North Korea that could be used to transport missiles (Sankei) 13) Maritime Self-Defense Force responds to report of attack by suspicious ship in waters off Somalia by sending helicopter (Tokyo Shimbun) 14) Ground Self-Defense Force special unit to be dispatched overseas for first time in connection with anti-piracy mission (Asahi) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, and Tokyo Shimbun: MHLW to relax measures against new influenza to level of seasonal flu; Patients with mild symptoms to be allowed to be treated at home; Onboard quarantine inspections to be terminated possibly this week Nikkei: Seven & I to take private-brand products global Sankei: Kyoto used-car dealer to be arrested for exporting vehicles to North Korea that could be converted for missile transport Akahata: New flu infection spreads to 162 people; Over 4,000 schools in Hyogo, Osaka closed 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) New flu infection spreading: Solid guidelines imperative (2) General election in India: Singh administration bears heavy responsibilities TOKYO 00001126 002 OF 009 Mainichi: (1) New influenza: Guidelines on epidemic essential (2) Corporate performance: Next step called for Yomiuri: (1) Avoid overreaction in face of new flu (2) Indian general election: People sought political stability Nikkei: (1) Flexible measures essential for rapidly spreading infection (2) Hatoyama-led DPJ may have double power structure Sankei: (1) Ozawa as DPJ deputy president: Nothing will change (2) New flu treatment must be available anywhere Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Spreading influenza requires long-term strategy (2) New DPJ leadership set to move into action Akahata: (1) Steps necessary to dispel public anxiety over new flu 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, May 18 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) May 19, 2009 07:32 Took a walk around his official residence. 10:02 Held meeting at Kantei on anti-new flu measures. 14:00 Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto. Met later with Kiribati President Tong. 15:06 Met with Danish Climate and Energy Minister Hedegaard, followed by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures of America Chairman Brennan. 16:08 Met with Finance Minister Yosano, Cabinet Office directors general Yamazaki and Matsumoto, and Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda. Yosano, Yamazaki and Matsumoto remained. 16:49 Conducted videotaping in Diet building for LDP PR, joined by Women's Affairs Division chief Yamatani. 17:00 Attended LDP board meeting. 18:23 Met at Kantei with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura. 18:39 Met at Bar Baron Okura at Hotel Okura with LDP Election Strategy Council Chairman Koga, former Foreign Minister Koumura and former Defense Minister Kyuma. Met later with his secretary. 21:59 Returned to his official residence. 4) Survey: American people's confidence in Japan reaches record 80 percent YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) May 19, 2009 A record-high 80 percent of Americans consider Japan to be a reliable country, according to the results of a survey conducted in the U.S. by the Foreign Ministry. This figure is up 13 percentage points over the previous year. The survey results released yesterday showed that 91percent of the influential individuals, including government and business leaders, felt the same confidence, down one point from the previous year. Asked about Japan-U.S. relations, 73 TOKYO 00001126 003 OF 009 percent of the citizens surveyed replied that the relations were in good shape, up 10 points, and 81 percent of the influential individuals, down four points, gave the same reply. This survey has been conducted almost every year since 1960. This year, Gallup of the U.S. interviewed by telephone 1,500 citizens aged 18 or older and 253 influential individuals in February and March. Citizens who picked Japan as the most important partner in Asia for the U.S. surged three points to 46 percent, while influential individuals who selected Japan declined 10 points to 44 percent. Japan held the first place in the ranking, following last year. Meanwhile, China was cited as the most important partner by 39 percent of Americans polled, up five points, and by 42 percent of the influential individuals, up four points from the previous year. 5) Poll: DPJ tops LDP again SANKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) May 19, 2009 The rate of public support for the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),which has now elected Yukio Hatoyama as its new leader, rose 9 points from last month to 30.5 PERCENT in a recent joint opinion poll conducted by the Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News Network (FNN). The ruling Liberal Democratic Party was at 27.5 PERCENT . The DPJ outstripped the LDP again. In the poll, respondents were also asked which political party they would vote for in their respective proportional representation blocs at the time of the next House of Representative election. In the breakdown of responses to this question as well, the DPJ apparently gained momentum. This indicates the public's high expectations for the DPJ under the new leader. The poll was conducted May 17. In the popularity ranking of political parties for proportional representation, the LDP tallied 31.3 PERCENT , with the DPJ scoring 45.2 PERCENT , getting a lead of 13.9 points on the LDP. The LDP outpaced the DPJ in the polls taken after DPJ Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa's state-funded secretary was arrested on the charge of violating the Political Funds Control Law when Ozawa was the party's head. For proportional representation as well, the LDP topped the DPJ in the last poll for the first time under Prime Minister Taro Aso and appeared to have come back. In the latest poll, however, the DPJ showed a significant rise in both figures. The Aso cabinet's support rate was 27.4 PERCENT , down 0.8 points from the last poll. Its upturn trend stopped. Respondents were further asked to choose between Aso and Hatoyama as more appropriate for premiership. To this question, 33.1 PERCENT chose Aso, with 37.7 PERCENT opting for Hatoyama. Respondents were also asked if they could attach expectations on Hatoyama. To this question, however, "yes" accounted for only 41.6 PERCENT , with "no" for 49.4 PERCENT . 6) LDP concern about surge in public support for DPJ, outstripping LDP YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) May 19, 2009 TOKYO 00001126 004 OF 009 The ruling parties are increasing alarmed toward the new leadership of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),which is now led by President Yukio Hatoyama. The reasons are that in Yomiuri Shimbun and other polls, dark clouds seem to be over the Aso cabinet's popularity, and that support rates for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) were lower than those for the DPJ. Although the ruling coalition intends to spoil the DPJ's chances to boost its popularity by criticizing it as "a puppet of Ozawa," some ruling camp members began to say that a new strategy is needed to increase the popularity of the Aso administration. The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted an opinion poll from the evening of May 16 through May 17. The poll found that the support rate for the Aso cabinet was 30 PERCENT (28.7 PERCENT in the previous poll) and that the DPJ obtained a 30.8 PERCENT support rate, outstripping the LDP with 28.4 PERCENT . Yoshihide Suga, vice chairman of the LDP Election Strategy Committee, severely criticized the DPJ yesterday in Yokohama, saying: "(The new DPJ leadership) is a puppet of Ozawa and has a dual structure. Ozawa will manage all important elections. Secretary General Katsuya Okada is an ornament." Contrary to such criticisms, many in the ruling coalition are taking the situation seriously. They think that the support rates for the Aso cabinet increased thank to former DPJ President Ozawa's fundraising issue, and the boost is temporary. There is a possibility that calls to remove Aso from office will flare up again. A senior LDP member said disappointedly: "It has now become clear that Mr. Aso is unpopular among the public." A mid-level lawmaker said: "(Aso) got the approval rates this level, even though he drafted a large-scale supplementary budget. The only choice he has is to bring forward the general election." 7) Hatoyama-led DPJ gets started today; Focus on campaign pledges for general election YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) May 19, 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition force, will hold today a general meeting of its lawmakers from both Diet houses to give approval to the new leadership lineup. The new leadership will then get underway today. The new leadership's immediate challenge is how it will play up "changes" in its Diet strategy and manifest (set of campaign pledges) before the upcoming House of Representatives election. New President Yukio Hatoyama appeared yesterday evening on commercial television programs. He intends to set up opportunities to respond to reporters to compete with Prime Minister Taro Aso, who meets the press corps every day. His aim is to demonstrate differences between himself and Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa, who is regarded as disliking the media. Hatoyama yesterday held talks with Secretary General Katsuya Okada at party headquarters. He has now completed final coordination for the new posts. Accepting Okada's view, he picked Yoshihiko Noda, chairman of the party's Public Relations Committee, as deputy secretary general. This indicates that Hatoyama gave consideration to Okada. TOKYO 00001126 005 OF 009 The new DPJ leadership has yet to come up with a strategy for responding to such important bills as the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget draft and related bills. Hatoyama has taken the stance of not dragging out deliberations. In the DPJ, however, a senior member in the House of Councillors said: "Mr. Okada, who is a policy expert, will probably pursue thorough deliberations. The party's response cannot be decided without discussions between executives." Appearing on a TV program yesterday, Hatoyama said: "We must secure 150 seats at least (in the single-seat constituencies). We should set the goal of obtaining 160 or 170 seats." New DPJ executive lineup President Yukio Hatoyama Deputy President (for election strategy): Ichiro Ozawa Deputy President Naoto Kan Deputy President Azuma Koshiishi (Upper House caucus chairman) Secretary General Katsuya Okada Deputy Secretary General Yoshihiko Noda Kenji Hirata (Upper House member) Policy Research Committee Chair Masayuki Naoshima (Upper House member) Policy Research Committee Deputy Chair Akira Nagatsuma Tetsuro Fukuyama (Upper House member) Diet Affairs Committee Chair Kenji Yamaoka Diet Affairs Committee Deputy Chair Jun Azumi Susumu Yanase (Upper House member) 8) Extra budget: Upper House starts deliberations; Ruling, opposition parties making adjustments toward holding party head talks on the 27th TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) May 19, 2009 Participants in the Upper House Budget Committee's directors' meeting on May 18 agreed to start deliberations on the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget, after giving explanations on the 19th on the reason for its submission. A basic question-and-answer session will be held in the presence of Prime Minister Aso and all cabinet ministers on the 20th and the 21st. Members of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's New Party have stayed away in opposition to the ruling parties railroading the bill in the Lower House on the 13th. They have been refusing to deliberate on the bill in the Upper House. However, since the DPJ's structure has now been set up with the election of Yukio Hatoyama as new president, they have decided to respond to deliberations. The ruling and opposition parties are also making adjustments toward holding party head talks between Prime Minister Aso and President Hatoyama on the 27th. 9) Ruling camp eyes extending Diet session for over 50 days to pass extra budget related bills NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) May 19, 2009 TOKYO 00001126 006 OF 009 Now that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has established its new leadership, the government and the ruling parties will start final coordination to extend the current Diet session, due to end on June 3, focusing on a plan to extend it for more than 50 days into late July. New DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama said that he would not agree on the extension plan, but an increasing number of ruling party members, alarmed at the influence of former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa, are calling on the government to extend the session for a lengthy period. They are also bearing in mind the need to take an override vote on bills related to the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget in the House of Representatives. Distrust in DPJ's response After the DPJ announced its new leadership, a senior member of the Liberal Democratic Party's Diet Affairs Committee grumbled: "It is inconceivable that the DPJ will be able to handle Diet affairs without Ozawa. House of Councillors members of the DPJ, who contributed to the victory of Hatoyama, might stiffen their resistance." Appearing on a TV program yesterday, Hatoyama emphasized, "We should not think of trying to delay deliberations on the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget and related bills." Almost none of the ruling coalition's leaders, however, take what Hatoyama said at face value, given that the main opposition party's lineup leaves the influence of Ozawa, as seen from the appointment of Ozawa as Hatoyama's deputy and keeping Kenji Yamaoka in the post of Diet Affairs Committee chairman. The supplementary budget bill and a tax reform bill cleared the Lower House on May 13, but five related bills, such as a bill to reform the Development Bank of Japan, are left on the table. The ruling camp aims to have these bills pass the Lower House on the 22nd, but the opposition side has determined not to respond to the ruling side's call. Assuming that the passage of the related bills is delayed to the 26th, the day when the Lower House will hold its regular plenary session, it will become impossible to take an override vote in the Lower House under the 60-day rule until July 25. When considering the dates set for regular Lower House plenary sessions, the second vote is likely to take place in a plenary session on July 28. If a decision is made to extend the session up until July 29, the session would be extended for 56 days. 10) Pacific Island Leaders Meeting to kick off in Hokkaido on the 22nd: Government to strengthen ties with various island nations amid competition with China, Taiwan to gain their support MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) May 19, 2009 The Japan-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit, joined by 14 countries and two areas in the South Pacific Ocean (Pacific Island Leaders Meeting - PALM),will take place in Shimukappu Village, Hokkaido on the 22nd and the 23rd. Participating countries are all pro-Japanese. They are a so-called "bloc of votes" for Japan at such places as the UN. However, there is growing concern that Japan's presence could decline due to increasing assistance to them from China and Japan. The government plans to secure their support for Japan by proposing TOKYO 00001126 007 OF 009 assistance measures worth 50 billion yen with focus on environmental measures. The amount tops the sum provided at the previous meeting. Prime Minister Taro Aso, who will serve as the chairman at PALM, met with President Anote Tong of the Republic of Kiribati. He is expected to meet with all other participants as well. A senior Foreign Ministry official said, "We want to further solidify their support for Japan." PALM has been held in Japan once every three years since 1997. This will be the fifth meeting. Leaders from 12 island nations including Tuvalu, which is on the brink of being submerged due to global warming, and two areas, as well as Australia and New Zealand will take part in the meeting. Japan has diplomatic ties with 12 island nations. Out of those 12 nations, China has such relations with six, and Taiwan with the remaining six. China and Taiwan are engaging in fierce completion, by extending large amounts of financial assistance, such as assistance for the construction of the official residences of leaders of those nations or stadiums, to them. Those island nations have been frequently switched partners between China and Taiwan. Japan is concerned that the financial assistance battle between China and Taiwan could bury Japan's presence. The government at the previous meeting in May 2006 announced official development assistance worth 45 billion yen, boosting the originally planned amount, because China came up with 43 billion yen worth of assistance right before the Chinese version of the summit, the same source revealed. China plans to hold a summit this fall. The government is keeping watchful eyes on its move. Aso at PALM will release a Pacific Environment Community Initiative, including technical transfers and the nurturing of human resources for solar energy generation, the desalination of seawater and other environment-related technologies. Japan will thus try to secure its edge in the region. 11) Prime Minister Aso, Kiribati president agree to cooperate for successful COP15 MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) May 19, 2009 Prime Minister Taro Aso on May 18 met with President Anote Tong of the Republic of Kiribati at the Kantei. The two leaders agreed to cooperate for a success of the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP15) to be held in Copenhagen in December. Kiribati is at the brink of sinking due to the rise in sea level caused by global warming. 12) Used car dealer in Kyoto to be arrested for exporting banned vehicles to North Korea that could be used for transporting missiles SANKEI (Top play) (Full) May 19, 2009 The Foreign Affairs Division of the Hyogo Prefectural Police obtained a warrant to arrest the 50-year president of a used car TOKYO 00001126 008 OF 009 dealer in Maizuru City in Kyoto on May 18 on charges of violating the Foreign Exchange Control Law for exporting large tank trucks to a trading firm in North Korea. The export of this type of tank trucks to the DPRK and other places is banned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) on grounds that they can be used for the transport of missiles. The North Korean trading firm involved in this case is also on the METI's list of companies that might be engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction and related activities. The Hyogo Police will ask the company president to present himself to the police authorities voluntarily as soon as May 19. They intend to arrest him after suspicions are confirmed, and fully investigate the details of the illegal export. The tank trucks are equipped with powerful engines and chassis, and can transport over 10 tons of cargo. METI has designated these trucks as a restricted export item under the "catch-all" rules on grounds that this can be used for the transport of ballistic missiles, such as Rodong or Taepodong. Experts also point out that the tanks on this vehicle are suitable for the transport of rocket fuel. According to the investigators, the company president is suspected of exporting two Japanese-made used tank trucks from the Kobe port to the "Korea Paekho No. 7 Trading Company" in Pyongyang, North Korea through a trading company in Dalian, China in January, 2008, disguising this as a transaction with a South Korean transport company. This company president purchased the two tank trucks for about 4 million yen in November 2007. He declared these to the Kobe customs authorities as exports to a South Korean transport company and shipped them from Kobe Port. However, the ROK transport company was already out of business and was a dummy company existing only in name. The trading firm in Dalian asked the shipping company that was supposed to receive the delivery of the trucks in Pusan, South Korea, not to unload the tank trucks but declare them as "transit cargo" with the ROK customs instead. This was rejected. The tank trucks are currently stored in bond in Pusan. It is believed that the company president had originally received the order from the "Paekho No. 7" company. The Hyogo Police suspect that he had asked the Dalian trading firm to look for a dummy transport company and fabricate the contracts, and had planned the export of the trucks to North Korea from the beginning. The "Paekho No. 7" company is on the METI list of foreign companies suspected of being involved with activities related to the development of weapons of mass destruction and missiles. It is under the direct control of the Korean People's Army and employs some 2,000-3,000 staffers. 13) MSDF scrambles helicopter to rescue foreign ship under attack by suspicious boat in waters off Somalia; Step might constitute act of "rushing over" to provide protection TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 27) (Full) May 19, 2009 The Defense Ministry announced yesterday that upon receiving a report from a concerned country of a Maltese-registered tanker being attacked and chased by a small vessel, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) destroyer Samidare scrambled its helicopter on an TOKYO 00001126 009 OF 009 antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia. The ministry said that details are unknown about activities that could constitute an "act of rushing over to provide protection" based on the use of weapons. According to the ministry, the Samidare scrambled the helicopter after receiving a report from the concerned country on the Maltese-registered tanker some 90 km away at around 5:45 p.m., or 11:45 a.m., local time. (When the helicopter arrived at the scene),there was no small vessel there, and the tanker replied that it was in safe condition. The ministry indicated that it did not know whether the tanker had actually been attacked. The ministry has not revealed the name of the concerned country. On April 30, a Samidare-based helicopter also rushed to an area some 140 km away based on information from a concerned country or organization but there was no suspicious boat there. Heading to a scene prepared for an exchange of fire with the aim of rescuing a vessel under attack constitutes an act of "rushing over" to provide protection requiring the use of force, which is prohibited under the Constitution. The government explained, "Pirates are a group of individuals, and the act does not constitute the use of force against another country." It is unclear whether the small vessel was a pirate ship. The mission of the dispatched destroyer is to guard Japanese vessels, and rescuing foreign ships is not part of it. This is the fifth time that a destroyer-based helicopter has been mobilized for the purpose of rescuing a foreign vessel. 14) GSDF taskforce to be dispatched overseas for 1st time ASAHI (Page 33) (Abridged) May 19, 2009 The Ground Self-Defense Force's Central Readiness Regiment (CRR), which was organized in March 2008 for international peace cooperation and antiterror missions, will be dispatched overseas for the first time. Meanwhile, the Maritime Self-Defense Force will send P-3C patrol aircraft to Djibouti in connection with its antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia. The CRR will be engaged in maintenance services for the P-3Cs there. The GSDF is scheduled to send a main unit to Djibouti on May 28. Ahead of its departure, an advance team of about 35 personnel from the MSDF and the GSDF left Narita Airport yesterday afternoon for Djibouti, which is a neighbor of Somalia and where the P-3Cs will be based for antipiracy activities. The advance team will start its mission there in early June. The MSDF's P-3Cs, which will be dispatched for warning and surveillance activities against pirates, will be based at an airport in Djibouti for their activities. U.S. and French forces also base their troops at this airport. However, the airport is a civilian airport and the P-3Cs therefore need maintenance services there. The GSDF will dispatch about 50 CRR members. ZUMWALT