DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 06/26/09

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 06/26/09 INDEX: (1) Japan, U.S. agree on importance of implementing North Korean ship inspection, other provisions of UNSC resolution (Asahi) (2) Ruling bloc's draft cargo inspection law (Sankei) (3) In interview, South Korean foreign minister stresses need for cooperation among Japan, U.S., South Korea in dealing with North Korean illegal acts, including counterfeit money (Asahi) (4) South Korean foreign minister cautious about security cooperation with Japan (Asahi) (5) U.S. House Committee on Armed Service opposes Japan-U.S. Futenma relocation agreement due to flight safety (Ryukyu Shimpo) (6) Japan team on the move: The civilians' turn in Afghan reconstruction; helping school construction under protection of foreign troops (Yomiuri) (7) Japan, UAE to cooperate in environment, energy areas (Nikkei) (8) "Reporter's Eye" column: Japan will be ignored in international talks on global warming prevention; need to rethink and cut greenhouse gases drastically (Mainichi) (9) TOP HEADLINES (10) EDITORIALS ARTICLES: (1) Japan, U.S. agree on importance of implementing North Korean ship inspection, other provisions of UNSC resolution ASAHI (Online) (Full) 10:27, June 26, 2009 Satoshi Ukai, Trieste, Italy The G-8 foreign ministerial meeting opened in Trieste on the evening of June 25. Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, who is attending the meeting, took the opportunity to meet with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Nicholas Burns. The two agreed on the importance of implementing the UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions resolution, including the tracking of North Korean cargo ships, without fail. According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nakasone said at the meeting: "Japan-U.S. cooperation in the area of security and defense is also important in terms of deterrence against North Korea." Burns agreed with him and reportedly responded with: "We will continue to work on U.S. Forces Japan realignment," including the relocation of U.S. Marines in Okinawa to Guam. Nakasone pointed out that China, which has close economic ties with the DPRK, plays an important role in implementing the UNSC resolution. The G-8 foreign ministerial meeting discussed global issues on June ¶25. In the discussion on disarmament and non-proliferation, Nakasone named China as "the only nuclear power (with the obligation to reduce nuclear weapons) not making efforts at nuclear disarmament." The piracy problem in waters off Somalia was also taken up for the first time at the G-8. The foreign ministers expressed appreciation TOKYO 00001454 002 OF 010 for international efforts to clamp down on pirates, while agreeing that Somalia's inadequate governing ability and poverty in the countries in this area are the root causes of piracy. They confirmed that assistance in the above areas will also be necessary from now on. (2) Ruling bloc's draft cargo inspection law SANKEI (Online) (Full) 1:52 p.m., June 26, 2009 Following are the main points of the draft outline of the cargo inspection law agreed upon by the ruling parties' project team on June 26: -- In light of the UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for inspection of cargo relating to imports from and exports to North Korea, Japan will draw up measures that need to be taken; -- This will be a special measures law; -- The Self-Defense Forces (SDF) will be responsible for intelligence gathering (including tracking) for cargo inspection operations; -- Cargo inspection is designated as a law enforcement activity to be undertaken by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG),and when the JCG alone is unable to handle the situation and when there is special need, the SDF will take appropriate measures under Article 82 (on maritime security operations) of the SDF Law; -- Customs authorities will inspect cargo at ports and airports; -- Cargo inspection will require the consent of the flag state and the captain on the open seas and the consent of the captain in Japanese waters; -- When consent is not obtained, an order to sail to a Japanese port will be issued to ensure the effectiveness of cargo inspection; -- Hand-over orders can be issued for the confiscation, disposal, and custody of embargoed items; -- Penalties will be imposed for refusing to obey return to port orders, submit to cargo inspections in internal waters, and submit to hand-over orders; --- When the need to impose sanctions under the UN resolution ceases to exist, the government will submit a bill to repeal the law. (3) In interview, South Korean foreign minister stresses need for cooperation among Japan, U.S., South Korea in dealing with North Korean illegal acts, including counterfeit money ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) June 26, 2009 (Tetsuya Hakoda, Yoshihiro Makino, Seoul) In an interview with the Asahi Shimbun on June 25, South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung-hwan referred to North Korea's illegal activities such as the counterfeiting of U.S. TOKYO 00001454 003 OF 010 currency and said: "What is important is information exchange. Cooperation among South Korea, Japan and the U.S. has already started and will continue into the future." He then emphasized his resolve to step up efforts to crack down on North Korea's illicit acts. Yu defined "five-party talks" of Japan, South Korea, the U.S., China, and Russia as part of the Six-Party Talks and expressed his willingness to promote discussions among the five countries if North Korea refuses to sit down at the negotiating table. This was his first interview with the Japanese media since he assumed office in February of last year. He stressed the need for the international community to join hands in dealing with North Korea, which has taken such tough steps as firing missiles and conducting nuclear tests. Yu said that North Korea's involvement in illegal activities is certain, saying: "A report released by the U.S. Congress confirmed that counterfeit paper money produced by the North has been in circulation. Counterfeit foreign cigarettes were also confiscated before." According to the U.S. government and other sources, about 45 million dollars worth of elaborately made counterfeit U.S. currency, called "super notes," were seized, and such currency worth 100 million yen reportedly has been in circulation. While emphasizing the importance of maintaining the Six-Party Talks, Yu talked about the five-party talks: "The purpose of sanctions is to denuclearize North Korea. Discussions among the five partners are possible to that end." He added that the next round of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Thailand in July, which will bring together the foreign ministers of the five-party talk countries, will provide an opportunity for holding talks. With respect to a nuclear option being talked about among some people in Japan and South Korea, he denied that possibility, saying: "That cannot be an option in international politics in the 21st century." President Lee Myung-bak is scheduled to visit Japan on July 28. In this connection, Yu said: "Exchanges between the two countries' peoples are expanding. A shuttle diplomacy (of the two leaders taking turns visiting the other's country) will continue to be promoted also in the future." (4) South Korean foreign minister cautious about security cooperation with Japan ASAHI (Page 9) (Full) June 26, 2009 (Yoshihiro Makino, Tetsuya Hakoda, Seoul) South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung-hwan emphasized the importance of cooperation between Japan and South Korea in dealing with North Korean issues, for instance, by promoting information exchange on Pyongyang's counterfeiting of paper currency. Meanwhile, he expressed a cautious view about bilateral cooperation on the security front, which is said to be difficult in view of the historical background. He also indicated his wariness over the planned strategy dialogue to be held among Japan, the U.S., and China possibly for this summer. TOKYO 00001454 004 OF 010 The governments of Japan and South Korea have exchanged information on North Korea's counterfeited paper currency by making use of such mechanisms as the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU),an organization that analyzes and verifies information about suspected terrorist financing and illegal transactions. On information exchange concerning cargo inspections, as well, the two countries will be able to smoothly promote cooperation by using the network between their authorities under the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Japan and South Korea are also aiming to maintain an international framework for handling North Korean issues. The South Korean foreign minister proposed holding the five-party talks of Japan, the U.S., China, South Korea and Russia, excluding North Korea from the framework of the Six-Party Talks. He explained about this proposal: "We are parties concerned with North Korea's nuclear development problem, so we must take the initiative in discussing the issue." Japan has also proposed a new approach over the Six-Party Talks. Through these methods, Japan and South Korea will find it easier to work together to bring about new dialogue on the issue. Meanwhile, regarding security cooperation between Japan and South Korea in the event that the North Korean situation falls into crisis, Yu just said: "I think we have satisfactorily cooperated with each other." Japan and South Korea have not built an alliance. The two countries have done no more than joint marine salvage drills between the Self-Defense Force and the South Korean military and their warships' mutual visits to the other side's country. The two countries held their first vice defense ministerial talks in nine years on June 23, but full-scale defense exchange has yet to be started. To that end, efforts are needed to resolve the issue of Japan's view of its war time history. Yu designated next year, which marks the 100th anniversary of Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula, as "a chance to consider what is necessary for the two countries to establish a future-oriented relationship." Yu also referred to the planned strategy dialogue by bureau directors from Japan, the U.S., and China expected to take place this summer, and indicated his concern about an international framework that excludes South Korea. He said: "South Korea must attend talks on issues linked to the Korean Peninsula." Some South Korean government officials voiced apprehension that (the talks) might aggravate public feelings toward Japan." (5) U.S. House Committee on Armed Service opposes Japan-U.S. Futenma relocation agreement due to flight safety RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 1) (Full) June 25, 2009 (Kyodo, Washington, June 24) It has been learned as of June 24 that the national defense authorization bill for fiscal 2010 (from October 2009 to September 2010),which was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Service, includes a clause opposing the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Air Station Futenma to the coast of Camp Schwab. The relocation plan is a key element in the agreement reached between the governments of Japan and the United States. The Okinawa prefectural government has demanded revisions to TOKYO 00001454 005 OF 010 the agreement. If the relocation program does not move forward, there will surely be a negative impact on the Japan-U.S. alliance relationship. With deliberations at the Senate Committee on Armed Service and approval of the President coming up, whether the bill is enacted is uncertain. Approved bill includes restriction clause The national defense authorization legislation stipulates that unless minimum flight safety is guaranteed to both the House and Senate armed service committees, the secretary of defense will not approve the relocation plan. The office of Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D, Hawaii),who proposed the clause, explained: "It means that a counter proposal should be made because the length of runways in the replacement air station is insufficient." There is smoldering dissatisfaction in the U.S. Marines Corps with the relocation of the Futenma Air Station and of Marines from Okinawa to Guam. The predominant view in Japan is that this is the reason for the move in the House. The commander of the U.S. Marine Corps referred at the Senate Committee on Armed Service in early June to the possibility of a revision of the realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan. In the wake of responses in Japan, Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallace Gregson denied the possibility that the USFJ realignment program will be revised. Okinawa Gov. Nakaima: close attention to be paid on future developments In a regular meeting on June 24 the Okinawa prefectural assembly, Katsuo Tomei (Social Democratic Party, protect the Constitution) asked Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima's view on the fact that the U.S. House adopted a new bill that would make the Japan-U.S. agreement on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station difficult, Nakaima said: "At this point, it is not clear what kind of impact the clause of the U.S. Defense Authorization bill will have on the present relocation plan and on the Okinawa's demand that the replacement facility be moved to an offshore area. It is necessary to pay closer attention to the developments in the future. I want to make efforts to gather information." (6) Japan team on the move: The civilians' turn in Afghan reconstruction; helping school construction under protection of foreign troops YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) June 26, 2009 Keigo Sakai, Chaghcharan, Ghor Proinve, mid-west Afghanistan A Japanese team has begun its activities to help regional reconstruction in Afghanistan. Four Japanese civilians have been sent to mid-west Afghanistan, which had so far not been reached by foreign aid. This is the first time that Japanese have joined a Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT). It will become a new model for international social contribution. "The village's long-cherished dream" TOKYO 00001454 006 OF 010 A convoy of six vehicles, led by an armored car equipped with machine guns, traveled on the mountain trail surrounded by brown hills, leaving behind a cloud of dust. When they stopped at a hamlet of houses made of mud, seven Lithuanian soldiers, who were responsible for security in this area, hurried off the vehicles and went on alert. After about a minute, the soldiers who got off the vehicles first gave the all-clear sign, and Jiro Kanzawa, 35, wearing a white shirt, and Hisako Ishizaki, 31, with a scarf wrapped around her head, got off the car. This is the village of Maderasa, some 25 kilometers from Changhcharan, the capital of Ghor Province. This is the location of the first project by the PRT in which Japan will participate in building a middle school for girls. The two have been dispatched as Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. The village only has "open air classrooms." It has been petitioning the provincial government for "classrooms with a roof, even if it just for the girls." When the Japanese team learned about this, they drew up the budget, got this approved by the Japanese government, and commissioned the construction work to a local NGO. With soldiers carrying guns and wearing fatigues around him, Kanzawa said: "We are worried that going around with soldiers may constitute a pressure on the villagers," but the village has great hopes. Most of the local residents know Japan to be a "rich country" but this is the first time for them to see any Japanese people. One village resident Zai Hussein (phonetic),45, said: "The construction of the school is the village's long-cherished dream. This is going to be realized at long last because the Japanese came." Ishizaki talked enthusiastically about plans to "undertake three aid projects, including the construction of a clinic, by fall." Living under the same roof with soldiers On the way back from the two officials' inspection tour, children gathered whenever the convoy stopped. They scrambled for the snacks handed out by the soldiers. Kanzawa said: "We would like to approach the local residents in ways other than simple things that make children happy, such as handing out picture books." Kanzawa and Ishigaki entered a base surrounded by sandbags piled about 10 meters high under the Lithuanian army's command. They live under the same roof with the soldiers. Food is provided by the military, and Japan pays around 50 U.S. dollars to Lithuania for each civilian. Two soldiers stay in one room, but the civilians are given single rooms. Toilet, shower, and other facilities are shared. They will be involved in this type of activity for around two years. The national flags of seven countries, including Japan and the U.S., and that of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) flew at the base. All of them flew at half mast, which meant the death of ISAF soldiers. The situation in the Ghor Province is relatively stable, but there have been incidents of local residents being attacked or roadside bombs blowing up military vehicles. Kanzawa lamented that "there has only been one day when the flags were flying normally." (7) Japan, UAE to cooperate in environment, energy areas TOKYO 00001454 007 OF 010 NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) June 24, 2009 Japan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will cooperate on the building of next-generation transportation infrastructure and joint reserves of crude oil. The plan includes the deployment of electric cars and the construction of facilities that can be charged with electricity generated by solar power or wind power plants in Abu Dhabi. The two countries have also agreed that the UAE can use oil reserve bases in Japan and that Japan can purchase the UAE's crude oil reserved there on a preferential basis in the event of an emergency hampering oil supply to Japan. The government has decided to disburse 20 million yen for a basic survey of the construction of the next-generation transportation infrastructure through the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The plan is the government and the private sector will share the cost of about 2 billion yen with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries taking the initiative. The project will be promoted with the possibility of inviting trading companies and auto makers as well. To be precise, several dozens to a few hundred of Japanese-made electric cars will be deployed in Abu Dhabi. Charging stations will be built to make it easy to charge those cars in urban areas as well. Power plants using recyclable energies, such as wind power and solar light, will also be built. The intelligent transport system (ITS) will be introduced to provide traffic congestion information in order to prevent traffic accidents or to ease congestion. Investment or financing by the UAE's government-affiliated funds, the international affairs section of Japan Finance Corporation and the Japan Bank for International Corporate (JBIC) will be looked into to make the plan a major project. Abu Dhabi has put up a Masdar City program. Under the program, all electricity the city needs will be covered with recyclable energy. Japan will cooperate for the program in order to strengthen ties with Abu Dhabi, Japan's major oil supplier. Since the recyclable energy-related industry is a promising industry, Japan wants to make cooperation for the project an opportunity for Japanese businesses to make inroads into Abu Dhabi. The government also announced that both countries on the 25th agreed to jointly use an oil reserve base with the UAE. The agreement features that the facilities will be farmed out to the UAE for free and oil reserved there will be provided to Japan on a preferential basis in the event of an emergency. This marks the first time for Japan to extend this kind of cooperation. It will look into cooperation with Saudi Arabia in a similar way. Abu Dhabi's state-run oil company will reserve 600,000 kiloliters of oil at ENEOS' Kiire base in Kagoshima Prefecture. The amount is almost equivalent to Japan's daily crude oil consumption - a little more than 500,000 kiloliters. Once the program got under way, the government will consider expanding the scale, after looking into challenges to the operation. The UAE will likely use the reserve base as a base for sales of crude oil to neighboring countries, such as Japan China, South Korea. The advantage of the project to the UAE is that it can be used as a base for exploring new markets in East Asia. TOKYO 00001454 008 OF 010 (8) "Reporter's Eye" column: Japan will be ignored in international talks on global warming prevention; need to rethink and cut greenhouse gases drastically MAINICHI (Page 10) (Excerpts) June 26, 2009 Ai Oba, Tokyo Bureau science and environment section A dead silence prevailed over the hall. There was no applause or criticism. This scene occurred at the UN special working group meeting in Bonn, Germany from June 1-12 to discuss the post-Kyoto framework for global warming prevention. The Japanese government representative presented Japan's mid-term target for the reduction of greenhouse gases up to 2020, "15 percent reduction from 2005 (or 8 percent reduction from 1990)." It is disappointing that the result of six whole months of discussion by the government of Japan, which is supposed to exercise leadership in the post-Kyoto international negotiations, received very little attention. For sure, this figure was too low for the realization of a low carbon society and for Japan to lead the world. If nothing is done about this situation, Japan will be reduced to a country on which the international community does not have any expectations. Listening to the participants from various countries at the conference hall, most of them were interested only in how much more reduction can be implemented on top of the Kyoto Protocol target. I was told by the representatives of the ROK and Indonesia: "This is just 2 percentage points more (reduction) in terms of the 1990 level." Even when I explained: "This will not include the amount absorbed by forests and emission rights purchased overseas and will consist only of net reduction through domestic efforts," the target was not viewed as "ambitious." Even researchers from the U.S., which has withdrawn from the Kyoto Protocol framework, shrugged their shoulders and smiled wryly. This mid-term target will be a factor in creating a framework favorable to Japan in the post-Kyoto negotiations. However, talking to people at the venue of international talks, one realizes that the debate in Japan has been too domestically focused and has not been conscious of the international community. For instance, in the process of discussing the mid-term target, the industries repeatedly questioned the need for Japan to take the lead in reducing emissions. The argument was that Japan is very advanced in energy conservation and emits only 4 percent of carbon dioxide in the world, so even if Japan sets a tough target, this will not be effective for global warming prevention. While 4 percent is indeed a small number compared to the U.S. and China, which make up 20 percent of total emissions, this is by no means negligible from the point of view of the developing countries. On the other hand, Japan's emissions in FY07 represented a 9 percent increase from the 1990 level. Therefore, the target of "15 percent reduction from the 2005 level" is not an easy one at all. However, the Japanese government had spearheaded the idea of "50 percent reduction by the world as a whole by 2050" at the Hokkaido-Lake Toya Summit last year. It cannot afford to tell the international community now that "this should be sufficient as a mid-term target." In the first place, the goal of the government's committee to study TOKYO 00001454 009 OF 010 the mid-term target had been "a balance between the solution to global warming and economic growth and resources and energy issues." However, the world has taken one step further from this position and the concept of "green new deal" - spurring economic growth with environmental measures - is becoming popular. Yet, the actual domestic debate had remained centered on the "environment or economy" paradigm, and the committee focused only on the cost of emission reduction. Such a methodology in itself diverted the people's attention from the international community and dampened their enthusiasm for a low carbon society. When I told an Indonesian representative that, "There is a view that Japan need not participate in the post-Kyoto framework if China and India are not required to reduce emissions," he brushed me off by saying: "That will not be an option for Prime Minister Taro Aso." A Japanese government source confided that: "What is meant by Japan's 'exercising leadership' in the negotiations is not to come up with its own framework, like the U.S., but simply to stay on as one of main players in finalizing the framework and try not be ostracized." Japan has been criticized for "making international contributions only with money" in the area of security. On the other hand, Japanese energy conservation technology is recognized in the world, and it has been successful in assisting developing countries in global warming prevention. This is one area where Japan can make international contributions, both in name and in practice. Yet, with Japan's hesitation about becoming a low carbon society right now, it may well become just a "silent supplier of money and technology." The National Institute for Environmental Studies estimates that even with a reduction of 15 percent from the 1990 level (21 percent reduction from the 2005 level),intensive investment in solar power generation and next-generation automobiles will boost the GDP. It is not impossible at all to realize Japan's interest, global warming prevention, and international contribution simultaneously. (9) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Japanese firms agree to pay ransom to pirates off Somalia Mainichi: Government to continue allocating 1 trillion yen as reserve for emergency economic measures Yomiuri: Three Japanese firms to acquire concession rights for Iraqi oil field Nikkei: Japanese mail-order sales exceed revenues of convenience stores, department stores Sankei: Group of 8,400 viewers file suit against NHK over program taking up Japan's rule over Taiwan Tokyo Shimbun: A total of 15 ex-bureaucrats get jobs at five public corporations linked to authorizing new bicycles for carrying mother and two children TOKYO 00001454 010 OF 010 Akahata: Shii urges for intensive Diet deliberations over politics-and-money scandals involving the LDP, DPJ (10) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) In construction of National Center for Media Arts, give priority to contents over building (2) Bid-rigging by Transport Ministry: Start purge of amakudari practice and wasteful spending Mainichi: (1) Under revised Childcare Leave Law, take leaves without hesitation (2) Under ship inspection special measures law, operations by MSDF should be limited Yomiuri: (1) Repeated big-rigging practices by Transport Ministry (2) Turmoil in Iran: Leadership should exercise self-restraint Nikkei: (1) Disband local government agencies that repeat bid-rigging (2) Aso urged to dissolve Lower House during current Diet session Sankei: (1) Japan Post's report runs counter to privatization trend (2) Statement on Northern Territories: Russia must squarely look at historical fact Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Food items at convenience stores: Throwing out food is impermissible (2) Revised Worker Dispatch Law: Don't leave disadvantaged workers alone Akahata: (1) Funneled donations to Yosano: Eradicate hotbeds for political corruption ZUMWALT