JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07/10/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001572 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 07/10/09 Index: G-8 Summit and Aso diplomacy: 1) President Obama at G-8 Summit presses accelerator on nuclear disarmament, but Japan concerned about absence of nuclear-power China (Mainichi) 2) Expanded meeting at G-8 Summit releases statement on restarting WTO negotiations, but for Japan the bottleneck will continue to be agriculture (Mainichi) 3) Prime Minister Aso finds diplomacy tough going at the G-8 Summit: He is the only leader to speak out on North Korea issue (Sankei) 4) President Medvedev brings no new proposal on the northern territories to his G-8 summit meeting with Prime Minister Aso (Asahi) Defense and security issues: 5) North Korea started its missile program in the late 1970s, using dual-use equipment obtained from Japan (Sankei) 6) U.S. and Japan will hold director-general-level talks next month on foreign and security affairs under the 2+2 framework (Nikkei) 7) Former high-level official reveals that around 2001, senior Foreign Ministry official ordered the U.S.-Japan secret nuclear-pact document destroyed (Asahi) 8) METI Minister Nikai told be Iraqi official that Japan may have the edge in obtaining rights to develop oil in Iraq (Sankei) Opinion polls: 9) Poll on voter consciousness by Nikkei finds over 90 PERCENT of electorate intends to go to the polls in next Lower House election; DPJ favored 40 PERCENT to 26 PERCENT over LDP (Nikkei) 10) In Yomiuri election series poll, 41 PERCENT of electorate say they will vote DPJ in the single district races, compared to only 23 PERCENT who plan to vote LDP (Yomiuri) Political agenda: 11) Lower House election now likely to be held after the end of August (Tokyo Shimbun) 12) DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) planning vote of no confidence in Aso Cabinet, but the real intention is to make sure the prime minister stays on into the election (Tokyo Shimbun) 13) Aso's face is conspicuously absent from campaign posters for the LDP (Tokyo Shimbun) 14) Lower House committee pursuing DPJ President Hatoyama for his political organization's falsifying funding records with names of dead people (Mainichi) Articles: 1) Nuclear disarmament gains momentum; G-8 members support Obama strategy MAINICHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) July 10, 2009 Kazuhiko Kusano, Shunji Oki, L'Aquila The Group of Eight Summit (L'Aquila Summit) adopted on July 8 a statement pledging to create a situation toward a world without nuclear weapons. With all the participating countries having agreed to the policy of U.S. President Barack Obama, who aims at a TOKYO 00001572 002 OF 012 nuclear-free world, expectations have swollen that moves for nuclear disarmament will pick up speed at once. Nevertheless, there still remain many tough challenges partly because the stance of China, one of the major nuclear powers, remains unclear and such countries as North Korea and Iran are pursuing nuclear development. Will the statement be able to give a boost to the effort to abolish nuclear weapons? Japan concerned about China's absence Takashi Sudo The Japanese government welcomes the G-8 statement. But China's absence from that scene worries Tokyo, which fears that if the United States and Russia go ahead and reduce their nuclear weapons, the weight of China's nuclear weapons will increase and trust in the U.S. nuclear umbrella that protects Japan might decline. The G-8 statement urges all countries to take further nuclear disarmament steps with greater transparency. Japan's interpretation of this is that China is included in "all countries," according to a senior Foreign Ministry official. But China's stance remains unchanged, namely, that the United States and Russia should pursue nuclear disarmament first. Japan and the United States are scheduled to hold official working-level talks later this month to discuss nuclear strategies, such as the U.S. umbrella. Placed under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, Japan finds itself on the horns of a dilemma. The planned formal talks carry a strong aspect of the United States defusing Japan's anxiety. The Foreign Ministry official said, "Having talks is good, but nothing has been nailed down effectively." Trust in U.S. main factor Comment by Osaka Jogakuin College Professor Mitsuru Kurosawa The statement that includes the phrase "a world without nuclear weapons" reflect a change in times. The United States has made a huge shift from the former Bush administration's unilateralism to a stance of multilateralism. The declaration of nuclear disarmament not only by the United States and Russia but also by all major countries will give a boost to future talks. It can be said that the major nations have acknowledged that President Obama is "serious" about achieving nuclear disarmament. Progress is expected to be made in the future in three areas advocated by President Obama: nuclear disbarment, nuclear nonproliferation, and measures against nuclear terrorism. Nevertheless, the trends of North Korea and Iran are a concern. Nuclear development by those two countries will not have a direct impact on nuclear disarmament talks, but it might undermine the atmospherics of the other good trend. 2) Leaders of G-8 member nations, emerging countries come up with goal of reaching final agreement at WTO Doha Round MAINICHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) July 10, 2009 Kiyohiro Akama, Kesuke Ota TOKYO 00001572 003 OF 012 Nozomi Saito, L'Aquila Leaders of the Group of Eight (G-8) major nations and five emerging countries, such as China and India, have come up with a goal of reaching a final agreement at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round (multi trade liberalization talks) before the end of ¶2010. At work behind the move is their strong determination to revitalize trade, which has come to an impasse due to the impact of the ongoing financial crisis, for the purpose of turning around the economy, by establishing a free trade system. However, in actual talks, negotiations have repeatedly been derailed with the interests of various countries fiercely clashing with each other. As such, there is no knowing whether an agreement can be reached. Japan goes on defensive, suffering setback over agriculture Export-oriented Japan is positive about an early settlement of the Doha Round, which will lead to cuts in trade tariffs. However, sources connected with the agricultural sector, an area that is being urged to open its market, is still strongly opposed the Doha Round. Adjustments of opinions on the domestic front will likely face challenges. Japan has constantly been forced to play defense regarding the agriculture area at WTO talks. It has been struggling to increase the share of key items, which are exempt from tariff cuts. As a result, it has been unable to make its presence felt, eclipsed by confrontations between the U.S. and emerging countries in overall talks on mined and manufactured products. Japan called for setting the share of key items at 8 PERCENT of all items at the informal ministerial meeting in July last year. However, the WTO came up with an adjudication proposal for setting the share at 6 PERCENT . Since the overall talks fell through at the time, Japan did not have to accept the adjudication proposal. However, the prevailing view among government officials is that there is a slim chance of Japan's stance on the agricultural area being accepted, as one negotiator put it. Japan has been protecting farmers by imposing high tariffs on many agricultural products. However, if the WTO talks reach a settlement, Japanese agriculture will be exposed to fierce competition with foreign products. The time is running out with bargaining likely to become fierce prior to the target for reaching an agreement in 2010. Japan is urged to promptly implement reform of its agricultural administration in preparation for opening up the market. 3) G-8 and six other participating countries to aim to reach agreement at WTO talks SANKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) July 10, 2009 Morimichi Imabori, Kazutaka Higa, Rome The G-8 summit (L'Aquila Summit) held a meeting of the Group of Eight countries, joined by five emerging countries, such as China and India, plus Egypt and adopted their first joint statement. Their aim is to set up a framework for settling international issues that cannot be dealt with by major countries alone, involving emerging countries. TOKYO 00001572 004 OF 012 In the meantime, the G-8 countries on the evening of the 8th prior to that meeting discussed political issues. Participants condemned in the strong terms North Korea for its nuclear test and launching of ballistic missiles and adopted a statement noting that they urge the international community to implement UNSC Resolution 1874 in a complete and transparent manner. Concerning non-proliferation, the statement welcomed the nuclear arms reduction agreement reached at the U.S.-Russia summit on the 6th, noting that they will pledge to create a world without nuclear arms. Concerning the North Korea issue, Prime Minister Taro Aso said that since the North has conducted nuclear and missile tests in defiance of the international community, the international community should adopt a resolute stance in dealing with that nation. Many other participants supported Aso, saying that the North Korea issue is not the issue concerning Asia alone. The prime minister also brought up the abduction issue. The statement incorporated the wording noting that the G-8 urges North Korea to immediately address concern felt by the international community over humanitarian issue. The G-8 economic ministers' statement has also been adopted. It incorporated a proposal for setting up a working group to confirm the situation of the progress on development assistance, which the G-8 has pledged. 4) No new proposals on Northern Territories from Medvedev at Japan-Russia summit ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) July 10, 2009 Atsuko Tannai, Rome Prime Minister Taro Aso met Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev in L'Aquila on the morning of July 9 (afternoon of July 9, Japan time). Medvedev said, "We continue to be willing to consider all possible options under a unique approach," in referring to the key question of the Northern Territories, but did not present any new proposals to break the stalemate. Although Aso complained, "Without willingness to make progress in the territorial issue on the Russian side, it will not be possible to build a partnership," he also pointed out, "It is necessary to work simultaneously on both matters of interest (territorial issue and economic cooperation)." The two leaders agreed on instructing working level officials to step up negotiations and on the need to continue summit level discussions, including telephone conversations. They also agreed on the early launching of a trilateral experts' panel among Japan, the U.S., and Russia to discuss security issues in Asia and the Pacific. 5) North Korea began developing missiles in 1975, using convertible materials from Japan SANKEI (Page 23) (Abridged slightly) July 10, 2009 In connection with a Tokyo-based North Korea-connected trading company's attempted plan to illegally export missile-development materials, it became clear yesterday through interviews with police TOKYO 00001572 005 OF 012 authorities that magnetic measuring instruments have been carried into North Korea on several occasions since 1975, under a plan of exporting such to Burma (Myanmar). Japanese-made magnetic measuring instruments are highly precise. Police authorities are paying close attention to the fact that North Korea started developing basic missile technology as early as 1975. They strongly believe that the attempted illegal export plan this time around shows North Korea's plan to provide its missile technology, a product of its many years of R&D, to Burma. The equipments carried into North Korea since 1975 were devices to measure the magnetism of metal materials and the like. They are widely used in such fields as manufacturing industrial machinery and basic industrial technology. Materials are indispensable for R&D of military technologies, such as missiles, and weapons of mass destruction (WMD). They can reportedly be used for nuclear development as well. Those devices were of models older than that of the one the company tried to export to Burma this time around, but an Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry source said, "Basically, there is no big difference in principles, and the precision of Japanese products has been at the world's top level since around 1975." The attempted illegal export to Burma occurred based on an order from the Second Economic Committee, a secret military procurement organ in North Korea, to Tokyo-based Toko Boeki President Lee Kyoung Ho, 41, to procure a magnetic measuring device that came via New East International Trading Co. in Beijing. It has become clear through investigations that Lee had placed an order to a Japanese maker and a trading firm and attempted to export the device to Burma's Industry 2 Ministry via Malaysia. It has become clear from the materials confiscated from Lee's home and other related places that materials similar to the one found this time were exported to North Korea on several occasions in around 1975. Investigative authorities believe that North Korea began developing missiles and WMD on a full scale around that time and continued its research to establish high technology. 6) Japan, U.S. to hold working-level consultations this month on foreign, defense policy issues NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) July 10, 2001 Sachiko Deshimaru, Washington The Japanese and U.S. governments have now entered final coordination to hold working-level consultations in Japan in mid-July within the framework of the Security Consultative Committee of foreign and defense ministers from Japan and the United States (two-plus-two). The two governments will hold wide-ranging discussions, focusing mainly on their security policies in East Asia in response to the situation in North Korea. The working-level consultations are expected to be held with the participation of Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Campbell and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Gregson from the U.S. government TOKYO 00001572 006 OF 012 and the Foreign Ministry's North American Affairs Bureau Director General Kazuyoshi Umemoto and the Defense Ministry's Defense Policy Bureau Director General Nobushige Takamizawa from the Japanese government. This is the first time for Japan and the United States to hold a meeting of their senior officials for foreign affairs and defense to discuss security issues since the Obama administration came into office. The agenda for discussion includes bilateral issues pending between Japan and the United States, such as selecting Japan's follow-on mainstay fighter (FX) and relocating the U.S. military's Futenma airfield. The two governments are going to to take up their regional security strategies, such as missile defense (MD) shielding. They are also expected to exchange views about the U.S. military's deterrence in East Asia. The two-plus-two working-level consultations will be held at a sensitive time when the House of Representatives could be dissolved for a general election. The political situation in Japan is now becoming murky. As it stands, the two governments are apparently aiming to push for better communication at the working level. When the Bush administration was in office, the Japanese and U.S. governments were closely in touch with each other and occasionally held two-plus-two ministerial meetings and working-level consultations. Under the Obama administration as well, the two countries are going to revamp bilateral cooperation. The Obama administration is upholding nuclear disarmament. The U.S. government is expected to explain its policy, anticipating U.S. allies' concerns about the U.S. military's weakening nuclear umbrella. Meanwhile, Japan, the United States, and South Korea will hold working-level consultations in Tokyo about the middle of this month with their defense officials attending. 7) Ex-senior government officials: Senior MOFA official ordered destruction of secret accord-related documents before Information Disclosure Law implementation in 2001 ASAHI (Top play) (Slightly abridged) July 10, 2009 It has been learned that in 2001, a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official ordered the destruction of documents in the ministry relating to a "secret nuclear agreement" concluded between Japan and the U.S. at the time of the revision of the bilateral Security Treaty in 1960. Under the agreement, Japan would allow U.S. vessels carrying nuclear weapons to call on Japanese ports and pass through its territorial waters. A number of former senior government and MOFA officials made the above testimony on condition of anonymity. It is believed that this was a step taken for fear of "documents that supposedly do not exist" being discovered when the archiving of documents in MOFA was reviewed before the implementation of the Information Disclosure Law in April 2001. The existence of the secret nuclear agreement has already been confirmed by official documents published on the U.S. side, but the Japanese government has consistently denied it. Ryohei Murata, who was administrative vice foreign minister during the late 1980s, told TOKYO 00001572 007 OF 012 Asahi Shimbun that, "My predecessor gave me a one-page document during the handover process, and I briefed the foreign minister at that time." The former senior government officials who made the latest testimony admitted the existence of the secret agreement and said that documents for vice ministers in the handover process were included in the destroyed files. The practice of briefing the foreign minister is believed to have been discontinued when House of Representatives member Makiko Tanaka became the foreign minister in ¶2001. One former government official explained that the decision to destroy the documents was made because "they were documents from a long time ago, and it was meaningless to faithfully preserve documents that did not exist officially." Another former government official said that: "It is believed that the relevant documents were kept at the North American Affairs Bureau and the Treaty Bureau (now the International Legal Affairs Bureau). I heard that they were all destroyed right before the implementation of the Information Disclosure Law." It is highly possible that guidelines on how the Japanese government should handle former Ambassador to Japan Edwin Reischauer's testimony in 1981 on the existence of the secret accord and other historical documents that only the Japanese side possessed were destroyed. However, neither of the former officials witnessed the actual burning or shredding of the documents. One of them pointed out that "the possibility remains that these documents might have been preserved as top secret files." One former administrative vice foreign minister stopped short of confirming the existence of the secret agreement but said that: "Right now, documents referring to the secret agreement do not exist. We cannot release documents that do not exist." It is believed that this line of reasoning is meant to be an explanation for the failure to find any relevant documents in case the Democratic Party of Japan, which is calling for disclosing the secret agreement, takes over the administration. Deprived of opportunity to investigate hidden truth Explanatory note: It is now very likely that documents related to the "secret nuclear agreement" in MOFA have been destroyed quietly. This is a dual crime, in the sense that the people have been continuously deceived about the secret accord and that present and future Japanese citizens have been deprived of a means to investigate this matter. A MOFA source also voices the criticism that, "If that is indeed the case, this is an act of historical betrayal." (former senior MOFA official) The "secret nuclear agreement" reached during the Security Treaty revision in 1960 provided a loophole to the three non-nuclear principles of "not producing, possessing, and introducing" nuclear weapons. After the end of the Cold War, the Bush administration in the early 1990s removed all nuclear arms carried on U.S. naval vessels, except those on strategic nuclear submarines. An incumbent senior MOFA official says that, "Since U.S. vessels no longer carry any nuclear weapons, the so-called secret agreement has already lost its meaning." However, with the rise of China and the development of nuclear arms by North Korea and Iran, it is possible that the U.S. may resume carrying nuclear arms on ships. In such a case, will the "secret TOKYO 00001572 008 OF 012 nuclear agreement" be revived? A senior MOFA official says that, "Since past prime ministers and foreign ministers have stated repeatedly that the secret agreement did not exist, Japan will probably have to reach a new agreement with the U.S." However, a former MOFA official points out: "When it becomes necessary, the United States will not hesitate to bring in nuclear weapons. Japan, which is protected by the nuclear umbrella, does not have the option of saying 'no,' regardless of whether there is a secret agreement or not." No matter what security policy Japan intends to adopt, it is indispensable for the existence of the secret agreement to be clarified and for the role it has played over the years to be examined. 8) Iraqi oil minister in talks with METI minister indicates Japan has the upper hand SANKEI (Page 9) (Full) July 10, 2009 Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai on July 9 met with visiting Iraqi Oil Minister Husayn al-Shahristani in Tokyo. He conveyed Japan's strong desire to obtain the rights to develop Iraqi oil fields, saying, "There are projects in which Japanese companies hope to take part, including the Nasiriyah oil field development (which the Iraqi government will release to foreign companies). The government would like to extend overall assistance for those projects." An Italian firm is also hoping to take part in the development of the Nasiriyah oil field. The oil minister indicated that Japan has the lead in the competition, replying, "We expect participation by Japanese companies." A consortium consisting of Nippon Oil Corporation (ENEOS),Inpex Corporation and JGC Corporation is competing with Italy's Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi for the rights to develop the Nasiriyah oil field in southern Iraq. The oil minister told reporters that developer of the oil fields will be decided shortly. 9) Pre-election poll: 40 PERCENT to vote for DPJ, 26 PERCENT for LDP NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) July 10, 2009 Ahead of the forthcoming election for the House of Representatives, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun conducted a public opinion survey on July 7-9 to probe public awareness. In the survey, respondents were asked which political party they would like to vote for in their proportional representation blocs. In response to this question, 40 PERCENT opted for the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),with 26 PERCENT choosing the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. A total of more than 90 PERCENT answered that they would go to the polls to cast their votes, broken down into 65 PERCENT saying they would surely go to the polls and 28 PERCENT saying they would go to the polls if possible. Among other parties, the New Komeito was at 7 PERCENT for proportional representation, with the Japanese Communist Party at 4 PERCENT and the Social Democratic Party at 3 PERCENT . Respondents were also asked which political party's candidate they would vote for in their single-seat constituencies. To this TOKYO 00001572 009 OF 012 question, 39 PERCENT chose the DPJ, with the LDP at 27 PERCENT , showing the same trend as in the case of proportional representation. The approval rating for the Aso cabinet was 18 PERCENT . The disapproval rating was 65 PERCENT . In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP stood at 30 PERCENT , with the DPJ at 37 PERCENT . "None" or floating voters with no particular party affiliation accounted for 13 PERCENT . 10) Poll: 39 PERCENT see Aso as LDP's face for election, 44 PERCENT see another; 41 PERCENT favor DPJ versus LDP's 23 PERCENT in voting for single-seat candidates YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) July 10, 2009 Ahead of the forthcoming election for the House of Representatives, the Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a telephone-based ad hoc nationwide public opinion survey on July 7-9. In the survey, 39 PERCENT answered "yes" when asked if they thought it would be better for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to go into the election with Prime Minister Aso, with 44 PERCENT saying it would be better to replace him with another person. Respondents were also asked which political party they would vote for in their single-seat constituencies. To this question, 41 PERCENT opted for the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto),with 23 PERCENT choosing the LDP. In the popularity ranking of political parties for proportional representation as well, the DPJ was above the LDP, respectively standing at 41 PERCENT and 24 PERCENT . Respondents were further asked who they thought would be appropriate for prime minister, when comparing Aso and DPJ President Hatoyama. To this question, 46 PERCENT chose Hatoyama, with 21 PERCENT picking Aso. The support rate for the Aso cabinet was 20.2 PERCENT . The nonsupport rate was 69.3 PERCENT . In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the DPJ stood at 28.7 PERCENT , with the LDP at 23.8 PERCENT . 11) Ruling coalition favors Lower House election in late August or later TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Excerpts) July 10, 2009 Chances are growing that the next House of Representatives election will be held at the end of August or later. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is likely to face an uphill battle in the July 12 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, following its defeat in the July 5 Shizuoka gubernatorial election. With the situation of the Aso administration and the LDP becoming increasingly severe, the view is gaining ground in the LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, that an early Lower House dissolution for a snap election is unadvisable. If the election were to be held in late August or later, the chances are that the Lower House will be dissolved around the end of the current Diet session on July 28 for the election on Aug. 30 or Sept. 6 If the dissolution were to be held off until the end of the current Diet session, the drive to unseat Aso in the LDP might gain TOKYO 00001572 010 OF 012 momentum. For this reason, Prime Minister Taro Aso has searched for ways to dissolve the chamber immediately after the Tokyo poll for an election in early August. But this plan is drawing fierce objections, based on the opinion that given the expected uphill battle in the Tokyo poll combined with the cabinet's dwindling support ratings, an early election will bring a humiliating defeat to the LDP. Yesterday afternoon, such LDP veteran lawmakers as former Secretary General Koichi Kato, former Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, and former Senior Deputy General Council Chairman Hajime Funada, held talks near the Diet building and agreed to oppose an early dissolution. The secretaries general of LDP actions also met last night. The prevalent view at the meeting was that top priority should be given to the enactment of key bills and DPJ President Hatoyama's donation scandal. Furthermore, former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who has a strong influence on the management of the Aso administration, has recently opposed an Aug. 2 election. Mori is showing a cautious stance about the Aso side's dissolution timetable. 12) DPJ's real motivation is to keep Aso in prime minister's post TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) July 10, 2009 The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has decided to submit next week to the House of Representatives a no-confidence motion against the cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso. The DPJ, which has reportedly taken the lead in campaigning for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on July 12, intends to force Aso to dissolve the Lower House for a general election. Asked by reporters about submitting the no-confidence motion, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama said yesterday at party headquarters: "Through the Tokyo assembly election, we will be able to see how strong public criticism of the Aso administration is. After seeing the results of the election, we will consider (submitting a no-confidence motion) early next week," revealing that the DPJ is considering submitting a no-confidence motion after the Tokyo race. The DPJ is aiming for a speedy dissolution of the Lower House. A defeat of the ruling parties in the Tokyo election would mean that the public indicates "No" to the Aso administration. This would be the optimal timing for the DPJ to submit a no-confidence motion and urge Aso to dissolve the Lower House. However, if the ruling coalition loses the Tokyo race, moves to oust Aso as prime minister will definitely strengthen in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The DPJ's real motivation is to fight in the Lower House election with the LDP led by Aso, who has been suffering low support rates. Deputy President Naoto Kan said yesterday: "The public will not allow another replacement of a prime minister. If that happens, the DPJ might be forced (to allow Aso to) dissolve the Lower House." Therefore, submission of the motion of no confidence is intended to prevent the moves of anti-Aso forces. The DPJ's ideal is that TOKYO 00001572 011 OF 012 submission of the motion will lead to dissolution, prompting many rebels to emerge in the LDP. However, even if the motion is voted down, it will mean that the ruling parties give their vote of confidence. The DPJ, therefore, hopes that submission of the motion will produce the effect of preventing the moves of anti-Aso forces. However, the DPJ is concerned that it will come under criticism from the ruling party if the Diet fails to pass an organ transplant law amendment bill and special measures legislation on cargo inspections on ships going in and out of North Korea due to suspension of deliberations caused by submission of the motion of no confidence. Hatoyama, referring to the organ transplantation law amendment, asserted: "It is necessary to enact the bills that should be passed in the current regular Diet session." 13) Prime Minister Aso gives order not to include his photo on the cover of LDP's manifesto TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) July 10, 2009 It has been learned that Prime Minister Taro Aso (president of the Liberal Democratic Party) ordered the LDP project team (PT) in charge of drafting a manifest (set of campaign pledges for the next House of Representatives election) not to include his photograph on the cover of the manifest. LDP General Council Deputy Chairman Hajime Funada, a PT member, told reporters yesterday: "The Prime Minister wants young people to be able to read (our manifesto) on the train without hesistation. So the manifesto will not have Prime Minister's photograph on the cover." The LDP's manifesto for the 2005 Lower House election had a large portrait of then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi with the slogan, "Postal privatization is our key reform goal," on the cover. The fact that Prime Minster Aso's photograph will not being included will likely raise speculations that the ruling camp will lose the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election and Aso will resign as prime minister before the Lower House general election. 14) Ruling parties to turn heat on DPJ at Lower House committee MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) July 10, 2009 The House of Representatives Special Committee on Political Ethics Establishment and Revision of the Public Offices Election Law held a meeting to discuss a bill amending the Political Fund Control Law, which was submitted by the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). The ruling parties, which are searching for clues on turning the tables for the next Lower House election, pursued DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's false political funding report issue. LDP Election Strategy Council Deputy Chairman Yoshihide Suga pointed out that the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry issued documents necessary for tax exemptions for political donations by 75 persons (totaling 11,862,000 yen),which Hatoyama's political fund management organization corrected in its reports on political funds for fiscal 2005, 2006, and 2007. The ministry admitted it. Base on this, Suga repeatedly pursed the Hatoyama issue, saying: "Is TOKYO 00001572 012 OF 012 it a fraud if the donations are used for tax returns?" Hatoyama last evening stressed to reporters at party headquarters: "I believe firmly that there was no tax evasion. I have absolutely no idea." The ruling camp intends to demand Hatoyama's fund management organization to submit accounting records at a committee meeting on July 10 based on the Diet Testimony Law. The DPJ, in protest of the holding of committee sessions, is expected to be absent from a meeting today. ZUMWALT