DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 08/11/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 001832 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: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 08/11/09 INDEX: (1) Mr Hatoyama should clarify his position on the three non-nuclear principles (Sankei) (2) Pundit on ignorance in debate on two non-nuclear principles; nuclear arms were removed from U.S. ships 18 years ago (Aera) (3) Employment measures in manifestos of LDP, DPJ (Part 1): Rescue non-regular workers (Yomiuri) (4) DPJ administration initiative: Struggling to realize government led by politicians (Nikkei) (5) TOP HEADLINES (6) EDITORIALS (7) Prime Minister's schedule, August 10 (Nikkei) ARTICLES: (1) Mr Hatoyama should clarify his position on the three non-nuclear principles SANKEI (Page 2) (Unabridged editorial) August 11, 2009 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama has suddenly indicated that the codification of the three non-nuclear principles of not possessing, producing, and introducing nuclear arms is "an option" and will be considered. Mr. Hatoyama had just stated last month that the three principles should be "discussed thoroughly by Japan and the United States," including the possibility of reviewing them, in light of North Korea's nuclear threat. Considering he had also shown on August 4 a cautious attitude toward codification, asserting that "codification brings the risk of the amendment of the law," his inconsistency astonishes. It is beyond comprehension that one day he talks about reviewing the three principles and another day suggests codifying them. It would appear that he was responding to the Social Democratic Party's demand to enshrine into law the three principles. If he assigns higher priority to the coalition of opposition parties than to Japan's security, the DPJ can hardly be regarded as a responsible political party capable of taking the reins of government. Mr. Hatoyama should clarify his position on this issue. Faced with the new reality of the North Korean threat and the modernization of China's nuclear arsenal, Japan and South Korea have come to have concerns about the U.S. nuclear umbrella. The Japan-U.S. Security Subcommittee (SSC) meeting last month kicked off regular discussions on extended deterrence, and it is reckoned that the sharing of nuclear arms between Japan and the U.S. or Japan's possession of its own nuclear capability also needs to be debated. There is a strong possibility that the nuclear deterrence protecting Japan will not be effective and the nuclear umbrella will become a fiction if even U.S. ships carrying nuclear weapons are prohibited from calling at Japanese ports or passing through Japanese waters. Considering the new situation after the end of the Cold War, it is quite natural to review the three non-nuclear principles that do not allow nuclear weapons to be brought into Japan. Sankei Shimbun has long advocated such a review. Does Mr. Hatoyama want to make the fiction permanent through TOKYO 00001832 002 OF 007 codification or does he want to face reality squarely and review the three principles? The issue is how to make expanded deterrence work effectively for Japan's peace and security. It is unrealistic to deny this. There is another question relating to the nuclear issue. The DPJ's manifesto (campaign pledges) mentions only "working for the denuclearization of Northeast Asia." Secretary General Katsuya Okada and other DPJ officials advocate denuclearizing Japan and North and South Korea completely and demanding a no-first-use pledge from the U.S., thus partially stepping outside the nuclear umbrella. In contrast to this, the Liberal Democratic Party manifesto calls for "enhancing the reliability of Japan-U.S. security arrangements," including the strengthening of expanded deterrence. Prime Minister Taro Aso is also negative and doubtful about demanding a no-first-use pledge from the U.S. The nuclear umbrella symbolizes deterrence through the Japan-U.S. alliance. There is a huge difference between strengthening the nuclear umbrella and stepping outside of it. We also want a clear answer from Mr. Hatoyama on this point. (2) Pundit on ignorance in debate on two non-nuclear principles; nuclear arms were removed from U.S. ships 18 years ago AERA (Pages 60-61) (Full) August 10, 2009 Shunji Taoka, commentator Some Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Diet members and hawkish pundits are arguing for abolishing the ban on bringing nuclear weapons into Japan, one of the three non-nuclear principles, and allowing U.S. military vessels carrying nuclear arms to call at Japanese ports to strengthen deterrence as a countermeasure against North Korea's nuclear tests and missile launches. Furthermore, former Vice Foreign Minister Ryohei Murata's testimony that there was a secret agreement on tacitly allowing U.S. ships carrying nuclear arms to visit Japanese ports and recognition of this fait accompli have subserved the advocacy of two non-nuclear principles (instead of three). In light of this, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama is talking about a "flexible response," while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has reacted strongly and is advocating the "codification of the three non-nuclear principles." DPJ and the SDP are now at loggerheads. However, all the protagonists seem to be mistaken in their belief that U.S. forces are keen on bringing nuclear arms into Japan, and if this is allowed, ships carrying nuclear weapons will call at Japanese ports. In reality, on September 27, 1991, U.S. President George Bush (senior) issued a statement calling for reductions in nuclear arms, and all nuclear devices on nuclear-powered attack submarines, cruisers, frigates, and other warships were removed. By 1993, even the deployment of "Tomahawk" cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads was discontinued. Among all U.S. vessels, the only ships armed with nuclear weapons are 14 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines. Eight of them are based in the Pacific coast states of Washington and Oregon. They take turns being on standby in waters off Alaska, and it is improbable that they will ever call at Japanese ports. TOKYO 00001832 003 OF 007 Excepting nuclear-powered ballistic submarines, crew members of other submarines, aircraft carriers, and surface ships regarded nuclear weapons as a nuisance. Marines armed with loaded guns had to constantly guard the ammunition depot against the catastrophic seizure or use of nuclear weapons by unauthorized persons; ships had to embark nuclear safety officers; and monthly exercises were conducted to deal with various hypothetical nuclear accidents. The removal of nuclear weapons was greeted with enthusiasm because it was absurd to devote manpower to and fret about something they will likely never use at the expense of time that could be devoted to other duties and training. In the past 18 years, most of the nuclear weapons that were stored on land have been disposed of and most officers do not conduct nuclear-accident training. Nuclear arms have been completely removed from South Korea, and the nuclear bombs remaining in Western Europe are supposed to be disposed of this year. It is absurd to be talking today about port calls by ships carrying nuclear arms. Unless Japan threatens to arm itself with nuclear devices if nuclear-weapon-armed U.S ships do not call at its ports, such discussion is divorced from reality. (3) Employment measures in manifestos of LDP, DPJ (Part 1): Rescue non-regular workers YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) August 11, 2009 About 230,000 workers, including dispatched or temporary workers, have lost their jobs since the economy started going downhill last fall. Many youngsters remain unable to have a vision for their future while working in unstable conditions. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) list measures to improve working conditions for non-regular workers in their policy platforms (manifestos) for the upcoming House of Representatives election. LDP calls for ban on dispatch as day laborers In its manifesto, the LDP lays out plans to increase jobs by buoying up the economy, promising to achieve 2% annual economic growth in the latter half of fiscal 2010 and to secure about 2 million jobs in the next three years. The party supports a ban on the one-day employment of non-regular workers based on the bill amending the Worker Dispatch Law that was abandoned with the dissolution of the last Diet session. Based on the government's series of emergency economic stimulus measures, the LDP pledges to give vocational training to one million citizens over the next three years as part of efforts to strengthen the job safety net, as well as to offer housing and livelihood support for those who lost their jobs and have no house. The manifesto also proposes setting up an office tasked with offering job and livelihood assistance and helping part-timers (job-hoppers aged between 25 and 39) become regular workers. Further, the manifesto suggests creating a support system for companies eager to accept female ex-workers and providing persons aged 50 or older with counseling service or education assistance as employment promotion measures for elderly citizens. DPJ proposes minimum hourly wage of 1,000 yen TOKYO 00001832 004 OF 007 The DPJ stresses in its manifesto measures the need to strengthen the nation's job safety net, including such measures as creating a support system for job-seekers with a monthly allowance of up to 100,000 yen given to those in training and raising the average minimum wage. Defining the job-creation challenge as a priority task, besides such pledges as a monthly child-raising allowance pledges, the DPJ intends to set aside 1.1 trillion to finance the employment measures over the four years starting in fiscal 2010. Based on the view that "easy-going deregulatory measures made the job market unstable," as said by a senior member, the DPJ intends to ban the dispatch of temporary workers if they are dispatched for only less than two months or to manufacturing scenes in principle. As part of efforts to increase the number of regular workers for jobs other than those that require expertise, the party also intends to restrict the dispatch of workers by employee-leasing agencies. The manifesto also lays out plans to raise the minimum wage to 1,000 yen an hour and to expand the scope of workers covered by the nation's employment insurance system. The party also proposes introducing a system under which workers engaged in the same job receive the same wage and doing a fact-finding survey regarding economic difficulties. (4) DPJ administration initiative: Struggling to realize government led by politicians NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) August 11, 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) intends to complete the formation of a cabinet by mid-September and begin drafting the fiscal 2010 cabinet, if it takes the reins of government in the Lower House election on August 30. The new government at its first cabinet meeting would set up a national strategy bureau directly reporting to the prime minister by a government ordinance in order to take a second look at the conventional method of budget compilation. It would thus speed up efforts to secure fiscal sources to finance measures included in its manifesto. The DPJ is now devising ways to pave the way for realizing a government led by politicians in the run-up to budget drafting before year's end, which is to start within three months following the launch of the cabinet. National strategy bureau to play central role: Only three months left for revisions to budget items "The current budget has been compiled by each government agency. Politicians will get involved in budget preparations starting in December. We would revise the prepared budget from scratch and drop unnecessary items." Secretary General Katsuya Okada in a speech given in Tokyo on the 10th announced that if the DPJ takes the reins of government, it would take a second look at the budget compilation for the next fiscal year, based on a top-down system. Policy Research Council Chairman Masayuki Naoshima in July, when the budget request outlines for the next fiscal year were approved at a cabinet meeting categorically said that the DPJ would revise the budget from scratch, noting, "We will compile budgets without being fettered (by those prepared by the previous government). The decision made this time is, therefore, meaningless." According to TOKYO 00001832 005 OF 007 the established practice, each government agency must submit its budget requests by August 31. They then negotiate with the Finance Minister until the year's end. However, the new administration's policy would greatly change the existing budget compilation process. Securing 3 trillion yen by constraining spending The DPJ manifesto advocates the implementation of policies costing 7.1 trillion yen, including the provision of 50 percent of child allowance and the abolition of the provisional gasoline tax, in fiscal 2010. Its basic policy is to secure funding resources by totally revising budget items. It would also end the implementation of some items in the fiscal 2009 extra budget, which totals roughly 14 trillion yen, to make up for shortfalls. It would scrutinize 4.3 trillion yen reserved for 46 funds, which were criticized as being padded during the previous regular Diet session, and 2.9 trillion yen for expenses to build facilities for various government agencies. It would also examine expenses allocated for the construction of a hall to display anime cartoons. The plan is to secure 3 trillion yen to 4 trillion yen, by cutting back on the extra budget to be submitted to the extraordinary Diet session that will be convened in the fall. Actual deadline for cabinet formation is September 18 Revising budget items drastically in a short period of time requires a powerful mechanism led by politicians. The special Diet session, where a prime minister is designated after a Lower House election, must be convened 30 days after the election, according to the Constitution. If the newly-elected prime minister is to give a speech at the UN General Assembly in late September or take part in the Group of 20 financial summit (G-20),the formation of a cabinet must be completed by mid-September. September 18 would be the actual deadline if the attestation ceremony is to be ended before consecutive holidays, such as the Autumnal Equinox Day, in September. Chances are high that there will actually only be two weeks or so for the administration transition period, for which the DPJ intended to secure enough time. For this reason, the DPJ would first set up a national strategy bureau, which would play a central role in compiling the budget, based on a government ordinance. It envisages a scenario of holding an administrative revamping conference tasked with identifying wasteful administrative spending items during the extraordinary Diet session, which the DPJ plans to convene in early October, as well as to enact related bills to grant authority to the panel. (5) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Prosecutors keep audiotape from questioning of Sugaya, acquitted in murder case, over two other cases exempted from prosecution Mainichi: Akahata: Eighteen people missing due to torrential rain caused by Typhoon No. 9: Damage spreads in eastern Japan Yomiuri: U.S., European countries eye bluefin trade ban TOKYO 00001832 006.2 OF 007 Nikkei: Number of municipalities cutting hospital fees for children up to junior high school age tops 500 Sankei: Sankei-FNN joint poll: DPJ still has lead Tokyo Shimbun: Lay judges question crime victims at Saitama District Court in first court proceeding (6) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) 2009 general election: Child-raising assistance; Vie for investment in the future (2) Improved economic indexes: Economy still in crucial stage Mainichi: (1) 2009 Lower House election: Education needs ideals and vision (2) Improving people's livelihoods: Should political parties take such an inward-looking stance? Yomiuri: (1) Toll-free expressways: The people will end up footing the bill for pork-barrel largesse (2) Police white paper: People's resistance to crimes will prevent them from becoming victims Nikkei: (1) 2009 Lower House election: Policies are being questioned; Decentralization will not move forwards without concrete measures (2) Realignment of chemical companies aimed at creation of growth potential Sankei: (1) Three nonnuclear principles: Mr. Hatoyama should clarify his stance (2) Use of stimulant drugs spreading, dangers being overlooked Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Election in Afghanistan: Take first step toward independence (2) Abolition of statute of limitations: Discussion involving people needed Akahata: (1) Discussion on doshu-sei regional bloc system: True aim of local administration forgotten? (7) Prime Minister's schedule, August 10 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) August 11, 2009 10:08 Met former Environment Minister Suzuki at the Kantei. 16:57 Met Thai Ambassador Suvidhya. TOKYO 00001832 007.2 OF 007 17:16 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura. 18:21 Underwent acupuncture treatment in Kita-Aoyama. 20:27 Returned to his official residence. ZUMWALT