LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002664 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL EAGR JA SUBJECT: LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADERSHIP DISCUSSES PARTY DIRECTION WITH DCM REF: TOKYO 2543 TOKYO 00002664 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James P. Zumwalt, reasons 1.4 (b /d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Headquarters Director General Hitoshi Motojuku and Secretary General Tadamori Oshima described their party's plans to return to its conservative roots, and focus on preventing the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) from attaining an independent majority in next summer's Upper House election in a November 4 call by the DCM. Hoping to win at least 45 seats, the LDP will focus on educating the electorate regarding the DPJ's allegedly unsustainable economic "handout" policies and excessive government spending. Three LDP groups are studying policy, election strategy and opposition party scandals in preparation for the Upper House elections. Motojuku voiced confidence regarding the election, noting that DPJ scandals would surface. The DPJ is allowing domestic political concerns to override national security concerns on issues such as the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF). The FRF agreement, while not perfect, is the best one attainable and should be implemented in its current form, Oshima said. The DPJ's attempt to wrest policy control from the ministries and put it in the hands of politicians will end in failure, he added. The LDP will remain a strong proponent of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and would cooperate with the DPJ in support of Japanese assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan, but cannot support Hatoyama's call for a new East Asia Community (EAC) architecture, he added. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The DCM met November 4 with LDP Headquarters Director General Hitoshi Motojuku and newly-appointed LDP Secretary General Tadamori Oshima. Reflecting on his LDP experience spanning 40 years and 18 prime ministers, Motojuku noted that he has little experience in being a member of an opposition party and he echoed LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki in saying that the LDP has to "return to its conservative roots" and respond to the "will of the people." Somewhat paradoxically, Motojuku said that Japanese voters have a short-sighted "give me" sense of entitlement, and that the LDP needs to "educate" the Japanese electorate about the DPJ's unsustainable economic "handout" policies, as well as a new international environment of crises, terrorism, and ethnic wars in which Japan must exist. What role Japan will play in the new international environment is still a question, he continued, and the LDP will take up this and other questions point-by-point with the Democratic Party of Japan during Diet budget committee interpellation sessions next year. ¶3. (C) Motojuku, in comments critical of the DPJ, noted that the LDP intends to question how the DPJ will maintain and build the U.S.-Japan Alliance, which he emphasized has been and should continue to be the cornerstone of Japan's security policy. Motojuku pointed to the FRF as a decision which is in Japan's national interest and needs to be implemented as is, even if the general population disagrees. The DPJ cannot let domestic concerns override international security considerations with regard to the FRF, Motojuku emphasized. The DPJ's plan to replace the bureaucrat-led policy-making system with a politically-led policy-making system will be "impossible" to implement or sustain, Motojuku added, because Japanese bureaucrats have decades of experience, something which the DPJ lacks. ¶4. (C) Referring to areas where the LDP could potentially cooperate with the DPJ, Motojuku stated that the LDP strongly supports assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan, but that the timing is not right to create an East Asia Community (EAC) as envisioned by Prime Minister Hatoyama. The LDP also supports the continuation of Indian Ocean refueling operations, he added. ¶5. (C) Turning to next summer's Upper House elections, Motojuku said the LDP was optimistic it could do well. The LDP hopes to win at least 45 seats in both the single district and proportional representation races, and prevent the DPJ from obtaining an independent majority. Motojuku mentioned that LDP lawmakers are forming 3 groups--one to focus on election strategies, another to study policies, and a third focusing on opposition scandals. The LDP's election strategy will be to showcase policies that address unemployment, social security and economic measures that will lead to a domestic economic recovery and increased competitiveness of Japanese enterprises. He pointed to the TOKYO 00002664 002.2 OF 002 automotive and electronics industries as sectors which the LDP feels can lead Japan's recovery. In contrast, over the next year and in particular during next year's Diet budget committee interpellations, the LDP plans to raise the fundamental inconsistencies in the DPJ's policies, which he characterized as excessive deficit-financing, pork-barrel handouts and distributive measures aimed only at buying votes that ultimately will turn Japan into a socialist state. The LDP also plans to utilize print media to point out these issues, cryptically adding that the DPJ has many scandals that will surface in the coming months. ¶6. (C) LDP Secretary General Oshima echoed many of Motojuku's comments in a separate meeting with the DCM. Oshima said that the LDP strongly believes the U.S.-Japan relationship should continue to be the central axis of Japan's security policy, and that the current FRF agreement, the product of 13 years of effort by the United States and the GOJ, should be implemented in its current form. While not a perfect solution, Oshima said, the current FRF agreement is the best one possible. ¶7. (C) Turning to agricultural issues, Oshima said that completing a free trade agreement with the United States would not be an easy task as agricultural problems would be a sticking point, as they had been in the past. Referring these remaining difficult agricultural disputes to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for arbitration might be the best solution, he opined. Oshima acknowledged the DCM's point that the United States puts great importance on food security and safety, and that since Japan has to depend on foreign sources of food to meet domestic demand, it can depend on the United States. Oshima countered, however, that inexpensive U.S. agricultural imports invariably invite strong opposition from domestic agricultural groups, rice farmers in particular. ROOS