JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 12/10/09

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 12/10/09 INDEX: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) Futenma relocation: 4) Kitazawa says relocation of Futenma facility to Guam would be difficult (Asahi) 5) Kitazawa accepts U.S. explanation; tries to quickly draw curtain on idea to relocate Futenma facility to Guam (Asahi) 6) MOD remarks there is pessimism about the relationship of trust between Japan and the U.S. (Yomiuri) 7) Former Vice Defense Minister Moriya says some Okinawans are tough negotiators (Asahi) 8) Japan-U.S. summit at COP15 put off (Yomiuri) 9) DCM Zumwalt meets with DPJ 's Koshiishi (Mainichi) Foreign relations: 10) Ozawa-led delegation leaves for China today (Tokyo Shimbun) 11) Foreign Minister : quid pro quo for North's reopening investigation into abductions (Nikkei) 12) Government to continue grant program for northern Okinawa (Sankei) Economy: 13) Delta to boost aid for JAL (Asahi) Space: 14) Study group proposes establishing lunar base by 2020 (Yomiuri) Politics: 15) Coalition party chiefs to powwow tomorrow (Nikkei) 16) DPJ to introduce bill to increase number of parliamentary secretaries (Asahi) 17) SDP to investigate former vice defense minister's allegation that business interests are roiling Futenma issue (Yomiuri) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Japan to demand emerging countries be required to reduce emissions Mainichi: Nikai's secretary indicted in summary procedure Yomiuri: Volkswagen to buy 19.9 percent of Suzuki's shares Nikkei: Seven and I aims to increase sales in China five-fold Sankei: Prime Minister Hatoyama intends to admit to "gift" fund contributions from mother Tokyo Shimbun: 84 independent administrative institutions sent funds improperly TOKYO 00002821 002 OF 010 Akahata: Hatoyama administration's tax policy unacceptable 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Futenma issue: Prime Minister Hatoyama must avoid crisis in Japan-U.S. relationship (2) Nikai's secretary: Need for drastic measures to prevent falsified political donations Mainichi: (1) Indictment of Nikai's secretary: Ruling, opposition parties must move toward amending law (2) Taxpayer identification number system: Wide-ranging debate should be conducted Yomiuri: (1) Futenma talks suspended: Prime Minister Hatoyama must make decision to avert crisis in Japan-U.S. alliance (2) Summary indictment: Nikai cannot avoid taking responsibility Nikkei: (1) With delay in decision on Futenma, growing possibility of three crises (2) Suzuki, VW eye markets in emerging countries Sankei: (1) Postponement of Japan-U.S. talks: Reason is Prime Minister Hatoyama's "breach of trust" (2) Ozawa-led delegation to China: We hope the delegation holds discussions that will advance the national interest Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Japan-U.S. relations: Tokyo, Washington must make a further effort for building relationship of trust (2) Cut in resident tax: Nagoya City has moved one step forward at any rate Akahata: (1) Intelligence-gathering satellite project should be abolished 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, December 9 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 10, 2009 Japan time 09:56 Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). 10:14 Met with Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Nagatsuma. 12:01 Award ceremony for persons of merit in the promotion of barrier-free universal design. 13:25 Met with State Minister for National Policy Kan and Deputy Cabinet Office Minister Furukawa, joined by Hirano. 14:07 Council for Science and Technology Policy. Then met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno. 15:52 Left Haneda Airport by government plane to attend the Bali Democracy Forum. Local time Evening Arrived at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, Indonesia. Stayed TOKYO 00002821 003 OF 010 overnight at Grand Hyatt Bali. 4) Guam relocation "difficult": Kitazawa ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) December 10, 2009 Hisashi Ishimatsu GUAM-Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, who is now visiting Guam, indicated yesterday that it would be difficult to move the entire functionality of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to Guam, while some ruling party lawmakers have been calling for relocation of the entire facility to Guam. "It strays too far from our agreement with the United States (on the current Futenma relocation plan)," Kitazawa told accompanying reporters. The current Japan-U.S. agreement is to move 8,000 Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam along with the planned construction of an alternative facility for Futenma airfield. The Social Democratic Party, one of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's two coalition partners, and some of Okinawa's local mayors have been insisting that the government should consider relocating Futenma airfield to Guam instead of building a new facility. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama also said on Dec. 4: "They're talking about relocating the Futenma base in its entirety. When we think about U.S. deterrence, we should consider whether it's appropriate to do so." Concerning that move, Kitazawa indicated that the Futenma relocation itself would not make headway. "When we're trying to do something while expecting that, we may hit a snag," Kitazawa said. He also expressed concern, indicating that a deferred solution to the Futenma issue would have a serious impact on the global transformation of U.S. forces. Furthermore, Kitazawa said it would be "quite difficult" to proceed with the idea of moving the Marines to Guam before resolving the Futenma issue. "They want to resolve the issue as early as possible and go ahead with the project," he said. "We need to respond to their feelings properly," he added. 5) Defense minister tries to put end to Guam idea, shows understanding for U.S. side's explanation ASAHI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) December 10, 2009 Hisashi Ishimatsu in Guam, Hiroshi Ito in Washington An idea announced by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to Guam has already hit a snag. Upon taking a firsthand look at the situation in Guam, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa yesterday tried to quickly put an end to the Guam idea, saying that it would be difficult to realize it. "From what I've heard from many people, I feel there is no room in Guam for an additional air station," Kitazawa said to the press corps traveling with him after touring U.S. air and marine bases on Guam on Dec. 9. His conclusion is that given the ongoing global transformation of U.S. forces, making changes to the existing plan TOKYO 00002821 004 OF 010 would be difficult. Earlier this month, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) threatened to bolt from the coalition government, and as a result the Hatoyama administration decided to postpone a solution to the relocation issue until early next year or later. In late November, the SDP made an abrupt proposal to consider such places as Guam and Iwo Jima as possible candidate sites. Guam has emerged as a possible relocation site because Prime Minster Hatoyama also expressed his willingness to consider a move to the U.S. island. Mayor Yoichi Iha of Ginowan, home to Futenma Air Station, also pointed to the need to examine the possibilities for Guam, saying hasty discussions must not be conducted premised on relocation within Okinawa. This has resulted in rising expectations in Okinawa. To begin with, Guam is specified in the existing plan, agreed upon by Tokyo and Washington in 2006, as the site where some 8,000 Marines will be transferred from Okinawa. The Hatoyama administration is exploring ways to move the Futenma base itself in addition to the 8,000 Marines. In November, the U.S. Navy released an environmental impact assessment report on the relocation of Marines to Guam which says that 8,552 Marines - a number greater than that agreed upon between the two countries - will be relocated. This has resulted in the observation that the United States might have a more extensive relocation plan in mind than the one agreed upon. Nevertheless, the United States needs to keep Marines in Okinawa to conduct landing and special operations on the front line in time of a contingency at the Taiwan Strait or in North Korea. It takes three hours for an aircraft to travel between Guam and Taiwan and three days for a vessel. Furthermore, there has been no change in the U.S. position that (1) it will move Marines from Okinawa to Guam centering on command functions and will keep front-line troops in Okinawa; and (2) Okinawa needs at least one alternative air base besides Kadena to deal with contingencies. "Moving Futenma to Guam is a too great a change for the United States to accept," a Japan-U.S. relations expert said. In Guam, an environmental impact assessment is underway, which is required for building a command center and helicopter tarmacs. Construction work is scheduled to start as early as next February. The Japanese government has disbursed 34.6 billion yen for Guam relocation costs this fiscal year. The Hatoyama cabinet has decided to disburse about 50 billion yen in the next fiscal year. The plan is designed for Japan to shoulder up to 2.8 billion dollars (250 billion yen) by 2014. Kitazawa visited Guam at this time in a bid to demonstrate Tokyo's eagerness to steadily advance the Marine Guam relocation plan to Washington as well as to show maximum consideration to the SDP, which insists on examining the option of moving Futenma to Guam. But there are no signs that the Defense Ministry has earnestly considered the Guam option. Being briefed by the U.S. side on Dec. 9, Kitazawa has subscribed to the view that U.S. Marines are stationed in Okinawa out of strategic necessity. The fear that the discussion on Futenma might spin further out of control if TOKYO 00002821 005 OF 010 expectations for Guam relocation mount without any prospect for realization has prompted Kitazawa to try to quickly close the curtain on the idea. 6) Defense minister: Pessimism is growing about Japan-U.S. relationship of trust YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) December 10, 2009 Yoshikazu Shirakawa, Tumon (U.S. territory of Guam) On Dec. 9 Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa visited among other places a district in northern Guam where the U.S. military plans to transfer about 8,000 U.S. Marines in Okinawa. In a press conference after the tour, Kitazawa said regarding the possible transfer of Marines from Okinawa to Guam with no prospect in sight for a settlement of the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa: "It would be difficult. Pessimism is growing about the future of the relationship of trust between Japan and the U.S." 7) Former vice defense minister Moriya in magazine article: "Okinawan people are tough negotiators" ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) December 10, 2009 Writing for the edition of the monthly magazine Chuo Koron to go on sale on Dec. 10, former administrative vice defense minister Takemasa Moriya gives the following advice to the Hatoyama cabinet, which has been straying off course over the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture: "The Hatoyama cabinet does not understand that some of the Okinawan people engaged in negotiations with the central government are tough." Under the government led by the Liberal Democratic Party, Moriya was involved in negotiations with Okinawa. He participated in the process of formulating the existing plan to relocate the Futenma facility to the Henoko district in Nago. In an interview with the Chuo Koron, Moriya pointed out that interests over land reclamation are behind the current deadlock in the negotiations. He criticizes a call from Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and others for moving the planned construction site further offshore, a plan that would widen the area to be reclaimed: "They are apparently trying to put off the settlement of the issue." Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has indicated that he would give priority to local people's intentions, eyeing the upcoming Nago mayoral election in January and other events in Okinawa. Speaking of Hatoyama's stance, Moriya notes: "That is the strategy the Okinawan people have used in negotiations with the central government, aiming to put off the solution of issues. Many people in Okinawa are hoping to see the central government take responsibility for dealing with the issue." Moriya got a prison sentence on charges of bribery and violating the Diet Testimony Law over the procurement of defense equipment and has entered an appeal. 8) COP15: Japan-U.S. summit put off TOKYO 00002821 006 OF 010 YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) December 10, 2009 Prime Minister Hatoyama on Dec. 9 revealed that he had not yet proposed to the U.S. a bilateral summit to discuss the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. The prime minister appears eager to hold a meeting (with the U.S. President) on the sidelines of the summit-level meeting of the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change (COP15). However, it is now clear that coordination for a meeting has made little progress. A growing view is that it would be difficult to realize full-fledged talks, since the U.S. is negative toward the idea. On the afternoon of the 9th the Prime Minister told the press corps at his office: "The first thing we should do is to finalize the government's stance (toward the Futenma relocation issue). I would like to hold a meeting if it is necessary or if there is an opportunity. I have not yet formally proposed a meeting." The prime minister had earlier indicated his intention to finalize the government's stance toward the Futenma issue by the COP15. He intends to put off a decision until next year in order to search for a revision of the existing plan for relocating the Futenma facility to the coastal part of Champ Schwab in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture. The prime minister remains unable to propose a meeting to the U.S., because of growing opposition to and a backlash against his policy stance both in Japan and the U.S. Worrying that Japan-U.S. relations will deteriorate, Foreign Minister Okada is calling for a settlement of the issue before the year end. The prime minister has reportedly expressed displeasure at Okada's call for a settlement this year, reportedly asking his aides, "Why is he saying such a thing?" The Japanese government has not made progress toward unifying the views of ministers. The U.S. side strongly distrusts the prime minister. Since the President's schedule in Copenhagen is tight, some close to the prime minister are beginning to take the view that the U.S. will not allow the two leaders to meet, and even if they did meet, they would only engage in casual conversation. 9) DPJ's Koshiishi meets with U.S. Embassy minister over Futenma issue MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) December 10, 2009 Yesterday U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Zumwalt from the U.S. Embassy in Japan called at the Diet and met there with Azuma Koshiishi, chair of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's lawmakers seated in the House of Councillors, to exchange views on the pending issue of relocating the U.S. military's Futenma airfield in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. During the meeting, Zumwalt sought to settle the Futenma relocation issue as early as possible. "We want this issue resolved at the earliest possible date," he said. Koshiishi replied, "We will have to take time (to reach a conclusion); otherwise we will become even more troubled." Thus the DPJ floor leader sought understanding for the Japanese government's response. TOKYO 00002821 007 OF 010 10) Ozawa along with 143 lawmakers to visit China today: Is the aim a show of power? TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) December 10, 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan's delegation led Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa as honorary head will visit Beijing on Dec. 10. The delegation consists of 143 lawmakers, and totals approximately 630 people including private citizens. The visit is an activity of the Great Wall Program, a grass-roots exchange project launched by the Japan-China exchange talks organization formed by the DPJ and the Chinese Communist Party, and Ozawa, when he was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. Lawmakers close to Ozawa, including honorary deputy delegation chief Azuma Koshiishi, head of the DPJ caucus in the Upper House, Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka, chief of the delegation, and lawmakers who were for the first time elected in the August Lower House election will participate in the delegation. Ozawa is expected to meet with President Hu Jintao on the 10th. He said, "Our visit is basically a grass-roots exchange. We have no plans to discuss types of issues that should be taken up by the government." However, his visiting China along with more than one-third of DPJ lawmakers is presumably intended to demonstrate to China his power in the Hatoyama administration. Ozawa will visit South Korea on the 11th on his own and have a dinner meeting with President Lee Myung Bak. They are expected to exchange views on the question of whether foreign nationals with permanent resident status in Japan should be vested with the right to vote in local elections. 11) FM Okada says rewards needed if North Korea reinvestigates abduction cases NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) December 10, 2009 Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met the Association of Families of Victims Abducted by North Korea at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Dec. 9. He said: "If North Korea responds in good faith, Japan will have to consider rewards." He indicated that if the DPRK begins to reinvestigate the abduction cases, Japan is willing to lift certain sanctions, as per the agreement reached at the bilateral working-level meeting in Shenyang, China, in August 2008. Shigeo Iizuka, chairman of the association, asked Okada to "request that the U.S. and China send out a message (to North Korea) to resolve the abduction issue at an early date." Okada said: "Our policy to work for a comprehensive solution to the nuclear, missile, and abduction issues remains unchanged." Meanwhile, a senior MOFA official revealed on Dec. 9 that Stephen Bosworth, U.S. special envoy for North Korea policy who is currently visiting the DPRK, will be in Japan on Dec. 12-13. Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka and other officials will receive a briefing on the U.S.-DPRK talks from him and discuss future policy toward North Korea. TOKYO 00002821 008 OF 010 12) Government to continue economic development measures for northern Okinawa in connection with accepting Futenma replacement facility, contradicting its policy of reviewing relocation site SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) December 10, 2009 It was learned that the Hatoyama administration will continue beyond FY2010 the economic development measures for the northern area of the main island of Okinawa, including Nago City, which has been identified as the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) under the Japan-U.S. agreement. When Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was in the opposition camp, he used to criticize the policy of linking the acceptance of the Futenma replacement facility with economic development measures as a carrot-and-stick tactic, but now he is adopting a contradictory policy of continuing the economic development measures and subsidies paid out to local governments in relation to U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) realignment even though he is reviewing the existing Futenma relocation plan. The economic development measures for northern Okinawa consist of the injection of 100 billion yen into the development of Okinawa and the 12 municipalities in its northern region over 10 years from FY09. They were announced after Nago agreed to accept the Futenma replacement facility. Some 77 billion yen has already been spent for public work projects under this scheme. The Hatoyama administration will change the name of these economic development measures to "special development measures for the revitalization of northern Okinawa" and has decided to extend the allocations by two years to FY2011 after the government's overall economic development program for Okinawa expires. Seven billion yen will be allocated in FY2010. Furthermore, USFJ realignment subsidies being paid to municipalities accepting new military facilities from FY2007 based on the degree of their cooperation with realignment projects under the special measures law for USFJ realignment will continue to be paid out to 39 municipalities nationwide, including Nago and Ginoza Village, which is on the flight route for helicopters using the proposed Futenma replacement facility. A total of 9.1 billion yen is being allotted in the budget for this purpose. If the existing Futenma relocation plan is scrapped as a result of the Hatoyama administration's review, the economic development measures and realignment subsidies will have lost their purpose. Therefore, the government intends to "make budget allocations for Okinawa's genuine economic development," (according to Okinawa Affairs Minister Seiji Maehara). It plans to continue the development measures by changing the purpose of the appropriations. 13) Delta Airlines to boost capital assistance to JAL ASAHI (Page 10) (Excerpts) December 10, 2009 Richard Anderson, CEO of Delta Airlines of the U.S., which has announced its readiness to extend capital assistance to Japan Airlines (JAL),on Dec. 9 met with JAL President Haruka Nishimatsu and conveyed the carrier's plan to boost capital assistance to JAL. The size of assistance the company had previously indicated was almost on the same level as that proposed by its rival carrier TOKYO 00002821 009 OF 010 American Airlines. Delta Airlines aims to have JAL switch to SkyTeam, an aviation alliance it leads, by increasing capital assistance. Until today, Delta has offered capital assistance totaling 1.02 billion dollars (approximately 89.8 billion yen),including investment worth 500 million dollars and compensation for the loss JAL will incur when it shifts to Delta-led alliance. The carrier has apparently proposed an increase in the cost involved in shifting to its alliance. Anderson also met with Transport Minister Seiji Maehara at the Transport Ministry on the previous day. He explained to Maehara details of Delta's proposal to JAL. He also stressed the advantage of JAL shifting from Onewolrd, to which JAL currently belongs, to SkyTeam. In response, Maehara said, "It is up to JAL to decide on its business partner." However, he added, "Since the Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan (ETIC) will help JAL using taxpayers' money, we would like to responsibly keep an eye on JAL's decision." He thus indicated that the government will be involved in JAL's decision to choose its business partner. 14) Government panel plans to build base on moon by around 2020 YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) December 10, 2009 In a meeting of the government's panel on lunar exploration yesterday, Chairman Katsuhiko Shirai, Waseda University president, presented a plan to construct an unmanned, robot-controlled base at the south pole of the moon by around 2020 and bring rocks from the far side of the moon back to the earth by around 2025. The Cabinet Office has announced that this plan is estimated to cost approximately 400 billion yen. The panel will discuss the plan and submit a report to the government's Space Development Strategy Headquarters, chaired by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, around next June. Under the chairman's plan, Japan would have its lunar probe land on the surface of the moon by around 2015. Electric power would be supplied for a robot at the unmanned base that the panel plans to build by around 2020. The robot would bring rocks collected from the far side of the moon back to the earth for such purposes as scientific research and utilization of natural resources. 15) Ruling party heads to meet tomorrow NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 10, 2009 Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama clarified yesterday that he will meet with Social Democratic Party head Mizuho Fukushima and People's New Party leader Shizuka Kamei on the evening of Dec. 11. Hatoyama told the press corps: "We will exchange views on various pressing issues." He is expected to discuss government policy with regard to the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, which he plans to explain to the United States, as well as the compilation of a state budget for fiscal 2010. The Prime Minister reportedly proposed holding the party-head meeting. TOKYO 00002821 010 OF 010 Hatoyama said, "The basic purpose of holding the meeting is to express my gratitude for their contribution until now to maintaining the coalition government." Meanwhile, Fukushima commented on the Futenma issue, saying, "The agreement between the three parties is a super manifesto (campaign pledge),which is stronger than each party's manifesto. The Prime Minister said during the campaign for the House of Representatives election (in August) that the Futenma base should be moved out of Okinawa or Japan," stressing that her party cannot accept the plan to relocate the base within Okinawa Prefecture. 16) DPJ political reform panel eyes lawmaker-initiated legislation to increase number of parliamentary secretaries ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpt) December 10, 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan's Political Reform Promotion Committee, headed by Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, held an executive meeting at party headquarters yesterday. The panel decided to include among bills related to Diet reform a bill amending the National Government Organization Law to increase the number of parliamentary secretaries. The panel intends to submit the bill as legislation initiated by the three ruling parties -- the DPJ, the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party - to the next ordinary Diet session, aiming to have the bill enacted at an early date. 17) SDP to investigate former vice defense minister's comment YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) December 10, 2009 In reference to former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya's comment that business interests relating to land reclamation work are a factor behind the confusion over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, Social Democratic Party (SDP) head Mizuho Fukushima, currently state minister for consumer affairs, said at a press conference yesterday, "The issue is related to the propriety of the work. The SDP will investigate and reveal the facts." ROOS