JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 12/29/09

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 12/29/09 INDEX: 1) Top headlines 2) Editorials 3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) Futenma issue: 4) Prime Minister says no Futenma accord can ignore U.S. views (Nikkei) 5) Gist of prime minister's comments (Nikkei) 6) Three ruling parties to propose in January candidate sites for Futenma facility relocation (Yomiuri) Defense & security: 7) Kyodo poll: Governors reluctant to accept U.S. forces' facilities (Tokyo Shimbun) 8) Marines to begin repair of Futenma runways (Yomiuri) Politics: 9) High court rules vote disparity of 2 is unconstitutional (Yomiuri) 10) PM indicates acceptance of high court's verdict (Nikkei) Economy: 11) Japan, India accelerate EPA negotiations (Nikkei) 12) Govt. sets target for nominal annual GDP growth of 3 PERCENT (Tokyo Shimbun) Foreign relations: 13) Japanese and Russian foreign ministers agree to speed up negotiations on territorial issue (Nikkei) Articles: 1) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: Prime Minister's policy group fails to submit accounting report on political funds Mainichi: Pre-pandemic vaccines for 10 million people expired Yomiuri: Fund for land purchase by Ozawa's fund management body: 400 million yen in time deposit a camouflage? Nikkei: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Asahi Glass, other major companies enter market for solar energy generation Sankei: All projects subsidized by Agency for Natural Resources and Energy had only one applicant Tokyo Shimbun: 300 enter Tokyo's "temp workers' village" on first day, relieved to be able to spend New Year's holidays under a roof Akahata: "Government's temp workers' village" launched; 200 inhabitants able to spend year-end, New Year's holidays there in Tokyo TOKYO 00002935 002 OF 007 2) EDITORIALS Asahi: (1) Futenma relocation: Make serious efforts to look for relocation site outside of Okinawa (2) Unconstitutional verdict on allocation of Diet seats: Take urgent steps to rectify "special single-seat districts" Mainichi: (1) Vote disparity unconstitutional: Diet has serious issue to deal with (2) Start of Futenma panel deliberations: Go back to the starting point of relocation Yomiuri: (1) Prime Minister's visit to India: Strengthen relations with new major power (2) Vote disparity in Lower House: Correcting disparity to less than two times an urgent issue Nikkei: (1) Can the government bring an end to the "two lost decades"? Sankei: (1) Constitutional revision: Don't stop at Prime Minister's statement (2) Investigation of Diet member Ishikawa: Mr. Ozawa should provide explanation on land scandal Tokyo Shimbun: (1) Sharp decline in support rating: Diet session in January will be crucial (2) Revision of medical fees: What is required to prevent disintegration of medical services? Akahata: (1) Learn lesson from termination of employment of temporary workers 3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) Prime Minister's schedule, December 28 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 29, 2009 (Local time) Morning Held talks with Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani at the Hotel Taj Mahal. Afternoon Held talks with Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata. Afterwards met Indian business leaders, including Confederation of Indian Industry President-designate Bhartia. Noon Ate lunch at the Leela Hotel in Mumbai. Afternoon Left Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on a government plane. Arrived at Palam Air Base in Delhi. Held talks at the Oberoi Hotel in the city with representatives of Japanese companies doing business in India. Afterward met PCC Chairman Pacahuri. Talked with the press corps traveling with him. Night Held talks with Sonia Gandhi, chief of India's ruling Congress party, at her private residence. Attended an informal dinner party held by Prime Minister Singh at his official TOKYO 00002935 003 OF 007 residence. 4) PM Hatoyama says "U.S. wishes cannot be ignored" in Futenma relocation decision NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) December 29, 2009 Kimihiko Takahata in New Delhi Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who is on a visit to India, held an informal meeting with reporters accompanying him on the trip on Dec. ¶28. Discussing the issue of the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, he said: "It is not possible to come up with an agreement among the ruling parties that ignores the U.S.'s wishes. I have expressed my thoughts on Guam (relocation) with that in mind." He also indicated that next May is the deadline for deciding the relocation site, including reaching an agreement between Japan and the U.S. This statement by the Prime Minister indicates his stance of giving consideration to the U.S. side's wishes, including ruling out Guam as a possible relocation site. Hatoyama also said that he will "respect" the conclusion reached by the "Okinawa base issue examination committee" (chaired by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano) of the government and the ruling parties, which held its first meeting on the same day. He indicated that, "We will look at all the possibilities and come up with the best solution for the Japan-U.S. alliance and national security," reiterating that he will be the one to make the final decision on the relocation site. 5) Gist of PM Hatoyama's remarks on Futenma relocation in New Delhi on December 28 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 29, 2009 The following is the gist of remarks made by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to reporters accompanying him on his visit to India: Futenma relocation issue We will look into all the possibilities at the meetings (of the Okinawa base issue examination committee of the government and the ruling parties) and come up with a solution that is best for the Japan-U.S. alliance and national security. Needless to say, I will respect the conclusion reached (by the committee). It is not possible to come up with an agreement among the ruling parties that ignores the U.S.'s wishes. I have expressed my thoughts on Guam (relocation) with that in mind. With Japan and the U.S. setting a schedule until next May, the government will make its final decision during this period. Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa's position (said to be negative about the existing relocation plan) is no more and no less than what his statements indicate. He gives consideration to Okinawa. I have always been consistent in my statements. Even though I have not been wavering at all, (my statements) are interpreted as wavering. Since I must not cause any misunderstanding, I should not TOKYO 00002935 004 OF 007 say much until the new relocation site is decided. 6) Futenma relocation panel agrees to submit proposals on relocation site within January YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) December 29, 2009 The government and the ruling parties held the first meeting of their "Okinawa base issue examination committee" at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) on Dec. 28. The participants agreed to submit proposals on the relocation site within January for serious consideration. They also confirmed that they will aim at reaching a conclusion by next May. However, there is still a strong opinion that it will be difficult to find a relocation site other than the coastal area of Camp Schwab under the existing relocation plan. The coordination process is expected to be tough. The committee is chaired by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, and Senior Vice Foreign Minister Koichi Takemasa and Senior Vice Defense Minister Kazuya Shimba represented the government side, while Social Democratic Party policy chief Tomoko Abe, People's New Party policy chief Mikio Shimoji, and others attended from the ruling parties. The committee will hold meetings once every week to 10 days. They also agreed to invite experts as necessary. In a related development, Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa stated at a meeting with New Party Daichi member of the House of Representatives Muneo Suzuki at the Diet on Dec. 28: "We will wait for the Kantei's decision, but we must listen to the voice of Okinawa's people. It is better not to build a military base in that beautiful sea." 7) Survey of governors: none express willingness to accept U.S. military facilities and training TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) December 29, 2009 Kyodo News Service conducted an opinion survey of the governors of 46 prefectures excluding Okinawa on the reduction in the base burden on Okinawa which hosts 74 percent of the U.S. military facilities in Japan. None of the governors surveyed said that they would "totally accept" or "accept when certain conditions are met" military training and facilities. The governors of 29 prefectures responded that the central government has exclusive authority over security policy and that the responsibility for national security rests exclusively with the central government. Fifteen governors said it is necessary to reduce the burden on Okinawa. On the relocation of the U.S. Martine Corps' Futenma Air Station, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has indicated that he plans to look for possible relocation sites other than the coastal area of Camp Schwab in the Henoko district in the city of Nago, the site agreed upon between Japan and the United States. The survey has exposed the difficulty of moving U.S. military training and facilities out of Okinawa. The survey was conducted from early December through mid-December. Replies, written or oral, were received from all 46 governors, though some refused to answer all the questions. TOKYO 00002935 005 OF 007 The governors of prefectures such as Hokkaido, Kanagawa, and Saga -- most of which host U.S. military facilities or training -- said that the burden on Okinawa must be lessened. The governors of only three prefectures -- Shizuoka, Oita, and Miyazaki -- clearly said that prefectures other than Okinawa should accept U.S. military facilities and training. The governors of Aomori and elsewhere pointed out the realignment and reduction of bases as a specific step to reduce the burden. The governors of five prefectures -- Toyama, Tottori, Tokushima, Ehime, and Kochi -- explicitly said that it would be "quite difficult" or "impossible" to accept new U.S. military facilities and training, citing a lack of appropriate sites. 8) U.S. Marines to repair runway on Futenma base, cannot wait for replacement facility to be built YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) December 29, 2009 The U.S. Marines in Okinawa announced on Dec. 28 that repair work on the runway of the Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City will start from Jan. 10. The construction work will take about three months, and aircraft, including air tankers but excluding helicopters, will be moved to the Kadena Air Base (straddling the towns of Kadena and Chatan and Okinawa City) temporarily. The U.S. government has already notified the Japanese government that if the implementation of Futenma's relocation is delayed, repair work that the U.S. has postponed so far will take place. The announcement indicates construction work will be executed as planned. Concerns spread in Okinawa on Dec. 28 that the Futenma base may remain indefinitely. In response to Yomiuri Shimbun's query, the Marines' public affairs office said that the construction work is part of routine maintenance, but added: "We have postponed the work in anticipation of the return of Futenma (in 2014),but the construction of the replacement facility will take much longer than expected, so we cannot wait any longer." With regard to Futenma's relocation, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has indicated his intention to choose a new relocation site other than Henoko in Nago City under the current relocation plan and the U.S. government has reacted strongly to this. Routine maintenance of the runway also took place in 2005, but there is an opinion in the Japanese government that undertaking repair work at this time "may be a move hinting at the indefinite retention of the Futenma base." Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha expressed his concern on Dec. 28: "It will be a problem if this is linked to the entrenchment of the Futenma base." 9) Osaka High Court rules for first time that vote disparity exceeding two in single-seat constituencies unconstitutional YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpt) Evening, December 28, 2009 The Osaka High Court earlier today handed down a ruling on a lawsuit filed by a man of Mino, Osaka Prefecture, demanding the prefectural election committee nullify the results of the Aug. 30 Lower House election, saying that the disparity in the value of votes cast in single-seat constituencies that reached 2.3-to-1 was unconstitutional. Presiding Judge Kitaru Narita declared that the TOKYO 00002935 006 OF 007 Aug. vote was unconstitutional, saying, "Under the Constitution, the legislative branch is not allowed to leave the current situation uncorrected where the disparity in the weight of one vote exceeds two." But the judge rejected the plaintiff's demand to annul the vote on the grounds that revoking the election result would seriously harm the public interest and would not serve the public welfare. 10) Prime Minister takes seriously the court's decision that vote disparity is unconstitutional NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 29, 2009 Kimihiko Takahata, New Delhi The Osaka High Court ruled on Dec. 28 that the vote disparity in the August House of Councillors was unconstitutional. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama made the following comment on the court's ruling during an informal meeting with reporters accompanying him on his trip (to India): "We must take seriously the court's decision that ruled (the vote disparity) unconstitutional." On the government's response, the Prime Minister simply said: "I must say that we should be cautious in taking the next step." Representing the government/ruling coalition, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said to the press corps: "It is a matter that concerns the foundation of the election system. I would like to see the parties and floor groups thoroughly discuss the matter." Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kazuhiro Haraguchi indicated that he takes the ruling seriously. Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tadamori Oshima also said: "Our party must conduct active discussions based on the high court's decision." 11) Hatoyama: Japan, India need to expedite EPA talks NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) December 29, 2009 MUMBAI-Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, now visiting India, met yesterday at a Mumbai hotel with Hari Bhartia, president-elect of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII),and other local business leaders. Hatoyama suggested the need for Japan and India to accelerate talks for an economic partnership agreement (EPA) between the two countries. "It's important to build a relationship of mutual trust in order for Japan and India to develop our bilateral relationship," Hatoyama said. 12) Gov't eyes 3 PERCENT growth for GDP TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Abridged) December 29, 2009 The government yesterday entered into the final phase of coordination to target an annualized growth rate of 3 PERCENT for Japan's nominal gross domestic product (GDP) in its basic course of action for "growth strategy," which shows measures for Japan to attain economic growth up to 2020. The growth strategy will uphold a numerical benchmark to boost the nation's GDP in nominal terms from the current estimate of approximately 500 trillion yen to 650 trillion yen in 2020. TOKYO 00002935 007 OF 007 The government will adopt the growth strategy in a cabinet meeting tomorrow and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will announce it. The government currently sets the nominal growth rate of Japan's GDP at 0.4 PERCENT for fiscal 2010. Given this setting, the annualized 3 PERCENT growth rate is a high target. However, it will increase GDP in nominal terms that reflect price fluctuations, aiming to attain "economic growth that people can actually feel in their daily lives," a policy course prioritized by the ruling Democratic Party of Japan. Meanwhile, for GDP in real terms, the government is aiming for a growth rate of 2 PERCENT , which excludes price fluctuations. 13) Japanese, Russian foreign ministers agree to accelerate negotiations on territorial dispute NIKKEI SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) December 29, 2009 Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on Dec. 28 held with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov the first regular consultative meeting on the Northern Territories dispute. The two ministers agreed that resolution of the dispute is absolutely imperative for the development of Japan-Russian relations and that negotiations at the minister level should be accelerated. They exchanged opinions about the "out-of-the-box approach" advocated by Russia, but made no concrete progress. Foreign Minister Okada explained the Hatoyama administration's comparison of politics and economics to "two wheels of one cart." "The absence of visible progress is a problem," he pointed out apropos the territorial dispute. "The foreign ministers must endeavor such that their countries' leaders can achieve concrete progress," he said. Foreign Minister Lavrov said, "We have absolutely no intention to deliberately delay a solution." But he added: "A solution must be grounded in international law and postwar reality." At the post-ministerial press conference Foreign Minister Lavrov commented on the "out-of-the-box approach," only saying, "At the present stage I can't disclose the details." ROOS