DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02/12/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000330 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 02/12/09 INDEX: (1) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Yomiuri) (2) Government expects Clinton's Japan visit on Feb. 16 to help resolve abduction issue (Sankei) (3) Prime Minister Aso's visit to Sakhalin on Feb. 18 may end up accepting Russia's claim over island; Practical approach raises fear (Sankei) (4) Third group of 23 DPJ candidates for next Lower House election (Mainichi) (5) Gov. Nakaima again proposes Futenma alternative's offshore relocation (Ryuku Shimpo) (6) Greenhouse gas emissions: Government looking into emissions cuts with focus on between 5 PERCENT -15 PERCENT : Six proposals for mid-term goal (Nikkei) ARTICLES: (1) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties YOMIURI (Page 10) (Full) February 10, 2009 Questions & Answers (Figures shown in percentage) Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? Yes 19.7 No 72.4 Other answers (O/A) 0.7 No answer (N/A) 7.3 Q: Which political party do you support now? Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 26.8 Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 28.3 New Komeito (NK) 3.2 Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 2.4 Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 0.8 People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0.3 Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) --- New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) --- Other political parties --- None 35.7 N/A 2.5 Q: When comparing Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa, who do you think is more appropriate for prime minister? Prime Minister Aso 23.7 DPJ President Ozawa 40.1 N/A 36.2 Q: There is an opinion saying it would be unavoidable to raise the consumption tax rate in order to maintain the social security system, including pensions. Do you agree to this opinion? TOKYO 00000330 002 OF 010 Yes 33.6 Yes to a certain degree 19.5 No to a certain degree 9.1 No 34.4 N/A 3.4 
Q: Prime Minister Aso has indicated a plan, which is contingent on an economic turnaround, to raise the consumption tax rate in fiscal 2011 to ensure financial resources for social security. Do you support this plan? Appreciate very much 11.4 Appreciate somewhat 21.9 Don't appreciate very much 19.4 Don't appreciate at all 42.2 N/A 5.1 Q: The government plans to hand out 2-trillion yen cash benefits to individual households as an economic stimulus measure. Do you appreciate this cash payout plan? Appreciate very much 10.6 Appreciate somewhat 10.8 Don't appreciate very much 18.6 Don't appreciate at all 56.1 N/A 3.8 Q: The government plans to pay out the cash benefits within the current fiscal year. How will you use the money? Use the money for daily lives 44.4 Buy something that I wanted to buy if I could afford to 16.8 Use the money for travel, leisure, eating out, etc. 14.2 Save the money 18.4 Won't receive the money 3.7 O/A 0.2 NA 2.2 Q: The government plans to send out the Maritime Self-Defense Force in order to protect Japanese and Japanese-related ships from pirates rampant in waters off the eastern African coast of Somalia. Do you support this MSDF deployment plan? Yes 39.5 Yes to a certain degree 17.5 No to a certain degree 10.7 No 21.6 N/A 10.7 Q: The MSDF, even when deployed to Somalia waters, is currently not allowed to protect foreign ships irrelevant to Japan. Do you support the idea of enacting a new law allowing the MSDF to protect these foreign ships as well? Yes 45.0 Yes to a certain degree 13.6 No to a certain degree 8.2 No 21.4 N/A 11.8 Q: Concerning the "amakudari" (descent from heaven) practice of TOKYO 00000330 003 OF 010 retired government bureaucrats landing jobs with public corporations or private businesses and their "watari" (migration) practice of moving into a number of jobs through their ensuing outplacements to public corporations in particular, Prime Minister Aso has indicated a plan to prohibit government ministries and agencies within this year from offering amakudari and watari outplacements to their retirees. Do you appreciate this plan? Appreciate very much 55.5 Appreciate somewhat 23.4 Don't appreciate very much 7.2 Don't appreciate at all 9.8 N/A 4.1 Q: When would you like the House of Representatives to be dissolved for a general election? Right away 27.9 Around this spring 19.8 No later than this June when the current Diet session ends 21.9 Before the current membership's expiry in September 26.1 N/A 4.3 Q: If an election were to be held now for the House of Representatives, which political party would you like to vote for in your proportional representation bloc? LDP 26.0 DPJ 40.3 NK 3.4 JCP 3.1 SDP 1.9 PNP 0.5 RC --- NPN --- Other political parties --- Undecided 20.5 N/A 4.3 Q: What form of government would you like to see after the next election for the House of Representatives? LDP-led coalition government 10.6 DPJ-led coalition government 24.5 LDP-DPJ grand coalition government 23.6 Government under new framework after political realignment 35.2 O/A 0.0 N/A 6.1 Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Feb. 6-8 across the nation on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. Households with one or more eligible voters totaled 1,805. Valid answers were obtained from 1,087 persons (60.2 PERCENT ). (Note) In some cases, the total percentage does not become 100 PERCENT due to rounding. (2) Government expects Clinton's Japan visit on Feb. 16 to help resolve abduction issue SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) February 11, 2009 TOKYO 00000330 004 OF 010 Six months have passed since North Korea promised in working-level talks with Japan on August 11 to reinvestigate past abduction cases of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents. During this period, however, North Korea did not carry out this promise and even threatened that it would fire a ballistic missile. This brinkmanship diplomacy was apparently intended to draw out concessions from the U.S. The government expects to use the upcoming visit to Japan by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton starting on Feb. 16 to find a clue to resolving the North Korean abduction and nuclear problems by obtaining U.S. understanding and cooperation on these issues. In her first telephone conversation with Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone in January, Clinton referred to the abduction issue, saying: "I place importance on the abduction issue. I am giving consideration to the abduction victims and the Japanese people." Tokyo has worked on Washington to realize her meeting with family members of abduction victims. Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood gave this positive reply: "Ms. Clinton will give proper consideration to the Japanese proposal." It appears so far that Japan and the U.S. have made a smooth start on policy coordination toward North Korea, but a lawmaker with cabinet experience suggested: "It is necessary to carefully watch what moves the U.S. government will make from now." Last October, Washington removed North Korea from the list of states sponsoring terrorism, even though the Japanese government had voiced strong opposition, citing the North's failure to deliver what it had promised to Japan. The delisting decision by former President Bush, who used to repeatedly say, "I will never forget the abduction issue," after meeting with Sakie Yokota, the mother of an abduction victim, has damaged the sensitivities of the Japanese people toward the U.S. A Japan-U.S. negotiator commented: "The Obama administration is fully aware that removing North Korea from the terror list has not helped resolve the issue; on the contrary, it has complicated U.S. relations with Japan. The Obama administration will not make the same mistake as its predecessor. The administration also is keeping in mind the DPRK's violation of the 1994 Framework Agreement with the U.S. under the Clinton administration that resulted in giving Pyongyang time to develop nuclear weapons." A Foreign Ministry source, however, noted: "Since the U.S. gives priority to the nuclear issue over the abduction issue, if new moves are observed in North Korea, Japan's view probably will be ignored." Kyoko Nakayama, special advisor to the prime minister, visited the U.S. in January and asked key U.S. government officials to continue to help resolve the abduction issue. However, according to a senior Foreign Ministry official, North Korea is also trying to have its views reflected in the new U.S. administration's policy. Optimism may not be warranted regarding how the U.S. will respond. Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka stated in a press conference on Sept. 9 that it was important to strengthen cooperation among Japan, the U.S., and South Korea in dealing with North Korea. He said: "What is clear is that the Obama TOKYO 00000330 005 OF 010 administration has recognized the six-party talks as an effective framework." Clinton is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Taro Aso and other senior Japanese government officials when she visits Japan. The Japanese officials should convey to her Japan's indomitable resolve to settle the abduction and nuclear issues. If so, Japan may be able to have the U.S. government set its policy toward the North in its favor. (3) Prime Minister Aso's visit to Sakhalin on Feb. 18 may end up accepting Russia's claim over island; Practical approach raises fear SANKEI (Top play) (Abridged slightly) February 12, 2009 Morimichi Imahori Prime Minister Taro Aso will visit Sakhalin on Feb. 18 to hold a Japan-Russia summit, becoming the first Japanese premier to visit that island in the postwar period. Sakhalin is called Karafuto in Japan. Southern Sakhalin was Japan's territory until it was invaded and occupied (in 1945) by the Soviet Union. Prime Minister Aso has decided to visit Sakhalin with the aim of bringing progress to the Northern Territories issue by building relations of cooperation in resource exploitation. There are some misgivings that the prime minister's visit before the sovereignty issue has been settled might generate the wrong message regarding Japan's diplomatic stance. The prime minister's decision to visit Sakhalin is traceable to his telephone conversation with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Jan. 24 in which the president said: "I would like to invite you to the ceremony celebrating the start-up of the Sakhalin-2 project. I would like to discuss all outstanding issues between Russia and Japan." Japan received an informal invitation from Russia on the administrative level just before the Aso-Medvedev telephone conversation. A senior Foreign Ministry official noted: "Our initial reaction was: 'What is the motive for inviting the prime minister to Sakhalin? The invitation came only three weeks before the ceremony. Should the prime minister willingly visit the island?'" The Japanese people have mixed feelings about Sakhalin. Under the Portsmouth Peace Treaty of 1905 that ended the Russo-Japanese War, Japan took over the southern part of Sakhalin from the line at 50 degrees north latitude from Russia. Japan renamed the area Karafuto Prefecture with its capital at the place currently called Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Karafuto was invaded by the Soviet Union on August 9, 1945, days before the end of the war. Japan renounced its rights and claims in the Treaty of San Francisco of 1951. But because the Soviet Union did not sign the treaty, Japan's standpoint is that the issue of sovereignty over the Kuril Islands, excluding the four Russian-held islands, and southern Karafuto has not been settled under international law. The number of visas issued to travelers to Japan has increased as Japan has begun cooperating earnestly in the exploitation of oil and TOKYO 00000330 006 OF 010 natural gas in waters off Sakhalin. The Japanese government opened an office in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in 1997. The government upgraded the office to a consulate general in 2001, citing a growing need to protect Japanese nationals in Sakhalin. Despite such complex circumstances, Prime Minister Aso has decided to visit Sakhalin by turning a deaf ear to the concern in the Foreign Ministry and other circles that the prime minister's visit to the island over which sovereignty has not been established might end up sending the wrong message to Russia and the Japanese public. Since taking office, Prime Minister Aso has been endeavoring to forge pragmatic relations with China and South Korea centering on the economy. In his policy speech on Jan. 28, Aso defined Russia as an important partner in the Asia-Pacific region. The prime minister intends to strengthen relations with Russia centering on the resource and energy fields and move the Northern Territories issue forward with the start-up of Sakhalin-2 as a turning point. Aso told the House of Repetitive Budget Committee on Feb. 5: "I have no intention of using any political issue as a tool of political bargaining. I am always considering our country's national interests. Japan Forum on International Relations President Kenichi Ito commented apprehensively: "I don't know if it is a good idea for the Japanese prime minister to visit Sakhalin at a time when the Northern Territories issue remains stalled. Such might end up endorsing the former Soviet Union's military act." (4) Third group of 23 DPJ candidates for next Lower House election MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) February 12, 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),the largest opposition force, decided on Feb. 10 in its executive meeting on the third group of 23 candidates for the next general election of the House of Representatives. With the decision, the DPJ has officially endorsed a total of 260 candidates. Of the 300 electoral district seats, the DPJ has decided on the lineup of 284 candidates, including 22 candidates to who the DPJ will give its recommendations. When asked on a television program on Feb. 10 about his party's target for seats, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa said: "More than 150 electoral district seats." Based on its surveys since last fall, the DPJ has officially endorsed candidates, who meet a certain level of requirements. In order to swiftly make arrangements to meet the election, the party endorsed this time the 23 candidates in a lump. According to Election Campaign Committee Chairman Hirotaka Akamatsu, Ozawa will narrow down the electoral districts, in which the party will extensively put funds and support by senior members, to 50 to 60 in one month. The DPJ officially endorsed 289 candidates and recommended two candidates for 291 electoral districts in the 2005 Lower House election. However, the ratio of the DPJ recommending other parties' candidates in the upcoming election will remarkably increase. The party's way of fielding candidates has shown that the DPJ aims at taking over the reins of government by allying with other opposition parties. Of the remaining 16 electoral districts, the DPJ has labeled eight districts, including the Ibaraki No. 3, Niigata No. 5, TOKYO 00000330 007 OF 010 Hiroshima No. 6 and Okayama No. 3 constituencies, as "cooperation districts." The Ibaraki No. 3 electoral district is currently represented by former Administrative Reform Minister Yoshimi Watanabe, who has left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP); the Niigata No. 5 district, by former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, who belongs to the DPJ Lower House parliamentary group; the Hiroshima No. 6 constituency, by People's New Party Deputy Chief Shizuka Kamei; and the Okayama No. 3 constituency, by former trade minister Takeo Hiranuma. The DPJ intends to cooperate with eight incumbent lawmakers who are expected to run in these districts. Remaining eight electoral districts The DPJ plans to field its candidates in eight single-seat constituencies, which include the Iwate No. 4, Saitama No. 11, Gunma No. 4 and No. 5, Tokyo No. 12, Kanagawa No. 1, Toyama No. 3 and Hyogo No. 8. Of the eight electoral districts, although the Iwate No. 4 district is Ozawa's home constituency, Ozawa has implied at switching to the Tokyo 12 district, which is New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota's home constituency. Ozawa has said that he will decide at the last as to in which electoral district I should run. As he indicated on Jan. 31 that he would run in the Iwate No. 4 constituency, the possibility of Ozawa switching to another district is now diminishing. A rumor is going around that New Party Nippon leader Yasuo Tanaka, who joins the DPJ's Upper House parliamentary group, will vie for the Lower House seat in the Hyogo No. 8 district, in which a New Komeito member will run. Tetsundo Iwakuni declined the DPJ's endorsement as the candidate for the Kanagawa No. 1 constituency. Although the People's New Party has called on the DPJ to file a united candidate (PNP candidate) in the Kanagawa No. 1 district, the DPJ is expected to dwell down on fielding its own candidate. The DPJ has picked a candidate for the Toyama No. 3 constituency. Coordination will be carried out as to which a unified opposition candidate or DPJ candidate should be fielded. (5) Gov. Nakaima again proposes Futenma alternative's offshore relocation RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) February 11, 2009 The Okinawa prefectural assembly yesterday opened its February regular session, during which Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima delivered a policy speech for fiscal 2009 and again proposed moving out to sea the government-planned relocation site of an alternative facility for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. In his policy speech for fiscal 2008, the governor stated that "the relocation site should be moved to an offshore area as far as possible." In yesterday's speech, however, the governor stated that the relocation site should be moved as far as possible into the offshore area, etc." In this way, his policy speech showed a subtle change in its wording by inserting "etc. (nado)." According to the Okinawa prefectural government's base reversion policy division, the word "etc." was inserted by its administrative officials. It was not especially instructed by the governor, the division said. The division explained that the reason why the word "etc." was inserted is because it is intended to expand the scope of possible changes to the Futenma relocation plan. In addition, the TOKYO 00000330 008 OF 010 division also said Okinawa is not coordinating in concrete terms with the government on any other solution plans that differ from the governor's proposal to move the relocation site out to sea. Concerning the expanded scope of possible changes to the government's Futenma relocation plan, the division explained that that is because the governor has sought to move the relocation site to an offshore area from the perspective of considering the living environment of local residents but has recently said he would also lay emphasis on the environmental impact of the newly planned facility on other areas, including Oura Bay, where Futenma airfield will be relocated. As a general trend, administrative documents frequently use the word "etc." One prefectural government official said the usage of "etc." is called "toton-no-jutsu" or a technique that leaves a loophole. "It's a typical bureaucratic style of writing," the official explained. If bureaucrats say or write something to define in only one way, that could deny other possibilities. The usage of "etc." has a shade of meaning as an excuse that they can make later if and when what they said or wrote did not come out as a result. (6) Greenhouse gas emissions: Government looking into emissions cuts with focus on between 5 PERCENT -15 PERCENT : Six proposals for mid-term goal NIKKEI (Top Play) (Full) February 8, 2009 The government has finalized six proposals for a mid-term goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions, an issue that will come into focus in talks on an international framework (post-Kyoto Protocol) for measures to address global warming starting in fiscal 2013. Details of the proposals have now been revealed. The proposed goals to be achieved by 2020 are broad-based, consideration having been given to the cost of emissions cuts and the state of international negotiations. The targets range between a 7 PERCENT increase and a 25 PERCENT cut, compared with the 1990 level. The government intends to narrow down the proposed range of reduction percentages to between 5 PERCENT and 15 PERCENT , the range with the highest feasibility. It will set Japan's target by June. The government will present the six proposals to the Round-Table on Global Warming, chaired by Hiroshi Okuda, executive and advisor of Toyota Motors, which directly reports to Prime Minister Taro Aso. The prime minister will likely order each government agency to press ahead with the Green New Deal program, which is designed to make efforts to prevent global warming and buoy up the economy compatible. The six proposals have been set, based on certain premises, such as a 6 PERCENT increase, calculated on the premise of the continuation of the present effort to cut emissions," "between a 7 PERCENT increase and a 2 PERCENT cut to be achieved, by taking measures that will cost a similar amount of money spent by the U.S. and European countries." Among the proposed amounts of cuts, a 25 PERCENT cut is the largest, which was worked out, based on the view presented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that it is necessary for industrialized countries as a whole to cut emissions by 25 PERCENT -40 PERCENT . Since Japan is calling for changing the base year for comparison of TOKYO 00000330 009 OF 010 emissions cut from 1990 as provided under the Kyoto Protocol, target figures compared with the 2005 emissions level have also been indicated. Provided that 2005 is adopted a new base year, emissions cuts to be achieved will range between 4 PERCENT and 30 PERCENT . The subcommittee (chaired by former Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui) of the Round Table, which is looking into a prospective mid-term to be adopted, has analyzed the feasibility of the six proposals by inviting views from industrial circles and the public. It will reach a formal decision by June, after determining the international situation, people's livelihood and burdens likely to be imposed on corporate activities. The compiled proposals are aimed at smoothly facilitating discussions with the inclusion of measures needed in the event of a specific reduction rate being set. However, a growing view among government officials is that a settlement will be reached on the range of cuts by between 5 PERCENT and 15 PERCENT . Under the Kyoto Protocol, Japan is required to cut emissions by 6 PERCENT from the 1990 level in the 2008-2012 period. As such, it would be difficult for it to obtain understanding from various countries, unless it comes up with a goal higher than that. On the other hand, a dominant view is that a proposal for cutting emissions by 25 PERCENT is unrealistic, as it necessitates such measures as to disseminate high energy-efficiency water heaters to 90 PERCENT of households throughout the nation or installing solar heat panels at every new house, as a government source said. Many foreign countries will likely make requests in setting their emissions cut goals. China and India are insisting that industrialized countries that have emitted a great deal of greenhouse gases should cut emissions substantially. The EU has come up with a 20 PERCENT reduction plan, compared with the 1990 level. It will most likely call on Japan to make a substantive cut, too. However, it is deemed certain that domestic industry circles will complain about the idea of expanding a reduction rate as it will have an adverse effect on the economy. Six proposals for mid-term goal (to be achieved by 2020) Proposal Rate of emissions reduction or increase, compared with 1990 level ( PERCENT ) Basic thinking Major measures (1) 6 Continue present effort Increase the use of wind power and solar heat panels for houses four times larger than the present level (2) 7 - minus 2 Invest costs on the level similar to the mount the U.S. and European countries spend Increase the use of solar heat panels nearly 10 fold (3) Minus 4 Improve measures through self-help effort Increase the use of solar heat panels approximately 10 fold. 5-fold increase in the use of wind power case in which industrialized countries as a whole aim at a 25 PERCENT cut (4) Minus1 - minus13 Each country equally shares emissions cut cost Increase the use of solar heat panel up to 20 fold (5) Minus 16 - minus 18 Unify the ratio of the cost of emissions cuts to be shouldered by each country to GDP Increase the use of solar heat panels over 20 fold. Increase the ratio of next-generation types among new model cars to over 40 PERCENT (6) Minus 25 Japan will independently cut emissions by 25 PERCENT TOKYO 00000330 010 OF 010 Increase the use of solar heat panels more than 50 fold. Install high-efficiency water heaters at 90 PERCENT of households (N.B.) Global warming gas targeted is carbon dioxide (CO2). ZUMWALT