JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 1/08/09

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 1/08/09 Index: 1) Text of Ambassador Schieffer's Asahi (1/7) interview (Asahi) 2) Asahi editor on Ambassador Schieffer's remarks during interview (Asahi) Security affairs: 3) Ambassador Schieffer in Yomiuri interview urges Japan to hurriedly join anti-piracy operations in waters off Somalia (Yomiuri) 4) Text of Ambassador Schieffer's Yomiuri interview (Yomiuri) 5) Ruling parties set up a project team to study anti-piracy measures (Yomiuri) 6) Anticipated new law for MSDF dispatch for anti-piracy duty would ease weapons-use rules to allow firing in cases other than pure self-defense (Asahi) 7) Ruling camp facing potential hurdle in setting up new law to deal with pirates: New Komeito remains cautious about dispatch of MSDF for such duty (Tokyo Shimbun) 8) Okinawa Governor Nakaima in Washington presses for prevention on incidents by U.S. military personnel (Asahi) 9) Second supplementary budget that includes controversial cash-handout scheme likely to pass the Lower House on Jan. 13 (Mainichi) 10) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) reveals policy platform to be used in the upcoming Lower House election (Sankei) Articles: 1) Main points of interview with U.S. Ambassador Schieffer: A nuclear-free Korean Peninsula will be in every country's national interests ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) January 7, 2009 Issue of abductions by North Korea The United States understands the importance of the abduction issue. In the end, North Korea, too, will come to realize that the key to having relations with Japan is resolving the abduction issue. I would advise the Obama administration to take the abduction issue seriously. No one can remain unmoved after listening to Sakie Yokota. Mr. Obama, who has two children, will understand this issue. The Yokotas are extremely courageous and splendid parents. What impressed me most deeply was walking along with them at the spot where Megumi-san was abducted. Six-Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue What should be first resolved in the Six-Party Talks is the nuclear issue. Otherwise, the other issues cannot be settled. We continue to tell North Korea that possessing nuclear weapons will be of no benefit. Even though we have an action-for-action agreement, North Korea is not fulfilling its commitment. It is unacceptable for North Korea to possess nuclear weapons. A denuclearized Korean Peninsula will be in the best interests of all concerned countries. Japan-U.S. alliance TOKYO 00000039 002 OF 010 The Bush-Koizumi era was the golden age of the U.S.-Japan alliance. But with the Liberal Democratic Party losing the Upper House after the pension issue was brought to light, the political situation changed greatly. Japan is a great country. I don't want it to lose confidence. I want it to fulfill its role in the world. (Democratic Party of Japan) President Ichiro Ozawa said he would not meet with foreign ambassadors. When I was ambassador to Australia, I frequently met with the opposition camp's leaders. I would like Mr. Ozawa to be more open to meeting the ambassador who succeeds me. That would be in the best interests of both Mr. Ozawa and the U.S. Relations with China (Having a dialogue among the U.S., Japan and China) is a good idea. The U.S.-Japan relationship is the key to the stability of Asia. Neither the U.S. nor Japan should fear China. I don't think that the U.S. will ever build the same kind of relationship with China as it has with Japan. We should urge China to assume more responsibility in the international community. The U.S.-Japan relationship is the lynchpin of our Asia-Pacific foreign policy. I am sure the Obama administration will understand that. Financial crisis There are many things that we can learn from Japan's experience after the economic bubble burst. I would like Japan to give us advice. If the economies of the U.S. and Japan further integrate, the chances for success are increased. I urge the elimination of trade barriers that lead to protectionism and the promotion of competition. Japan must not lose confidence. It is vital that it as a major power play a role in the global economy and international security. 2) Listening to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Schieffer: Japan, don't slip into obscurity; Raises alarm about inward-looking trend; Urges building relations what include China ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) January 7, 2009 Editor in Chief Yoichi Funabashi "Japan, I don't want you to lose self-confidence." That was the one message U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer wanted to send to Japan as he left his position. Japan now has a tendency to turn inward as if it has forgotten it is a power, which may mean that it has lost its self-confidence, and Japan has yet to make clear what role it wants to play in the world, for it is not fully showing what it can do. On these points, America, as its ally, is worried about Japan. When one digests the concerns expressed by the Ambassador, it seemed so. The "inward-looking" tendency seems to be manifested by what might be called Japan's almost having "left the stage" in supporting stability in Afghanistan and in assisting the war on terror. The Ambassador is not the only one who remembers with nostalgia the golden era of the Bush-Koizumi days. One might say, however, that this "golden age" probably should not be regarded as the form that an alliance should take. The Koizumi administration neglected Asia diplomacy. There is an illusion being entertained that if ties with the U.S. are strengthened, Asia TOKYO 00000039 003 OF 010 diplomacy will go well. As a result of such self-righteousness, the government and ruling parties were completely flustered by progress in U.S.-North Korea talks that excluded Japan, as well as by U.S.-China talks. The result was a feeling of national isolation and even worse, a growing feeling of dislike toward America. The Ambassador said that what he had to rack his brains the most about was how to keep Japan and the U.S. in step on the North Korea nuclear issue and to get through the tangle of emotions involved. Japan has felt uneasy about the slight gap in threat perception that had grown up between it and the U.S. on such issues as denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, maritime defense in the East China Sea, and rising China. The U.S.' stance on the abduction issue has become a symbolic barometer divining whether or not the U.S. has "abandoned" its ally Japan. The Ambassador in Oct. 2007 went so far as to send a special cable directly to President Bush asking that the removal of North Korea from the U.S. government's list of states sponsoring terrorism in order to avoid damaging Japan-U.S. relations. One year later, the U.S. government removed North Korea from the list. The Ambassador asked Japan for cool-headedness. He pleaded with Japan to look at the North Korea nuclear issue and national security in strategic terms. One more appeal from the Ambassador was on the importance of forming a multilateral framework for the Asia-Pacific region. He stressed that in the Asia-Pacific from now "there is need not just for bilateral alliances centered on the United States, but also a multilateral framework that includes China." Here, in addition to policy talks among Japan, the U.S. and South Korea, as well as Japan, the U.S. and Australia, policy talks should also include one more involving Japan, the U.S. and China. Although the Ambassador recognized the importance of having policy talks among Japan, the U.S. and China, he indicated that he visualized this as not having the image of being triangular but being like a see-saw. The dynamics would involve having a stable relationship with Japan and the U.S. on the one side and China seated on the other side. The Ambassador guaranteed that even in the Obama administration, the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance would not change. However, the Ambassador once told a Japanese friend the following: "History is repeated every time there is a change in administration in the U.S., the importance of Japan is always rediscovered. However, if things continue as they are now, the process of rediscovering Japan under the next administration will probably be ended. There is danger that the U.S. will be overwhelmed by China, and that Japan will be put off in the corner." Ambassador Schieffer, who has served in Australia as well as Japan, sees political parties in Japan using diplomacy as a political football. Even finding the opportunity to meet Democratic Party of Japan President Ozawa for the first time proved difficult. In Australia, there is no problem for either the U.S. president or the U.S. ambassador having separate meetings with opposition leaders. But that is not the case in Japan. He urged mature politics from both the ruling and opposition camps that does not use foreign policy or security affairs as political tools. 3) Interview with U.S. Ambassador Schieffer to Japan: Urges Japan's participation in anti-piracy operations YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) January 8, 2009 TOKYO 00000039 004 OF 010 U.S. Ambassador to Japan, who is about to leave his post following the launching on January 20 of the new Obama administration in the U.S., gave an interview on the 7th to the Yomiuri Shimbun at his official residence in Tokyo. Concerning measures to cope with pirates active in waters off Somalia, Africa, the Ambassador urged Japan to hurriedly join the international effort, saying, "I do not understand why it takes such a long time for Japan to protect its own people and commercial ships from pirates. Referring to anti-terrorist and public security measures in Afghanistan, to which the new Obama administration will attach importance, the Ambassador said, "Even if Japan cannot dispatch Self-Defense Forces' troops due to the constitutional restriction, it can make a contribution by dispatching civilians." He expressed his hope that Japan would expand its contributions in such areas as medical services, building water-supply and sewer systems and election assistance. He also noted, "If Japan makes a list of assistance activities it can do in Afghanistan, it would send a powerful message to the next U.S. administration." Regarding the North Korea issue, the Ambassador categorically said that he would advise the Obama administration that it should give priority to the abduction issue, noting, "It is most regrettable that we failed to achieve more progress in the abduction issue." Touching on Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa, the Ambassador said, "I would like him to meet with my successor. It would be to in the best interest of both the DPJ and U.S.-Japan relations." He made this comment, based on a past incident, in which Ozawa was reluctant to meet with the Ambassador over the issue of the extension of the Indian Ocean refueling mission by the Maritime Self-Defense Force. He indicated that in his view Ozawa should deepen communications with the next U.S. ambassador to Japan. Referring to the DPJ's opposition to the U.S. forces Futenma Air Station relocation plan, on which the governments of Japan and the U.S. had agreed, the Ambassador said, "I am afraid if the DPJ takes over the reins of government rein, it might say, 'Let's start all over again by throwing the agreement out the window. The U.S. did not just reach an agreement only with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito." 4) Interview with U.S. Ambassador Schieffer: Asia's stability depends on Japan-U.S. alliance YOMIURI (Page 6) (Full) January 8, 2009 U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer responded to an interview with the Yomiuri Shimbun yesterday. -- What significance does the planned participation of the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) in international anti-piracy efforts off Somalia have to the U.S.? That is important not for the U.S. but for Japan. It is hard to believe there is a country that cannot protect its own people or vessels from attacks by pirates. Some argue that Article 9 of the Constitution makes the issue complicated, but pirates are stateless criminals, although the argument would be convincing if our enemy were a state. I can hardly understand why it takes so long for Japan TOKYO 00000039 005 OF 010 to (decide to) protect its people from piracy? -- What are your thoughts of Japan's contributions in Afghanistan? Constitutional restrictions might stand in the way of Japan's plan to send SDF troops, but Japan should be able to make contributions through a civilian dispatch. There are many areas in which Japan can render services, for instance, medical care, water supply, and monitoring of elections. If Japan presents a list of assistance operations that it could carry out in Afghanistan, in addition to the MSDF's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, it would be a powerful message to the incoming (Obama) administration. -- What view do you have of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ozawa? I hope Mr. Ozawa will meet my successor. Dialogue is beneficial for the DPJ, as well as for Japan-U.S. relations. I am worried that the Japan-U.S. alliance could be turned into "a political football," that is, a tool of political bargaining. -- Even if a change of government takes place in Japan, do you think the Futenma-relocation plan agreed on between the two countries should be abided by? That is right. Our negotiating partner was not the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito but the Japanese government. I fear that the DPJ, once it assumes power, might say, 'let us throw the accord out the window and start from scratch. I am anxious about Japan becoming less confident as a result of the current political confusion. -- How about the abduction issue? I am aware that Japan is concerned that it might be left behind (at the six-party talks due to its stance of attaching importance to the abduction issue). But I think that is not a possibility. Such evil acts as abduction will never be tolerated. Needless to say about the need of its recognizing the abductions, North Korea must clear up the total picture of what had happened and have all the survivors to Japan. -- Will the Obama administration give priority to China over Japan? There is no need to worry about it. Stability in Asia depends on the solid Japan-U.S. alliance. I liken relations among the U.S., Japan and China to a seesaw. A balance can be formed if the U.S. and Japan sit on one side while China is on the other side. If Japan loses its confidence in the U.S. and tries to adopt a policy of distancing itself from the U.S., the three countries will be involved in a three-cornered relationship and eventually be poorly balanced. Such a case is dangerous both for Japan and the U.S. -- What do you think are the greatest achievement and the most vexing failure you made while in office as ambassador? I am most disappointed at the lack of progress on the abduction issue. I am proud of being able to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance. 5) Ruling camp to set up anti-piracy project team TOKYO 00000039 006 OF 010 YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) January 8, 2009 The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito on January 7 held a meeting of their policy chiefs and decided to set up a project team on measures against piracy. Former Defense Minister Gen Nakatani will chair the envisaged panel. Security Affairs Division chief Shigeki Sato will serve as a person in charge at the New Komeito. The panel will hold its first meeting on January 9 to confer on how to deal with piracy off Somalia in terms of both the existing law and the enactment of a new law. Prime Minister Aso on the evening of the 7th told reporters at the Kantei: "No Japanese has been taken hostage at the moment. However, such a possibility is high. It is important for the government to look into what it can do." The government intends to submit a bill tentatively called a piracy punishment enforcement law, which focuses on regulating requirements for the use of weapons, to the current Diet session. This is because many New Komeito members are cautious about authorizing the firing of weapons at pirate vessels in carrying out duties. In the meantime, some in the Defense Ministry are cautious about dispatching Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel, by issuing defense action on the seas under the SDF Law, a measure now under consideration as a stop-gap measure until the new law is enacted, citing such reasons as that vessels to be protected are limited and there are restrictions, such as the use of weapons. New Komeito Secretary General Yamaguchi at the meeting warned against a view that MSDF troops must be dispatched, in the belief that the Japan Coast Guard should primarily be responsible for such a matter. 6) Government plans to relax weapons-use rules to deal with piracy; New legislation designed to allow SDF to use weapons in other than justifiable defense ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) January 8, 2009 The government plans to submit anti-piracy legislation to the current session of the Diet. The use of weapons has been limited to justifiable defense and other instances for Self-Defense Force troops on overseas missions. It has become clear, however, that the government is considering easing the rules to allow the SDF to use weapons for the purpose of cracking down on piracy. The step is likely to craw criticism as opening the door for the use of force overseas, which is prohibited under the Constitution. According to the outline presented to the ruling bloc from the government, the legislation is tentatively called the Law Concerning Treatment of Acts of Piracy. The government has been studying the option of sending the Maritime Self-Defense Force to deal with piracy in waters off Somalia. As a result, the law specifies the protection of foreign vessels, as well, indicating the need for Japan to take measures under against acts of piracy against foreign ships and foreign shipmen under domestic legislation. As an item to be studied for deterring and clamping down on acts of piracy, the legislation specifies such powers as the use of weapons, as necessary in carrying out duties. SDF troops on overseas missions were allowed to use weapons only in TOKYO 00000039 007 OF 010 such cases as justifiable defense and emergency evacuations under the UN Peacekeeping Operations Cooperation Law, the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, and the Iraq Reconstruction Special Measures Law. Once weapons are allowed to be used against acts of piracy, SDF troops would be able to fire at the engine of another vessel to bring it to a halt and do harm to crewmembers even if an SDF vessel is not attacked. The relaxation of the weapons-use rules against piracy is likely to have an impact on the ongoing discussion on a permanent law governing the overseas dispatch of the SDF. 7) New law on Somalia dispatch a tough nut to crack for ruling bloc TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) January 8, 2009 The Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito decided at their responsible policy officers meeting yesterday to aim at establishing a new law to deal with piracy in waters off Somalia in eastern Africa. New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa, however, indicated in the session that primarily, anti-piracy measures must be taken by the Japan Coast Guard. The New Komeito is reluctant to agree to the government and the LDP's plan to dispatch Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels. The ruling bloc is now faced with another difficult question. The ruling bloc's project team met for the first time yesterday, and decided to aim at producing a bill by the end of March. Reversing its reluctance, the New Komeito has agreed to establish new legislation. That is because Japan, too, is being urged to improve its domestic law under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea that calls for the cooperation of its signatories for curbing piracy. Kitagawa in a press conference yesterday acknowledged the need of new legislation. At the same time, he said: "Deterring acts of piracy is part of policing and it is a matter that concerns the Criminal Code. So we must consider a provision in the Criminal Code. That is an extremely huge theme concerning the improvement of domestic legislation." Kitagawa repeatedly pointed to the dispatch of the JCG, expressing reluctance to send MSDF vessels. But in reality, sending JCG patrol boats all the way to waters off Somalia seems difficult, and the LDP wants to push ahead with the discussion on new legislation with an MSDF dispatch in mind. Coordination of views between the LDP and New Komeito is likely to encounter difficulties 8) Okinawa Gov. Nakaima in U.S. calls for prevention of incidents involving U.S. service members, pointing out Okinawa public's distrust ASAHI (Page 33) (Full) January 8, 2009 Takaki Doi, Washington TOKYO 00000039 008 OF 010 Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, who is visiting the United States to ask for the prevention of incidents and accidents by U.S. service members, held talks with U.S. government officials responsible for East Asian affairs, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alexander Arvizu, at the State Department on the afternoon of Jan. 6 (before dawn Jan. 7, Japan time). In the sessions, Nakaima called for tighter military discipline and the removal of the danger of Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan, Okinawa). The governor plans to stay in Washington until Jan. 11 to make similar requests to the Department of Defense and Congressional members. This is Nakaima's first visit to the United States as governor of Okinawa. He took office over two years ago. The meetings were held behind closed doors. A prefectural source quoted Nakaima as saying: "U.S. bases in Okinawa form the nucleus of the Japan-U.S. alliance. For the maintenance of the Japan-U.S. security system, the excessive base burden on Okinawa must be reduced." He also explained that in the period between Okinawa's reversion to Japan in 1972 and the end of 2007, some 5,500 criminal cases involving U.S. service members in the prefecture occurred and that of them, 550 were heinous crimes, such as murders and robberies. Touching on an incident in which a U.S. Marine in Okinawa allegedly assaulted a middle-school girl in February 2008, Nakaima said: "Such an incident has added to the prefectural population's distrust in the U.S. military. I would like to see the United States take drastic preventive measures that can reduce the number of incidents and accidents to zero." Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Arvizu was quoted by the same source as saying in response: "Now that we were able to hear the actual situation from you in detail, we would like to study the matter thoroughly. President-elect Obama's transition team is in the building, so your visit is timely. The transition team is highly interested in the Okinawa issue and the importance of U.S.-Japan relations." 9) Tug-of-war over passage on Jan. 13 of second extra budget MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged slightly) January 8, 2009 The House of Representatives' Budget Committee decided yesterday in a board meeting to hold a basic question-and-answer session on the second supplementary budget for fiscal 2008 on Jan. 8-9 in the presence of Prime Minister Taro Aso and all cabinet members. The ruling coalition forwent passing the second extra budget on Jan. 9 and the budget will likely clear the Lower House on Jan. 13 or after. The committee put off a discussion on the schedule for a vote on the budget to a board meeting tomorrow. Bargaining between the ruling and opposition will likely intensify over a passage of the budget on Jan. 13, the date the ruling coalition considers the time limit. The ruling and opposition parties held a board meeting four times yesterday to confer on a schedule for deliberations on the second supplementary budget. Although the ruling coalition proposed spending two days for the deliberations, the opposition demanded five days. Consequently, Budget Committee Chairman Seijuro Eto of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suggested that basic interpellations be held on Jan. 8-9 and wrap-up interpellations and TOKYO 00000039 009 OF 010 vote-taking on 13. Regarding the proposal for taking a vote on the 13th, the opposition has placed its decision on hold. The LDP Diet Affairs Committee initially wanted to get the budget through the Lower House on the 9th even holding a plenary session. However, it later judged that it would be wise to avoid a full-blown clash between the ruling and opposition camps ahead of deliberations on bills related to the second extra budget and the fiscal 2009 state budget. It has yet to be decided on when to hold deliberations on three budget-related bills. However, in order for the House of Councillors to secure same the number of days as the Lower House, the ruling coalition cannot give up on its plan to take a vote on the extra budget on the 13th because it intends to submit to the Diet on Jan. 19 the fiscal 2009 state budget. The probability is that if the voting is put off, dissatisfaction will grow in the LDP. A senor LDP Diet Affairs Committee member said: "We will take a vote on the 13th even by the ruling parties alone." 10) DPJ's action plan for gaining a sole majority in next Lower House election SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) January 8, 2009 The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) yesterday revealed its policy action plan for fiscal 2009. The DPJ states in the plan that 2009 will be the year for the party to fight to bring about a change in government and that intends to prepare well for the next election for the House of Representatives with victory in mind. The party also stresses in the plan that it will win a sole majority in the next Lower House election. The action plan will be presented to an executive board meeting on Jan. 13 and adopted at the party's convention on Jan. 18. The title of the action plan is "Japan will change by a change in government. Improving the livelihoods of the people is our top priority." The subtitle is: "Protect jobs, people's livelihoods and local communities." The action plan states that under the leadership of President Ichiro Ozawa, the DPJ will bring about a sound parliamentary democracy by taking the reins of government; and that it will form a new government based on the voices of the people and public confidence and implement policies swiftly and decisively. The largest opposition party also states in the action plan that it will secure a sole majority in the next general election, which means that it will not presuppose a coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and People's New Party (PNP). The action plan writes that in order for a victory in the general election, the DPJ will concentrate on support for candidates who will likely win in single-seat constituency races. Gist of DPJ's action plan for FY2009 Implement the manifest titled "Top priority on people's livelihoods." Pursue the government's idleness to change the Diet and embody a new Diet after grabbing the reins of government. Secure a majority in the Lower House election TOKYO 00000039 010 OF 010 Collect 270,000 rank and file party members and supporters to create regional organizations. Strengthen cooperation with Rengo (National Confederation of Trade Unions) and obtain support from industrial associations that have supported the Liberal Democratic Party. Promote national movements to protect employment. Publicize need for a change in government. Concentrate on public relations before a change in government, establish its fiscal condition. Transmit the policies of the new government to the international community. SCHIEFFER