JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 2/24/09

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E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 2/24/09 Index: Prime Minister Aso in trouble: 1) Fuji-Sankei poll: Aso Cabinet support rate plummets 6.8 points to 11.4 PERCENT ; Prime minister has lost the trust of 80 PERCENT of the Japanese public (Sankei) 2) "Topple Aso" moves are speeding up in the Liberal Democratic Party (Nikkei) Aso to Washington: 3) Prime Minister Aso departs for meeting with President Obama, plans to offer bullet-train technology to U.S., contingent on Japanese firms getting contracts (Asahi) 4) Obama, Aso to agree in summit meeting to cooperate in four areas on environment issue (Yomiuri) 5) Aso to propose at U.S. summit that U.S., Japan, and China set up talks on global warming issue (Nikkei) 6) Aso has a 15-minute telephone conversation with ROK President Lee (Yomiuri) 7) Aso, visiting Chinese Communist Party official meet and agree to cooperate on expanding domestic demand in their respective country (Nikkei) 8) Foreign Minister Nakasone announces that yen loans to Vietnam are being restarted (Nikkei) Defense and security: 9) Government to propose paying salaries of 80,000 Afghan police (Yomiuri) 10) Defense Ministry considering sending refueling ships along with anti-piracy vessels to Somali waters (Asahi) DPJ in action: 11) DPJ aiming at Diet dissolution in the spring (Nikkei) 12) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ozawa, becoming active diplomatically, meets Chinese Communist Party official (Yomiuri) 13) Ozawa says he will give priority to relations with China once his party is in power (Tokyo Shimbun) 14) DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama in policy speech calls for no longer "blindly following the U.S." by opting for "international cooperation" line (Mainichi) 15) Former DPJ President Okada intends to develop party's relationship with the Obama administration (Mainichi) 16) Hatoyama in policy speech proposes moving cabinet members out of the ministries and into the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) (Nikkei) �00A;Articles: 1) Poll: Cabinet support nosedives to 11.4 PERCENT SANIEI (Top play) (Abridged) February 24, 2009 The Sankei Shimbun conducted a joint public opinion survey with Fuji News Network (FNN) on Feb. 21-22. The rate of public support for Prime Minister Taro Aso's cabinet dropped 6.8 points from the last survey in January this year to 11.4 PERCENT . The nonsupport rate also rose 8.8 points to 80.2 PERCENT , topping 80 PERCENT for the first time since coming into office. In the rate of public support TOKYO 00000416 002 OF 010 for political parties as well, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) is above the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The public distrust of Aso, which has been continuing since last year, could not be stopped. The flagging support rate for the Aso cabinet is the second lowest level following the 6.9 PERCENT rating in February 2001 for the cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who stepped down shortly thereafter. It is also on a par with the 11.5 PERCENT rating for the cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in September 2008 that came right after Fukuda announced his resignation. In the public evaluation of the Aso cabinet, "yes" accounted for 23.8 PERCENT when respondents were asked if they appreciated the prime minister's personal character. The figure dropped 5.6 points from the last survey. Asked about leadership, "yes" accounted for 7.0 PERCENT , falling below 10 PERCENT for the first time. Meanwhile, "no" reached 87.5 PERCENT . Respondents were also asked about the Aso cabinet's economic stimulus measures, foreign policies, and civil service reform plans. However, "yes" was somehow over 10 PERCENT . The figures show that the Aso cabinet has dropped in the public ratings for its economic and foreign policies. Respondents were further asked who they thought was more appropriate for prime minister when comparing Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa. To this question, 44.4 PERCENT preferred Ozawa, with 18.9 PERCENT choosing Aso. As seen from these figures, Ozawa's popularity was twice as high as Aso's. Meanwhile, in the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP was at 21.9 PERCENT , with the DPJ scoring 25.9 PERCENT . In the public preference of political parties for proportional representation in the next election for the House of Representatives, the DPJ outdistanced the LDP, with the DPJ scoring 42.9 PERCENT and the LDP at 25.8 PERCENT . In addition, respondents were asked when they would like the next House of Representatives election to be held. To this question, "right away" accounted for 25.2 PERCENT and "after the budget's passage or during the first half of this year" at 54.8 PERCENT . As seen from these figures, a total of 80 PERCENT called for a prompt dissolution of the Diet. "Upon the current membership's expiry" accounted for 16.0 PERCENT . 2) Political maneuvering in LDP over drive to unseat Prime Minister Aso from office NIKKEI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) February 24, 2009 The government and ruling parties confirmed in a meeting yesterday a policy of aiming to get the fiscal 2009 budget through the House of Representatives this week in order to enact it before the end of the current fiscal year. The purpose is to turn around the situation by taking advantage of the passage of the budget with an eye on Lower House dissolution which must be held by the fall. However, since the outlook is that a drive to remove Prime Minister Taro Aso from office will speed up in the ruling camp to, political maneuvering will likely now intensify. In an LDP executive meeting yesterday, Aso stressed: "I will do my best to get the budget through the Lower House this week." Nobody in TOKYO 00000416 003 OF 010 the meeting referred to a sharp plunge in the support rates in the polls for the Aso cabinet. One senior member said: "A sense of alarm was lacking." Aso intends to come up with an additional economic stimulus package. He also intends contain calls for replacing him by brandishing the threat of carrying out "desperate Lower House dissolution (yabure-kabure kaisan)." Some LDP members supporting Aso have suggested a cabinet shuffle. A senior LDP member, who has distanced himself from Aso, said: "He cannot carry out a desperate dissolution." In a meeting on the night of Feb. 18 of former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, Mikio Aoki, former chairman of the LDP caucus in the House of Councillors, and Taku Yamasaki, one participant said: "After all, Mr. Aso is unable to run the government." However, neither Mori nor Aoki has candidates to succeed Aso. 3) Aso to tout Shinkansen technology in talks with U.S. President Obama ASAHI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) February 24, 2009 Prime Minister Aso left Haneda Airport by government special plane last night to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington. The two leaders are expected to agree on the need for the two countries to jointly tackle the global economic crisis and to strengthen the bilateral alliance. They are also likely to reaffirm cooperation over issues with North Korea and the challenge of peace building in Afghanistan. Aso will express a willingness to offer Japan's Shinkansen bullet train technology for the express railway construction projects being promoted by the U.S, so that Japanese firms will be able to receive orders in the emerging U.S. rail market. Aso is the first foreign leader to meet with Obama at the White House. He told reporters just before leaving Japan: "The world is facing a mountain of problems, including the global financial crisis, terrorism and global environmental deterioration. I would like to share the need (with the President Obama) to jointly deal with these long-term global issues in a proper way." The summit meeting will be held at noon of Feb. 24, local time, ahead of Obama's first State of the Union address before Congress. After the summit meeting, Aso will have a luncheon meeting with former Deputy Secretary of State Armitage and other persons knowledgeable about Japan and then will visit Arlington National Cemetery to place flowers. He will return to Japan on the night of the 25th. At a time when calls are growing for "dumping Aso" in the ruling camp, the prime minister hopes to turn the tables by taking advantage of the meeting with President Obama. Given little time spent for preparations for the meeting, though, Aso will try to build a relationship of trust with Obama, rather than producing specific results. Railways emit little carbon dioxide than automobiles and airplanes, so the railway construction plans are in line with the Obama TOKYO 00000416 004 OF 010 administration's Green New Deal. JR East Japan Railway Co., Central Japan Railway Co., as well as Japanese trading firms and automakers are eager to receive orders in the U.S. railway business. As a specific project, the Japanese firms are focusing on the California High-Speed Rail project (worth 3 trillion yen),the first future high-speed rail system of the U.S. In 2005, the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry signed a memorandum for cooperation on the project with the California High-Speed Rail Authority. 4) Japan, U.S. to cooperate in four environmental areas: Leaders of both countries to reach agreement YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) February 24, 2009 The Yomiuri Shimbun learned on February 23 that the Japanese government will propose at the bilateral summit to be held in Washington on the 24th extending full support for the Obama administration's Green New Deal program, which prioritizes investment in the environment area. The two leaders are expected to reach an agreement. Prime Minister Aso will propose Japan-U.S. energy and environmental technology cooperation in four areas, including the dissemination of next-generation vehicles and low carbon technology. Both leaders will vow to lead the world in these fields. They will also look into a new framework for bilateral dialogue with the aim of addressing global-scale challenges, such as the global economy and the environmental issue. Bilateral cooperation in the energy and environment areas will focus on: (1) measures to disseminate next-generation vehicles, such as electric cars and plug-in cars that can be charged with utility power; (2) innovative low carbon technology that enables substantial cuts in carbon emissions; (3) expansion of energy conservation and new energy markets; and (4) peaceful utilization of nuclear power. 5) Prime minister to propose Japan-U.S.-China talks on prevention of global warming at Japan-U.S. summit NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) February 24, 2009 Prime Minister Aso has decided to propose during his first summit with U.S. President Obama to be held in Washington on Feb. 24 launching talks among Japan, the U.S. and China on the prevention of global warming. His aim is to take the lead in talks on a framework for preventing global warming to be adopted in 2013, replacing the Kyoto Protocol, by bringing the U.S. and China into the fold. He will also announce a plan to provide technologies for clean energy, such as solar energy generation, Japan's bailiwick. Prime Minister Aso left yesterday evening for the U.S. on a government plane. The two leaders are also expected to agree to strengthen cooperation for assistance to Afghanistan. The prime minister will explain to the president his policy of continuing the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and expanding cooperation in the civilian area, such as assistance for police activities. As a measure to address the ongoing financial crisis, he will tell the president that Japan is looking into a new TOKYO 00000416 005 OF 010 set of measures, which he will propose at the East Asia summit to be held in Thailand in April. 6) Prime Minister Aso holds 15-minute teleconference with South Korean President Lee YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) February 24, 2009 Prime Minister Taro Aso yesterday held a telephone conversation with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak for about 15 minutes. Aso told Lee that he will meet on Feb. 24 with U.S. President Barack Obama (in Washington). The two leaders shared the perception that close cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea is important in dealing with the global economic crisis and North Korea's nuclear programs. Aso welcomed a visit to Japan by Lee, which is planned to take place before the end of this year. Lee then said: "I would like to visit Japan as early as possible." The telephone talks were held at the request of the Japanese government. 7) Aso, Chinese Communist Party leader agree on need for Japan, China to make efforts to expand domestic demand NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) February 24, 2009 Prime Minister Taro Aso met with Wang Jiarui, the head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Development, at Liberal Democratic Party headquarters yesterday. The two exchanged views on how to tackle the ongoing global economic recession. They shared the view that Japan and China should make efforts to expand domestic demand. Prior to the Aso-Wang meeting, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura met with Wang at the Prime Minister's Office and sought China's cooperation in resolving the North Korean abduction, nuclear and missile issues. Wang replied: "These are complicated issues, but China will continue to make efforts to encourage the countries concerned to reach a settlement." 8) Resumption of yen loans to Vietnam, foreign minister says NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) February 24, 2009 Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during a meeting with visiting Planning and Investment Minister Phuc of Vietnam on February 23 announced Japan's plan to resume fresh yen loans to that nation, which has been suspended due to a bribery scandal over official development assistance (ODA). The government intends to reach a decision on specific cooperation items. Regarding ODA to Vietnam, a bribery scandal involving Pacific Consultants International (PCI),a Japanese leading consulting firm, was brought to light in August last year. Japan has suspended new yen loans for fiscal 2008, calling for the prevention of a recurrence and the punishment of involved sources. TOKYO 00000416 006 OF 010 The Japan-Vietnam Joint Committee on the Prevention of Corruption over ODA joined by the governments and the private sectors of the two countries released a report that includes specific measures. Punishing involved sources has been under way with the Vietnamese government arresting officials who accepted bribes. As such, the Japanese government has determined that conditions for resuming new loans have been set. 9) Government in new aid proposal willing to pay salaries of 80,000 police in Afghanistan YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpt) February 24, 2009 It was learned that the government's new package of aid proposals for Afghanistan has been finalized. The package features payments of salaries of Afghan police officers, as well as construction of hospitals and schools. During their meeting on Feb. 17, Foreign Minister Nakasone presented the proposed plan to U.S. Secretary of State Clinton, and Prime Minister Aso is expected to explain the package to President Obama during their summit meeting on Feb. 24. The government has announced financial assistance to Afghanistan's reconstruction worth 2 billion dollars in total (or approximately 180 billion yen). The new package will come from that assistance framework. To improve public security in Afghanistan, Japan will provide the salaries of all the police officers in that country, a total of 80,000 persons, for a half year. 10) Defense Ministry mulls using supply ship in Indian Ocean for antipiracy mission ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) February 24, 2009 Administrative Vice Defense Minister Kohei Masuda, meeting the press yesterday, clarified that the Defense Ministry would consider using a Maritime Self-Defense Force supply ship-currently deployed to the Indian Ocean for refueling activities under the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law-for the planned dispatch of MSDF destroyers in early March for an antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia. The Defense Ministry takes the position that there is no problem about refueling MSDF vessels that are Japanese ships. However, the purpose of refueling those MSDF destroyers tasked with an antipiracy mission differs from that of the special measures law, and it therefore could be taken as use outside the law's purpose. The Defense Ministry is considering such countries as Djibouti, which is situated at the western edge of the Gulf of Aden, for refueling the MSDF destroyers to be sent out for an antipiracy mission. The destroyers need to be refueled about once in 7-10 days, so they will inevitably have to suspend their activities whenever they are refueled. The Defense Ministry deems it possible to conduct antipiracy operations in an efficient way if the supply ship in the Indian Ocean can be used for underway replenishment. 11) DPJ trying to bring about lower House dissolution in spring, by approving passage of budget and related bills within current fiscal year; some opposition members feeling disappointed TOKYO 00000416 007 OF 010 NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) February 24, 2009 The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has begun taking a stance of approving the government's plan to enact the fiscal 2009 budget and related bills before the end of the current fiscal year (March),giving up on its strategy of preventing an early enactment of them by dragging out deliberations. The aim is to cause discord in the ruling parties after the passage of the budget, eventually to bring about Lower House dissolution in the spring. However, since there is a possibility that Prime Minister Taro will put off dissolving the Lower House even after the passage of the budget, some opposition members have still called for continuing thorough deliberations. "I would like you to return to Tokyo on the 27," DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka said on the 23rd to President Ichiro Ozawa. Yamaoka suggested attending a Lower House plenary session on Feb. 27 with the schedule of taking a vote on the budget and related bills in mind. He also told Ozawa that the Lower House was expected to take a second vote on a bill to fund for the cash-hand out program, which is now being deliberated in the Upper House. Based on a Diet rule, if the fiscal 2009 budget clears the Lower House before the end of February, it will be enacted within the current fiscal year. Although the opposition can prevent the related bills from being enacted before the end of this fiscal year by dragging out deliberations, Yamaoka and other DPJ executive members appear to be willing to take a vote on them in March in the Upper House. The reason is that DPJ executives expect that a mood for Lower House dissolution will grow in the ruling coalition after the budget is enacted. Yamaoka told reporters yesterday in the Diet building: "After the budget is passed, internal discord may occur in the LDP. As a result, the LDP will lose the ability of assuming the reins of government." The day before yesterday, he indicated the outlook that the Lower House election would be carry out in May after the Golden Week holidays. 12) DPJ President Ozawa tells China's Wang: If DPJ assumes political power, it will give priority to bilateral relations with China YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) February 24, 2009 Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ),met yesterday with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee. In the meeting, Ozawa emphasized that if his party took over the reins of government, it would place priority on economic measures and Japan's relations with China. He told Wang: "As I have a special affinity with China, I want to promote a friendship. If our party gets a good result in the next Lower House election, we will reconstruct the Japanese economy and will try more than ever to improve the friendship between Japan and China." Wang responded: TOKYO 00000416 008 OF 010 "Japanese people serving in important posts, whom I met recently, said that the DPJ would assume political power soon. If the DPJ comes into office, I would like to see the Japanese economy recover and promote a further development of the bilateral relations between Japan and China." The planned one-hour meeting was extended by about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Aso met yesterday with Wang at Liberal Democratic Party headquarters. Aso and Wang shared the view that both Japan and Chine should continue taking measures to expand domestic demand. 13) Ozawa stepping up diplomatic activities TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) February 24, 2009 Meeting with Chinese Communist Party leader Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa held talks with visiting Chinese Communist Party International Department head Wang Jiarui at party headquarters yesterday. Although readying for the next Lower House election is Ozawa's top priority, there are those in the party calling for responses that are aimed at a change in administration. Ozawa thus has been stepping up diplomatic activities following his meeting on Feb. 17 with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka was also present at the Ozawa-Wang meeting. The two leaders agreed to strengthen and develop exchanges between the two parties. According to Yamaoka, because Wang visited North Korea in late January and held talks with Kim Jong Il, the North Korean issue was on the agenda, but (Ozawa and Yamaoka) were asked not to reveal what was discussed. In the meeting, Ozawa said: "I feel a special affinity with China. I would like to develop good relations between the two countries." In response, Wang said: "I would like to make the bilateral relationship even loser so that the two countries will be able to deal with and guide the global economic crisis centering on the financial crisis to a solution." In view of growing chance for a change of government after the next Lower House election, Wang also discussed prospects for the DPJ, saying: "Although relations between China and Japan have been good over the last several years, once a DPJ administration is launched, I believe bilateral relations will develop further in a variety of areas." On Feb. 20, Wang met with Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and Vice President Katsuya Okada. In the meeting, there was a scene in which Hatoyama gave candid advice to Wang who played up China's efforts to improve the environment regarding the Tibet issue. In his earlier meeting with Secretary Clinton, Ozawa emphasized the need for an "equal relationship." The DPJ's challenge is how it can come to terms with reality in the event it takes power, while playing up its proactive diplomacy to clarify Japan's standpoint. 14) DPJ's Hatoyama calls for shifting Japan's diplomacy of "blindly TOKYO 00000416 009 OF 010 following U.S." to international cooperation MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) February 24, 2009 Joichi Sato Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama gave a speech in English in a seminar held in Tokyo yesterday mainly for overseas investors mainly in Asia. In it, Hatoyama indicated that his party would aim at a victory of the next Lower House election to take power. Referring to Japan-U.S. relations, he also announced, "Japan's diplomacy of blindly following the United States must be clearly shifted to an international cooperation policy course." He also made it clear that realizing an Asia-Pacific community would be a new national target. While explicitly indicating that the Japan-U.S. relationship is important than anything else, Hatoyama noted: "As its friend, Japan must offer candid advice to the United States so that it will not take the wrong (military) action and lose its credibility." He also brushed aside the question of attaching importance to the Japan-U.S. alliance or to the United Nations as "wrong." 15) DPJ's Okada intends to develop relations with U.S. administration MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) February 24, 2009 Naruyuki Tanaka Democratic Party of Japan Vice President Katsuya Okada gave a speech in a Maichichi-public opinion forum held in the city of Fukuoka yesterday. In it, touching on U.S. bases in Japan, he said: "In addition to protecting Japan, they are important bases for the U.S. military for operations in the Asia-Pacific and the wider area beyond it." Okada also displayed a stance to build better relations with the Obama administration after taking over the reins of government in order to establish a new Japan-U.S. alliance. 16) Hatoyama in policy speech proposes moving cabinet members from ministries into Kantei NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) February 24, 2009 Delivering a speech in Tokyo yesterday, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama revealed plans to strengthen the functions of the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei),with an eye on a change of government after the next House of Representatives election. Under his vision, the cabinet ministers would be moved from their respective ministries into the Kantei in principle, the aim being to strengthen cooperation between the prime minister and the ministers. He hopes to prevent the cabinet ministers from being taken in by bureaucrats and to establish a government led by politicians, as his party aims at. Hatoyama emphasized in the speech: "Once the DPJ grabs political power, we will take time and build a system that TOKYO 00000416 010 OF 010 will enable us to thoroughly counter bureaucrats." He indicated that the prime minister and major cabinet ministers would determine basic policies over two to three weeks. He also said: "We will accept only government officials who follow our policy decisions. Once the DPJ assumes political power, we will promptly tell officials at the bureau director level or over to submit a letter of resignation." Under the current system, administrative vice ministerial meetings are held under the lead of the deputy chief cabinet secretary for administrative affairs. But Hatoyama proposed a new system to allow the deputy chief cabinet secretaries for parliamentary affairs to join such meetings. In the DPJ, however, many members take the view that the stance of confronting bureaucrats will make it impossible to carry out constructive policy measures. Under the current situation, it is uncertain to what extent the Hatoyama vision would be accepted. On the assumption that the DPJ will take over the political reins after it wins a victory in the Lower House election, the DPJ has worked out a policy platform under Hatoyama's initiative. DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa has proposed including more than 100 lawmakers in the government, but Hatoyama did not refer to this idea. ZUMWALT