Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TOKYO424
2009-02-25 01:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tokyo
Cable title:  

JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 2/25/09

Tags:  OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0424/01 0560109
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 250109Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1018
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 4949
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 2604
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 6393
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 0417
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 3155
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7901
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3924
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3871
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000424 

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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 2/25/09

Index:
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000424

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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 2/25/09

Index:

1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei)

Obama-Aso summit meeting:
4) President Obama, Prime Minister Aso agree to strengthening of the
U.S.-Japan alliance (Asahi)
5) Washington's distrust of Ichiro Ozawa-led Democratic Party of
Japan on the security front explains invitation to Prime Minister
Aso as first White House guest (Sankei)

6) Japan structuring its diplomacy on encircling North Korea,
alarmed at the country's missile-launch preparations (Tokyo
Shimbun)

7) Prime Minister Aso to visit China late next month, with
environmental issues high on the agenda (Mainichi)

Defense and security affairs:
8) U.S.-Japan treaty on relocating U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam
moves to the Diet for ratification (Yomiuri)
9) DPJ is against the Guam relocation treaty with the U.S.,
unwilling to pick up the cost of moving Marines out of Okinawa
(Yomiuri)

10) DPJ President Ozawa torpedoes alliance by calling for removal of
all U.S. troops from Japan except for the Navy; Sees Japan picking
up the extra roles (Sankei)
11) Government finds first strike use of weapons in dealing with
pirates in accordance with Police Law (Sankei)
12) New law will allow both shooting at pirates and refueling other
ships engaged in anti-piracy operations (Mainichi)
13) Mainichi poll finds 47 PERCENT of public approve the
dispatching of MSDF to deal with pirates in African waters
(Mainichi)

Political agenda:
14) DPJ to allow vote on fiscal 2009 budget on Feb. 27 (Sankei)
15) DPJ planning to refuse acceptance of cash handouts after bill
implementing such is passed (Yomiuri)
16) Prime Minister Aso refuses to "correct" a statement he had made

about World War II starting with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
(Mainichi)

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi:
Stock prices gradually declining in Japan, U.S., Europe

Mainichi:
Court orders Aichi Prefecture to compensate hotel over false quake
data

Yomiuri:
Japanese, U.S. leaders agree to jointly tackle global economic
crisis

Nikkei:

TOKYO 00000424 002 OF 011


Lawson to buy convenience store rival am/pm for 25 billion yen

Sankei:
Government to set up expert panel led by Yosano, not by bureaucrats,
to work out economic measures

Tokyo Shimbun:
U.S. President Obama describes "Japan-U.S. alliance as cornerstone"
in meeting with Aso

Akahata:
"
"Firing of temporary workers" questioned in Diet session, summoning
auto industry labor union representative

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Incidents targeting NHK: Violence and threat impermissible
(2) Invitation of Olympics to Tokyo: Japan should present specific
vision

Mainichi:
(1) Welfare Ministry's pension estimate too optimistic
(2) Stock prices nosedive in Japan, U.S.: Hurriedly work out
measures to dismiss chain of concerns

Yomiuri:
(1) Ministry's pension estimate: Problem lies in pension system
(2) Sports and drugs: Stop foolish act betraying fans

Nikkei:
(1) Global stock plunges showing reality of financial crisis
(2) Threat to NHK impermissible

Sankei:
(1) Disagreement on personnel appointments: DPJ should not use
personnel action for political purposes
(2) Academy Awards an opportunity to deepen understanding of Japan

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Future pension benefits: Optimistic estimates make us uneasy
(2) Ruling on false quake data: Give consideration to residents'
safety in construction administration

Akahata:
(1) Top business leader should be summoned to Budget Committee
session

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, February 23

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
February 25, 2009

Night
Arrived at Andrews Air Force Base in a Washington suburb on a
government special plane. Stayed overnight at Mandarin Oriental
Hotel.

Prime Minister's schedule, February 24

TOKYO 00000424 003 OF 011



NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
February 25, 2009

Morning
Held a summit with President Obama at the White House.

4) Aso, Obama agree to strengthen Japan-U.S. alliance

ASAHI (Page 1) (Full)
February 25, 2009

Akihisa Tsugawa, Washington

Prime Minister Taro Aso and U.S. President Barack Obama held their
first summit meeting at the White House on the morning of the 24th,
local time. The two leaders reaffirmed that the world's two largest
economies would further strengthen their alliance and tackle in
cooperation a wide range of international challenges, including the
financial and economic crisis.

At the outset of the talks, Obama said that the invitation of Aso as
his first foreign leader guest is "a testimony to the strong
partnership between the U.S. and Japan." He continued: "The
U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of U.S. security policy in
East Asia, and my administration hopes to strengthen this alliance."
He emphasized: "I think that we have an opportunity to work
together, not only on issues related to the Pacific Rim but
throughout the world. Japan has become our great partner in dealing
with various issues, including climate change and Afghanistan."

In responding to questions from reporters, Obama reiterated: "Japan
is the cornerstone of U.S. security policy and a major economic
partner."

Aso replied in English: "I feel grateful for your inviting me to the
White House as the first official foreign state guest. This is a
great honor for me as a Japanese person and also as an Asian. The
U.S. and Japan are the world's two largest economies. The two
countries should work together hand in hand."

Obama and Aso confirmed the multifaceted nature of the Japan-U.S.
alliance to address vital issues in the Asia-Pacific region, as well
as global issues. Both are also expected to agree to steadily
implement such plans as the transfer of U.S. Marines in Okinawa to
Guam and the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.

In dealing with the ongoing economic crisis, the two leaders agreed
to do their utmost to buoy up their domestic economies by such means
as economic stimulus measures. They also reaffirmed the need for
cooperation in preparation for the financial summit in London on
April 2. Obama and Aso also committed themselves to resisting
protectionism.

On North Korean, Aso explained Japan's stance of aiming at settling
the abduction, nuclear and missile issues in a package and then
called for U.S. cooperation in resolving the abduction issue. On
Afghan issues, the two leaders agreed on Japan's participation in
the formation of a new U.S. comprehensive strategy. Aso revealed
Japan's willingness to offer cooperation in the public welfare area.
He seems to have also unveiled that the government is preparing a
plan to deploy special envoys in charge of reconstruction assistance

TOKYO 00000424 004 OF 011


for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

5) Prime Minister Aso invitation reflects U.S. administration's
"distrust" in Ozawa-led DPJ; U.S. applies pressure on security
policy

SANKEI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly)
February 25, 2009

Fumito Ishibashi, Washington

U.S. President Barack Obama invited Prime Minister Taro Aso to the
White House as the first foreign leader he will meet. Aso, who
served as foreign minister under the Koizumi and Abe
administrations, has strong communication channels to the U.S.
Republican Party but has few ties to the Democratic Party. Despite
that, President Obama invited Aso, who is struggling with plummeting
support ratings, to the White House ahead of Britain, America's old
ally. What is the motive behind it? By introducing Aso internally
and externally as his most important partner, (President Obama)
seems to be sending a message of "distrust" toward the Democratic
Party of Japan, which has a security policy that is difficult to
fathom.

In his meeting with Prime Minister Aso on the morning of Feb. 20,
UK-Japan 21st Century Group UK Cochairman Rt. Hon Jack Cunningham
said ironically, "I understand that the prime minister is going to
hold talks with President Obama. We welcome it." It was clear that
the upcoming early Japan-U.S. summit has hurt the pride British
gentlemen.

The request from the United States for Aso to visit the White House
just before the President's State of the Union Address was a bolt
from the blue for Japan, as well. President Obama did not place a
telephone call to Aso until Jan. 29, after he had already talked to
British, French, German, Australian and Middle Eastern leaders.
Disappointment spread in the government, with a senior official
saying, "The U.S. Democratic Party's propensity to slight Japan has
not changed." Some even indicated that it would be an accomplishment
just to realize an Aso-Obama meeting before the London financial
summit in April.

Instead, President Obama invited Aso at a stage when some of his
major cabinet posts remain unfilled. Behind that, there seems to the
judgment that in order to overcome the ongoing economic crisis,
there is no other country but Japan, the world's second largest
economy, to work with the U.S. as a partner.

Reportedly, Obama's priority shift to Japan owes much to such
officials as his National Security Advisor James Jones, a retired
U.S. Marine Corps four-star general who also served in Okinawa, and
Kurt Campbell, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
East Asian and Pacific Affairs who is well-versed in Japanese
affairs.

But the prevailing view is that they do not necessity have positive
opinions about the Aso administration and that (Obama's invitation
of Aso) is a reversal of his concern over the Ichiro Ozawa-led DPJ.

In the U.S. government, there is mistrust in the DPJ which is
opposed to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in
the Indian Ocean and is calling for moving Futenma Air Station out

TOKYO 00000424 005 OF 011


of Okinawa and a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces
Agreement. In August 2007, Ozawa said in his meeting with then U.S.
Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer: "We cannot send troops to
places that are not directly connected with Japan's peace and
security and conduct joint operations." This, too, seems to have
augmented U.S. concern.

Reportedly, Campbell and others visited Japan last December and met
with persons connected with the DPJ and concluded as a result that
the DPJ was still split over its security policy. Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton also met with Ozawa seemingly to size him up.

There are Japan experts in the Obama administration, but there are
not may pro-Japan experts. The first Aso-Obama meeting ended
amicably. There is a possibility, however, that the U.S. government
will ask Japan for enormous monetary and human contributions for the
war on terror and other areas. Prime Minister Aso intends to find
ways to invigorate his administration with proactive foreign and
security policies based on the Japan-U.S. alliance by taking such
wishes of the United States into consideration.

6) Government accelerating diplomacy encircling North Korea

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
February 25, 2009

The government is accelerating high-level diplomacy with six-party
talks member nations with the exception of North Korea, starting
with the Japan-U.S. summit on February 24. The move has a strong
nature of being intended to encircle North Korea in conjunction with
U.S. Secretary of State Clinton's policy of attaching with
importance to the six-party talks, which she advocated during her
recent tour of Asia. North Korea on the 24th released a statement
hinting at a plan to launch a long-range ballistic missile. Tense
diplomatic bargaining is continuing.

Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during a press conference on the
24th revealed that he will visit Beijing on March 1 to meet with
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. They are expected to exchange views on
pending issues, such as the poisoned gyoza dumpling case, and the
North Korea issue. Nakasone successively held meetings with his
South Korean counterpart on the 11th and his U.S. counterpart on the
17th. Prime Minister Aso met with President Medvedev in Sakhalin,
Russia.

It is unusual for Japan to hold talks with the Russian leader and
foreign ministers of the U.S., China and South Korea in such a short
period of time. It has thus tacitly applied pressure on Pyongyang,
which pins hopes on bilateral talks with the U.S. instead of the
six-party talks.

However, far from giving in, Pyongyang is increasingly strengthening
its confrontational stance.

It in a statement released on the 24th revealed that preparations
were under way to launch an experimental communications satellite.
This recalls its launching of the Taepodong-1 missile, which passed
over Japan and came down in the Pacific Ocean in August 1998. At
that time, Pyongyang announced that it was only an artificial
satellite.

North Korea appears to be preparing to launch the Taepodong-2 or its

TOKYO 00000424 006 OF 011


improved version. If it goes ahead with the test launch, ignoring
warnings from various countries, it would become a major threat to
Japan, which is even within range of the intermediate-range
ballistic missile Nodong 1.

A government official took a bullish stance, saying: "If they want
to launch it, do it. They know what will happen, if they do it."
However, there are, in fact, no signs that six-party talks on
settling the missile issue are in the works.

7) Prime Minister Aso to visit China in late March; such issues as
environmental technology high on agenda

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full)
February 25, 2009

The government has launched coordination on a plan for Prime
Minister Taro Aso to visit China in late March. It is considering
meetings between Aso and President Hu Jintao and between Aso and
Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Aso visited China last October to attend
the summit meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). China is
expected to invite Aso in March to Beijing as a state guest, a first
time for him.

When President Hu visited Japan last May, the governments of Japan
and China agreed to start a protocol of mutual visits by their top
leaders.

Such issues as Japan's provision of environmental technologies to
prevent global warming will likely be high on the agenda.

Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone will visit Beijing on Feb. 28 and
March 1 to arrange a schedule for a Japan-China summit. Nakasone is
expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi to
exchange views so that the two countries will be able to promote a
strategic reciprocal relationship in concrete terms. The two foreign
ministers will likely also discuss the joint exploration of gas
reserves in the East China Sea and the food security issue,
including a series of food-poisoning cases involving Chinese-made
frozen dumplings. Nakasone is considering meeting also with
President Hu and Premier Wen.

8) Agreement on transfer of U.S. marines submitted to Diet

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
February 25, 2009

The government on February 24 submitted an item to the Diet calling
for its approval of the signing of the Japan-U.S. agreement that
bans the use of Japanese outlays for purposes other than the
relocation of U.S. marines from Okinawa to Guam.

The relocation is part of the U.S. forces Japan realignment. U.S.
Secretary of State Clinton and Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone
signed the agreement on Feb. 17, when Clinton visited Japan. The
government is aiming at having the agreement approved quickly from
the standpoint of strengthening the bilateral alliance. However,
Diet deliberations will likely to be tumultuous, with the opposition
camp, which has a majority of seats in the Upper House, toughening
its confrontational stance against the government.

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is opposed to the agreement,

TOKYO 00000424 007 OF 011


arguing that the cost of the construction of U.S. military housing
following the transfer of the Marines is too high.

9) To avoid split in the party, DPJ to vote against U.S. Marine
relocation treaty, citing burden of picking up the cost

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts)
February 25, 2009

The government presented to the Diet on Feb. 24 a measure approving
the Japan-U.S. agreement that would relocate U.S. Marines on Okinawa
to Guam. In response, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has taken
a stance of opposing the treaty because the Japanese government is
picking up the cost and because the party has problems with the plan
to realign the U.S. forces in Japan. Although there are voices of
approval within the DPJ who worry that the party's capability of
running the government would be questioned (if it opposes the move),
the judgment was ultimately reached, based on the next election,
that it would not be wise policy if the party split over this
issue.

The bilateral agreement was signed during the recent meeting of
Foreign Minister Nakasone and Secretary of State Clinton. In order
to move to Guam 8,000 U.S. Marine troops and their 9,000 family
members by 2014, Japan would issue fiscal disbursements limited to
no more than $2.8 billion (or approximately 250 billion yen).

10) U.S. Navy presence alone enough: Ozawa

SANKEI (Page 3) (Full)
February 25, 2009

Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ichiro Ozawa
clarified his views yesterday regarding the issue of realigning U.S.
forces in Japan, indicating that the forces of the U.S. Navy alone
would be enough for the future U.S. military presence in Japan. "For
the United States to forward station troops at this time is
meaningless," Ozawa said. "In the sense of military strategy, the
Seventh Fleet alone is enough for the U.S. presence in the Far
East," he added.

In addition, Ozawa also said: "As for the rest, Japan should
undertake its role for its national security and play its role in
the Far East. I think they will understand this." With this, Ozawa
implied plans to realign and reduce the presence of U.S. military
bases in Japan through such measures as cooperating on United
Nations activities after his party takes office. He was replying to
a question asked by a reporter in Kashiba, Nara Prefecture.

Ozawa stressed: "Japan should not always be at the beck and call of
the United States. Instead, we, too, should have an appropriate
global strategy. Japan should do more to share the role at least for
matters related to Japan. If we do so, the United States' role will
decrease." Meanwhile, Japan has now entered into an agreement with
the United States to relocate Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam,
and the government has asked the Diet for its approval of the pact.
The question is whether the DPJ will agree to this pact. Asked about
this, Ozawa avoided clarifying his view, saying, "I want you to ask
about specifics after we take office."

In its manifesto for the 2007 House of Councillors election, the DPJ
took the position that the party would study the U.S. military

TOKYO 00000424 008 OF 011


presence for security in the Asia-Pacific region and how to position
U.S. military bases in Japan.

11) Gov't to allow firing on pirate ships under current law

SANKEI (Page 3) (Full)
February 25, 2009

The government has now ordered the Maritime Self-Defense Force to
prepare for an antipiracy mission in waters off the eastern African
coast of Somalia by invoking an action for maritime security
operations under the Self-Defense Forces Law. Concerning its
guidelines for the MSDF to use weapons, the government decided
yesterday to allow the MSDF to fire on pirate ships in case they
refused orders to stop. The government will also allow the MSDF to
fire at pirates attempting to get into commercial ships. Based on
this course of action, the government will not ease its guidelines
for weapons use or the so-called rules of engagement (ROE) in its
planned antipiracy legislation. The government plans to present an
antipiracy bill to the Diet during the first half of March. In
addition, the new legislative measure also allows the MSDF to
provide foreign naval vessels engaged in antipiracy operations with
water and fuel on a reimbursable basis.

The government plans to invoke an action in early March for maritime
security operations and send out two MSDF destroyers. In the case of
maritime security operations, however, weapons use is allowed under
the currently existing police duty execution law in conformity with
its Article 7 provisions. In this case, weapons use is limited to
legitimate self-defense or emergency evacuation only. The MSDF is
currently allowed to fire on pirate ships only if and when the
pirates fire first. Concerned about this constraint, the Defense
Ministry sought to ease the government's weapons use guidelines.

However, the Cabinet Secretariat, which is now drafting the new law,
judged that the MSDF can be allowed to fire on pirate ships before
they fire in order to stop them or for other purposes even in the
case of legitimate self-defense or emergency evacuation prescribed
in the police duty execution law. In concrete terms, the MSDF will
be allowed to fire on a pirate ship in the case where that pirate
ship, refusing orders to stop and closing in on a commercial ship,
does not halt after warning shots were fired into the skies and even
after further warning shots were fired into the water near the
pirate ship.

The Cabinet Secretariat also judged that the MSDF will be allowed to
fire at pirates if and when they rope up a commercial ship in an
attempt to get into the commercial ship.

In the case of the new law's weapons use standards as well, the
government will therefore allow the MSDF to use weapons in
conformity with the police duty execution law's Article 7 provisions
as in the case of maritime security operations. Furthermore, the new
law will allow the MSDF to escort foreign ships irrelevant to Japan.
In addition, the new law, if approved by the ruling parties, will
also prescribe international contributions to allow supplying
foreign naval vessels on antipiracy missions with fuel and water on
a reimbursable basis. In this case, the government is planning to
use an MSDF supply ship currently deployed to the Indian Ocean.

12) Anti-piracy legislation to allow use of weapons against pirates;
Police law to be applied

TOKYO 00000424 009 OF 011



MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged)
February 25, 2009

Yasushi Sengoku

The outline of the anti-piracy bill the government is planning to
submit to the Diet in early March has been revealed. The legislation
is designed to apply the Police Duties Execution Law to allow the
use of weapons to stop piracy, which is not allowed under the
maritime policing action provision of the Self-Defense Forces Law.
In the SDF's overseas missions in the past, the use of weapons has
been allowed only in self-defense and emergency evacuation so as not
to constitute the use of force, which is prohibited under the
Constitution. The step that will effectively relax the weapons-use
criteria is likely to spark controversy.

The anti-piracy legislation envisages not only the Maritime
Self-Defense Force's mission in waters off Somalia, for which the
government is expected to issue an order before long, but also
activities in other oceanic areas as well. The legislation will be a
permanent law without any time limit. The scope of protection will
be expanded to include foreign ships, in addition to Japanese
vessels. Coast guards are to play a main role in clamping down on
pirates and the SDF is to play a supplementary role in the event the
Japan Coast Guard finds it difficult to handle.

For the use of weapons, Article 7 of the Police Duties Execution Law
will be applied. Under this article, a police officer is allowed to
use weapons in self-defense, emergency evacuation, and against a
resisting individual suspected to have committed a heinous crime.
The application of the law allows the use of weapons to fire at a
pirate ship that did not follow an order to stop.

The government plans to issue an order in early March to dispatch
the MSDF on an anti-piracy mission in waters off Somalia under the
maritime policing action provision.

But under this provision, protection is limited to
Japanese-registered ships and vessels carrying Japanese cargoes.
Once the anti-piracy legislation is enacted, the government intends
to shift the law authoring the SDF dispatch to the new legislation.

Difficulties are expected for the enactment of the new legislation
that involves constitutional discussions under the extremely
unpopular Aso administration.

13) Mainichi opinion poll finds 47 PERCENT of public approving
dispatch of MSDF for anti-piracy mission, outweighing those who are
against

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
February 25, 2009

The Mainichi Shimbun, in a (telephone-based) opinion survey carried
out nationwide Feb. 21-22, found that 47 PERCENT of public approved
and 42 PERCENT opposed the government's dispatching of the Maritime
Self-Defense Force (MSDF) for anti-piracy operations off the coast
of Somalia in Africa. Eleven percent had no answer to the question.

Breaking down the respondents by gender, 60 PERCENT of males
approved and another 34 PERCENT disapproved. But only 34 PERCENT

TOKYO 00000424 010 OF 011


of women approved, with 50 PERCENT disapproving. Based on political
parties, 65 PERCENT of Liberal Democratic Party supporters
approved, and only 26 PERCENT disapproved. The New Komeito
supporters were comparably close, with 51 PERCENT approving and 44
PERCENT disapproving. Both the Japanese Communist Party and the
Social Democratic Party were overwhelming against the MSDF dispatch,
but the Democratic Party of Japan supporters were evenly split, 46
PERCENT supportive and 45 PERCENT opposed.

14) DPJ to allow ruling camp to take vote on fiscal 2009 budget on
Feb. 27 in Lower House plenary session

SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
February 25, 2009

The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided
yesterday in an executive meeting on a policy of coordinating views
with other opposition parties in order to vote down this week in the
House of Councillors bills related to the second supplementary
budget for fiscal 2008, designed to secure fiscal resources for the
cash-handout program. The DPJ also decided yesterday to allow the
ruling parties to take a vote on the fiscal 2009 budget, which the
House of Representatives is now deliberating, on Feb. 27 in a Lower
House plenary session.

The ruling coalition is expected to readopt the bills related to the
fiscal 2008 second extra budget by a two-thirds lower chamber
overriding vote, after they are voted down in the
opposition-controlled Upper House. The DPJ intended to vote them
down last week, but it put off its plan to take a vote following
former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's remarks on Feb. 12 that he
would not approve the use of a two-thirds overriding vote.

A senior DPJ member said: "Even if a second vote is delayed, the
number of LDP lawmakers to fall in line with Koizumi will not
increase." In an attempt to avoid public criticism of dragging out
deliberations, the DPJ decided to vote them down next week (in the
Upper House).

Regarding the reason for the DPJ's decision to allow the ruling camp
to take a vote on the fiscal 2009 budget, Diet Affairs Committee
Chairman Kenji Yamaoka said: "Once the budget is enacted, there will
be discord in the LDP." However, three other opposition parties --
the Japanese Communist Party, Social Democratic Party, and People's
New Party -- raised objections to the DPJ's policy of taking a vote
as early as possible. The DPJ is expected to hold a meeting today of
the Diet affairs committee chairs of the opposition parties in order
to get their approval.

15) DPJ to refuse to accept cash handout

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
February 25, 2009

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on February 24 decided to call
on its member lawmakers to refuse the acceptance of flat-sum cash
handouts incorporated in the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget.
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama will send a notification on the
decision to all DPJ members before the end of the week. Some took
the view that such a decision should be made by each member.
However, the party has decided to urge member lawmakers to act in
unity in view of the circumstance that it has lashed out at the cash

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handout scheme in Diet debates.

The party will let local members make up their mind on their own.
However, it will give consideration in order to prevent a situation
in which local assemblies dominated by DPJ-affiliated members vote
down their supplementary budget bill to finance the cost of the
distribution of benefits, making it impossible for the residents of
such municipalities alone to receive the benefits, from occurring.

16) Cabinet adopts written response stipulating that it will not
correct Aso's remark that World War II began with Japan's attack on
Pearl Harbor

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
February 25, 2009

The government yesterday adopted a written response in a cabinet
meeting that it would not correct Prime Minister Aso's remark that
World War II began with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in December

1941. Aso stated this during an interview (Dec. 12, 2008) for the
ninth issue of his cabinet's mail magazine. The cabinet approved the
written response, which was a reply to a question posed by New Party
Nippon representative Yasuo Tanaka.

The theme of the interview was about Japan ten years from now. Aso
stated in it:

"Nobody probably can predict things that will occur ten years from
now.....World War II began with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor in
December 1941. At that time, there was nobody who was able to
imagine that Japan and the United Stated would conclude a bilateral
security treaty 10 years later."

The government's written response says that (Aso) referred to
Japan-U.S. relations in pre- and post-war periods in order to
explain how difficult it was to predict the state of Japan ten years
from now. The written response avoided making a direct response to
Tanaka's question.

World War II began with the declaration of war by Britain and France
against the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. Aso appears
to have mistaken the start of World War II with the outbreak of war
between Japan and the United States. Tanaka severely criticized Aso
in his memorandum.

ZUMWALT