DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 03/12/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000554 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 03/12/09 INDEX: (1) Editorial: Form coalition against North Korea, centered on Japan, U.S., South Korea (Nikkei) (2) Uruma's remarks causing major stir (Yomiuri) (3) Kamei calls for prosecutor general's explanation about why Ozawa's secretary was arrested at this time (Tokyo Shimbun) (4) U.S. military permits on-site inspection over Futenma fuel spills (Okinawa Times) (5) SDF set to sail for waters off Somalia: Weapons-use standards for Somalia mission rarely different with those for past missions; SDF personnel unfamiliar with judgment on responding to attacks (Mainichi) (6) Japan and United States must shift from tatemae to honne in taking action (Sankei) (7) IWC working group to issue final report in May: Interim meeting ends with division over coastal whaling left unfilled (Tokyo Shimbun) (8) Human-rights group denounces Soichiro Tahara's remark, "Tanaka, Ozawa were both done in by Jews" (Nikkan Gendai) ARTICLES: (1) Editorial: Form coalition against North Korea, centered on Japan, U.S., South Korea NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) March 12, 2009 Former North Korean agent Kim Hyon Hui met family members of Yaeko Taguchi, an abduction victim, in Busan, South Korea, for the first time. Kim was sentenced to death and later pardoned for blowing up a Korean Air Lines passenger jet in 1987. Taguchi was abducted by North Korea around 1978. Kim told (South Korean investigators) that she had learned Japanese from a Japanese woman with the Korean name of Lee Eun Hye. The National Police Agency identifies the Japanese woman as Taguchi. Kim encouraged the family members with the words, "Keep up your hope." Much information about new facts reportedly was not provided, but the meeting must be meaningful for them in that they were informed about how Taguchi was living in North Korea. The meeting was arranged through cooperation between the governments of Japan and South Korea in response to the desires of both parties concerned. The realization of the meeting was greatly attributed to the inauguration of the conservative administration of President Lee Myung-bak. It would have been difficult to bring about such a meeting under the previous administration of President Roh Moo-hyun, who placed emphasis on a policy of reconciliation. North Korea promised in talks with Japan last August to reinvestigate past kidnapping cases of Japanese nationals, but no progress has been made at all. Many South Korean citizens were also TOKYO 00000554 002 OF 010 abducted by North Korean agents. We hope that Japan and South Korea, encouraged by this meeting, will strengthen cooperation in an attempt to throw light on the abduction issue. It is also imperative for the two countries to jointly address the North Korean nuclear and missile issues, not limited to the abduction issue. In the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear development problem, no agreement has been reached on ways to verify nuclear information supplied by North Korea. Signs have been observed since later this January of North Korea preparing to launch the long-range ballistic missile Taepodong-2 at a missile base in Musudan, which is located on the side of the Sea of Japan. North Korea claims that it is preparing to launch a satellite for the peaceful use of space, but it must be just an excuse. It is apparent that Pyongyang is aiming to inflame tensions by launching a missile that has a sufficient range to land on the U.S. and push ahead with negotiations with the Obama administration in its favor. It is necessary for Japan, the U.S., and South Korea to form a strengthened coalition against North Korea in an effort to prevent the North from launching a missile. Such plans are floating as tightening sanctions against the North based on a resolution of the UN Security Council and intercepting the launch. Countries concerned, centered on the three countries, should jointly urge North Korea to exercise self-restraint through various diplomatic efforts and warnings. (2) Uruma's remarks causing major stir YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) March 10, 2009 Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwao Uruma remarked there was no possibility that the investigation into the scandal involving alleged illicit donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co. would spread to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Uruma's remarks created a major stir. Although he denied the remarks in such occasions as a press conference, the opposition parties have said his explanation was insufficient. Therefore, the issue will not be resolved soon. Uruma made the remarks during an informal meeting with reporters on the evening of March 3 at the Prime Minister's Office, when he was asked whether (the investigation) would reach the LDP. He was then asked whether the public would consider it a politically motivated investigation if the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) case was the only one targeted by prosecutors. He responded: "The amount of donations received by (the LDP) is different. I think it's difficult to prove (a person's) awareness of the illegality of donations in a case involving such a small amount of money." It is unusual for Uruma -- a former director general of the National Police Agency and key player at the heart of the government -- to speak of the outlook of an investigation currently under way. News organizations, including Yomiuri Shimbun reported the remarks on their morning editions on March 6. TOKYO 00000554 003 OF 010 However, Uruma made the remarks off-the-record talk. Such meetings take place when reporters need further explanations from politicians and bureaucrats about policies. Uruma normally holds this kind of meeting with reporters daily during the week. Therefore, Uruma's name was withheld in reports, and he was described as "a government source" or "high-level government official." Uruma's remarks drew a barrage of protest from the ruling and opposition parties, with DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama saying, "I couldn't help but suspect that the investigation was being political manipulated by prosecutors and the government." On the night of March 6, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura cautioned Uruma, saying: "Your remark was a common view that could cause misunderstanding." Uruma said another off-the-record meeting said: "That was just a generalization how difficult it is to prove awareness of illegality." Asahi Shimbun effectively broke the off-the-record agreement in an article linking the remarks to Uruma: "The DPJ will pursue the issue in the Diet, believing the high-level government official to be Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma," in its March 7 morning edition, along with Uruma's above explanation. After that, the cabinet reporters' club, to which Yomiuri Shimbun and other media companies belong, called for a revocation of the off-the-record status of the remarks. Uruma, however, refused, saying: "I can't have what I've said made public retroactively." Kawamura phoned Prime Minister Taro Aso, who had returned to Tokyo that night from Okinawa, and asked his instruction. Aso told Kawamura: The deputy chief cabinet secretary should fulfill his responsibility for explaining himself," indicating that Uruma should officially respond to the allegation. Following this, Kawamura, appearing on Fuji TV and NHK talk shows on the morning of March 8, revealed for the first time that the person in question was Uruma. However, Uruma dined the remarks at a press conference in the Prime Minister's Office, saying: "I don't remember whether I said the investigation will not reach politicians belonging to a specific political party." Various media companies, including Yomiuri, Asahi, Mainichi and Nikkei, carried similar articles in their morning issues on March 6. Kyoto News also dispatched a similar article. In a press conference, a reporter questioned: "Almost all reporters (attended the off-the-record session) the deputy chief cabinet secretary's remarks, but he said neither he nor his secretaries remember him making such remarks. Is this questionable?" Uruma just stated: "There are differences in the memories of a person talking about a general view and those questioning whether the investigation will reach the LDP." Uruma's remarks and reaction to them March 5 During off-the-record meeting at the Prime Minister's Office, Uruma said the investigation into the Kanematsu Construction Co.' illegal donation scandal would not reach the LDP. Uruma's name was withheld in the first reports and he was described as a senor government official. TOKYO 00000554 004 OF 010 March 6 The ruling and opposition parties criticized the remarks. Uruma told reporters that he just talked about how difficult to probe a person's awareness of illegality. March 7 Asahi Shimbun reported that the DPJ would pursue the issue in the Diet, believing the senior government official to be Uruma. The cabinet reporters' club called for a revocation of the off-the-record status of the remarks. But Uruma refused the request, saying: "I can't have what I have said made public retroactively." March 8 Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura identified "a government source" as Uruma in NHK and Fuji TV programs. March 9 Prime Minister Aso, in an Upper House Budget Committee session, said: "The remarks during the off-the-record session were misreported." In a committee session that afternoon, Aso retracted what he had said in the morning, saying: "There were discrepancies between Uruma's memory and how the reporters received his remarks. Uruma, in a press conference in the afternoon, said: "It may be that either of my memory and the reporters' is correct." Aso told the press corps at the Prime Minister's Office: "The remarks were not misreported. But there were discrepancies. (3) Kamei calls for prosecutor general's explanation about why Ozawa's secretary was arrested at this time TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) March 12, 2009 People's New Party Acting President Shizuka Kamei yesterday called for an explanation by Prosecutor General Toshiaki Hiwatari about why the first state-funded secretary of Democratic Party of Japan President Ozawa was arrested on charges of violating the Political Funds Control Law at this juncture. In a press conference yesterday, Kamei said: "Why did prosecutors arrest him (at this time),upon fully aware that it will have an overwhelming effect on the recent trend that would change national politics? It is necessary for the top prosecutor to give an explanation to the people. ... It is undesirable to amplify public distrust in the prosecutors' office. If Mr. Ozawa were also arrested, the people would see reasons, but if the investigation ends only with the arrest of his secretary, the top prosecutor should give an explanation in public. (4) U.S. military permits on-site inspection over Futenma fuel spills OKINAWA TIMES (Page 27) (Full) March 12, 2009 Concerning the issue of jet fuel spills from a fuel tank in a northern area of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, U.S. Marines Okinawa's foreign policy staff section (G-5) yesterday informed Ginowan City and Okinawa Prefecture through the Okinawa Defense Bureau that the U.S. Marine Corps would allow local officials to enter the base for an on-site inspection, conditioning it on "eye observation" with "no photographing or sampling." The city will accept this condition in order to confirm the site. However, a city official is critical of this condition, saying: "Photographing and sampling are not allowed. The Japanese government, which has accepted such a condition, has problems." The Okinawa Defense Bureau does not know why the U.S. military TOKYO 00000554 005 OF 010 allows no photographing or sampling, officials said. According to the Okinawa Defense Bureau, three officials each from Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, and the Okinawa Defense Bureau will enter the base for an on-site inspection. The bureau is now coordinating the date and time with the U.S. military, officials said. Ginowan City's Mayor Yoichi Iha noted: "The U.S. military is concerned about environmental pollution being brought to light in any case, so they will not allow sampling." He also said: "The U.S. military has accountability about how the fuel spills could affect the environment and whether the fuel that leaked has been handled properly." According to U.S. Marines Okinawa's press division and other sources, the fuel spills-initially estimated at about 3,000 liters (800 gallons)-amounted to about 760 liters (200 gallons) and about 380 liters (100 gallons) has already been recovered. However, the press division said, "Only a small grass area and soil were affected." The U.S. military is going to replace the grass area's grounds with uncontaminated soil and will sow grass seeds, the press division said. When jet fuel spilled at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in 2007, the U.S. military allowed sampling a small amount of withered grass but allowed no soil sampling. (5) SDF set to sail for waters off Somalia: Weapons-use standards for Somalia mission rarely different with those for past missions; SDF personnel unfamiliar with judgment on responding to attacks MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) March 11, 2009 The biggest difference of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) activities in waters off Somalia with those carried out in the past is that the use of weapons does not directly lead to constitutional debate. Unlike terrorists, piracy has no political background and is nothing more than robbery and kidnapping. Piracy does not fall under the category of "nations and organizations equivalent to nations." The weapons-use standards for the maritime policing activities in the Somalia mission are rarely different with those for the past missions. Applying article 7 of the policemen's duty performance law correspondingly, shooting that will harm the other side is allowed only in "self-defense" or during an "emergency evacuation." The SDF bears responsibility for proving its activities are such. Prime Minister Taro Aso said: "Are there any pirates who would dare attack SDF personnel?" He is optimistic, but since pirates arm themselves with rocket artillery and machine guns, they cannot be placed on the same level with domestic criminals. There was a case in which an Indian navy ship mistakenly sank a Thai fishing boat. There remains a risk that SDF personnel would kill or injure pirates due to excessive return fire. There is concern that it will be difficult for SDF personnel who are unfamiliar with criminal law to judge in a moment. An implementation plan the Defense Ministry revealed on March 4 stipulates that deterring and driving off pirates are vital. The major purposes are that the SDF destroyers will intimidate pirate TOKYO 00000554 006 OF 010 boats in order to keep them out and find pirates quickly by patrol helicopters. SDF destroyers will disperse them with warning shots. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada stated that the rules of engagement (ROE),which stipulates the procedure of weapons-use, will be restrained. A senior Defense Ministry officials even said: "The SDF destroyers will just run away from pirates. (6) Japan and United States must shift from tatemae to honne in taking action SANKEI (Page 7) (Full) March 11, 2009 James E. Auer, director of the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies and Cooperation at the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies No action, talk only I did not expect the Democratic Obama administration's relations with Japan would make a good start. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President George W. Bush, who maintained a close relationship, have left their posts and (former Deputy Secretary of State) Richard Armitage, who played a major role, has also left the front stage. Nevertheless, Hillary Clinton visited Japan as her first foreign destination as secretary of State, and President Barack Obama invited Prime Minister Taro Aso to the White House as the first foreign leader he met. President Obama might have had a greater interest in China than in Japan. There was no mention of Japan in Secretary Clinton's essay on Asia policy, written last year when she was a presidential candidate. But this time around, all media reports said that both Clinton's visit to Tokyo and Prime Minister Aso's trip to Washington were extremely friendly, while emphasizing that maintaining and strengthening U.S.-Japan relations was of crucial importance for the two countries. Some take the view that the expressions of friendship were just pro forma words or tatemae, however. Describing Japan-U.S. relations as "no action, talk only," my Japanese friend cynically said that the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty should be renamed a "NATO treaty." The time has come for both Japan and the United States to take action with determination, according to my friend. Providing railway technology an idea Prime Minister Aso's political base has markedly weakened. There may be a scenario in which Kaoru Yosano of the Liberal Democratic Party or Ichiro Ozawa of the Democratic Party of Japan becomes prime minister before long. In either case, I have given thought to what they could do to turn "tatemae" or pro forma expressions into the honest and sincere action or honne in collaboration with President Obama. As a result, I have come up with many possibilities, including the following: 1) Congress has approved the Obama administration's economic stimulus package that includes 9 billion dollars for high-speed railways. The Washington-New York line is regarded as most important. Even the fastest Amtrak train takes about three hours. With the introduction of maglev technology, which was developed by TOKYO 00000554 007 OF 010 Japan's JR Tokai and will be used between Tokyo and Nagoya, travel time between America's central political and economic cities can be shortened to less than one hour. Reportedly, JR Tokai Chairman Yoshiyuki Kasai will gladly provide this technology to the U.S. side. Mr. Aso or his successor should consider this option as an assistance measure for the U.S. economy. Meanwhile, the United States can provide Japan with F-22 fighter technology to deal with the buildup of the Chinese Army. 2) Japan and the United States, the world's two largest economies, have (the option of concluding) an economic partnership agreement (EPA),which opens up great possibilities. But Japan's agricultural policy is not appealing to the United States. The fundamental improvement of that agricultural policy will benefit U.S. farmers and Japanese consumers (though the farming population is small.) This will help strengthen the complementary relationship between the two countries. In the industrial field, for example, Boeing, which is producing the world's best passenger planes and military aircrafts, is in need of Japan's excellent components, such as fibers. I believe such relations can be expanded in the agricultural sector, as well. Spell of right to collective self-defense must be broken 3) Security in the Asia-Pacific regions is a matter of paramount importance. North Korea is an immediate threat to the two countries, and in the mid- to long terms, China's moves are a threat. Up until the 1980s, Japan contributed significantly to blocking the activities of Soviet submarines. That was because unlike today, the Soviet Union did not think Japan would not use its right to collective self-defense for the United States. North Korea today might think that Japan will not cooperate with the United States in blocking North Korea's attack. It is not unreasonable for the North to assume that Japan, which thinks it cannot exercise the right to collective self-defense, will not shoot down an incoming missile until it reaches the sky over it. (The government) should swiftly order the (Cabinet) Legislation Bureau director general to make clear that Japan can exercise the right to collective self-defense. It is also necessary to consider replacing the director general with someone like former Administrative Vice-Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi, who is highly strategic. He would be able to eliminate the illogical spell that puts Japan at risk. If such happens, Japan would be able to expect the U.S. government to wield significant influence. (The United States) would strengthen its support for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. (The United States) would be able to urge North Korea to take responsibility for the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the North. In terms of policy toward China, (the U.S. government) would try to increase moderates who support cooperation with Japan rather than with the Chinese people who are supportive of the unclear military buildup and seizing Japan's marine resources. DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa said, "The U.S. 7th Fleet is enough for the defense of Japan." This shows that he does not have a good knowledge of the U.S. forces in Japan or of the U.S.-Japan alliance. Relations are strengthened by multiple actions, as was discussed TOKYO 00000554 008 OF 010 above, and evolve into an alliance of mutual trust. (7) IWC working group to issue final report in May: Interim meeting ends with division over coastal whaling left unfilled TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) March 12, 2009 Toshiro Shimizu, Rome An interim meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in Rome ended its three-day session on March 11 with arguments between anti-whaling countries and Japan remaining along divergent lines. Discussions on specific issues, such as the extent of reduction of catches in Japan's coastal whaling (if resumed),did not take place. The IWC last month released a compromise plan that would allow Japan to resume coastal whaling in compensation for its drastically cutting back on scientific research whaling in the Southern Ocean in stages or totally abolishing such. The proposal has drawn attention, but Japan took a position that it cannot accept the total abolition of scientific whaling. It released a statement condemning the Sea Shepherd, an environmental protection group, for obstructing the activities of Japan's scientific whaling vessels. Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Britain and the U.S. criticized Japan's scientific whaling as de facto commercial whaling and called for total abolition of such. The IWC will aim at having pro-whaling countries and anti-whaling countries reach an agreement in the run-up to a plenary meeting to be held in Portugal. It has decided to compile a final report by May 18, based on the working group's compromise plan. Akira Nakamae, executive director of the Fisheries Research Agency, who took part in the meeting, representing Japan, told reporters: "Discussions have yet to be finalized. However, in my view, participating countries have agreed on the direction of helping the IWC create rules." (8) Human-rights group denounces Soichiro Tahara's remark, "Tanaka, Ozawa were both done in by Jews" NIKKAN GENDAI (Full) March 12, 2009 A statement made by Soichiro Tahara in a TV Asahi program on the 8th has developed into an awful mess. Tawara said: "Mr. (Takuei) Tanaka was done in by the Jews. Like him, Mr. Ozawa was also done in by the Jews." The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish-affiliated human-rights organization based in Los Angeles, has flared back at this remark. Former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka was also present in the program as a guest. Touching on the arrest of a secretary of Ozawa, she said: "There must be persons who will be distressed if the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) assumes political power." In response, Tawara, citing the case of Kakuei Tanaka arrested in the Lockheed case, emphasized: "He was done in by Jews (Yudaya ni yarareta)." TOKYO 00000554 009 OF 010 The Simon Wiesenthal Center posted on its website on March 9 a statement ASTERISK titled: "We denounce Japanese TV news personality for blaming political scandals on America and the Jews." In the written statement, deputy chief of the center says: "There was no conspiracy by Jews and the U.S. It is outrageous and unacceptable for Soichiro Tahara in a news program to have made a statement that gives mistaken view to Japanese people. ... TV Asahi should immediately retract this ludicrous statement and it and Mr. Soichiro Tahara should make a public apology." The Simon Wiesenthal Center was established in 1977 by Simon Wiesenthal, an activist who pursued Nazi war criminals involved in the Holocaust during World War II. The group is mainly known for its effort to prevent the memory of the Holocaust from fading away. It protests against anti-Semitic remarks and media reports that accuse Jews of conspiracies. According a publishing company source, there is a case in Japan of magazine carrying an article that denied the existence of the gas chambers (that were used to kill Jews during the Holocaust). Because of fierce protests from the Center, the magazine ceased publication. Regarding the controversial remark by Tahara, a spokesman for TV Asahi said: "We have received no protest (from the center) as of the 10th." What then will TV Asahi do when it comes? (Statement: March 9, 2009) WIESENTHAL CENTER DENOUNCES JAPANESE TV NEWS PERSONALITY FOR BLAMING POLITICAL SCANDALS ON AMERICA AND THE JEWS The Simon Wiesenthal Center strongly criticized Soichiro Tahara, host of TV Asahi's Sunday Project program for anti-Semitic and anti- American accusations made during a March 8th exchange with former Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka. In the live broadcast, Tahara told Tanaka that her father, former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka was "done in by America, by the Jews and Ozawa, (leader of the Democratic Party of Japan) too, was done in (by America and/or the Jews)." "It is outrageous and unacceptable that in 2009, a time of international uncertainties and increased anti-Semitism, that a host of a news program meant to inform the Japanese people about political developments would instead conjure up non-existent conspiracies to blame domestic scandals on Jews or America," said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Wiesenthal Center in a statement from Jerusalem. Rabbi Cooper found it all the more disturbing since Tahara made this statement during a direct exchange with a former Foreign Minister, Makiko Tanaka and that it was unfortunate she did not challenge his falsehood immediately during the live broadcast. "Instead, all the viewers heard was a remark by the show host that the Foreign Minister's late father and the current president of the Democratic Party of Japan were both victims of outside plots against them," he said. "TV Asahi should immediately dissociate itself from this ludicrous statement and TV Asahi and Mr. Tahara owe all concerned a public apology," he concluded.) Back to Top TOKYO 00000554 010 OF 010 ZUMWALT