JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/30/09

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000999

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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/30/09

Index:

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

4) Kyodo poll: Aso Cabinet support rate up 5 points to 29%, with
non-support slipping 7.3 points to 56.2%, but 55% of public give
thumbs down to new stimulus budget (Tokyo Shimbun)

China diplomacy:
5) Chinese Prime Minister Wen nails Prime Minister Aso on Yasukuni;
China sought to reduce nuclear arsenal (Asahi)
6) Aso, Wen to cooperate to prevent spread of new-type influenza,
agree to push for early restart of Six-Party Talks with North Korea
(Nikkei)
7) Main exchanges in Japan-China summit meeting (Mainichi)
8) China to implement order next May requiring foreign companies to
provide IT information about products (Nikkei) 8

North Korea problem:
9) State Department deputy spokesperson: We will never forget the
abductees or their families (Yomiuri)
10) North Korea's threat to test nuclear weapons, missiles seen as
its way to pressure U.S. into direct talks (Mainichi)

11) Foreign Minister Nakasone meets with New Zealand counterpart,
discusses decline in Japanese tourists (Yomiuri)

12) Swine flu epidemic: The situation has escalated beyond what the
Japanese government had imagined (Mainichi)

Defense and security affairs:
13) Assistant Secretary of State-designate Gregson in hearings
displays flexibility on U.S. force realignment plan for Japan
(Yomiuri)
14) Defense Minister Hamada is off to visit the U.S., the first trip
there for a defense chief since 2007, with missile defense high on
the meeting agenda (Mainichi)
15) Former Prime Minister Abe pushes for a restart of serious
discussion about reinterpreting the Constitution to allow Japan the
right to collective self-defense (Tokyo Shimbun)

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi: Yomiuri: Tokyo Shimbun:
Swine flu claims 1st death in U.S.

Mainichi:
New flu is "not very virulent," says Japanese WHO emergency panel
member

Nikkei:
Japan, China agree to cooperate in fight against new flu

Sankei:
New flu strain: U.S. president to put nation on full alert

Akahata:
Greenhouse gas emissions by nuclear power plants are not zero

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2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Japan-China cooperation for environmental conservation: Help
China emerge from pollution society

Mainichi:
(1) Revision to law on Development Bank of Japan: Sustainable system
urged
(2) President Obama's 100 days: Don't afraid of being criticized as
being weak-kneed

Yomiuri:
(1) Compensation for murder cases that ran out statute of
limitations: Supreme Court hands down decision after right to claim
against damage determined
(2) Foreign minister's nuclear disarmament speech: Specific action
instead of slogan

Nikkei:
(1) Japan should speed up building of electronic library
(2) Restricting hereditary lawmakers desirable

Sankei:
(1) Japan-China summit: Superficial reciprocal relations not
acceptable
(2) Court ruling on corporal punishment: Stern and uncompromising
attitude needed

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) May Day: Trade unions should listen to voices of workers
(2) NHK TV program changes: Independence, autonomy vital

Akahata:
(1) Correct reliance on foreign demand

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, April 29

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
April 30, 2009

07:31
Took a walk around his official residence.

10:19
Left Haneda Airport by government plane for China.

Afternoon
Arrived in Beijing. Held informal talks with international cartoon
award winners at the Japan Culture Center in Beijing. Enjoyed an
exhibition of photographs. Met Chinese students. Followed by
Xiaogang Feng, a Chinese movie director.

Evening
Attended a welcome ceremony at the Great People's Hall. Held talks
with Premier Wen.

Night
Attended a dinner party hosted by Wen. Stayed at a hotel.

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4) Poll: 55% unhappy with extra budget; Cabinet support rises 5
points to 29%

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged)
April 30, 2009

The rate of public support for Prime Minister Taro Aso and his
cabinet rose 5.9 points from late March to 29.6% in the latest
telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey conducted by Kyodo
News on April 28-29. The nonsupport rate decreased 7.3 points to
56.2%. In the poll, 65.5% of the respondents answered "yes" when
they were asked if they thought Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto)
President Ichiro Ozawa, whose state-funded secretary has been
indicted over illicit political donations from Nishimatsu
Construction Co., should resign from his party post. The figure was
almost flat from the last poll with a decrease of 1.1 points. The
government has presented the Diet with a fiscal 2009 supplementary
budget, which is on the largest scale ever, as an economic crisis
measure. Asked about this extra budget, a total of 55.0% gave
negative answers, broken down into "don't appreciate very much" and
"don't appreciate at all."

Meanwhile, in the public's preference of political parties for
proportional representation in the next House of Representatives
election, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party tallied 30.8%, with
the DPJ at 37.9%. The DPJ remained above the LDP. In the breakdown
of public support for political parties, the LDP stood at 29.4%,
with the DPJ at 29.7%. The DPJ was outstripped by the LDP in the
last poll but edged out the DPJ in the poll this time.

CHINA DIPLOMACY

5) Japan-China summit: Aso asks China to nuclear disarm; Wen warns
Aso about Yasukuni

ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
April 30, 2009

Katsuhisa Kuramae, Beijing

Prime Minister Taro Aso, who arrived in China on April 29, held
talks with Premier Wen Jiabao for about two hours and 20 minutes at
the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. In their meeting, the two
leaders confirmed close cooperation regarding the global economic
crisis, swine flu, and the North Korea problem. Prime Minister Aso
also requested China's cooperation on nuclear disarmament. Wen, on
the other hand, warned Japan on the historical-view issue in the
wake of Prime Minister Aso's making an offering to Yasukuni Shrine.

Wen noted that swine flu is becoming a serious global issue, coming
on top of the financial crisis. In response, Aso underlined the
importance of a calm public response. The leaders agreed to sharing
information on border and epidemic prevention measures.

Aso also expressed his expectation of China as the chair of the
Six-Party Talks, describing it as the most pragmatic framework to
bring about the denuclearization of North Korea. The North had
announced earlier that it would withdraw from the Six-Party Talks.
Wen said: "It is important to be persistent in overcoming
difficulties." Aso and Wen agreed that the two countries would make
utmost efforts to expand domestic demand as a means to overcome the

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economic crisis.

Wen also expressed his concern, saying: "The historical issue is
extremely important. In particular, the Yasukuni issue is closely
associated with national sentiments. I hope Japan will deal with the
matter appropriately." Aso replied that Japan's position has not
changed from the view expressed in a landmark 1995 statement in
which then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama apologized and expressed
remorse for Japan's colonial rule and aggression before and during
World War II.

Regarding the nuclear issue, Aso said: "The U.S. Obama
administration has taken a stance that is different from that of the
previous administration. In order to reduce nuclear weapons, I would
like to see China's cooperation." Wen reiterated the past view,
saying: "Our country has consistently advocated a total ban on
nuclear weapons. Our country has also pledged (to adhere to the
principle of) no-first-use of nuclear weapons."

6) Aso, Wen agree to cooperate on swine flu prevention, share need
for early resumption of six-party talks

NIKKEI (Top Play) (Full)
April 30, 2009

(Yusuke Nakajima, Beijing)

Prime Minister Taro Aso and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao agreed in a
meeting on April 29 in the Great People's Hall in Beijing to work
together to prevent the A/H1N1 swine influenza from spreading
further. Aso arrived in Beijing the same day for a two-day official
visit to China. The two countries will exchange information on the
new strain of flue and cooperate in strengthening their respective
quarantine systems. Bearing in mind North Korea's announcement that
it would carry out more nuclear tests, the two leaders affirmed the
need for both countries to jointly make efforts to resume the
six-party talks. They also agreed to operate regular flights between
Haneda Airport and Beijing in October.

The meeting lasted for about two hours and 20 minutes. Wen said that
the outbreaks of swine flu "pose a new obstacle. We want to
strengthen cooperation with Japan" in this area. Aso replied: "We
would like to exchange information with China on improving
quarantine and other efforts." The two countries could consider
joint vaccine development.

In discussing North Korea, which has threatened more nuclear tests
in reaction to the United Nations Security Council's condemnation of
its recent missile launch, Aso and Wen shared the view that the
situation should be dealt with in a cool-headed manner. Aso said:
"The six-party talks are a practical framework. We expect China, as
the chair of the talks, to play its key role," urging China to try
to persuade North Korea to return to the talks. We replied:
"Persistent efforts are vital. We would like to deepen our
cooperation with Japan."

Regarding economic cooperation, the two agreed to operate regular
flights between Haneda Airport and Beijing in October. Such service
was operated temporarily during the Beijing Olympics last summer.
Japan Airlines Co. and All Nippon Airways Co. will swiftly start
preparations. Further, Aso and Wen decided to hold the second round
of the ministerial-level Japan-China High-Level Economic Talks in

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Tokyo on June 7, which have not been held since their first meeting
in December 2007. They also agreed on technical cooperation in the
telecommunications area, including the joint development of the
next-generation cellular phone.

Also on the agenda was the environment issue. Aso proposed a
Japan-China comprehensive cooperation plan on environmental
protection and energy conservation. The two countries will advance
joint research on energy-saving at coal thermal power plants and
reduction in the effect of loess.

In reference to Aso's sending of an offering to Yasukuni Shrine in
Tokyo on the occasion of the spring festival this year, Wen said:
"The history issue, particularly the Yasukuni issue, is very
sensitive, affecting the people's feelings. I hope Japan will
appropriately deal with the issue." Aso said: "Japan will move
forward while looking squarely at our history, as expressed in the
prime ministerial statements issued in 1995 and 2005. That is
Japan's major spirit. Japan's position has not changed."

The two leaders then moved on to nuclear disarmament. In response to
Aso's request for China's cooperation, Wen said: "We have promised
not to launch any nuclear preemptive attack and are willing to
support nuclear disarmament efforts." On the issues of gas field
development in the East China Sea and poisoned dumplings made in
China, no major progress was made.

Major contents in the Aso-Wen meeting

(North Korea issues)
Q Cooperate to resume the six-party talks.

(New strain of flu)
Q Cooperate on prevention of the flu epidemic from spreading
further, disclosure of both sides' information, and speedy
quarantine.

(Economic cooperation)
Q Hold the next round of the bilateral high-level economic dialogue
in Japan on June 7.
Q Operate regular chartered flights between Haneda and Beijing.
(Industrial cooperation)
Q Promote technical cooperation in developing the next-generation
cellular phone.

(Environmental cooperation)
Q Implement a comprehensive plan for technical cooperation on energy
conservation

(Historical view, Yasukuni issue)
Q Wen asked Japan to appropriately deal with the issue, while Aso
said that Japan has not changed from the view expressed in Murayama
and another prime ministerial statements.

7) Gist of Japan-China summit

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
April 30, 2009

( North Korean issue )

Prime Minister Taro Aso: The UN Security Council was able to issue a

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presidential statement with good contents owing to close cooperation
with the Chinese government. North Korea is reacting strongly to it,
but it is important to deal with the country in a constrained manner
without overreacting.

Premier Wen Jiabao: It is essential for every country concerned to
maintain a calm stance from a broad perspective. Although twists and
turns seem to lie ahead for the Six-Party Talks, it is important to
overcome the difficulties by being persistent and having
confidence.

( New strain of influenza )

Wen: There has been no case of infection in China or in Japan. Even
so, we place high priority on prevention. I would like to see China
and Japan cooperate to deal with the matter.

Aso: A calm public response is essential. We will endeavor to
swiftly disclose and transmit information and will tighten the
quarantine system. We want to cooperate with China in information
exchange and preventive measures.

( Japan-China relations )

Aso: Japan and China should nurture a strategic mutually-beneficial
relationship from a broad perspective.

Wen: Political mutual trust is vital for the development of
relations. The two countries must make efforts.

( History issue )

Wen: The history issue is extremely sensitive. In particular, the
Yasukuni issue is associated with national sentiments, so I would
like to see Japan deal with the matter appropriately.

Aso: There has been no change in Japan's position of squarely facing
history and looking toward the future.

( Food safety )

Aso: I strongly hope for an early full account of the
pesticide-tainted dumplings case.

Wen: We want to settle the matter at the earliest possible time by
strengthening cooperation between the authorities of China and
Japan.

( Gas fields in East China Sea )

Aso: It is important to begin working-level talks early. I would
like to see China display leadership in dealing with the matter.

Wen: We want to continue trying to improve communications at the
administrative-level.

( Nuclear disarmament )

Aso: The Obama administration's responses have been different from
those of past U.S. administrations. In order also to reduce nuclear
weapons, I would like to see China's cooperation.


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Wen: China actively supports the nuclear arms reduction initiative.

8) China to introduce IT information disclosure system in May next
year

NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpt)
April 30, 2009

Tetsushi Takahashi, Beijing

The Chinese government announced on April 29 that it would introduce
in May 2010 a new system to force foreign manufacturers to disclose
security-related data about their information-technology (IT)
products procured by the government. The governments of Japan, the
U.S., and European countries have strongly urged China to abandon
the idea, claiming that foreign companies' intellectual property
will be infringed. Although China has said that the application of
this requirement will be limited to products procured by the
government, the new system will inevitably have a negative effect on
businesses of companies of Japan, the U.S. and European countries.

NORTH KOREA PROBLEM

9) U.S. State Department deputy spokesman: U.S. will never forgot
Japanese abductees and their families

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
April 30, 2009

Keiichi Honma, Washington

Referring in a press briefing yesterday to the fact that U.S.
Special Representative for North Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth met
on April 27 with relatives of Japanese abducted by North Korea,
including Shigeo Iizuka, representative of the Association of the
Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, U.S. State Department
Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood said: "We have not forgotten and we
will never forget the suffering of the abductees and their
families." Wood indicated that the Obama administration would do its
best to resolve the abduction issue.

Wood also revealed that Bosworth and other U.S. officials met on
April 27 with North Korean defectors.

10) North Korea presses the U.S. for resumption of talks; Hardliners
have strong voice

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly)
April 30, 2009

North Korea has released a statement referring to the possibility of
conducting a nuclear test or test-firing an intercontinental
ballistic missile, fostering a sense of crisis. The North is
apparently is trying to push the U.S. Obama administration toward
the negotiating table by applying pressure on it by playing up its
nuclear arsenals capable of attacking the continental United States.
In North Korea, hardliners seem to have a strong voice as the
National Defense Commission has seized more power. In the event of a
delay in a U.S. response, there is a high likelihood that the North
will act out its statement.

The North reacted strongly to the adoption of a UN Security Council

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presidential statement. On April 14, the North declared that it
would withdraw from the Six-Party Talks and that it would also
resume reprocessing spent nuclear rods. And on April 25, the country
announced that it started reprocessing fuel rods. But because the
United States did not demonstrate a posture for dialogue, the North
apparently decided to increase tensions.

According to a diplomatic source in Beijing, the North has been
making preparations for another nuclear test since its test in
October 2006. "There is a need to check the part that failed in the
previous test," the source said. The North launched a ballistic
missile under the name of a satellite on April 5. The prevailing
view is that the missile failed to separate its third stage. "It is
necessary to conduct another test in order to check confirm the
missile's performance," the source said.

There is an observation that the National Defense Commission was
empowered by the Supreme People's Assembly on April 9 and that a new
socialist system has been established by the council which now sits
above the Korean Workers Party.

11) New Zealand prime minister in meeting with Foreign Minister
Nakasone expresses concern about decreasing Japanese tourists

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
April 30, 2009

Wellington, Tetsu Okazaki

Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone met on April 29 in Wellington
with New Zealand Prime Minister John Phillip Key. In New Zealand, it
has been confirmed that 45 people are infected or are assumed to
have caught the new-type influenza. Key, who concurrently serves as
tourism minister, expressed concern about the cancellations of
travel to his country by Japanese people. The prime minister
stressed: "Since we have taken every possible measure to prevent the
spread of infection, our country is safe."

12) New flu strain attenuated in virulence: Not foreseen in
government program

MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full)
April 30, 2009

A comment has been made that the new flu strain (swine flu),which
has broken out in Mexico, is attenuating in its virulence. However,
the infection is continuing to spread. Following the World Health
Organization (WHO) raising the alert level to Phase 4, attaching
importance to the possibility of the outbreak escalating into a
pandemic, Japan has set an action program into motion. The
government program envisages a situation in which highly virulent
bird flu mutates into a new flu that causes human-to-human
transmission. Is it necessary to revise the action program?

Experts call for flexible responses

The government's Action Program for Countermeasures against New Flu
Strain, adopted in February 2009, sets five standards governing
alert phases for new influenza strains and stipulates measures to be
taken by the central government and prefectures accordingly. At
present, Japan's alert level is phase 1, meaning a new flu strain
outbreak abroad. The alert level will be raised to phase 2, if

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domestic infection is confirmed, meaning an early stage of domestic
outbreak. At this stage, measures, such as forced hospitalization of
patients, limits to the movements of residents in the affected area
and school closures, will be taken.

Mitsuo Kaku, Tohoku University professor of infection control, said:
"Taking measures assuming highly virulent virus could inflame social
anxieties, if the virulence was attenuated. It is no mistake to
prepare for the worst. However, practical measures need to be taken
in a flexible manner."

The WTO incorporated in its guidelines for countermeasures against
influenza, revised this month, a stance that measures should be
taken, while giving consideration to multiple factors, such as
mortality rates and an economic impact, as well as to the degree of
the spread of the flu. The U.S. in 2007 mapped out standards of five
alert phases, according to the seriousness of the spread, infection
rates and the number of deaths and mortality rates. The federal and
local governments are to adopt measures according to the
guidelines.

Hitoshi Oshitani, a professor of virus at Tohoku University, pointed
out, "It is probably only a matter of time before infection is
confirmed in Japan. In order to prepare for an outbreak in the
nation, it is necessary to sort out measures that can be adopted as
is and those that cannot be done so and revise improper ones."

Oshitani warned against optimism, saying, "Mortality rates could
serve as one yardstick. However, whether it is really so has not
been at the present stage. Even if such a rate is 0.2%, if 10
million people are infected, 20,000 people would die. This is no
small figure."

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry New Flu Strain Measures
Promotion Headquarters said that they will consider with reference
to experts' opinions, once a certain level of assessment regarding
the virulence of the virus was released.

DEFENSE AND SECURITY AFFAIRS

13) U.S. force realignment in a flexible way: Gregson

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
April 30, 2009

Satoshi Ogawa, Washington

The Senate Armed Services Committee held a confirmation hearing on
April 28 to examine the nomination of Wallace Gregson, former
commander of the U.S. Marine Corps Bases in Japan, to be assistant
secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs. The
hearing included the issue of realigning U.S. forces in Japan. "We
need to reexamine the progress at all times and to work together
with Tokyo to solve bilateral issues," Gregson stated in written
form to the committee over the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan.
The former administration only sought to carry out the roadmap for
realignment implementation in a steady way. However, Gregson implied
taking an even more flexible stance.

Gregson, referring to U.S. allies' contributions to Afghanistan,
stated that Japan is making a considerable fiscal contribution,
including 1 billion dollars in aid to Pakistan. "I will continue to

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make efforts to ask friends and allies to increase their
contributions in their best areas of specialty," Gregson added.

14) Defense Minister Hamada off to U.S. today

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
April 30, 2009

Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada will leave today for the United
States. He is expected to meet with Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates on May 1 in Washington. This will be the first time in a year
and nine months since a Japanese defense minister has visited the
U.S. Defense Minister Yuriko Koike went last in August 2007.

A meeting of the defense chiefs of Japan and the U.S. will take
place for the first time in a year since Shigeru Ishiba and Gates
held talks in May 2008 in Singapore. The Japan-U.S. Security
Consultative Committee (2-plus-2),which also includes Japanese
foreign minister and U.S. secretary of state, has not met for two
years.

In the past, the meeting between Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs,
including 2-plus-2 conferences, often took place, for example, three
times in 2005, five times in 2006, and four times in 2007. In 2008,
there was only one defense meeting, which is too few even though
last year was the year of U.S. presidency campaign.

This suggests that the disarray in the Defense Ministry caused by
the arrest in November 2007 of former Administrative Vice Defense
Minister Takemasa Moriya had an impact on defense cooperation
between Japan and the United States.

In the meeting on May 1, Hamada and Gates will confirm the
Japan-U.S. agreement (road map) on the realignment of U.S. forces in
Japan, which the two countries aim to complete in 2014, and discuss
how to strengthen cooperation on such issues as a missile defense
(MD) system. The two defense chiefs will also discuss coordination
between Japan's National Defense Program Outline, which will be
revised late this year, and the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR),
which the United States will implement 2010.

15) Collective defense coming up again

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged)
April 30, 2009

There are rising arguments again from within the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party by lawmakers who insist that Japan should be
allowed to participate in collective self-defense. It is currently
prohibited under the government's constitutional interpretation. The
LDP's 'hawkish' lawmakers are advocating collective self-defense in
the wake of North Korea's recent launch of a ballistic missile. They
apparently want to reignite constitutional reinterpretation that has
been mothballed since the Fukuda cabinet.

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who tackled the issue of
collective self-defense when he was in office, is the key advocate.
Abe, when he was prime minister, set up an advisory panel to discuss
how to rebuild Japan's legal base for its national security. Former
Ambassador to the United States Shunji Yanai, who presided over the
advisory panel, met with Prime Minister Taro Aso on April 23 and
explained the panel's conclusion, which took the position that

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Constitution Article 9 should be interpreted as not prohibiting
Japan from exercising its right to collective self-defense. That
evening, Abe himself suggested that the LDP's manifesto incorporate
constitutional reinterpretation.

However, if the Aso cabinet sets about this issue, neighboring
countries are likely to react negatively. It would adversely impact
on Japan's cooperation with China and South Korea on the North Korea
problem. The LDP still remembers losing the 2007 House of
Councillors election.

ZUMWALT