Cablegate: Daily Summary of Japanese Press 02/19/08

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SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02/19/08

INDEX:

(1) Aegis collision with fishing boat might adversely affect costly

MD system (Tokyo Shimbun)

(2) Government being pursued for its response to Aegis ship accident

(Mainichi)

(3) Government criticized by ruling and opposition camps for

response to Aegis ship accident (Mainichi)

(4) Japan, U.S. to begin jointly developing portable chemical

weapons detector within this month (Nikkei)

(5) DPJ, PNP agree to draft proposal revising SOFA (Nikkei)

(6) Okinawa Prefectural Police did not publicize sexual assault by

U.S. soldier in off-base house last year; Another rape case at Camp

Schwab in 2003 (Ryukyu Shimpo)

(7) Suspect outside reach of preventive measures (Ryukyu Shimpo)

(8) Government presents no drastic preventive measures, following

schoolgirl rape incident by U.S. Marine; Futenma relocation plan may

be affected (Mainichi)

(9) Abe attends conservative policy study council meeting (Nikkei)

(10) Cooperation to check China bogs down with strategic dialogue

among Japan, U.S. and Australia fizzling out: New administration in

Japan, Australia cautious about initiative (Nikkei)

(11) Poll on Fukuda cabinet, political parties, gas tax (Yomiuri)

(12) Poll on Fukuda cabinet, political parties (Nikkei)

(13)TOP HEADLINES

(14) EDITORIALS

(15) Prime Minister's schedule, February 16 (Nikkei)

ARTICLES:

(1) Aegis collision with fishing boat might adversely affect costly

MD system

TOKYO SHIMBUN NET

11:32, February 19, 2008

Kyodo

A state-of-the-art Aegis vessel collided with a fishing boat earlier

today. Equipped with abilities to detect and track missiles headed

for Japan, the destroyer, which is supposed to play a core role in a

missile defense (MD) system, caused an accident involving a private

boat in Japanese waters.

Concern has already emerged in the Ministry of Defense about the

accident's possible spillover effects on the MD program. A MOD

official said: "People might say, 'Is there any need to spend an

enormous amount of money to deploy the system when (the SDF) cannot

TOKYO 00000429 002 OF 011

protect Japanese citizens?"

In Greek mythology, "Aegis" means the "shield" Zeus gave to his

daughter. Highly advanced, Aegis radar can track over 100 targets at

the same time and automatically select and intercept incoming

missiles and artillery shells. Capable of exchanging information

instantaneously with U.S. Aegis vessels via a data link system,

Japanese Aegis vessels have been called a symbol of the Japan-U.S.

alliance.

(2) Government being pursued for its response to Aegis ship

accident

MAINICHI ONLINE (Excerpts)

February 19, 2008

The government today has been under the gun for its information

gathering since early this morning and response to the accident

involving the Aegis destroyer Atago and a commercial fishing boat.

The ruling and opposition camps have both been critical of the

government's slowness in getting started, such as Defense Minister

Shigeru Ishiba being contacted an hour and a half after the

accident. Although the cause of the accident is unclear, the mishap

is being taken as a serious incident, following the series of

ministry blunders, such as the scandal involving former Vice

Minister Moriya and the issue of intelligence leaks on the Aegis'

functions.

"Yes, it is so. This is terrible," said Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda

briefly about the accident to the press corps as he hurriedly got

into his car. He was already 15 minutes behind schedule. The car

sped off to the Diet. He held an emergency cabinet meeting from 8:00

AM. A Maritime Self-Defense officer, sea chart in hand, entered the

cabinet meeting room and gave a briefing.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura rushed into the Prime

Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) at 0712 AM. He received a

briefing on the accident and search activities from staffers of the

intelligence-liaison office attached to the Kantei's Crisis

Management Center.

The regular press conference started at 0910 AM, thirty minutes

behind schedule. When it was pointed out to Machimura that the first

reports about the accident seemed to have been late, he replied with

a stiff face, "My guess is that full attention was first paid to

hurriedly taking rescue measures." Asked about the cause of the

accident, he repeatedly said, "I don't know."

Meeting the press at the Defense Ministry, Defense Minister Ishiba

was visibly angry that he was not informed about the accident until

an hour and a half after it happened.

(3) Government criticized by ruling and opposition camps for

response to Aegis ship accident

MAINICHI ONLINE (Excerpts)

13:34 PM, February 19, 2008

Critical voices have erupted one after the other from the ruling and

opposition parties regarding the government's initial response to

the accident between an Aegis destroyer and a small fishing boat.

The government's accountability is being raised.

TOKYO 00000429 003 OF 011

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) called in a senior Defense

Ministry official to a general meeting held in the Diet. The

official briefed them on the details of the accident and the current

state of affairs, but he was showered with criticism at the fact

that it took an hour and a half after the accident for a report of

it to reach Defense Minister Ishiba.

After the meeting, General Council Chairman Nikai met the press and

told them with a stern face: "The government must respond promptly.

The party will be expressing a severe view."

On the other hand, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General

Hatoyama, speaking to the press at party headquarters, harshly

criticized the government: "I would like the Maritime Self Defense

Force to seriously reconsider its response. Their nature itself

lacks any sense of tension, even though there have been a series of

accidents and incidents. It seems that it took one or two hours to

even contact the Defense Minister, so there is no heartfelt sense of

the defense of Japan. The problem is that the entire bureaucracy is

too lax."

(4) Japan, U.S. to begin jointly developing portable chemical

weapons detector within this month

NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full)

Evening, January 16, 2008

The governments of Japan and the United States are set to launch

later this month a joint project to develop a portable chemical

agent detector to deal with terrorism and attacks involving chemical

weapons. It will combine America's detection technology and know-how

and Japan's electronic technology. The two countries need a mobile

and high-precision detector because an initial response to a

chemical attack is crucial.

The envisioned detector will be the size of a calculator that can be

carried in one hand. It must be able to automatically detect gaseous

chemical agents and identify their types. The highly accurate

detector that can also shorten the identification time will allow

the speedy removal of a contaminant source on the spot.

Currently in the United States, chemical agents are visually

determined by changes in colors of test papers that are dipped into

chemical agents by hand. The new detector will be able to instantly

identify changes in colors and the types of chemical agents, such as

sarin and nerve gases, using a spectrograph and a digital camera

developed by Japan. The device will make it easier to detect

chemical agents even during nighttime when identifying changes in

colors by the naked eye is difficult.

The two governments will shortly sign a memorandum of understanding

(MOU). Japan is expected to allocate some 248 million yen in

research fund for fiscal 2007-2009. The government plans to equip

the Ground Self-Defense Force 101st Special Weaponry Defense Corps

and other units with chemical agent detectors to deal with nuclear,

biological and chemical weapons.

(5) DPJ, PNP agree to draft proposal revising SOFA

NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full)

February 16, 2008

TOKYO 00000429 004 OF 011

Deputy President of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)

Naoto Kan and Deputy President of the People's New Party (PNP)

yesterday held talks in the Diet. In the wake of the rape incident

involving a junior high school girl in Okinawa, they agreed that the

two parties would draft a proposal revising the Japan-U.S.

Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA) that stipulates the legal status

of the U.S. forces in Japan. They plan to call for cooperation from

the Social Democratic Party.

(6) Okinawa Prefectural Police did not publicize sexual assault by

U.S. soldier in off-base house last year; Another rape case at Camp

Schwab in 2003

RYUKYU SHINPO (Page 1) (Full)

February 16, 2008

In January 2007, Okinawa Prefectural Police apprehended a master

sergeant, 27 at that time, on suspicion of raping an 18-year-old

foreign woman at his house in Chatan-cho. In April 2003, Nago Police

Station also apprehended a U.S. Marine Corps sergeant, 29, and a

lance corporal, 20, on suspicion of raping a 19-year-old foreign

woman at Camp Schwab.

The prefectural police did not disclose these incidents out of

consideration to the victims. These two cases were dropped in the

end, but the cases are on the police's statistical record of rape

incidents involving U.S. military personnel.

The incident in 2007 was caused by a U.S. serviceman living in an

off-base house, as is in the latest case involving a junior high

school student. According to investigators, the master sergeant took

the woman, with whom he had become acquainted on the Internet, into

his home and raped her. She was bodily injured.

A senior prefectural police officer said: "No victims want their

cases to be publicized, not limited to victims in cases involving

U.S. military personnel. Particularly in sexual assaults, it is

impossible to establish a case without cooperation from the victims,

so some cases are not made public, with consideration given to the

victims' feelings."

According to the statistics that the Okinawa Prefectural Police has

collected since a 12-year-old girl was raped by three U.S.

servicemen in 1995, 14 sexual assaults by U.S. military personnel

occurred, including failed attempts. In these cases, 17 were

prosecuted, and most of them occurred in the central part on the

prefecture, with three cases in Chatan-cho; two in Okinawa City; one

in Uruma City; two in the northern part; two in Camp Kadena; two in

Camp Zukeran; one in Camp Futenma; and one in Camp Schwab.

(7) Suspect outside reach of preventive measures

RYUKYU SHINPO (Page 1) (Full)

February 16, 2008

Representatives from the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly, including

U.S. Military Base Special Committee Chairman Seiichi Oyakawa,

visited the Foreign Ministry's Okinawa Office and the Okinawa

Defense Bureau on the afternoon of Feb. 15 and filed a protest

against the recent rape of a schoolgirl by a U.S. Marine. Defense

Bureau Director General Rou Manabe explained that the suspect had

TOKYO 00000429 005 OF 011

not been covered by the measures being taken by the U.S. military to

prevent a recurrence of similar incidents, saying: "It probably was

a blind spot, but the suspect was not covered by the

countermeasures." He indicated that the current preventive measures

were insufficient.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the U.S. military has given

lecture classes on the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement and

Okinawan culture to newly assigned personnel. The U.S. military has

also taken preventive measures, such as a system to ban Marines

ranked below the status of staff sergeant from going out midnight.

The Marine who was arrested in the schoolgirl rape case was a staff

sergeant.

Foreign Ministry Okinawa Office Deputy Head Akira Kuramitsu stated:

"We have taken preventive measures, based on the view that young,

single soldiers tend to cause incidents or accidents. Focusing on

the fact that incidents are being caused by those outside the reach

of the measures, the U.S. military is also mapping out

countermeasures."

(8) Government presents no drastic preventive measures, following

schoolgirl rape incident by U.S. Marine; Futenma relocation plan may

be affected

MAINICHI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged)

February 19, 2008

Only one week after the alleged rape of a junior high school student

by a U.S. Marine in Okinawa, another Marine Corps member was

arrested on suspicion of breaking into a house. The government has

been hard pressed to deal with protests to the U.S. and requests

from the Okinawa Prefectural Government. The Foreign Ministry is

aiming to come up with a package of preventive measures by the end

of the week, but the prefectural government has been angrily

questioning what official discipline actually is.

Kin Town Assembly Head Tsuyoshi Gibu, vice chairman of the

prefecture's council on converting base sites and resolving base

problems, visited the Foreign Ministry yesterday afternoon and told

reporters: "The Marines have learned nothing. The (Japan-U.S.)

Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) stands as an obstacle."

.

Vice Governor Katsuko Asato asked the Foreign Ministry and the

Defense Ministry to implement the plan transfer of the Marine Corps

in Okinawa to Guam as part of the realignment of U.S. military

force, reduce U.S. troops in Okinawa, and drastically review SOFA.

In response to these request, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said:

"I want to make the SOFA more effective," but he stopped short of

mentioning a review of SOFA. Gibu expressed his content, grumbling:

"His stance will merely increase anger among the residents."

Foreign Ministry Administrative Vice Minister Mitoji Yabunaka, on

behalf of Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura, issued a protest to

U.S. Ambassador Thomas Schieffer on the phone. In a press

conference, Yabunaka also stressed his determination to promptly

work out preventive measures.

Some have begun to worry that the series of incidents by U.S.

servicemen may affect the plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps'

Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan). A senior prefectural government

officer said: "The incidents and the relocation plan are separate

TOKYO 00000429 006 OF 011

matters," but Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said in a

press conference: "It is necessary to ascertain whether there will

be some effect."

(9) Abe attends conservative policy study council meeting

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)

February 19, 2008

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of the Liberal Democratic Party

(LDP) on Feb. 15 for the first time attended a meeting of the Real

Conservative Policy Study Council chaired by Shoichi Nakagawa of the

LDP. Since many members of the council are distancing themselves

from the Fukuda administration, Abe's participation in it will

likely create speculation. The topic of the meeting was a bill to

protect human rights, which their parties have begun considering

submitting to the Diet. The meeting brought together 28 lawmakers.

Nakagawa criticized the bill, noting, "It has the image of being the

Maintenance of Public Order Law. I cannot accept its contents."

(10) Cooperation to check China bogs down with strategic dialogue

among Japan, U.S. and Australia fizzling out: New administration in

Japan, Australia cautious about initiative

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)

February 16, 2008

The pattern of cooperation among Japan, the U.S., Australia and

India to deal with the rise of China has begun to change. The four

countries had strengthened ties, as can be seen in the fact that

they created a framework for a strategic dialogue among them.

However, the cooperative mood has rapidly dropped off this year.

That is because the countries now want to avoid irritating China.

The dialogue will likely diet out.

The Rudd administration of Australia was inaugurated in December

last year with strengthening ties with China as a slogan. Foreign

Minister Smith's statement during a press conference held in

Canberra jointly with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi created a

stir in Japan.

Smith told reporters, "The strategic dialogue among Japan, the U.S.,

Australia and India last year raised concerns in China. Australia

has no intention of proposing such a framework." He also said that

he conveyed this decision to Japan as well.

The Rudd administration, which advocates strengthening relations

with China, does not want to irritate China. Smith, who came to

Japan for the first time on Jan. 31, also hinted at his government's

intention to attach importance to China, saying, "Strengthened

Japan-China relations are also good to Australia."

Former Prime Minister Abe while in office proposed cooperation among

Japan, the U.S., Australia and India. The first four-nation bureau

director-level dialogue took place in the spring last year. The four

countries have achieved concrete track records, including the

holding of a joint maritime drill in the Bay of Bengal in Sept.

2007, joined also by Singapore.

Abe proposed the four-nation cooperation with the aim of deepening

ties of democratic nations in the Asia-Pacific region in readiness

for the rise of China, according to a person close to him. Another

TOKYO 00000429 007 OF 011

objective was to check China's military buildup by strengthening

security cooperation with Australia and India, centered on the

Japan-U.S. alliance. Though some among government officials were

reportedly cautious about the idea, the U.S. went along with the

proposal, and Australia and India also joined.

However, the tide has begun turning since Abe stepped down in

September last year. One government source said, "To be honest,

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who attaches importance to China

diplomacy, is not so disposed to the four-nation dialogue." However,

he found it difficult to show a negative stance toward an idea

proposed by Japan.

The Rudd administration's statement on its intention to pull out of

the dialogue was convenient for Fukuda. The situation is the same

for the U.S. The Bush administration is increasingly becoming

cautious about the four-nation dialogue, which could unnecessarily

stimulate China, according to a Japan-U.S. diplomatic source.

Japan, on its part, will continue a strategic dialogue among Japan,

the U.S. and Australia, while working on India to strengthen

bilateral relations. Fukuda on the 15th talked with Prime Minister

Singh on the phone. Can Japan create a strategy toward China

replacing the cooperation among Japan, the U.S., Australia and

India? The Fukuda administration will be urged to come up with a new

initiative to deal with rising China.

(11) Poll on Fukuda cabinet, political parties, gas tax

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)

February 19, 2008

Questions & Answers

(Figures shown in percentage. Parentheses denote the results of a

survey taken in January.)

Q: Do you support the Fukuda cabinet?

Yes 38.7 (45.6)

No 50.8 (41.6)