INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Japanese Morning Press Highlights 03/17/08

Published: Mon 17 Mar 2008 01:25 AM
VZCZCXRO6329
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0697/01 0770125
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 170125Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2572
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 9042
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6650
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0323
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5164
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7254
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2224
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8274
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8841
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000697
SIPDIS
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 03/17/08
Index:
1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's weekend schedule (Nikkei)
4) Kyodo poll shows Fukuda Cabinet non support rate rises 6 points
to above 50 PERCENT , with support rate down to 33.4 PERCENT
(Tokyo Shimbun)
5) Liberal Democratic Party's child-porno bill will level stiff
penalties on those who possess such material (Tokyo Shimbun)
6) North Korea suspected of jamming electronic transmissions at
Narita Airport, hindering air traffic control and apparently timed
to the G-20 meeting (Sankei)
Global warming:
7) U.S. works on Japan to arrange a summit of major carbon dioxide
emitters around G-8 Toyako Summit (Yomiuri)
8) G-20 agrees to continue discussion of Japan's proposed plan for
reducing greenhouse gases (Yomiuri)
Diet in turmoil:
9) Diet resumes today with a fierce confrontation between the
Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party
(Yomiuri)
10) Muto is out as a prospective BOJ governor candidate (Asahi)
11) Names of Yamaguchi, Shirakawa may be included in resubmitted
candidates for Bank of Japan governor and deputies (Sankei)
12) Another Diet member league, this one centered on the DPJ, being
formed (Yomiuri)
Defense and security affairs:
13) Defense Ministry to start environmental assessment of Futenma
relocation site (Yomiuri)
14) GSDF starts drill today at U.S. forces' Camp Hansen in Okinawa
(Nikkei)
15) Okinawa police ask U.S. forces for cooperation in investigation
of the robbing of a taxi driver outside Kadena Air Base by three
possible GI's (Mainichi)
16) More problems found in developing the new SDF transport aircraft
(Tokyo Shimbun)
17) After three years hiatus, LDP, DPJ and New Komeito lawmakers
resume study group on security affairs (Yomiuri)
Articles:
1) TOP HEADLINES
Asahi:
Nomination of Muto for BOJ governorship seen unlikely; Government to
submit new plan today
Mainichi, Tokyo Shimbun:
Tibetan riots spread to Sichuan Province, 80 dead in Lhasa
Yomiuri:
2.3 billion yen spent in five years for taxi tickets from road
improvement special account
TOKYO 00000697 002 OF 011
Nikkei:
23 PERCENT of major company chiefs see domestic economy
deteriorating
Sankei:
Tibetan riots spread to three provinces; The Dalai Lama: "It is a
cultural massacre"
Akahata:
Sympathy budget covers even entertainment, bars, and golf course
labor costs, out of consideration to U.S. troops
2) EDITORIALS
Asahi:
(1) Proposals to make Japan into society of hope (21): Make
agriculture a "growing industry"
Mainichi:
(1) Five years of Iraq war make world more uncertain; Key lies in
U.S. troops' early withdrawal
Yomiuri:
(1) Fifth anniversary of start of Iraq war: Declining U.S. power
concerning
Nikkei:
(1) G-20 meeting produces few positive results; Revamp strategy for
Lake Toya Summit
(2) U.S.-North Korea talks produce no achievement again
Sankei:
(1) China's return of books published in Japan makes it unfit to
host Olympics
(2) Case of Yokohama City University Medical Department head
receiving money for PhD might constitute bribery
Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Tibet riots: Don't close door to talks with Dalai Lama
(2) Make efforts to reduce tolls for expressways in capital
Akahata:
(1) Plan to form SDF intelligence and security unit: We cannot allow
strengthened monitoring of public moves
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)
Prime Minister's schedule, March 14
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
March 15, 2008
07:04
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwaki at the Kantei. Then
attended a meeting of cabinet ministers related to the pension
contribution record issue.
08:31
Cabinet meeting in the Diet. Finance Minister Nukaga remained.
09:00
Upper House Budget Committee meeting.
TOKYO 00000697 003 OF 011
11:58
Arrived at the Kantei.
13:00
Upper House Budget Committee meeting.
18:10
Met with former British Prime Minister Blair.
19:00
Met with New Komeito head Ota and Secretary General Kitagawa, joined
by Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. Machimura remained.
Prime Minister's schedule, March 15
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
March 16, 2008
Spent the day at the official residence
Prime Minister's schedule, March 16
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
March 17, 2008
Spent the morning at the official residence.
13:52
Enjoyed opera "Aida" at New National Theater in Shibuya with his
wife Kiyoko.
18:30
Arrived at the official residence.
4) Poll: Cabinet disapproval rate tops 50 PERCENT ; 60 PERCENT
calls for avoidance of vacancy in BOJ governorship
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full)
March 17, 2008
Kyodo News Service conducted a nationwide telephone-based survey on
March 15-16 in which the approval rate for the cabinet of Prime
Minister Yasuo Fukuda dropped 2.2 points from the previous February
survey to 33.4 PERCENT , the lowest ever (in the Kyodo poll series)
since the establishment of the Fukuda administration. The
disapproval rate increased 6.1 points to 50.6 PERCENT , exceeding
the 50 PERCENT line for the first time (in the Kyodo poll). With
the falling support rate now clearly unstoppable, Prime Minister
Fukuda seems likely to find steering his administration even more
difficult.
Asked about the provisional gasoline tax rate that expires at the
end of March, 61.0 PERCENT of respondents said the rate should not
be extended after its expiration, up 3.9 points from the previous
survey. Only 29.3 PERCENT said it should be extended, down 2.3
points.
About the government's proposal to promote Bank of Japan Deputy
Governor Toshiro Muto, a former vice-finance minister, to the bank's
top post, views were split, with 40 PERCENT finding him
"appropriate" and another 40 PERCENT seeing him as "inappropriate."
TOKYO 00000697 004 OF 011
However, 61.5 PERCENT responded that a vacancy in the post must be
avoided.
In addition, 73.4 PERCENT gave negative assessments to the
government's response to the recent Aegis destroyer collision
accident. Only 5.9 PERCENT said that Defense Minister Shigeru
Ishiba should immediately resign from the post to take
responsibility, while 57.8 PERCENT , a majority, indicated that he
should step down after settling post-accident matters and drawing up
preventive measures.
5) LDP intends to amend child pornography law to criminalize
individual possession
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full)
March 15, 2008
The Liberal Democratic Party decided on March 14 to amend the Law
for Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child
Pornography to criminalize even the simple possession of child
pornography and images. The aim is to prevent the proliferation of
child pornography, a serious violation of the human rights of
children. The LDP aims at submitting a bill to the Diet for its
enactment in the current session after talks with New Komeito upon
working out specifics of the legislation.
Although the production and sale of child pornography are punishable
under the law, the possession of child porn by individuals not for
sale is not criminalized. As a result, there seems to be no end to
child pornography on the Internet originating from Japan despite
international criticism. U.S. Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas
Schieffer met Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama on March 11 and asked
the Japanese government to criminalize the simple possession of
child pornography.
The LDP subcommittee on reviewing the child pornography law that met
on March 14 confirmed the policy course to criminalize even storing
electronic image data on personal computers, in addition to
photographs. At the same time, some pointed out that anyone leaving
spam emails containing such images on his computer could also be
punished.
6) North Korea interfering with electronic wave transmissions at
Narita Airport, jamming of air control system, possibly related to
the meeting of the G-20?
SANKEI (Page 31) (Excerpts)
March 17, 2008
It was learned from an investigation by the Ministry of Internal
Affairs and Communications that wave transmissions of the air
traffic control system used at Narita International Airport on the
evening of March 15 were jammed for nearly four hours by jamming
signals on the same frequencies transmitted from North Korea. There
was no interference in such airport functions as aircraft takeoffs.
Although the ministry could not calculate the intentions of the
North in so doing, since the G-20 was then meeting at the cabinet
level to discuss the global environment, it is possible that the
transmissions were aimed at the G-20 meeting. In the event of strong
electronic transmissions, there is the possibly of creating turmoil
in air traffic control. Because there are a number of cabinet-level
meetings in Japan leading up to the G-8 summit in July, the ministry
TOKYO 00000697 005 OF 011
plans to beef up its surveillance system toward jamming signals from
the North.
7) U.S. works on Japan to arrange a summit of major carbon dioxide
emitters around G-8 Toyako Summit
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
March 16, 2008
Visiting U.S. Under Secretary of State Dobriansky, who is attending
the cabinet-level dialogue of the group of 20 countries on climate
change, clean energy and sustainable development, which is now in
session in Makuhari, Chiba Prefecture, on March 15 responded to an
interview with the press, including the Yomiuri Shimbun. In the
interview, Dobriansky revealed that the United States government is
working on the Japanese government to set the stage for the U.S.
government to host a final dialogue of the top leaders from major
carbon dioxide emitters around the Group of Eight (G-8) Toyako
Summit in July. America's aim is to put together ideas on climate
change issues under its leadership by hosting the final dialogue of
the top leaders and thereby to "prevent" European countries from
taking the leadership in setting a trend.
When asked whether the U.S. is proposing hosting a summit of major
emitters in Japan before the Toyako Summit, Dobriansky said: "We are
discussing Japan on a plan to hold a summit of major emitters and
issue a declaration in connection with the Toyako Summit."
The first meeting of major emitters joined by the European Union was
held in Washington in last September. The second session took place
in Hawaii at the end of this past January.
8) G-20 dialogue winds up with participants agreeing to continue
discussion on Japan's proposal of sectoral CO2 reduction formula
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts)
March 17, 2008
The Group of 20 major greenhouse gas emitters (cabinet-level meeting
on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development), held
in Chiba City as the first step of a series of cabinet-level
meetings to be held in the run-up to the Lake Toya G-8 in Hokkaido,
yesterday ended with participants agreeing to continue discussion on
Japan's proposal of a sectoral approach formula as a method of
cutting greenhouse gas emissions to be adopted in a framework in
2013. Japan as the host nation will finalize the proposal and report
it to the July Summit.
The sectoral approach is a method of high-emitting industrial
sectors in the world, such as the steel or cement industries that
are facing harsh international cooperation, cooperating each other
in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This is intended to complement
the total reduction formula based on country-by-country goals. The
G-20 was the first international conference to discuss climate
change. Under the proposed approach, energy efficiency goals will
also be set for developing countries to make efforts to cut
greenhouse gas emissions, assisted with technology transfer and
financial aid.
China and India, whose CO2 emissions are sharply increasing, opposed
the proposal at the G-20 meeting. They expressed concern that Japan
may be trying to urge developing countries to cut emissions, while
TOKYO 00000697 006 OF 011
steering clear of a commitment to set its own total emissions goal
in the new framework. As such, Japan sought understanding from those
countries, by stressing its plan to establish country-by-country
total totals, making it a premise that industrialized countries bear
heavier responsibility than developing countries.
9) Fierce Diet battle expected this week; Possibility of lower tax
on gasoline moving closer to reality
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts)
March 16, 2008
The fierce maneuvering between the ruling and opposition camps is
expected to intensify even further this week, as deliberations begin
in the House of Councillors on tax-related bills, including one
amending the Special Taxation Measures Law, which is aimed at
maintaining the current provisional tax on gasoline and road-related
taxes. The ruling parties intend to begin revising the
taxation-related bills in a bid to put the Special Taxation Measures
Law revision bill to a vote before the end of this fiscal year
(March 31). The ruling coalition then will seek for an early
convocation of deliberations on these bills. However, the main
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) has shown no
intention to go along with the ruling camp's plan, there is a
possibility that the provisional tax rates will expire on March 31
and that the gasoline tax rates will drop after April 1.
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party Diet Affairs Committee Chairman
Seiji Suzuki and his DPJ counterpart Susumu Yanase will hold talks
on this issue on March 17. They will discuss a timetable for
deliberations at committees, excluding the Budget Committee, which
is now deliberating on the fiscal 2008 state budget and
budget-related bills. The financial and general affairs committees
are expected to hold their directors meetings separately on the
17th.
10) Reappointment of Muto for BOJ governorship difficult; Government
to submit new plan today
ASAHI (Top Play) (Full)
March 17, 2008
The government will submit a new proposal to the Diet today for a
nomination for the post of Bank of Japan governor, following the
House of Councillors' rejection of the government's initial plan to
appoint BOJ Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto as new governor. The
opposition bloc has decided that if the government resubmits Muto's
name, it will reject him again. A number of lawmakers in the
government and the ruling camp believe they will have to propose an
alternative to Muto in order to avoid leaving the post vacant after
the incumbent governor's term of office expires on March 19. Prime
Minister Fukuda, though, still insists that the Muto plan is the
best choice, indicating that if the government cannot confirm that
the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will approve a new nomination,
it will resubmit the Muto plan. The prime minister intends to make a
final judgment after ascertaining what response the DPJ will make.
On March 7, the government presented a plan to nominate Muto for the
governorship and Kyoto University Professor Masaaki Shirakawa and
Tokyo University Professor Takatoshi Ito for the two posts of deputy
governor. But only Shirakawa was endorsed in both chambers of the
Diet. Since the process for appointing Muto and Ito has returned to
TOKYO 00000697 007 OF 011
square one, the government called for a joint meeting of
representatives from both Diet chambers on the 17th and has decided
to present a new proposal there.
If the government resubmits the proposal for appointing Muto, the
opposition camp will certainly reject it. In addition, because there
is the principle that a bill on which a vote was once taken in the
Diet cannot be discussed again in the same Diet session, there is no
guarantee that the plan will be voted on in the Upper House. In this
case, a vacancy will unavoidably be created. Meanwhile, if the
government submits a new name and if the alternative is rejected,
the government will inevitably receive a serious blow. Keeping that
in mind, the prime minister is carefully considering the matter.
Appearing on a TV program yesterday, former Liberal Democratic Party
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano said: "It is reckless to
resubmit a plan that was once rejected in the Upper House." In the
New Komeito, as well, many members are calling for nominating a new
candidate. In response, a senior DPJ officer indicated yesterday
that the party would approve it if the government presents an
alternative to Muto.
When the moderator on a TV program yesterday cited the names of
Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda and Hiroshi
Watanabe, an advisor to the Japan Center for International Finance,
both former vice finance ministers for international affairs, as
possible candidates, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama replied:
"A vice finance minister for international affairs is engaged in
greater global matters. We do not mean that all former Finance
Ministry officers are inappropriate."
A senior government official, though, stated: "Different members in
the DPJ say different things, so we cannot easily sound out the
party on a possible candidate."
11) Prime minister to resubmit today nomination of BOJ governor with
eye on either Yamaguchi or Shirakawa
SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts)
March 17, 2008
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will today resubmit nominees for Bank of
Japan (BOJ) governor and deputy governors. It is unlikely that he
will once again propose promoting Deputy Governor Toshiro Muto (64)
to governor, a plan that was submitted before but failed to secure
approval in the Upper House. It appears that the prime minister has
undergone coordination with eye on former Deputy BOJ Governor Yutaka
Yamaguchi (67) hailing from the BOJ and Kyoto University graduate
school professor Masaaki Shirakawa (58), who has secured approval of
both chambers of the Diet, as candidates for governor.
The prevailing view in the government and the ruling parties
regarding the controversial BOJ management personnel selection is
that it would be difficult to resubmit Muto as a candidate with
former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano of the Liberal
Democratic Party (LDP) noting on an NHK TV talk show, "It would be
reckless to once again propose the person who was rejected in the
Upper House." The prime minister will also likely shelve the idea of
resubmitting a proposal for picking Takatoshi Ito (57), a Tokyo
University graduate school professor, who was also rejected by the
Upper House, as a deputy governor.
TOKYO 00000697 008 OF 011
An official at the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) yesterday
telephoned the chairmen of the Diet Steering Committees of both
chambers of the Diet and conveyed the government's plan to resubmit
nominations of BOJ governor and deputy governors. Diet Policy
Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima of the LDP on the evening of the
same day told his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)
counterpart Kenji Yamaoka, "I would like to see you on the morning
of the 17th for consultations."
Voices approving the promotion of Shirakawa to governor or the
nomination of Haruhiko Kuroda (63), former Vice Finance Minister for
International Financial Affairs, or Hiroshi Watanabe (53), an
advisor to the Japan Center for International Finance, are growing
strong in the DPDJ.
12) LDP, New Komeito, DPJ members to resume security study group
after three-year hiatus
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
March 17, 2008
The outlook is that the "Forum of young legislators to build a
security system for the new century," which is comprised of junior
and mid-level Diet members from the ruling and opposition parties,
will resume its activities for the first time in three years by
holding a general meeting in April. The group plans to study a broad
range of security policy issues, including looking into a permanent
law to allow overseas dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces, the
interpretation of the Constitution in regard to the use of right of
collective self-defense, and the current Japan-U.S. security
arrangements.
Gen Nakatani, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party Security
Research Commission, Seiji Maehara, vice president of the main
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), and Isamu
Ueda, a House of Representatives member of the New Komeito, the
SIPDIS
LDP's coalition partner, agreed on March 13 to resuming the group's
activities. The study group will soon select new board members and
hold a general meeting.
The group was established in November 2001, with the participation
of 101 Diet members. It later came up with such proposals as
emergency legislation and measures for Japan to secure maritime
rights, but it suspended its activities in April 2005 after the
members inspected the site of gas reserves in the East China Sea. At
present a total of 82 members -- 56 from the LDP, 23 from the DPJ,
and three from the New Komeito - are in the group. The group intends
to call on lawmakers, who are now their first-term in the Diet, to
join. The membership will likely exceed 100.
Some politicians think that the resumption of the group's activities
may lead to a move to political reorganization. A group member,
however, said: "We will continue our activities while drawing a line
with the political situation."
13) MOD launches EIA of relocation site for Futenma airfield
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
March 16, 2008
The Ministry of Defense (MOD) on March 15 launched an environment
impact assessment (EIM) of a coastal area on Camp Schwab (in Nago
TOKYO 00000697 009 OF 011
City, Okinawa), a planned relocation site for the United States
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan City, Okinawa. The EIM
was initially planned to be conducted in last May, but it was
delayed because of flaws pointed out by the prefectural government
in a manual (prepared by the central government) that mentioned the
items and methods for surveys.
According to MOD, it will survey over one year how coral and algae
live in the area, complete the procedures for the EIM by the end of
fiscal 2009, and start the reclamation work.
On March 15, MOD conducted a weather survey, such as the direction
of wind and the velocity of wind, in Camp Schwab and the coastal
area, and measured the amount of sodium contained in air. MOD plans
to apply early next week for permission on collection of coral.
14) GSDF drill using U.S. military's facility to be conducted today
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
March 17, 2008
The Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) will conduct a two-day drill
using the U.S. military's Camp Hansen in the town of Kin, Okinawa
Prefecture, starting today. The drill is based on the final report
on the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan, which Tokyo and
Washington agreed on in May 2006. This is the first time for the
GSDF to carry out a drill using U.S. military's facilities in
Okinawa. A company attached to the First Regiment, consisting of
about 150 personnel, will take part. The drill will include
billeting, rappelling and mock urban warfare. There is no plan for
using live ammunition or explosions.
15) Taxi robbed by three black men; Okinawa police ask for U.S.
military's cooperation in investigation
MAINICHI (Page 30) (Full)
March 17, 2008
Around 0:20 a.m. March 16, a 55-year-old male taxi driver was
ordered by three black men to stop the car on a road in Okinawa
City, and he was hit by one of them in the head as he climbed out of
the car. Falling down, the driver suffered minor injuries to his
right knee and right wrist. The change box (containing approximately
8,000 yen) beside the driver's seat was allegedly stolen. Okinawa
police have asked for the U.S. military's cooperation in
investigating the robbery and injury case, suspecting that the three
men could be connected with the U.S. military.
According to investigators, the crime took place about 150 meters
east of Kadena Air Base Gate No. 2.
16) With defect again found in C-X, MOD mulling fining Kawasaki
Heavy Industries for possible delay in delivery
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full)
March 16, 2008
Even now it remains uncertain when the next generation cargo
aircraft (C-X), which Kawasaki Heavy Industries, based on a contract
with the Ministry of Defense (MOD), is developing, will be delivered
to MOD because a defect in the C-X was again discovered, sources
revealed on March 15. The defect is that the C-X's fuselage has yet
TOKYO 00000697 010 OF 011
to meet the strength criteria. MOD intends to put in a claim for a
penalty for a possible delay of the delivery after the end of March,
the planned delivery date.
The first flight of the C-X has already been put off twice but it is
likely to be further delayed until August. Because of the delay in
the development of the C-X, the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) has
already foregone a plan to mass-produce the C-X in fiscal 2008, but
the C-X is unlikely to be mass-produced even in fiscal 2009.
The defect is the lack of strength of the fuselage frame that bears
the main-landing gear. It was found in a static strength test
conducted on the ground. Reportedly, there is the possibility that
the fuselage would break up in flight and lead to a crash.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, a subcontractor in charge of
manufacturing the midsection of the fuselage, has now been engaged
in redesigning and repairing the fuselage.
The C-X is a successor to the current C-1 transport aircraft.
Kawasaki has contracted to simultaneously develop the C-X as well as
a next generation patrol aircraft (P-X). In February 2007, a lack of
strength was found in rivets used for manufacturing. This forced
Kawasaki to delay a rollout from March to July.
Another instance of a lack of strength in the main landing gear was
found, and the first flight plan was delayed from last September to
December, but this first flight has yet to occur.
The P-X made its first flight in September as scheduled.
The C-X's fuselage's curvilinear design, whose strength calculation
is difficult, might have been the problem. If the development of the
C-X were to be further delayed, MOD would find it necessary to
continue to use the current C-1 transport aircraft by repairing it.
17) New parliamentary group of 60 members to be formed under
auspices of Ichiro Ozawa
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
March 16, 2008
It was learned on March 15 that a new parliamentary league of Diet
members, who once served as local assembly members and the head of
municipalities, would be established this week in the largest
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto). It is
believed that the parliamentary group will be inaugurated at the
auspices of DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa. The group will become the
largest force in the DPJ with the membership of about 60. The
purpose of this parliamentary league is to play up that its local
assembly members turned to DPJ Diet members support the idea of
integrating the special account of road-related taxes into the
general account by abolishing the provisional tax rates prior to a
fierce battle occurring between the ruling and opposition camps over
an extension of the provisional tax rates for gasoline and highway
construction.
The name of the parliamentary league is the DPJ Association of
Decentralization. Its parent body is the Group of Administrative
Democrats, chaired by Lower House member Tetsundo Iwakuni, which was
established in February by four former heads of municipalities. The
organizers are five Lower House members: Katsumasa Suzuki, Akio
TOKYO 00000697 011 OF 011
Fukuda, Seiji Osaka, Tenzo Okuno and Iwakuni. They will formally
call on party members to participate in them as early as March 17.
The National Governors' Association has called for retaining the
provisional tax rates. The number of prefectural assemblies, which
have adopted a resolution calling for the current system, has
gradually increased across the nation. The DPJ's parliamentary
league criticizes such a move, arguing that governors and mayors
were forced to take part in such a move that is against democracy
and decentralization. One organizer said: "We want to secure support
in regional areas by playing up the propriety of our party's
policy."
However, a mid-level DPJ Lower House member said: "The establishment
of the parliamentary league is part of efforts to strengthen Ozawa's
political footing in the party." Since 47 DPJ members, including
Yoshiko Noda, former Diet affairs committee chairman, and former
President Seiji Maehara, joined the nonpartisan parliamentary league
Sentaku, which cooperates with former Mie Gov. Masayasu Kitagawa and
others, peoples close to Ozawa were concerned about the move that
Noda and Maehara might take the initiative.
SCHIEFFER
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media