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P 130028Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 002349
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 10/13/09
INDEX:
(1) Hatoyama: I'm glad that President Obama won Nobel Peace Prize
(Yomiuri)
(2) Editorial: Nobel Peace Prize Expectations are high for Obama to
bring "change" (Yomiuri)
(3) Academics, Hiroshima, Nagasaki mayors hail Obama's Nobel Peace
Prize (Mainichi)
(4) Afghan aid package decision possibly after U.S. presidential
visit to Japan (Sankei)
(5) Gov't to put off defense program revision (Nikkei)
(6) Nakaima calls for offshore relocation to save coral reefs
(Yomiuri)
(7) East Asian Community without U.S. "unacceptable": U.S. official
(Sankei)
(8) Leaders of Japan, China, South Korea agree to discuss concept of
East Asian community as "long-term goal," share need for closer
economic cooperation (Nikkei)
(9) Ozawa mulls visiting China in December (Mainichi)
(10) SRM found in U.S. beef after customs clearance: Third case
since import resumption (Asahi)
ARTICLES:
(1) Hatoyama: I'm glad that President Obama won Nobel Peace Prize
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
October 10, 2009
Hearing the news of U.S. President Barack Obama's winning of the
Nobel Peace Prize, officials from the Japanese government, which has
advocated eliminating nuclear weapons, and leaders from the ruling
and opposition parties congratulated Obama on his winning of the
prize and welcomed it.
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told the press corps in Beijing where
he was visiting to attend the trilateral summit of Japan, China and
South Korea:
"I am really pleased. I believe that they decided to award the
President, with hope that everybody will support the President in
creating a world without nuclear weapons."
After the meeting in Beijing with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign
Minister Katsuya Okada stated, "President Obama spoke proudly the
dream of mankind and he has actually created a great trend in the
world."
Social Democratic Party President Mizuho Fukushima made this
comment: "To tell the truth, I was surprised at the news because
it's the incumbent U.S. President who won the Nobel Peace Prize. In
Japan we will strive to eliminate nuclear weapons." Liberal
Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki said, "Japan is the
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only atomic-bombed country, so I am really glad to hear the news."
(2) Editorial: Nobel Peace Prize -- Expectations are high for Obama
to bring "change"
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full)
October 10, 2009
U.S. President Barack Obama has been awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace
Prize. The surprising announcement still reverberates. There are
high hopes for future actions by (President Obama.)
In its announcement of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize, the
Norwegian Nobel Committee cited President Obama's "extraordinary
efforts" to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation
between peoples.
The committee also praised the President, saying that it "attached
special importance" to his vision and work for a "world without
nuclear weapons." The committee also indicated that under President
Obama, the United States is now playing a constructive role in
meeting international challenges, such as nuclear disarmament, arms
reduction, climate change, and human rights.
President Obama has wrought a sea change in the global image of the
United States, the sole superpower. That is one reason why he was
awarded the Noble Peace Prize.
In contrast to the former Bush administration, which tended to
pursue unilateralism, (President Obama's) sincere attitude in
calling for "change," while advocating international cooperation,
has helped increase the popularity of the United States.
International cooperation and strong leadership are essential for
resolving issues the world is facing today, such as the global
economic crisis, nuclear proliferation, global warming, and
communicable diseases.
The awarding of the prize to President Obama seems to reflect (the
Nobel Committee's) desire for the United States, a country with a
strong vision, to take the helm of a world in confusion.
President Obama is the second incumbent president to receive the
Nobel Peace Prize, following South Korean President Kim Dea Jung who
won the prize in 2000. In the case of the late President Kim, his
efforts for democratization, the South-North Korean summit (in
2000), and other accomplishments were evaluated highly.
Obama is the first sitting U.S. president to receive the peace prize
in 90 years since Theodore Roosevelt, who successfully mediated the
Russo-Japanese War, and Woodrow Wilson, the founding father of the
League of Nations.
In the case of President Obama, who was inaugurated just nine months
ago, expectations appear to exceed his accomplishments. The
President must achieve tangible results in the future.
The situation in Afghanistan, to which the United States gives top
priority, is becoming increasingly chaotic. Given the resurgence of
the Taliban, the U.S. government is split over whether to send more
troops to (Afghanistan) or to shift its strategy.
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Further, no concrete results have been achieved in regard to the
North Korean and Iranian nuclear issues. At the same time, there
remain issues such as the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban
Treaty (CTBT), in which the United States should take the lead.
We hope to see President Obama make greater efforts for realizing
peace in the wake of wining the peace award. Leaders of other
countries must also cooperate.
(3) Academics, Hiroshima, Nagasaki mayors hail Obama's Nobel Peace
Prize
MAINICHI (Page 24) (Slightly abridged)
October 10, 2009
Academics in Japan specializing in peace and nuclear disarmament
issues are surprised by the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to
U.S. President Barack Obama but share the view that this is a
message of encouragement for pushing forward vigorously with the
elimination of nuclear weapons.
"The award seems to be a bit premature, but it will have an
extremely positive effect on the move to eliminate nuclear weapons,"
said Mitsuru Kurosawa, professor at Osaka Jogakuin College Graduate
School. "It will give momentum to President Obama's efforts despite
the constraints of domestic economic and other issues."
Ikuro Anzai, professor at Ritsumeikan University who specializes in
peace studies, gave the following analysis: "The Nobel Peace Prize
is more often awarded as an encouragement with a political message
rather than for achievement. The prize (for Obama) compliments his
initiative toward a 'world without nuclear weapons' through his
speech in Prague and at the UN Security Council summit meeting and
shows the expectation that tangible results should be produced at
next year's Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference
and other occasions for the steady promotion of nuclear
eradication."
Yasuhiko Yoshida, a visiting professor at Osaka University of
Economics and Law's Centre for Asia Pacific Partnership, who
formerly served as a public relations manager for the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also pointed out that, "The Peace Prize
has an implication of expectation for the future, as seen with the
award won by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei in the past."
He also said: "From now on, President Obama will need to promote
nuclear disarmament involving Russia and China and move toward
normalization of diplomatic ties with North Korea and Iran to push
for their denuclearization. In the meantime, since Obama said in his
Prague speech that the United States will not be the first to
abandon nuclear weapons, it will be interesting to see what he will
say in his speech at the award ceremony."
Kazumi Mizumoto, associate professor at Hiroshima City University's
Hiroshima Peace Institute, commented that, "President Obama deserves
credit for advocating a 'world without nuclear weapons,' but the
question is how to eliminate nuclear weapons." He added: "I get the
impression that the award was a little too early. His true worth
will be tested from now on."
Nagasaki mayor: "The prize serves as an encouragement"
Yoshimasa Abe
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Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue, who has requested that President Obama
visit Nagasaki, stated on Oct. 9: "President Obama is the best
qualified person to receive this year's Nobel Peace Prize." "There
is a rising momentum in Nagasaki to promote nuclear weapons
abolition in support of President Obama, and the prize also serves
as an encouragement for us," a smiling Taue said. "It is indeed
significant that President Obama clearly set the goal of seeking a
nuclear-free world in his speech in Prague, and his efforts to
enlist allies in the United Nations and create a major trend
deserves credit," he said.
Hiroshima mayor: "I am so happy"
Kensuke Yaoi
Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba of Hiroshima City held a news conference on
Oct. after learning that President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.
He said with a smile: "I am so happy. I think the prize is an
encouragement for realizing a world without nuclear weapons."
Akiba coined the term "Obamajority," referring to the world's
majority wishing for nuclear arms abolition, during his speech at
the preparatory committee for the NPT Review Conference in New York
in May.
"One aspect of the Nobel Prize is that it represents the voice of
citizens and countries in the world, and I believe the award this
time represents the sentiments and resolve of the Obamajority,"
Akiba stressed.
(4) Afghan aid package decision possibly after U.S. presidential
visit to Japan
SANKEI (Page 1) (Full)
October 12, 2009
Takeshi Kasahara
ISLAMABAD-Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has implied that the
government's prospective decision on a new package of Japan's
assistance measures for Afghanistan would possibly be delayed until
after U.S. President Obama's visit to Japan (Nov. 12-13). "This
matter has something to do with the budget compilation (for next
fiscal year), so we'll have to work it out by the end of this year,
but we'd like to do so as early as possible," Okada told reporters
at a hotel in Islamabad, where he arrived after his visit to
Afghanistan. "This has nothing to do with the visit of U.S.
President Obama," Okada said.
(5) Gov't to put off defense program revision
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged)
October 11, 2009
The government will postpone revising its National Defense Program
Guidelines (NDPG) (formerly known as the National Defense Program
Outline or NDPO for short) and formulating its new midterm defense
buildup plan until late next year, officials said yesterday. The
government had initially planned to overhaul the NDPG and renew the
current midterm defense buildup plan late this year. However, the
government will have to address a number of issues in store, such as
resolving the pending issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps'
TOKYO 00002349 005 OF 008
Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. In addition,
U.S. President Obama's visit to Japan is also scheduled ahead. Given
such, the government deemed it difficult to do these two jobs at the
same time over the next three months or so. For the time being, the
government will fast-track negotiations with the United States over
complicated issues and will also prioritize coordination within the
ruling coalition.
(6) Nakaima calls for offshore relocation to save coral reefs
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged)
October 11, 2009
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima will send in his comment in written
form to the Defense Ministry on Oct. 13 regarding the ministry's
preliminarily presented report of its environmental impact
assessment conducted in a coastal area of Camp Schwab, a U.S.
military base in Okinawa Prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago,
where the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the island
prefecture's central city of Ginowan will be relocated. In his
comment to the ministry, Nakaima calls for moving the Futenma
replacement facility's construction site to an offshore area from
the government-planned relocation site, citing a negative impact on
the coral reefs as a reason.
(7) East Asian Community without U.S. "unacceptable": U.S. official
SANKEI (Page 8) (Full)
October 8, 2009
Hideya Yamamoto
WASHINGTON-Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has indicated that the
"East Asian Community" initiative would preclude the United States.
In this regard, a U.S. Department of State official told the Sankei
Shimbun on Oct. 8 that the United States cannot accept the idea of
excluding it from the regional community, underscoring the
"important role" the United States is playing in the Asia-Pacific
region. "The United States has been facilitating growth and
stability and we are strongly concerned about the region's basic
setup to help address global challenges," the official said. This
concern "is what reflects the important role the United States plays
in the region," the official said, strongly implying that the U.S.
military presence in the region, such as U.S. Forces Japan, is
playing a role for regional security.
(8) Leaders of Japan, China, South Korea agree to discuss concept of
East Asian community as "long-term goal," share need for closer
economic cooperation
NIKKEI (Top play) (Full)
Evening, October 10, 2009
Tetsuya Fujita, Beijing
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South
Korean President Lee Myung-Bak met at the Great Hall of the People
in Beijing on the morning of Oct. 10. In a bid to put the global
economy hit by the financial crisis on a recovery path, the three
leaders affirmed the need for the three countries to strengthen
their trilateral ties. On the issue of North Korea's nuclear
development, they agreed to urge North Korea to return to the
TOKYO 00002349 006 OF 008
Six-Party Talks at an early date. Prime Minister Hatoyama brought up
the initiative of an East Asian Community, and the three leaders
shared the view that the idea should be discussed as a long-term
goal.
North Korea urged to return to Six-Party Talks
After the trilateral summit meeting, the three leaders held a joint
press conference, in which Wen, who chaired the summit, made this
statement:
"With significant changes arising in the world, Japan, China and
South Korea are facing new opportunities and new challenges. The
three countries will be able to grow further and contribute to
promoting the unification of East Asia by deepening their ties in
every area for the first time."
The leaders also issued two statements: "A joint statement in
commemoration of the 10th anniversary of cooperation among Japan,
China and South Korea;" and "a joint statement on sustainable
development." The three countries will establish a secretariat to
continuously hold trilateral summit meetings.
At the outset of the meeting, Hatoyama emphasized:
"Japan has tended to be somewhat overly dependent on the U.S.
Although the Japan-U.S. alliance is vital, Japan, as a member of
Asia, would like to draw up policies that attach greater importance
to Asia. ... Core members (of the envisioned East Asia Community)
are the three countries (Japan, China and South Korea). I would like
to propose strengthening economic ties among them first."
The joint statement on trilateral cooperation specified: "The three
countries commit themselves to developing an East Asia Community as
a long-term goal and regional cooperation, based on the principles
of openness, transparency and comprehensiveness."
In discussing the North Korean nuclear development issue, Wen
briefed on the contents of his talks with North Korean leader Kim
Jong Il held during his recent visit to North Korea. The three
leaders expressed their hopes to see progress in U.S.-North Korea
talks and also agreed to aim at resolving the nuclear issue within
the framework of the Six-Party Talks.
Hatoyama is believed to have asked China and South Korea for their
cooperation for an early solution to the issue of North Korea's
abductions of Japanese nationals.
Wen revealed in the press conference that Kim had said during their
meeting that he would not oppose a resumption of the Six-Party Talks
and had expressed his willingness to improve relations with Japan
and South Korea.
On global warming, Hatoyama spelled out Japan's mid-term goal of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 PERCENT from 1990 levels by
2020. The three leaders agreed on the need for their governments to
take joint steps so that a final agreement will be reached on new
targets following the 2012 expiration of the Kyoto Protocol in the
upcoming international conference in December.
They also agreed to further strengthen cooperative relations to
overcome the ongoing financial crisis. They declared their resolve
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to contribute to recovering the global economy through expanded
domestic demand in the three countries.
(9) Ozawa mulls visiting China in December
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
October 10, 2009
Ichiro Ozawa, secretary general of the ruling Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ), is considering visiting China in mid-December, sources
revealed yesterday. This is part of bilateral exchanges and talks
continued between the DPJ and the Chinese Communist Party. In China,
Ozawa is expected to meet with President Hu Jintao and other Chinese
leaders.
(10) SRM found in U.S. beef after customs clearance: Third case
since import resumption
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly)
Evening, October 10, 2009
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and the Ministry of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (MAFF) announced on Oct. 10 that
a cow backbone was contained in a shipment of beef, which a meat
wholesaler in Minato Ward, Tokyo, imported in September this year.
Cow backbones are designated as a specified risk material (SRM),
because the causative agents of BSE tend to accumulate in there.
Japan bans importing SRMs. Japan resumed its imports of U.S. beef in
July 2006. Since then, this is the third case of an SRM found in
beef imported from the U.S. According to the MHLW and MAFF, beef
imported around the same time has not been marketed.
The meat in question was shipped by Tyson Fresh Meats Inc.'s
Lexington factory in Nebraska. Both ministries suspended procedures
for meat imports from that factory. They also requested that the
U.S. Department of Agriculture conduct a close investigation. A
distributor purchased the meat from TMC Co. in Minato Ward after
customs clearance. This distributor told TMC that they found boned
meat. TMC checked one box of beef from among 732 boxes or roughly 15
tons, which it imported from that factory and found a material that
is not mentioned in the sanitary certificate issued by the
Department of Agriculture. The company notified the health care
center in Minato Ward of the incident.
The health care center checked all boxes and confirmed that one box
of chilled beef (about 16 kilograms) contained a backbone. The
material in question is short loin. It is reportedly from a cow aged
20 months or younger.
A senior MHLW official noted, "As we have suspended the import
procedures for the entire shipments in question since improper
entries were found in application papers, the meat in question is
not on the domestic market."
According to MAFF, Japan has imported 172,570 tons of U.S. beef
between July 2006 and Oct. 2 this year, of which products shipped by
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. account for 12.6 percent -- those shipped by
the company's Lexington factory account for 1.4 percent. Beef
imports from that factory were suspended in February 2007, when two
boxes (43 kilograms) of shipments did not carry certificates to
prove that they are from cattle aged 20 months or younger. The
import ban was lifted four months later.
TOKYO 00002349 008 OF 008
Japan only imports U.S. beef from SRM-free cattle aged 20 months or
younger on condition that they have sanitary certificates issued by
the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Democratic Party of Japan in
its manifesto noted that in the event of any violation of the
condition being confirmed, it will take an immediate action,
including a blanket import ban.
ROOS