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FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 002495
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 10/29/09
INDEX:
1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei)
Special Diet session:
4) Tanigaki: Statements on Futenma conflict; Hatoyama: I will make
final decision (Asahi)
5) Diet interpellation on diplomacy and security (Nikkei)
6) Prime Minister says dissolution of Diet one way to accept
responsibility (Nikkei)
7) LDP submits bill for inspection of North Korean ships (Yomiuri)
Futenma relocation:
8) Commander U.S. Forces Japan Rice says Kadena integration plan
does fulfill operational requirements (Asahi)
9) Hirano: Small differences between cabinet decisions and
ministers' statements do not constitute discord (Tokyo Shimbun)
10) Sense of urgency over Futenma relocation grips cabinet with
Obama visit only two weeks away (Nikkei)
Defense & security:
11) MSDF destroyer successfully intercepts missile (Yomiuri)
12) Fukushima expresses opposition to redeploying MSDF ship to
Somalia (Nikkei)
13) Prime Minister directed Defense Minister to consider Japan-Korea
relations in handling destroyer-container ship collision (Nikkei)
14) Additional 4.3 hectares at Camp Zama may be returned to Japan
(Yomiuri)
Foreign relations:
15) Foreign Minister considering U.S. visit (Yomiuri)
Articles:
1) Asahi:
New climate protocol unlikely to be adopted by year's end
Mainichi & Tokyo Shimbun:
Air trapped in overturned fishing boat saves three lives
Yomiuri:
Narrow cabin avoids flood in missing fishing boat
Nikkei:
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to start producing passenger plane
engines in 2013
Sankei:
"We will fulfill campaign pledges without fail," says Prime Minister
Hatoyama during extra Diet session
Akahata:
Hepatitis bill must be passed as quickly as possible
2) EDITORIALS
Asahi:
(1) LDP President Tanigaki must present own political vision
(2) New Japan Post President Saito: Concern about DPJ's decision
TOKYO 00002495 002 OF 008
that is moving away from reform
Mainichi:
(1) Diet debate: DPJ should also ask questions
(2) MSDF destroyer collision: Are optimum precautions being taken?
Yomiuri:
(1) Lower House interpellation: Deepen debate on fiscal resources
and security
(2) International cooperation vital to eradicate terrorism in
Pakistan
Nikkei:
(1) Link reorganization of trust banks to financial revitalization
(2) Ruling, opposition parties must compete on polices at Diet
Sankei:
(1) Lower House interpellation: Prime Minister Hatoyama must not
neglect lack of unity among cabinet members
(2) MSDF destroyer collision: Were there any problems with equipment
and personnel?
Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Interpellation: Deepen discussions on "the shape of the nation"
(2) New Japan Post executives: What is the purpose of reviewing the
postal privatization program?
Akahata:
(1) Nov. 8 national rally: JCP will make efforts to move politics
forward together with people
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)
Prime Minister's schedule, October 28
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
October 29, 2009
09:33 Met "Ship for Southeast Asian Youth" project participants and
others at the Kantei.
12:23 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano.
13:02 Attended a Lower House plenary session.
16:29 Met Defense Minister Kitazawa and MSDF Chief of Staff
Akahoshi.
17:03 Met Senior Vice-Foreign Minister Fukuyama and Global Issues
Director-General Sugiyama at the Kantei.
18:12 Met Fukuyama and Deputy Foreign Minister Sasae.
19:49 Arrived at his official residential quarters.
4) Main questions and answers on foreign and security policies in
Diet interpellations - LDP's Tanigaki grills PM over discrepancies
in statements on Futenma, while Hatoyama declares he will make final
decision
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts)
October 29, 2009
Sadakazu Tanigaki, president, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP):
Defense Minister Kitazawa indicated yesterday that he would accept
the existing Futenma relocation plan and also expressed a plan to
shift Maritime Self-Defense Force ships, now engaged in the
refueling mission, to antiterrorism operations (off Somalia). Since
TOKYO 00002495 003 OF 008
the launch of the new administration, there have been discrepancies
in remarks among Prime Minister Hatoyama, Foreign Minister Okada,
Defense Minister Kitazawa, and others. I deeply fear that this
hampers diplomacy.
The Democratic Party of Japan has indicated that it will look in the
direction of reviewing the Futenma relocation issue and the
modalities of U.S. forces in Japan. If the DPJ unilaterally reviews
what was agreed upon between Japan and the United States without
presenting a clear alternative plan, the bilateral alliance might be
weakened.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, LDP: The refueling mission in the Indian Ocean
is a significant operation that leads to the defense of Japan's sea
lanes. Are you going to halt this and send private citizens to a
place where the security situation is very bad? The cabinet also
includes the head of the Social Democratic Party, which in its 2006
party convention adopted a statement saying "the Self-Defense Forces
are clearly in a state of unconstitutionality." Does minister
Fukushima regard the SDF as unconstitutional?
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama: Needless to say, the Japan-U.S.
alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's foreign policy. We will
earnestly address the question of realigning U.S. forces in Japan
after carefully examining, from the past viewpoint of security, the
process that led to the Japan-U.S. agreement, while seriously taking
the feelings of Okinawa's people into consideration. The previous
(LDP-led) administration took more than 10 years to realize a
conclusion on the Futenma issue. Who should be held responsible for
that? I will make the final decision. We will not simply extend the
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. We are earnestly and
carefully studying the modalities of Japan's assistance that can
truly be appreciated by the international community including
Afghanistan.
My understanding is that support for Afghanistan is a matter that
must be addressed by the international community as a whole. What is
Japan really required to do? We want to provide aid proactively in
Japan's realms of expertise after looking into the modalities of aid
needed by the Afghan people. For instance, we are considering
providing support in agriculture, vocational training to former
soldiers, and enhancing police activities.
State Minister for Declining Birthrate Mizuho Fukushima (SDP): The
SDP criticized the fact that under the LDP administration the SDF
conducted overseas missions beyond the minimum necessary level of
self-defense. I believe that under the Hatoyama administration the
SDF will carry out activities within the framework of the
Constitution.
5) Lower House interpellation and replies
NIKKEI (Page 4) (Excerpts)
October 29, 2009
Diplomacy and security
Nishimura: Do you intend to dispatch civilians to a nation with poor
security (like Afghanistan) instead of extending the refueling
mission in the Indian Ocean?
Prime minister: I would like to proactively support Afghanistan in
TOKYO 00002495 004 OF 008
areas of Japanese expertise. For instance, I am eager to provide
agricultural assistance and vocational training to former soldiers.
I would also like to strengthen the nation's police functions.
Nishimura: What are your views on the issue of seeking the return of
all four islands in the Northern Territories as a package and on the
Takeshima islets issue?
Prime minister: Trust between the leaders (of Japan and Russia) is
important in settling the Northern Territories issue. While
deepening dialogue between the two countries' leaders, I would like
to solve the issue of the return of the Northern Territories,
and then conclude a peace treaty. Our nation's stance on the
sovereignty of the Takeshima islets is consistent. Nothing has
changed.
Nishimura: What are your policies on the North Korean abduction and
nuclear and missile development issues?
Prime minister: I would like to endeavor to normalize ties between
the two countries, by settling various pending issues, including the
abduction and nuclear and missile development issues, in a
comprehensive manner. I absolutely cannot accept North Korea's
nuclear and missile development. Japan must work together with the
U.S. and South Korea on these issues.
6) Dissolving Lower House is one option for taking responsibility,
says prime minister
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
October 29, 2009
Replying to a question asked during an interpellation on Oct. 28,
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Oct. 28 said that he would take
responsibility in the event that his cabinet failed to realize
pledges included in the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto for
the August Lower House election. In this connection, he told the
press corps that dissolving the Lower House would be one way to take
responsibility. He said: "There are various ways of taking political
responsibility. The most visible and honest way is to seek the
people's mandate through an election." He also noted, "I do not
think I have broken campaign pledges."
7) LDP, other opposition parties submit cargo inspection bill at
Lower House
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
October 29, 2009
Yesterday the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan
Renaissance Party, Your Party, and the group to protect national
interests and the livelihoods of the people (Hiranuma group) jointly
submitted a bill to facilitate cargo inspections of ships heading to
and from North Korea to the House of Representatives. The New
Komeito party, however, did not respond to the LDP's call for
jointly presenting the bill, citing that it will make a decision
after examining the contents of the government-drafted bill.
8) USFJ chief: Kadena plan fails to meet operational benchmark
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full)
October 29, 2009
TOKYO 00002495 005 OF 008
Yoichi Kato, senior writer
The U.S. government cannot not accept Foreign Minister Okada's
advocacy of integrating the heliport functions of the U.S. Marine
Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, into the
U.S. Kadena Air Base in the prefecture, U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ)
Commander Rice, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant general, told the Asahi
Shimbun in an interview yesterday at USFJ headquarters located on
the Yokota base. "It does not satisfy our required standards for
operation," the USFJ chief said.
"Secretary of Defense Gates made clear this point in a press
conference," Rice said, stressing that the U.S. government has
already made a decision on the matter.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Gates recently visited Japan and he met
with Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa on Oct. 21. In the joint
press conference that followed, Gates said: "The U.S. government has
looked closely into every alternative plan. We believe that all of
these plans are politically unsustainable and operationally
unfeasible."
In this regard, Foreign Minister Okada has suggested the need for
the Japanese government to thrash out the operational issues that
the Pentagon chief pointed out. "We're still in the process of
verifying his account and we also want to hear their views," Okada
told a press conference yesterday, adding: "They say Kadena is
inconceivable (as an alternative to take over Futenma airfield's
functions). There's no doubt that the local opposition is one of the
major reasons for saying that. But when it comes to the rest of his
account, I do not necessarily agree with him."
In the interview, Rice avoided referring to the "operational issues"
in detail while taking the position that an open explanation would
complicate the talks. However, he clarified that the U.S. government
is ready to cooperate further. "The U.S. government will do its best
to provide accurate information so that the Japanese government can
promptly reach a conclusion that will benefit our alliance," he
said.
9) Futenma Air Station relocation issue: Some differences in
statements by cabinet ministers do not mean that they are in
disagreement -- Hirano gives government's view
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
October 29, 2009
"One can say that the cabinet is in discord if a minister makes a
statement contrary to the policy stance adopted at a cabinet
meeting. I believe that even if there are differences in statements
made by various cabinet ministers on an issue, it is not the case
that one can say there is discord in the cabinet."
Referring to the fact that different views on the U.S. Marine Corps'
Futenma Air Station relocation issue have surfaced among cabinet
ministers, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano revealed such a
government view at a press briefing on the afternoon of Oct. 28
As an opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)
criticized the cabinet as being in discord when former Prime
Minister Aso or cabinet ministers showed signs of disagreement on
TOKYO 00002495 006 OF 008
various issues, even if they were not directly related to cabinet
decisions.
The new view given by Hirano is apparently in disagreement with the
stance the DPJ took when it was an opposition party.
Prime Minister Hatoyama told reporters, "It is all right for cabinet
ministers to state their views in displaying political leadership."
He then added, "If I make a final decision, I would like them to act
in accordance with it."
10) Sense of urgency in cabinet over Futenma issue two weeks ahead
of President Obama's visit
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
October 29, 2009
With U.S. President Barack Obama coming to Japan in about two weeks,
the Yukio Hatoyama cabinet is unable to agree on the question of the
relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. Discontent has
surfaced among the local governments in Okinawa. Foreign Minister
Katsuya Okada hopes to visit the U.S. again shortly before the
President's visit for discussions with the U.S. side on breaking the
impasse, but prospects remain uncertain. Prime Minister Yukio
Hatoyama has stated repeatedly that "I will be the one to make the
final decision," but he has very little time left.
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and other local government leaders
met Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano at the Prime Minister's
Official Residence (Kantei) in the early evening on Oct. 28. "We
have heard various opinions coming out from the cabinet. We would
like you to deal with this matter carefully, keeping in mind the
danger posed by Futenma," Nakaima complained.
Okada has been talking about a plan to integrate the Futenma base
with Kadena Air Base without prior consultations with the local
leaders, while Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa has said "even the
current plan does not contradict the campaign pledge of the
Democratic Party of Japan." The governor's complaint conveyed the
sentiments in Okinawa. Yet, Hatoyama on Oct. 28 still said, "Since
we operate under a system of politician-led decision-making, it is
okay for the cabinet ministers to voice their opinions," indicating
his tolerance for the ministers' (conflicting) remarks.
Although the Hatoyama cabinet claims that President Obama's visit on
Nov. 12 does not constitute a deadline for reaching a conclusion,
there is a growing sense of urgency behind the scenes. Okada, who
believes that "there is room for negotiation" on the Kadena
integration plan, plans to visit the U.S. around Nov. 6 for
discussions with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. However, this
schedule has not been confirmed. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs
source explains, "We are unable to make official inquiries because
the schedule of the extraordinary Diet session has not been
finalized." In addition, Clinton's schedule is rather tight because
she will depart on an overseas trip on Nov. 7.
Okada plans to meet U.S. Forces Japan commander Lt. Gen. Edward
Rice, Department of Defense Country Director for Japan Suzanne
Basalla, and other officials to listen to the U.S. side's thinking
directly. However, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has rejected
the Kadena integration plan, and a senior Defense official has
indicated that minor modifications to the existing plan would be
TOKYO 00002495 007 OF 008
acceptable. It appears that there is also a wide gap between the
Hatoyama cabinet and the Obama administration with regard to whether
there is room for negotiation on the Kadena integration idea.
11) MSDF missile test successful
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
October 29, 2009
The Myoko, an Aegis-equipped destroyer of the Maritime Self-Defense
Force, succeeded in shooting down a mock-up target in its test
launch off Hawaii of the Standard Missile 3 (SM-3), a sea-based
missile defense system. The SM-3 test was conducted in waters off
Hawaii on Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. (Oct. 28, 1 p.m., Japan time). This is
a third test launch of the SM-3. The first test, conducted in 2007,
was successful, but last year's second test failed. This time
around, the U.S. military launched a ballistic missile from a
missile launch test site. The Myoko, standing by at sea several
hundred kilometers away, launched an SM-3 interceptor about four
minutes after detecting the target.
12) SDP leader opposes proposal for MSDF to refuel warships in
antipiracy operations off Somalia
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
October 29, 2009
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said (on Oct. 27) that he was
considering a plan to have the Maritime Self-Defense Force warships
now engaged in a refueling mission in the Indian Ocean join
international antipiracy operations off Somalia, Africa. In response
to this proposal, Social Democratic Party President Mizuho Fukushima
expressed her opposition in a press conference yesterday: "That is a
totally unexpected and irrational idea. In principle Self-Defense
Force troops should not be dispatched overseas."
Fukushima also expressed opposition to a proposal to integrate the
functions of the U.S. Marine Corp's Air Station in Ginowan City,
Okinawa Prefecture, into Kadena Air Base, saying, "I wonder if this
plan would contribute to reducing the burden on the people in
Okinawa." Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has said that he is
considering the integration plan.
13) Hatoyama orders defense minister to take Japan-South Korea
relations into consideration in dealing with MSDF ship collision
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
October 29, 2009
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa
in the Diet Building yesterday and received from him a report on the
collision between the Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer and a
South Korean-registered container ship. Focusing on the fact that
the South Korean cargo ship had changed its course in response to
instructions by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), the prime minister
instructed the defense minister to deal with the case in a cautious
manner. Hatoyama said: "It is necessary to carefully deal with the
case so as not to damage Japan-South Korea relations."
The container ship was attempting to overtake a cargo ship. The JCG
revealed yesterday that a controller at the maritime traffic center
overseeing the Kanmon Strait had given the container ship
TOKYO 00002495 008 OF 008
instructions for overtaking the other vessel, but these instructions
brought the ship close to the course of the approaching destroyer
just prior to the collision.
14) Possible return of additional 4.3 hectares of land at Camp Zama
to Japan
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
October 29, 2009
Japan and the U.S. are considering a new plan in which the U.S.
would return approximately 4.3 hectares of land at Camp Zama (a
total of about 235 hectares, in the cities of Zama and Sagamihara)
in Kanagawa Prefecture to Japan as part of the realignment of U.S.
forces in Japan, it was learned yesterday. The South Kanto Defense
Bureau conveyed the new plan to the Zama municipal government
yesterday.
Japan and the U.S. agreed in deputy director general-level talks of
their foreign and defense officials in 2006 on the U.S.'s return of
1.1 hectares of land in Zama City on the site of Camp Zama to
Japan.
15) Foreign Minister Okada considering U.S. visit
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
October 29, 2009
It was learned yesterday that Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada is
considering a trip to Washington before U.S. President Barack Obama
visits Japan on Nov. 12-13. He hopes to hold talks with Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton about the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps'
Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. However, many in political circles
take the view that it will be difficult to realize Okada's plan
because he is required to attend budget committee sessions of the
two Diet chambers that will take place in early November and because
Clinton will be busy.
ROOS