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INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
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RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 002502
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 10/29/09
INDEX:
(1) Foreign Minister Okada says idea of merging Futenma with Kadena
Air Base is "not his personal opinion" (Asahi)
(2) Senior ruling coalition member presents to Kadena a draft
proposal for integrating Futenma heliport into Kadena Air Base with
15-year deadline attached (Okinawa Times)
(3) Okinawa becoming impatient with unresolved Futenma Air Station
relocation issue (Mainichi)
(4) "Seiron" column: DPJ urged to make Futenma-relocation decision
based on national interest this autumn (Sankei)
(5) Editorial: Prime Minister's leadership not visible in Futenma
issue (Okinawa Times)
(6) Security situation in Afghanistan deteriorating; Taliban attack
on UN facility kills 10 (Asahi)
ARTICLES:
(1) Foreign Minister Okada says idea of merging Futenma with Kadena
Air Base is "not his personal opinion"
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full)
Evening, October 29, 2009
Representative interpellation on Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's
policy speech to the Diet also began at the House of Councillors
plenary session on Oct. 29. The relocation of the U.S. forces'
Futenma Air Station in Okinawa was one of the topics discussed.
Yoshimasa Hayashi, Liberal Democratic Party policy officer in the
Upper House, raised a question on the conflicting statements of
cabinet ministers on Futenma relocation and asked Foreign Minister
Katsuya Okada: "Were your statements that the relocation of the
Futenma base out of Okinawa would be difficult and that the merger
of Futenma with Kadena Air Base is an option your personal
opinion?"
Okada responded: "Those were statements made in my capacity as
foreign minister. However, I did say in my news conference that it
was a provisional proposal that had not been agreed upon by the
cabinet." He added: "Thirteen years have passed (since the agreement
on Futenma's return). We would like to avoid spending more time on
this issue. However, on the other hand, we are seriously considering
whether there are other options that can reduce the burden on
Okinawa even more than the existing plan. The proposal to merge
Futenma with the Kadena base, where existing runways can be
utilized, emerged in this process. We are currently examining this
option. We would like to reach a conclusion at an early date based
on the result."
However, during a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, Okinawa City Mayor Mitsuko Tomon,
and Ginowan City Mayor Yoichi Iha before the Upper House plenary
session, Okada had said that the idea of merging Futenma with Kadena
"is being considered as a personal proposal, and the government has
not decided on this."
(2) Senior ruling coalition member presents to Kadena a draft
TOKYO 00002502 002 OF 008
proposal for integrating Futenma heliport into Kadena Air Base with
15-year deadline attached
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full)
October 29, 2009S
It was learned yesterday that a senior government-ruling coalition
member had presented in early October to the town of Kadena a draft
proposal on the integration of the heliport functions of the U.S.
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station into the U.S. Kadena Air Base with
a 15-year deadline on the period of use of the base by the U.S.
military, with the goal of relocating the Futenma base out of Japan.
The draft proposal reportedly has been relayed to high government
officials.
The government has been verifying the current Futenma relocation
plan agreed by the former governments of Japan and the United
States. In the process of finding a final direction, the draft
proposal might become a main issue in discussion. However, it is
certain that residents and municipalities surrounding Kadena Air
Base, including the town of Kadena, will strongly react.
The draft proposal had been examined by some lawmakers in the
government and ruling parties. According to a government official,
the draft proposal stipulates that at the time when the Futenma
heliport facilities would be integrated into Kadena Air Base, the
Japanese government and the Okinawa prefectural government would
sign a memorandum stipulating that the period of the use of Kadena
Air Base by the U.S. military would be limited to 15 years. The
draft proposal also stipulates that the central government should
conclude environmental agreements with the surrounding
municipalities as an expression of consideration for local
residents, who are concerned about the expansion of the base
facilities.
In an attempt to reduce noise, the draft proposal stipulates that 28
F-15 fighters based at Kadena Air Base would be transferred;
exercises of non-Okinawa-based aircraft would be prohibited; and
Self-Defense Forces' fighters would not be transferred to the base.
In addition, the draft proposal includes that within one year the
cabinet would decide on five proposals: (1) cancelling the plan to
relocate the Futenma base to the Henoko district; (2) shutting down
the Futenma base; (3) the return of U.S. bases south of Kadena Air
Base; and (4) drawing up economic rehabilitation measures for all
Okinawa through a new base realignment plan.
The draft proposal stipulates that the final relocation site for the
Futenma base would be Guam or the mainland U.S.
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, who in fact has given up on
relocating the Futenma base out of Okinawa, expressed the intention
to seriously look into the possibility of integrating the heliport
functions of Futenma into Kadena Air Base. He has expressed his
intention to hold talks with the U.S. side and local municipalities.
Meanwhile, Chatan Mayor Masaharu Noguni, chair of the Liaison Group
of Three Municipalities on Kadena Air Base, comprising the towns of
Kadena and Chatan and Okinawa City, has strongly opposed the idea of
integrating the Futenma base into Kadena Air Base.
(3) Okinawa becoming impatient with unresolved Futenma Air Station
TOKYO 00002502 003 OF 008
relocation issue
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)
October 29, 2009
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and related cabinet ministers have
expressed different views on the propriety of reviewing the plan to
relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to the coastal
part of Camp Schwab in Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture.
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and several others on Oct. 28
visited Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano at the Prime
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and pressed the government to
settle the issue at an early date. Hirano, however, simply
reiterated, "The prime will make the final decision," indicating
that the government is in a state of disarray as in searches for
options other than the existing plan.
At the Kantei on the evening of the 28th, Nakaima pressed Hirano,
saying: "There are various views, such as the one incorporated in
the manifesto. However, the people of Okinawa cannot see what course
the issue will take. If the government is going to switch its
policy, please do it properly and promptly."
The meeting was held for the Okinawa Prefecture military land
conversion and base issue committee set up by Okinawa Prefecture and
base-related municipalities to ask for the settlement of the Futenma
issue. Eight persons, including Mayor Yoichi Iha of Ginowan City,
which hosts Futenma Air Station, participated in the meeting.
Nakaima on the 26th released a comment, which said: "If the
government presents a plan to relocate the Futenma functions outside
the prefecture in a realistic and specific way, we strongly hope
that the plan will be materialized." They have thus shifted from
their previous stance of accepting the relocation within the
prefecture.
This comment can be attributed to the fact that Nakaima is becoming
impatient with the Hatoyama administration, which is in disarray
with various cabinet ministers voicing different views on the issue.
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa on the 27th hinted at his
readiness to accept the present plan, saying, "(Implementing the
existing plan) will not contradict the policy pledge." However,
Hatoyama and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada brushed aside Kitazawa's
statement. Okada announced a position to coordinate with the U.S. on
an idea to integrate Futenma Air Station into Kadena Air Base in
Kadena, Okinawa Prefecture.
However, Kadena Town Assembly on the 28th unanimously adopted a
motion seeking the withdrawal of the Kadena integration idea. A dark
cloud has been hanging over the Kadena plan even before talks with
the U.S. have begun.
Nakaima and others asked to see the prime minister. However,
Hatoyama did not meet them, asking Hirano to meet them instead.
To the press corps, Hatoyama stressed: "I will make the final
decision. I would like the cabinet ministers to act in accordance
with my decision."
Main statements recently made by cabinet ministers over Futenma
relocation issue
TOKYO 00002502 004 OF 008
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama: I will make the final decision. Since
we are now searching for new options, it will take a fair amount of
time (to reach a final decision). I do not think I must rush to
reach a final decision, just because U.S. President Obama will visit
Japan (in November). (to the press corps in Thailand on the 24th).
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada: Could Kadena be an alternative site?
I believe so. There are great advantages to consolidating two major
military bases into Japan. Under the present plan, two bases will
become permanent. (at a press conference on the 27th)
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa: It is slightly wrong to think
that (the present plan) does not meet our (DPJ) pledge (to relocate
the Futenma Air Station out of the nation or the prefecture) at
all.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano: If related ministers'
statements are going to cause concern to the U.S., I would like them
to make statements a little more modestly and carefully. The prime
minister will make a decision at an appropriate time. (at a press
conference on the 27th)
State Minister for Consumer Affairs and Declining Birth Rate Mizuho
Fukushima: The agreement on the coalition government stipulates that
from the perspective of reducing the burden of the people of
Okinawa, (the government) will challenge the issue of realizing the
desired nature of the US Forces Japan with a possibility of revising
the Futenma relocation plan. The government should settle the
Futenma issue from the standpoint of reducing the burden on the
people of Okinawa.
(4) "Seiron" column: DPJ urged to make Futenma-relocation decision
based on national interest this autumn
SANKEI (Page 7) (Full)
October 29, 2009
Toshio Watanabe, president of Takushoku University
Conditions ripe for a solution
There is a game called "chie no wa (wire puzzle)" consisting of
manipulating two linked metal rings in various ways to separate
them. The moment one succeeds in separating the rings is indeed
exhilarating. At that moment you are surprised it was so easy. But
just try to separate the rings a second time.
I believe that in diplomacy there is also such a moment when
conditions favorable for resolving the toughest of all tough issues
coincide to facilitate an easy solution at one particular instant.
Now is probably the best time ever for a solution to Okinawa issues.
I had an opportunity to talk with Governor Hirokazu Nakaima at
length in mid-October when I was invited to participate as a
panelist in a symposium organized by the Junior Chamber
International Japan. Mr. Nakaima lamented that "Okinawa has already
decided on what it wishes to do, but unless the government is able
to decide on a policy at an early date, Okinawa is unable to act."
While this sounded like a complaint, I nodded in agreement with his
characteristic candid remark.
Both Okinawa Prefecture and Nago City have come to support the basic
plan agreed upon between Japan and the U.S. on the condition that
TOKYO 00002502 005 OF 008
the runways are moved farther offshore. The two governments reached
agreement in May 2006 on a package deal including the relocation of
the U.S. Marines' Futenma Air Station to the coastal area of Camp
Schwab in Nago City, the relocation of 8,000 Marines and their
families in Okinawa to Guam, the transfer of carrier-based aircraft
from Atsugi to Iwakuni, and the complete return of six military
facilities in the southern part of the main island of Okinawa. Japan
has also made a commitment to shoulder a maximum of 2.8 billion
dollars of the cost for the implementation of these plans.
Adverse effect of complicated public opinion in Okinawa
I am, of course, aware of the extremely complicated trend in public
opinion in Okinawa. However, more than ever before, in their desire
for a major reduction in the burden of the bases people in Okinawa
and Nago are leaning in the direction of accepting the Japan-U.S.
agreement. Against the background of North Korea's two underground
nuclear tests and China's gaining control of the East China Sea
through a massive naval expansion, Okinawans perhaps feel that any
further aggravation of the Futenma issue might present a real
possibility of undermining Japan's security.
During his recent visit to Japan, Secretary Robert Gates said
repeatedly at his meetings with senior officials of the new Hatoyama
administration that unless relocation to the Futenma replacement
facility in the coastal area of Camp Schwab is implemented, there
will be no relocation of the Marines to Guam, and the complete
return of the six facilities located in the densely-populated
southern part of Okinawa will not be possible. Mr. Gates approached
the new administration of Japan with a strategy of striking a
balance between military deterrence in the Far East and reducing the
burden on Okinawa.
The new Japanese administration is the obstacle to the "agreement"
between Okinawa and the U.S. This is truly ironic. Even during Mr.
Gates's visit, which was meant to prepare for President Obama's
visit in November, the new administration's real intentions remained
unclear, with the Prime Minister saying that he wants to confirm the
consensus in Okinawa through the outcome of the Nago mayoral
election and the Okinawa gubernatorial race next year; the Foreign
Minister stating that a decision will come after "verifying the
appropriateness of the Japan-U.S. agreement"; and the Defense
Minister telling reporters that "there is not the luxury of spending
a lot of time."
Public opinion is complicated in Okinawa. There is no guarantee that
candidates in favor of relocation within Okinawa will win in the
forthcoming mayoral and gubernatorial elections. If such candidates
lose, the chance of a lifetime to resolve the Okinawa issue will be
lost. It is impossible to verify the appropriateness of the
Japan-U.S. agreement at present, since agreements are products of
the convergence of political vectors at a specific point in time,
and the conditions have changed since then. How meaningful will such
an exercise be? If the conclusion that arises from this process is
that the bilateral agreement is inappropriate, the U.S. side is
unlikely to accept such a conclusion.
Without mutual trust the alliance will become hollow
The U.S.'s position is that the proposal to integrate the Futenma
base with Kadena Air Base is a plan that has already been examined.
If the government fails to even react to Mr. Gates's statements
TOKYO 00002502 006 OF 008
implying that moving the runways farther offshore is an issue
between Okinawa and Tokyo, what will ensue is a "hollowing out" of
the Japan-U.S. alliance. It is possible that the U.S. will then
choose China, not Japan, as its trusted partner in Asia. A G-2
framework, which has the deep-rooted support of advisers to the U.S.
Democratic Party, such as Zbigniew Brzezinski, may no longer be a
mere pipe dream. In the first place, a one-sided Japan-U.S. alliance
in which Japan is unable to boldly exercise the right of collective
self-defense is by nature vulnerable in the post-Cold War era.
I do not believe that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) really
intends to further weaken the already weak bilateral alliance. The
Japan-U.S. alliance is no longer merely an alliance governing
bilateral relations between Japan and the U.S. today. It is the only
alliance serving as a safeguard against North Korea issues, the
Taiwan Strait issue, and above all, China's naval build-up. It is
the only alliance for maintaining the stability of Far East Asia as
a whole. The collapse of the Japan-U.S. alliance could trigger a
"domino effect" in the Far East.
Now is the rare point in time when the conditions for the sudden
separation of the two rings in a "wire puzzle" long thought to be
hard to crack are in place. Gentlemen of the DPJ, set your eyes on
the national interest. This autumn is the time to decide.
(5) Editorial: Prime Minister's leadership not visible in Futenma
issue
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 5) (Full)
October 29, 2009
It appears that a change of administration has not yet occurred in
the Ministry of Defense. Were the pledges in the manifesto of the
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) merely sweet talk meant to win
popular support during the House of Representatives election?
We are talking about Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa's remarks on
the relocation of the Futenma Air Base. He said that the
implementation of the plan to relocate the Futenma base to Henoko
inherited from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-New Komeito
administration does not contradict the DPJ's campaign pledge.
Defense Minister Kitazawa cited the relocation of some 8,000 Marines
to Guam and the relocation of air tankers to the U.S. forces'
Iwakuni base (in Yamaguchi Prefecture) as examples and claimed that
"it is wrong to say that (the Futenma relocation plan) does not
fulfill the pledge to relocate (the Futenma base) out of Okinawa or
out of Japan at all."
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has promised that the base will "at
least be relocated out of Okinawa." He was, of course, talking about
the relocation site for the Futenma base. Defense Minister
Kitazawa's statement amounts to reversing this, which is absurd.
Defense Minister Kitazawa's reasoning would mean that the LDP-New
Komeito administration was already implementing the DPJ's pledge
(even before the change of administration). Was he speaking under
pressure from bureaucrats obsessed with the Henoko plan?
Even Prime Minister Hatoyama and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada
questioned his statement. This was undoubtedly a far-fetched
argument.
TOKYO 00002502 007 OF 008
Foreign Minister Okada, who criticized Defense Minister Kitazawa,
has also given up quickly on relocation out of Okinawa and come up
with a plan to merge the Futenma base with Kadena Air Base. The two
ministers contradict each other. What's going on in the Hatoyama
cabinet?
Every time the ministers of defense and foreign affairs say
something, anxiety increases in the local community and people are
affected in various ways. It is highly irregular for the prime
minister and the ministers of defense and foreign affairs to all say
different things.
Prime Minister Hatoyama stated at the representative interpellation
yesterday: "We are currently conducting a comprehensive review.
After carefully examining the process leading up to the Japan-U.S.
agreement, I will make the final decision on relocation." This would
seem to be an expression of his determination. Yet, major
discrepancies have surfaced among his own ministers. This would seem
to be a good time for the Prime Minister to step forward and mediate
actively, but he doesn't appear to be doing that. His presence is
weak. He must not forget that his own leadership ability is being
tested.
Prime Minister Hatoyama stated in his policy speech to the Diet that
"the burdens, suffering and sorrow borne by the people of Okinawa
will be properly considered, and the feelings of the people will be
sincerely taken to heart," indicating his stance of dealing with the
Okinawa issues seriously. How does he propose to translate this into
action? We hope that he reflect deeply on his own statement that the
Futenma base should "at least be relocated out of Okinawa."
The same policy speech also talked about the politicians'
responsibility for increasing distrust in politics. The two
ministers' statements may indeed give rise to distrust of politics
among the Okinawan people.
With regard to the discord among the ministers, it is understandable
that Governor Hirokazu Nakaima has expressed his anger by saying:
"Okinawa is not the backyard of the incumbent cabinet ministers."
The Kadena Town Assembly promptly passed a unanimous motion opposing
the plan to integrate Futenma with Kadena Air Base and demanding the
withdrawal of the foreign minister's statement. The town of Kadena
has decided to hold a rally of the town people on Nov. 7.
Prime Minister Hatoyama spoke of an "exhaustive cleanup of the
postwar government" in his policy speech. The change of
administration should be a golden opportunity to review the
Japan-U.S. relationship. Is it not also time to conduct an
exhaustive cleanup of diplomacy toward the U.S.?
(6) Security situation in Afghanistan deteriorating; Taliban attack
on UN facility kills 10
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts)
October 29, 2009
Taliban militants stormed a guesthouse being used by UN staff on
Oct. 28, killing 10 people. The security situation in Afghanistan
will inevitably deteriorate as the anti-government armed group has
revealed its intention to continue to carry out terrorist acts in
TOKYO 00002502 008 OF 008
the future. Attacks by the Taliban are likely to affect the outcome
of the upcoming presidential runoff election and activities by
foreign troops stationed in the nation, as well as Japan's strategy
to expand its civilian support.
The attack took place in an area where UN-related offices and guest
houses, such as those of the World Food Program (WFP), are located.
A guest house used by Japanese staff of the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) is also situated there. However, it was
impossible for people unaffiliated to the UN to recognize the
attacked guesthouse as an UN-related facility because there was no
UN flag or signboard displayed.
Unfavorable wind for Japan's Afghanistan reconstruction aid
measures
Taking the attack on the UN guesthouse seriously, a senior Foreign
Ministry official said: "Although suicide bombings have occurred in
the past, an attack on an international organization is
unprecedented. We must continue to watch the situation carefully."
JICA, which handles Japanese government aid in Afghanistan, had 30
staff members of its Kabul office stay at home.
The Hatoyama administration has stepped up its efforts to put
together assistance measures for Afghanistan as a challenge for the
Hatoyama administration to tackle within 100 days of its launch. But
the deteriorating security situation in the nation might stand in
the way of its efforts.
In his policy speech on Oct. 26, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama
specified three assistance measures for the Afghanistan: (1)
agricultural support; (2) vocational training for former militants;
and (3) reinforcement of police functions. Regarding vocational
training, the government is considering the possibility of providing
aid in cooperation with the UN.
The vocational training plan is aimed at helping former Taliban
insurgents have a way to make a living and pull them away from the
Taliban group, as part of efforts to prevent the security situation
from deteriorating further. Terrorist attacks, like the one on Oct.
28, will make it difficult for donor countries to provide
assistance.
The attack is also expected to have an impact on the upcoming
presidential runoff election. The Japanese government intends to
discuss its new assistance measures with the next Afghan government
and then translate the measures into reality. Given this, the
government is looking forward to the inauguration of a legitimate
new government.
In its budgetary request for fiscal 2010, the Foreign Ministry
requested 10 billion yen in aid for Afghanistan - the same amount as
in the initial fiscal 2009 budget compiled under the Aso
administration. The ministry intends to increase the amount when a
package of support measures is finalized. But the premise is that
public order should be maintained to a certain extent. A senior
Foreign Ministry official expressed concern that if the situation
becomes worse, the ministry might find it difficult to convince the
Finance Ministry and other related government agencies to accept its
explanation of why the amount should be increased.
ROOS