VZCZCXRO2980
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #4011/01 2000826
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190826Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4446
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/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA//J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/COMPATWING ONE KAMI SEYA JA
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9861
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 7270
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0576
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 7139
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 8405
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3353
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9497
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1236

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 004011 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07/19/06 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Foreign Minister Aso, US Ambassador Schieffer in telephone 
conversation agree that resolution on North Korea the result of 
Japan-US cooperation 
 
(2)Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe already on diplomatic stage; His 
capability being tested in run-up to LDP presidential election 
 
(3) Adoption of UN resolution against North Korea: Result of Japan's 
tough diplomatic approach 3 
 
(4) ASDF troops on Iraq mission expected to serve as the US 
military's contractor; Attacks on Baghdad Airport in combat zone 
commonplace; Transporting US troops may drag ASDF into America's war 
4 
 
(5) Budget request ceiling: Finance, foreign ministries agree to 3% 
cut in ODA in fiscal 2007 6 
 
(6) Defense Agency to be restructured into 5 bureaus 6 
 
(7) Minshuto to notify local chapters across country it is 
establishing workplace chapters in industrial associations, aiming 
to undermine LDP stronghold ahead of Upper House election 7 
 
(8) LDP presidential election campaign underway: Yamasaki faction 
proposes secular memorial for the war dead; Tanigaki faction calls 
current relations with China abnormal; Nikai Group remains silent 
out of consideration to Abe? 8 
 
(9) Number of guest foreign workers to be expanded, LDP special 
committee decides 9 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Foreign Minister Aso, US Ambassador Schieffer in telephone 
conversation agree that resolution on North Korea the result of 
Japan-US cooperation 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
Evening, July 19, 2006 
 
Foreign Minister Aso talked with US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer by 
telephone this morning. The Ambassador, commenting on the resolution 
on North Korea adopted by the United Nations Security Council, 
stated: "A strong message was sent thanks to the cooperation of the 
US and Japan. I thank Japan for its efforts." The Foreign Minister, 
too, expressed his appreciation, replying, "Success came from the 
close cooperation of Japan and the United States."  He then reported 
that Ground Self-Defense Force troops had completed their withdrawal 
from Iraq. The Ambassador noted, "The operations of the Self-Defense 
Forces were a great achievement." 
 
(2)Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe already on diplomatic stage; His 
capability being tested in run-up to LDP presidential election 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 18, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe is considered as the favorite to 
succeed Prime Minister Koizumi. The Japanese government's response 
to North Korea's missile launches has served an important test of 
 
TOKYO 00004011  002 OF 010 
 
 
his diplomatic acumen. He played a leading role in drafting a 
sanctions resolution presented to the United Nations Security 
Council (UNSC) as a deputy for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who 
was traveling abroad. Abe has won popular support from the people, 
using the keywords abduction and North Korea in making a full-scale 
diplomatic debut. 
 
When discussions at the UNSC entered the homestretch on the evening 
of July 14, Abe rushed back to the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence (Kantei) to have a telephone conference with deputy 
national security advisor to the US President Stephen Hadley. He 
told Hadley: "The positions of Japan and the US are in complete 
agreement. The two countries have completely agreed not to change 
their determination to adopt a binding resolution that includes 
sanctions. 
 
Reiterating that there would be no compromise, Abe during a press 
conference repeatedly used the word completely. The word is close to 
categorical expressions Prime Minister Koizumi has frequently used 
at critical political junctures. He used this word with an image of 
a strong leader in mind. 
 
Masaharu Kono, director general of the Foreign Policy Bureau of the 
Foreign Ministry, who served as a secretary to his father Shintaro 
Abe, when he was a foreign minister, fully reported what was going 
on at the series of debates at the UN. He visited the Kantei early 
in the morning on the 14 as well and analyzed the situation in Abe's 
office. 
 
The US is strongly aware of Abe's presence. During the prime 
minister's absence, Ambassador Schieffer met with Abe twice at the 
Kantei. On the 14th, Abe urged Schieffer that Japan and the US 
should fall in step with each other for the adoption of the draft 
sanctions resolution, noting: "This is a matter of an emergency. I 
would likely you to relay my message to President Bush and Secretary 
of State Rice." 
 
A government source said: "An acting prime minister is empowered to 
do almost anything. The words from the prime minister are tantamount 
to the will of the Japanese government." Great authority means great 
responsibility. Success and failure of Abe's handling of the North 
Korea issue has a rebound effect on the evaluation of himself as a 
candidate for the next prime minister. 
 
(3) Adoption of UN resolution against North Korea: Result of Japan's 
tough diplomatic approach 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
July 17, 2006 
 
"This is a great result and victory for Japan's diplomacy. This 
achievement has come owing to Japan's efforts. We have shared this 
view with Britain and France." 
 
This generously complimentary remark came from US Presidential 
Assistant Hadley for National Security Affairs, during a telephone 
conversation with Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe early on July 16, 
Japan time, soon after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 
decided to unanimously adopt a resolution condemning North Korea. In 
a phone discussion with Foreign Minister Aso right after Hadley's 
call, US Secretary of State Rice also praised Japan's diplomatic 
efforts. 
 
 
TOKYO 00004011  003 OF 010 
 
 
For the first time since it became a UN member on Dec. 18, 1956, 
Japan projected an unprecedented strong presence in that 
international diplomatic arena when the UNSC adopted the 
resolution. 
 
On of the major pillars of Japanese diplomacy has been its focus on 
the UN. But until now, Japan had never taken the lead in submitting 
a resolution to the UNSC. In its first submission, Japan tenaciously 
called for the need to adopt a severe resolution that would include 
sanctions. It remained firm in its basic position to the end. 
 
North Korea's missile launches created a national crisis for and 
posed a threat to Japan. In contrast, when Pyongyang launched a 
Taepodong missile in 1998, all the UN did then was to only issue a 
press statement, the weakest form of showing the UN's view. Learning 
a lesson from this experience, Japan took a firm stand this time. 
 
Japan and the United States stuck to the idea of referring to 
Chapter 7 of the UN Charter till the last moment, because they 
thought that chapter can serve as the ground for the imposition of 
sanctions against North Korea, but this idea was not realized due to 
opposition by China and Russia. Faced with the reality in the UNSC 
where its permanent members have a veto right, "Japan was forced to 
choose between a resolution mentioning Chapter 7 that could not win 
unanimous approval and a resolution without any mention of Chapter 7 
that was unanimously approved. A unanimously adopted resolution 
would have a stronger message," Aso said. Japan preferred to the 
latter option. 
 
A senior Foreign Ministry official explained: "In the past Japan had 
aimed at realizing international cooperation in the way to play 
along with other countries, but this time Japan aimed at playing a 
role to build international cooperation." This means Japan sought to 
depart from its "passive" diplomacy. Kazuya Sakamoto, professor of 
international political science at Osaka University, praised Japan's 
new diplomatic approach: "Japan, because of its prewar experience, 
had tended to be overly fearful of being isolated in the 
international community, but this time Japan, not fearing isolation, 
maintained a firm stand. This stance was good." 
 
North Korea, however, refused to accept the resolution, replying 
less than an hour after it was adopted. Japan succeeded in having 
its resolution against North Korea adopted, but this does not mean 
the North Korean threat to Japan has vanished. This is the harsh 
reality Japan must face. 
 
The diplomatic tug of war over the resolution has made Japan realize 
anew the difficulty in narrowing the gap in views with China and 
Russia. Japan also finds itself in a "twisted" situation where South 
Korea is supposed to see the North's missiles as a threat like Japan 
but it was opposed to Japan's response to the North's missile 
launches this time. Although "It would be impossible for all the 
countries on the planet to synchronize with each other," according 
to Sakamoto, the question facing Japan is how to make good use of 
such international forums as the six-party talks, the UN, and the 
Group of Eight (G8), and how to reinforce the encircling net around 
North Korea. 
 
The adopted resolution is merely a milestone for there is a long way 
to go. The true value of Japan's diplomatic capabilities will be 
tested in the coming months. 
 
(4) ASDF troops on Iraq mission expected to serve as the US 
 
TOKYO 00004011  004 OF 010 
 
 
military's contractor; Attacks on Baghdad Airport in combat zone 
commonplace; Transporting US troops may drag ASDF into America's 
war 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Pages 27 & 28) 
July 19, 2006 
 
The Ground Self-Defense Force has now completely pulled out of Iraq, 
putting an end to its humanitarian and reconstruction assistance 
without incurring any casualties in its mission. But the 
Kuwait-based Air Self-Defense Force will continue its airlift 
mission. The government has decided to expand the ASDF mission to 
fly to Baghdad Airport, which has constantly been under attacks by 
armed insurgents. The government has defined Baghdad Airport as 
being in a non-combat zone. What kind of role is the Kuwait-based 
ASDF going to play? 
 
Mika Yamamoto of Japan Press, who has been covering the news in 
Iraq, took this view about the government's decision to expand the 
ASDF mission: 
 
"Baghdad Airport is not a non-combat zone. When I was at the airport 
about six months ago, seven or eight thunderous rockets landed in 
its premises, shaking the ground. Airport workers' reactions 
indicated that such was a daily occurrence. Attacks on the airport 
are so common that they do not make the news anymore. There is no 
guarantee that rockets will not hit the C-130 transport planes." 
 
Defense Agency Director-General Fukushiro Nukaga told the Lower 
House Iraq Reconstruction Assistance Special Committee in June: "The 
SDF may engage in activities at Baghdad Airport, which is in a 
non-combat zone." 
 
The ASDF's mission would require C-130 transport planes to land in 
the northern part of Iraq and Baghdad Airport. ASDF personnel on 
transport planes have worn helmets and flak jackets. An ASDF public 
affairs officer explained: "We have taken the maximum level of 
safeguards available under today's technology." 
 
Specifically, every C-130 is now armed with equipment to detect 
incoming missiles, a flare to emanate heat sources to avoid 
infrared-guided missiles, a bubble window over the cockpit to watch 
outside, bulletproof sheets around the cockpit, and so on. 
 
It is a fact that militants have attacked aircraft using Baghdad 
Airport. In January 2004, a large US transport plane was attacked 
from the ground immediately after taking off from the airport. With 
its engine blown up, the aircraft made an emergency landing. In 
January last year, the British military's C-130 crashed when 
attacked shortly after taking off from Baghdad Airport, killing 10 
crewmembers. In November 2004, a ground-based missile hit the US 
military's transport plane. The plane's left engine was engulfed in 
flames for about 10 minutes before making an emergency landing. 
 
Even Iraqis back away from Baghdad Airport. 
 
Yamamoto warned: 
 
"A car bomb slammed into an airport entrance. Many people hostile 
toward the multinational forces live around the airport. Iraqi 
residents don't approach the airport. The road between the airport 
and downtown Baghdad is so dangerous that you have to pay 100,000 
yen to a taxi driver for a 30-minute drive. On entering the airport, 
 
TOKYO 00004011  005 OF 010 
 
 
you have to ride with an armed bodyguard sandwiched by two 
additional vehicles and run at 100 km per hour. The airport can be 
seen clearly from many spots in its vicinity dotted with palm trees 
and private houses." 
 
Military analyst Motoaki Kamiura noted: 
 
"A mobile anti-air missile is launched 10 - 15 degrees upward for 
safety reasons. Such a missile is suitable for attacking a plane 
taking off from behind the sniper. A missile can destroy a C-130 
engine and a wing." 
 
Of the 5,500 SDF personnel dispatched to Iraq, six have committed 
suicide after returning home. Although the causes remain unknown, 
the Iraq mission built up tensions. ASDF troops are likely to be 
exposed to greater risks. Some 100 ASDF rotational troops left for 
Kuwait earlier this month. 
 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi trumpeted the withdrawal of the 
ground troops who had not fired even a single shot or shed blood. 
Political commentator Minoru Morita offered this view: 
 
"The role of the ASDF, which will remain in Kuwait, is totally 
distinct from that of the GSDF. The GSDF deployment was politically 
aimed at preventing the Bush administration from being isolated in 
the international community. In contrast, the ASDF is going to take 
military action practically in sync with the US military." 
 
Lower House member Nobuto Hosaka of the Social Democratic Party, who 
regards the ASDF's role as a flying truck, noted: 
 
"The GSDF mission in Samawah was limited to humanitarian and 
reconstruction assistance in limited geographical areas. The ASDF's 
role is not limited. Air troops would not airlift water and medical 
supplies alone. The task of transporting US troops may draw the ASDF 
into America's war." 
 
The government and the ruling coalition have also begun discussing a 
permanent law allowing Japan to swiftly deploy SDF troops overseas 
without a UN resolution. 
 
The question of establishing a permanent law will unmistakably be a 
challenge for the next administration. 
 
But given the ever-changing international situation, time-limited 
legislation instead of a permanent law is the prevalent 
international trend, according Rei Shiratori, professor of politics 
at Akita International University. Shiratori explained: "The 
government was allowed to decide to pull the ground troops out of 
Iraq at this time because the Iraq Reconstruction Law is a 
time-limited law. A permanent law would not have allowed it." 
 
It is said that a permanent law will help turn Japan into a normal 
country that can independently determine the SDF's overseas mission. 
Morita does not agree: 
 
"In reality, Japan would just follow in the US' footsteps. Japan 
simply sent troops to Iraq in compliance with a US request, not 
based on a UN resolution. If this situation persists, the SDF would 
become the US military's subcontractor. Even though such danger is 
eminent, nobody dares to voice opposition. When Prime Minister 
Tsuyoshi Inukai was killed in 1932, one journalist wrote, 'It is 
 
SIPDIS 
truly dreadful that nobody says anything about it.' The situation 
 
TOKYO 00004011  006 OF 010 
 
 
today resembles those days." 
 
Kamiura said this on behalf of ASDF personnel: 
 
"The multinational forces have sufficient transport capability. SDF 
personnel think it is absurd for the prime minister to decide to 
(keep the ASDF in Kuwait) simply because he was asked by President 
Bush. But they have no choice but to go to Kuwait because if they 
refuse, other personnel would be sent there. Can the government 
ensure the safety of such personnel? I feel sorry for the ASDF." 
 
(5) Budget request ceiling: Finance, foreign ministries agree to 3% 
cut in ODA in fiscal 2007 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
Evening, July 19, 2006 
 
Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and Foreign Minister Taro Aso 
this morning discussed by telephone the ceiling for budget requests 
to be set for fiscal 2007. They agreed to a 3% cut in the official 
development assistance (ODA) budget from the fiscal 2006 level 
(which was 759.7 billion yen). The government with include this 
policy decision in the budget ceiling planned for cabinet approval 
on July 21. 
 
The policy course of continuing annual ODA cuts ranging from 2 to 4% 
over the five-year period of fiscal 2007-2011 will be included in 
the basic economic and fiscal policy guidelines 2006, which form the 
basic policy line for the government's Council on Economic and 
Fiscal Policy to manage the economy. Although the Finance Ministry 
sought a 4% cut in the fiscal 2007 ceiling, the Foreign Ministry 
objected strongly, resulting in a cut that was about the same as 
that in fiscal 2006. 
 
(6) Defense Agency to be restructured into 5 bureaus 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
Eve., July 14, 2006 
 
The Defense Agency decided on July 14 on a restructuring plan to 
disband the Defense Facilities Administration Agency (DFAA) over its 
bid-rigging. The DFAA's current setup of four departments, including 
the Construction Department and the Facilities Department, will be 
reorganized and absorbed into the Defense Agency's newly planned 
sections. The agency plans to establish two new bureaus for 
infrastructure construction and local planning and also to establish 
a central acquisition office. In addition, the agency will also 
establish an inspector general's office for auditing and compliance 
oversight in order to prevent bid-rigging. 
 
The Defense Agency, which currently has a total of 57 divisions 
including those in the DFAA. The agency will reduce about 10% of 
these divisions so as not to only end up a merger with the DFAA. The 
government will present bills to the Diet at its ordinary session in 
January next year to revise relevant laws. 
 
Consequently, the Defense Agency will have a total of five bureaus, 
including the Defense Policy Bureau (Defense Bureau up until the end 
of July), which determines a basic course of action for Japan's 
national security, and the Operations and Planning Bureau (Defense 
Operations Bureau at present), which deals with specific 
situations. 
 
 
TOKYO 00004011  007 OF 010 
 
 
The Central Acquisition Office will be a combined body of the 
Central Contract Office and the Finance and Equipment Bureau Cost 
Accounting Department. In late July, the agency will also launch a 
central equipment office, which will be further reorganized later. 
 
(7) Minshuto to notify local chapters across country it is 
establishing workplace chapters in industrial associations, aiming 
to undermine LDP stronghold ahead of Upper House election 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
July 14, 2006 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) yesterday decided to 
actively establish workplace chapters that would become a power base 
for industrial associations across the country -- a switch from its 
previously cautious stance. Minshuto will convey this decision to 
the party's prefectural chapters throughout the country during a 
national convention of the prefectural chapter secretaries general 
in Naha City on July 14. This move came on the heels of a Minshuto 
dentists association being established by members of the Ibaraki 
Dentists Federation, a local organization of the Japan Dentists 
Federation, a powerful support organization for the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP). The aim for Minshuto is to chip away at LDP 
support groups prior to the Upper House election in 2007. The LDP 
and Minshuto have already begun vying to capture votes from 
industrial associations. 
 
According to Minshuto's party rules, workplace chapters are treated 
as voluntary groups and do not come under the category of official 
party organizations. This is different from the LDP, whose party 
rules treat local chapters as official local organizations that can 
receive political funds on behalf of the party. This difference 
reflects Minshuto's desire to avoid cases of such chapters turning 
into pressure groups, as well as to avoid opaqueness in the flow of 
political funds. Minshuto was until recently less eager about 
creating workplace chapters, in part because industrial 
organizations have been all viewed as being the LDP's stronghold. 
 
A senior Minshuto member pins his hopes on the rising move to 
establish such party chapters in one-seat constituencies that will 
face the Upper House election next year. Those constituencies are 
said to determine whether the party will win victory. "It is of 
great significance for our party to have established our industry 
chapter in a conservative district like Ibaraki. We'd like to spread 
this Ibaraki pattern in various industry circles, such as post 
offices, agricultural cooperatives, and small firms," this senior 
member said. 
 
In order to deal with an unfavorable move in Ibaraki Prefecture 
involving the Japan Dentists Federation, the LDP sent its 
prefectural chapters across the country the following view dated 
July 5: "In order for the Japan Dentists Federation to attain its 
goals politically, it needs to back the LDP, for doing so is a 
pragmatic approach." The party has sought the federation's full 
support for the LDP. 
 
The LDP's industry-specific chapters are on a marked decline, with 
membership dropping from some 1,610,000 persons in 2000 to 590,000 
in 2005. 
 
Confusion involving industry chapters is continuing in the LDP. For 
instance, the Japan Medical Association, a major support body for 
the LDP, was divided over the election of its chairman, involving an 
 
TOKYO 00004011  008 OF 010 
 
 
LDP House of Counselors member. The National Federation of 
Agricultural Cooperative Associations' (Zennoh) federation of 
national farmers farm policy campaign has decided in a primary 
election to field a newcomer for the Upper House election next year 
instead of the incumbent the LDP whom the federation supported in 
the 2001 Upper House election. 
 
(8) LDP presidential election campaign underway: Yamasaki faction 
proposes secular memorial for the war dead; Tanigaki faction calls 
current relations with China abnormal; Nikai Group remains silent 
out of consideration to Abe? 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
July 19, 2006 
 
Differences in the positions of various factions in the Democratic 
Party of Japan (LDP) over Asia diplomacy and the prime minister's 
visits to Yasukuni shrine - both contentious issues in the party 
presidential election in September - are visible in their policy 
proposals. The Yamasaki faction led by former deputy LDP president 
Taku Yamasaki, who is trying to unite anti-Abe forces, yesterday 
came up with a set of policy proposals including a call to look into 
the possibility of constructing a national secular memorial for the 
war dead. The Tanigaki faction led by Finance Minister Sadakazu 
Tanigaki criticized the current Japan-China relations as abnormal. 
The Nikai Group, which is regarded as having a deep relationship 
with China, refrained from making detailed reference to the issue, 
generating a view that it giving consideration to frontrunner Abe in 
the upcoming LDP presidential election. 
 
The Yamasaki faction unveiled a policy vision at a political 
fund-raising party held on July 1. The package categorically noted 
the need to look into the possibility of constructing a facility 
where people can offer their sincere condolences to the war dead and 
renew pledges to protect peace. It also calls for looking into what 
kind of place Yasukuni Shrine should be. Yamasaki told a news 
conference, "Though there are arguments for and against constructing 
such a facility, the package included my position as the chairman." 
Japan was unable to have a sanctions resolution that invokes Chapter 
7 of the UN Charter adopted at the United Nations Security Council 
(UNSC). Touching on this incident, Yamasaki in a speech given the 
same day pointed out that the "absence of dialogue with China is 
causing a serious setback." He underscored the significance of 
constructing a national secular memorial and realizing the East Asia 
Community Initiative, saying: "Japan-China relations have been cold 
politically but hot economically, a situation the post-Koizumi 
administration must correct. What is hampering this effort is the 
Yasukuni issue." 
 
The Tanigaki faction strongly criticized the Japan-China relations 
during the Koizumi administration and is positive about improving 
them. 
 
The Niwa-Koga faction also incorporated in its policy proposal a 
call for strengthening relations with China, advocating the need to 
promote the East Asia Community Initiative. However, the package 
stopped short of mentioning the Yasukuni issue, regarding which 
former LDP Secretary General Makoto Koga, co-chairman of the 
faction, has proposed separate enshrinement of Class-A war 
criminals. This stance reflects the internal situation of the 
faction, which has no potential candidate to succeed Koizumi and 
many of whose members are close to Abe. 
 
 
TOKYO 00004011  009 OF 010 
 
 
Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Minister Toshihiro Nikai, who 
chairs the Nikai group, on the 15th told a news conference, "There 
is no need for our group to express views on the Yasukuni issue or 
the China issue." He thus indicated his intention of not including 
those issues in the group's policy proposals. In view of the fact 
that the Nikai group had been considering including a proposal for 
joint history research by Japanese and Chinese experts, this 
statement is viewed as Nikai having given consideration to Abe, who 
wants to avoid the Yasukuni issue in the election campaign. 
 
Reference to Asia diplomacy in policy proposals issued by LDP 
factions (extracts) 
 
Mori faction 
No special reference 
 
Tsushima faction 
 
SIPDIS 
Plans to issue policy proposals on August 10. Intends to bring up 
the issue as one of various themes. 
 
Niwa-Koga faction 
Strengthen future-oriented Japan-China relations with the aim of 
building confidence 
 
Yamasaki faction 
Look into the possibility of constructing a facility where people 
can offer their sincere condolences to the war dead and renew their 
pledge to protect peace, as well as considering the nature of 
Yasukuni Shrine 
 
Ibuki faction 
Aim for Japan that coexists with a prosperous Asia through further 
consideration to diplomatic efforts 
 
Tanigaki faction 
Correct the current abnormal relationship with neighboring countries 
and region. 
 
Komura faction 
Make efforts to maintain and develop a good political relationship 
with various Asian countries 
 
Nikai group 
Plans to issue policy proposals as early as August 9. No special 
reference to the issue 
 
Kono group 
Coordination under way to release policy proposals in late August 
 
(9) Number of guest foreign workers to be expanded, LDP special 
committee decides 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 19, 2006 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Special Committee on Foreign 
Workers (chaired by Yoshio Kimura) at a meeting on July 19 finalized 
guidelines aimed at increasing the number of guest foreign workers 
to be allowed into Japan. The report called on the government to 
newly set up a system of accepting competent personnel who have a 
certain level of Japanese language ability and skills. In 
particular, the report incorporated a call for allowing foreigners 
who have obtained Japanese licenses for nursing-care and social 
 
TOKYO 00004011  010 OF 010 
 
 
welfare service providers to take up employment in Japan. Regarding 
existing educational and technical training systems for foreigners, 
which have been pointed out as leading to an inflow of unskilled 
workers, the report proposed extending the duration of such training 
from the current three years to five years, while keeping in mind 
the need to prevent such workers from staying permanently. 
 
The guidelines also included: (1) fiscal assistance to 
municipalities where foreign residents are sharply increasing; (2) 
providing Japanese language education to foreign pupils and students 
at public schools; and (3) establishing a council of government 
agencies tackling the foreign worker issue. The panel intends to 
call on the government to look into the details of the report and 
revise necessary laws accordingly, after obtaining approval from 
Policy Affairs Committee Chairman Ichiro Nakagawa. 
 
SCHIEFFER