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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 000763 
 
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 02//07 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Abe, Cheney play up solidarity despite changing Japan-US 
honeymoon relationship 
 
(2) Shigeru Yokota hands letter to Vice President Cheney for 
President Bush 
 
(3) Editorial: We welcome US vice president's statement that 
abduction issue is common challenge for Japan and US 
 
(4) Editorial: Why didn't US Vice President Cheney speak to Japanese 
public? 
 
(5) 6-party talks: Japan, US out of gear; Concerns still remaining 
 
(6) Poll on Abe cabinet, political parties 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Abe, Cheney play up solidarity despite changing Japan-US 
honeymoon relationship 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Abridged) 
February 22, 2007 
 
As expected, the meeting yesterday between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 
and US Vice President Dick Cheney served as a venue to play up the 
firm Japan-US alliance. But a sense of ease was apparently missing 
from the words of Cheney, who expects Japan's increased commitment 
to the Iraq war, and Abe, who seeks America's continued cooperation 
on the North Korean issue. The visit to Japan by the Bush 
administration's number-two official who rarely makes foreign trips 
reflects subtle changes in the Japan-US alliance that once boasted a 
honeymoon-like relationship. 
 
Cheney delivered a speech aboard the USS Kitty Hawk at the US naval 
base in Yokosuka yesterday in which he said: 
 
"When the United States was attacked on September 11th, 2001, Japan 
made clear its firm commitment to joining the fight against terror. 
Japan has been one of the biggest donors for international efforts 
to reconstruct Afghanistan and Iraq." 
 
Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's decision to send 
Self-Defense Force troops to Iraq amid growing violence there 
strengthened the relationship between President George W. Bush and 
himself. 
 
The Japanese ground troops have withdrawn from Iraq. Defense 
Minister Fumio Kyuma criticized the United States, and Prime 
Minister Abe visited Europe ahead of the United States. Even slight 
changes in Tokyo's posture would prompt the Bush administration, 
which is having a hard time due to its Iraq policy, to raise 
questions about Japan. 
 
In his speeches and meetings with Japanese leaders, Cheney 
repeatedly expressed US gratitude for Japan. They are tantamount to 
a call for Japan to keep aligned with the United States in the war 
on terror. Given decisions by Britain and other countries to pull 
out from Iraq with no exit in sight for the war in the country, US 
expectations of Japan might turn into discontent. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000763  002 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02//07 
 
Japan, on the other hand, is baffled by the Bush administration's de 
facto shift in its policy toward North Korea. Adhering to the policy 
line of applying pressure on North Korea with the aim of resolving 
the abduction issue, Japan remains reluctant to provide energy aid 
to that country. The latest six-party talks ended in the form of 
confirming the framework of the US-DPRK talks that took place 
earlier in Berlin. The shift in the Bush administration's 
pressure-oriented North Korea policy has forced the Abe cabinet to 
come up with a new response. 
 
As if to respond to Japan's concern, Cheney started off his meeting 
with Abe with the remark: "We are proud of joint efforts with Japan 
in the six-party talks. Settling the tragic abduction issue is a 
common cause of the two countries." 
 
Cheney is only one of a few hawks on North Korea in the Bush 
administration. A former conservative senior US official thinks 
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's role in decision-making has 
 
SIPDIS 
increased since Donald Rumsfeld, another hawk, resigned as defense 
secretary. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
In his meeting with Cheney, Abe highlighted close cooperation among 
Japan, the United States, and Australia by putting forward common 
values. Abe, who is troubled over his plummeting support rate, 
intends to come up with a new pillar for Japan-US relations before 
his visit to the United States during the holiday period from late 
April through early May. Subtle changes in the atmosphere 
surrounding the Japan-US alliance might affect the future of the Abe 
administration. 
 
An outline of the Abe-Cheney meeting 
 
7 Confirmed the irreplaceable Japan-US alliance. 
 
7 Cheney expressed US gratitude for Japan's commitment to the war on 
terror. 
 
7 Abe announced Japan's continued assistance to Iraq by means of the 
Air Self-Defense Force's airlift mission and official development 
assistance (ODA). 
 
7 Confirmed close cooperation on the North Korean issue. Cheney 
announced that the settlement of the abduction issue is a common 
cause of the two countries. 
 
7 Shared concern over China's military buildup. 
 
7 Abe announced the steady implementation of the realignment of US 
forces in Japan and the acceleration of cooperation on missile 
defense. 
 
7 Cheney supported Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN 
Security Council. 
 
7 Agreed to step up cooperation among Japan, the United States, and 
Australia. 
 
(2) Shigeru Yokota hands letter to Vice President Cheney for 
President Bush 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
Evening, February 22, 2007 
 
 
TOKYO 00000763  003 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02//07 
 
US Vice President Dick Cheney met Shigeru Yokota and his wife Sakie 
for about ten minutes this morning at the US Ambassador's Residence 
in Tokyo. Shigeru Yokota is representative of the association of the 
families of victims of kidnapped by North Korea. In the meeting, 
Cheney underscored that the US government would cooperate with Japan 
in resolving the abduction issue. He told them: "The abduction issue 
is important. Last night I talked about the issue with Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe. " 
 
Sakie called for international cooperation, stressing, "People from 
many countries, including South Korea, were abducted (by North 
Korea)." Shigeru and Sakie Yokota handed over Cheney a letter 
addressed to President George W. Bush calling on the US government 
not to remove North Korea from its list of terror-sponsoring states. 
The vice president left Japan this morning for Australia. 
 
(3) Editorial: We welcome US vice president's statement that 
abduction issue is common challenge for Japan and US 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 22, 2007 
 
US Vice President Dick Cheney, who has been visiting Japan, has 
completed his main diplomatic schedule, meeting with Prime Minister 
Shinzo Abe, Foreign Minister Taro Aso and other senior officials. 
Cheney and senior Japanese officials confirmed that Japan and the 
United States would continue their close bilateral cooperation. 
 
It is significant that the meetings agreed to cooperate in resolving 
the abduction issue as a common challenge for Japan and the United 
States. 
 
The recent six party talks agreed to provide assistance to North 
Korea in return for its decision to shutdown and seal its nuclear 
facilities. The agreement stipulates that the planned working group 
on normalization of Japan-North Korea relations will meet within 30 
days. 
 
North Korea, however, insists that the abduction issue has already 
been resolved. Some officials have noted that if there is no 
progress on the abduction issue, North Korea might sever Japan from 
the other six-party members but still eventually receive another 
950,000 tons of heavy oil. 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in their meeting briefed Vice President 
Cheney on his government's basic policy to take part in the 
framework of the accord in the six-party talks but only provide 
North Korea with energy aid if progress is made on the abduction 
issue. The vice president responded: "Resolving the tragedy of 
abductees is a common challenge for Japan and the United States." It 
can be said that the framework by which Japan and the United States 
join hands to apply pressure on North Korea will be maintained. 
 
There is concern that a meeting between the vice president and 
Defense Minister Kyuma was not held. The US side explained that no 
meeting took place because of Cheney's tight schedule. Referring in 
a series of his meetings with the Japanese officials to Japan's Air 
Self-Defense Force's (ASDF) transport assistance in Iraq and the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling operations in the 
Indian Sea, Cheney stated: "The United States greatly appreciates 
Japan's contribution." Therefore, it is extremely unusual for the 
vice president not to hold any meeting with the defense minister. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000763  004 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02//07 
 
Kyuma stated in January that the US government's decision to start 
the war in Iraq was "a mistake." He later criticized the United 
States over the relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station, saying, "I have told the US not to talk so high-handedly." 
The reason why a meeting between Kyuma and Cheney was not set is 
probably because of US dissatisfaction with Kyuma's comments. How 
much was Kyuma aware of the mutual defense arrangements between 
Japan and the United States? He must not forget that young Americans 
risk their lives to protect Japan. 
 
With his travel to Australia on Feb. 22 in mind, the vice president 
underscored: "Japan and Australia are important allies of the US." 
Japan and the United States share the perception that China's 
military buildup is unclear and too swift. The defense minister 
therefore should not do anything to cause the alliance to waver. 
 
(4) Editorial: Why didn't US Vice President Cheney speak to Japanese 
public? 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
February 22, 2007 
 
All state leaders, whenever they visit foreign countries, usually 
try to advertise their own policies or special products in earnest. 
But this is not true of United States Vice President Dick Cheney's 
Japan visit this time. 
 
Cheney met Prime Minister Abe and other senior officials. He will 
also meet the parents of Megumi Yokota, a Japanese abductee, this 
morning to discuss the abduction issue. No meetings between the vice 
president and Japanese citizens or the press have been arranged 
during his stay in Japan. He only delivered a speech before US 
military troops on the USS Kitty Hawk at Yokosuka Port. 
 
The vice president expressed to the prime minister his appreciation 
for Japan's cooperation in Afghanistan and Iraq. Abe and Cheney then 
reconfirmed the importance of the Japan-US alliance. As is the case 
in the United States, many people in Japan now take a harsh view 
about the Iraq war. Under such a situation, it would have been 
desirable to set the stage for the vice president to spell out the 
Bush administration's new Iraq policy of sending more troops. 
 
Speculation about a coming attack on Iran by the US military have 
hit the headlines in the US and Europe recently, though the US 
government has dismissed the idea. We wanted to listen to an 
explanation from the number-two official in the Bush administration 
about how the US intends to deal with Iran. 
 
The vice president reportedly has no plans to meet Defense Minister 
Kyuma, apparently out of his displeasure at Kyuma's remark that "the 
US decision to launch the Iraq war was a mistake." It might be taken 
that Cheney voiced his feeling by refusing to meet Kyuma. 
 
One of the features of the Bush administration might be the refusing 
of meeting or talking with persons it does not like. It might have 
been effective if Cheney showed his generosity by meeting with the 
defense minister when great attention is being paid on the aftermath 
of his controversial remarks. 
 
The vice president's influence in the government is waning. It has 
been reported that the US government decided to go to war in Iraq at 
the vice president's insistence. The war has brought about pitiful 
results. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and Ambassador to the United 
 
TOKYO 00000763  005 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02//07 
 
Nations Bolton, both of who were also called "hawkish," left the 
government. 
 
Ex-Chief of Staff to Vice President Cheney Libby resigned over the 
leak of a CIA agent's identity and has been accused of lying to an 
inquiry into the leak case. 
 
In part because the vice president was opposed to the policy of 
making compromises with North Korea in the six-party talks, State 
Secretary Rice reportedly pushed the six-party agreement without 
 
SIPDIS 
fully consulting with him. 
 
If the Bush administration continues to give priority to the current 
dialogue line in dealing with North Korea, Cheney's presence may 
become weaker. 
 
Former Vice President Gore came to Japan recently. Gore has 
continuously raised the alarm about global warming, such as through 
his film An Inconvenient Truth. Praising his documentary on the 
Earth's climate crisis, an American science magazine picked Gore as 
the most influential policy leader in 2006. Prime Minister Abe and 
his wife also watched this movie late last week. 
 
Which task do the Japanese people expect the government to tackle, 
greater cooperation in the US administration's Iraq policy, as 
called for by Cheney, or efforts to address global warming? The 
answer is clear. 
 
(5) 6-party talks: Japan, US out of gear; Concerns still remaining 
 
SANKEI (Page 6) (Full) 
February 22, 2007 
 
The recent six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear arsenals wound 
up on Feb. 13 with an agreement on a first step for North Korea to 
give up on its nuclear ambitions. US President Bush accentuated the 
agreement as an "important first step." The agreement, however, is 
creating a stir as it incorporated starting the work of removing 
North Korea from the list of rogue states standing behind 
terrorists. This triggered a sense of distrust within the Japanese 
government, with one official surmising that the United States might 
have changed its policy course. It has also left an unpleasant 
aftertaste within the US government, giving rise to discord. This 
report verifies the moves of Japan and the United States up until 
the agreement. 
 
(Takashi Arimoto, Wasington, and Jiro Otani, Political Section) 
 
"It's a strong message of the vice president for those in and 
outside." With this, a White House official underscored the 
significance of a meeting scheduled for today between US Vice 
President Cheney, now visiting Japan, and the parents of Megumi 
Yokota, one of the Japanese victims abducted to North Korea. Megumi 
Yokota was 13 years old when she was kidnapped to North Korea. 
According to the White House official, the vice president is not 
opposed to the president's decision but is "critical in his heart of 
hearts" about starting the work of removing North Korea from the 
terrorist-sponsor list. The vice president's meeting with the 
Yokotas purports to show the stance of playing up cooperation with 
Japan, according to the official. "It's also a constraint on 
Secretary of State Rice, who pushed talks without consulting well 
 
SIPDIS 
with us," the official added. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000763  006 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02//07 
 
A US newspaper, the New York Times, reported in its Feb. 16 edition 
that after the bilateral talks in Berlin on Jan. 16-18 between the 
United States and North Korea, Secretary Rice directly negotiated 
with the president and got the go-ahead for talks with North Korea 
without consulting with the office of the vice president or with the 
Department of Defense. Why did Secretary Rice agree to start the 
work of delisting North Korea as a terrorist sponsor and settle the 
issue of financial sanctions within 30 days? One US government 
official explained Secretary Rice's change of mind in this way: 
"Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld has now resigned, so there's no 
'lightening rod,' and Secretary Rice is under fire in the 
administration. She is an A-student, and she doesn't get used to 
being criticized by others. She can't stand it, so she's upset. She 
wanted to concentrate her efforts on the Middle East problem, so she 
needed to reach an agreement. Then, she left the vice president and 
other hardliners in the lurch." 
 
The Japanese government also knew that the United States and North 
Korea would meet in Berlin. On Jan. 10, just before their meeting in 
Berlin, Kenichiro Sasae, director general of the Foreign Ministry's 
Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, flew to Washington. 
 
One of Japan's primary concerns was about the abduction issue. Japan 
therefore did not want this problem to be left behind. North Korea 
is said to have strongly urged the United States in the Berlin talks 
to remove the name of North Korea from the US list of 
terrorism-supporting states. The abduction issue is one of the 
reasons for the United States to designate North Korea as a country 
backing terrorism. Removing North Korea from the terrorism support 
list would lead to dividing Japan and the United States on the 
abduction issue. 
 
As Japan learned from the United States about what was talked about 
in its Berlin meetings with North Korea, the Japanese government's 
concern became a reality. "Why did the United States accept North 
Korea's demand?" So saying, one Japanese government official voiced 
a sense of distrust. 
 
On the evening of Feb. 6, just before the six-party talks resumed, 
Shoichi Nakabawa, chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's 
policy board, met with US Assistant Secretary of State Hill, who was 
visiting Japan, at the party's headquarters. "Don't tell me the 
United States will change the category of North Korea as a 
terrorism-supporting country," Nakagawa said. Hill nodded. After the 
meeting, Sasae, who was also in the meeting, thanked Nakagawa. "I'm 
glad you said that," Sasae said to Nakagawa. 
 
"The United States can't provide aid to North Korea," Hill said in a 
meeting with his Japanese counterparts. Hill added, "Because that 
won't pass Congress," So saying, Hill implied expectations for 
Japan's participation in energy aid to North Korea. However, Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe, who won high public popularity with his 
"resolute attitude" on the abduction issue, could not easily respond 
to such aid. 
 
Japan will not provide aid to North Korea without seeing progress in 
the abduction issue. The Japanese government decided on this basic 
course of action and carried it through at the six-party talks. 
 
The six-party agreement this time incorporated starting the work of 
delisting North Korea as a backer of terrorists. However, Bush 
learned of Japan's determination on the abduction issue from a 
report. Then, Bush called Abe on Feb. 14 after the six-party talks. 
 
TOKYO 00000763  007 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02//07 
 
"Japan alone will not be left behind," Bush told Abe over the 
telephone. 
 
The United States and North Korea reached a general agreement in 
their Berlin talks. On Feb. 8, the six-party talks actually resumed. 
However, the atmosphere changed as China, which hosted the six-party 
talks, handed over a draft paper of agreement. 
 
"When I came back from Berlin, I found that Pyongyang's reaction was 
harder than I imagined," North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye 
Gwan was quoted as saying. In the six-party talks, Kim made a number 
of demands, such as fuel oil in aid amounting to 2 million tons a 
year, in exchange for halting North Korea's nuclear facilities. 
 
"The draft paper incorporated only 50,000 tons in exchange as the 
first step," a Japanese government official recalled. "Moreover," 
this official added, "it was not mandatory, and so North Korea was 
angry." Kim brought up the issue of financial sanctions. Hill said, 
"We agreed to announce that after the talks." So saying, Hill 
unveiled what was discussed in the Berlin talks. 
 
The six-party talks were initially set to end Feb. 12. The six 
parties-centering on China-continued coordination till late that 
day. North Korea, which needed aid from other countries, retracted 
its demands gradually. "One million tons, and only once," Hill said 
in a meeting on the night of Feb. 12. With his index finger up, Hill 
urged North Korea to accept the overtures. In the end, North Korea 
caved in. Just as the six-party talks ended, however, the Korean 
Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that halting the nuclear 
facility in Yongbyon would be a "temporary step." 
 
Appearing on a US Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) program, Hill 
said, "Life is too short to follow everything that was reported by a 
state-run broadcast in Pyongyang." With this, Hill disregarded the 
KCNA report. However, it has left a point of contention that could 
be reignited. 
 
 (6) Poll on Abe cabinet, political parties 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 20, 2007 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage. Parentheses denote the results of a 
survey conducted in January.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Abe cabinet? 
 
Yes                      45.3       (48.4) 
No                       42.7       (38.9) 
Other answers (O/A)       3.0        (4.4) 
No answer (N/A)           9.0        (8.3) 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) 
Give up to two reasons for your approval of the Abe cabinet. 
 
I can appreciate its political stance             31.3 
It's stable                                       10.2 
The prime minister is trustworthy                 25.3 
There's a fresh image of the prime minister       39.8 
I can appreciate its economic policy               5.5 
I can appreciate its foreign policy               17.8 
Because it's a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New 
 
TOKYO 00000763  008 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02//07 
 
Komeito                                       10.4 
It's better than its predecessors                  8.3 
O/A+N/A                                            5.1 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the foregoing question) Give 
up to two reasons for your disapproval of the Abe cabinet. 
 
I can't appreciate its political stance              38.6 
It's unstable                                        33.0 
The prime minister is untrustworthy                  21.7 
The prime minister lacks political experience        17.4 
I can't appreciate its economic policy               23.4 
I can't appreciate its foreign policy                11.0 
Because it's a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New 
Komeito                                          10.6 
It's worse than its predecessors                      8.2 
O/A+N/A                                               4.2 
 
Q: What issues do you want the Abe cabinet to pursue on a priority 
basis? Pick as many as you like from among those listed below, if 
any. 
 
Economic, employment measures 
52.0 
Fiscal reconstruction 
21.1 
Tax reform, consumption tax 
28.5 
Social security reform, including pension and healthcare systems 
       61.7 
Low birthrate countermeasures, including childcare support 
       34.8 
Educational reform 
23.3 
Administrative reform, including public service personnel cuts 
18.5 
Social divide, including income gaps 
27.3 
Yasukuni Shrine 
3.6 
Asia diplomacy, including China and South Korea 
13.6 
North Korea 
32.8 
Defense, security 
9.7 
Constitutional revision 
6.2 
Crisis management, including disaster prevention 
7.2 
Public security, crime prevention 
18.1 
Environmental protection 
17.9 
Food safety 
14.5 
O/A + Nothing in particular + N/A 
2.4 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? Pick only one. 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)                 34.2       (39.3) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)    12.0       (12.5) 
 
TOKYO 00000763  009 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 02//07 
 
New Komeito (NK)                                3.9        (2.5) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP)                  1.4        (2.1) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto)       1.0        (1.3) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto)      0.3        (0.2) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon)         0.1        (0.1) 
Other political parties                         ---        (0.1) 
None                                           46.8       (41.5) 
N/A                                             0.5        (0.6) 
 
Q: Do you think Prime Minister Abe has been displaying leadership in 
steering his government? 
 
Yes                   18.1 
No                    57.4 
Can't say which       22.9 
N/A                    1.6 
 
Q: Do you think Prime Minister Abe has been tackling reforms in a 
positive way? 
 
Yes                   34.3 
No                    38.2 
Can't say which       26.3 
N/A                    1.2 
 
Q: Do you think Prime Minister Abe has been dealing appropriately 
with his cabinet ministers' scandals and gaffes? 
 
Yes                   18.7 
No                    55.8 
Can't say which       24.0 
N/A                    1.4 
 
Polling methodology 
Date of survey: Feb. 17-18. 
Subjects of survey: 3,000 persons chosen from among all eligible 
voters throughout the country (at 250 locations on a stratified 
two-stage random sampling basis). 
Method of implementation: Door-to-door visits for face-to-face 
interviews. 
Number of valid respondents: 1,739 persons (58.0% ). 
 
DONOVAN