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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 003031 
 
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 07/03/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
(1) Kyuma resigns 
 
(2) Kyuma's remarks about atomic bombings: Has the habit of saying, 
"couldn't be helped"; Frequent calls for his dismissal; Arguments 
shallow, explanations less persuasive 
 
(3) Editorial: Support rate at 28 % , Tension appears as election 
nears 
 
(4) USGC chairman: Biotech crops key to stable supply of food 
 
(5) USGC chairman plans to increase corn production primarily by 
using GM corn 
 
(6) Interview with US Grains Council Chairman Miller on soaring corn 
price; Price to be stabilized in fall 
 
(7) Is US Japan's true ally? 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Kyuma resigns 
 
ASAHI.COM 
July 3, 2007 
 
Defense Minister Kyuma, elected to the Lower House from the Nagasaki 
Constituency No. 2, on the afternoon of July 3 met with Prime 
Minister Abe and conveyed his intention to resign to take 
responsibility for stating in a speech that the atomic bombings of 
Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the US "could not be helped." The prime 
minister accepted his resignation. Kyuma offered an apology, taking 
back his remark. However, as criticism of Kyuma spread in the ruling 
camp, the prime minister has judged that he should not allow the 
issue to become prolonged any longer with the Upper House election 
due to be publicly announced on July 12. Kyuma is the third minister 
to be replaced in the nine months since the inauguration of the Abe 
administration. As it stands, the Kyuma flap is bound to inflict a 
severe blow on the Abe administration and the ruling parties, which 
are already suffering from the pension premium payment record 
errors. 
 
Emerging from his meeting with the prime minister at the Kantei, 
Kyuma told reporters: "I have caused a great deal of trouble to the 
citizens of Nagasaki. I am sorry I seem to have failed to obtain 
understanding. I, therefore, have decided to step down to take 
responsibility." According to Kyuma, Abe said, "You have been of 
great help. It is regrettable that you have to resign," but he did 
not persuade him to stay on. 
 
Tomihisa Taue, mayor of Nagasaki City, on the morning of July 3 
visited Kyuma at the Defense Ministry and hand-delivered a letter 
noting: "The remark has trampled on the feelings of the victims of 
the atomic bombings. Nagasaki City, the bomb site, cannot overlook 
such a remark. We call on the government to deeply recognize that 
the use of nuclear arms cannot be allowed whatever the cause and to 
make efforts to abolish nuclear arms." Kyuma made an apology, "I am 
sorry I have caused trouble to the citizens of Nagasaki City and 
Nagasaki Prefecture and the victims of the atomic bombings 
throughout the country." He also conveyed his intention to consider 
 
TOKYO 00003031  002 OF 009 
 
 
declining an invitation to attend the Nagasaki Atomic-Bomb Victims 
Memorial Peace Prayer Ceremony on Aug. 9. 
 
In the meantime, a growing number of ruling party members had called 
on Kyuma to voluntarily step down. The New Komeito had planned to 
hear explanations from Kyuma after a cabinet meeting on the 3rd. 
However, it later turned down the offer as being too early to do so, 
since internal discussion on the issue was not over yet, according 
to a senior official. Deputy head Toshiko Hamayotsu the same day 
issued a comment seeking his resignation: "I personally think that 
Defense Minister Kyuma's statement is grave. It is qualitatively 
different from the remark made by MHLW Minister Yanagisawa. I would 
like Mr. Kyuma to reach a wise judgment on what to do with 
himself." 
 
Secretaries general of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
 
SIPDIS 
Minshuto), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's New 
Party (PNP, Kokumin Shinto) had planned to visit the Kantei to call 
for Kyuma's resignation. 
 
Kyuma on June 30 made a speech in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture. 
Commenting on the atomic bombings of Japan by the US military, he 
noted: "Many Nagasaki people suffered by the US atomic bombing, but 
I think that the bombing in Nagasaki put an end to the war. I think 
it was something that couldn't be helped." 
 
Following this remark, the government and the ruling parities tried 
to quell the uproar, with LDP Secretary General Nakagawa telling 
Kyuma to offer an apology and retract the statement. Kyuma held a 
press conference in Nagasaki and retracted his comment. The prime 
minister on July 1 indicated his intention of not questioning 
Kyuma's responsibility. 
 
However, opposition parties demanded his dismissal. An increasing 
number of ruling party members also called for a strong approach to 
Kyuma. Calls for Kyuma's dismissal gained momentum in Nagasaki 
Prefecture, his home constituency. Giving consideration to the 
possible impact of the remark on the upcoming Upper House election, 
the government and the ruling parties decided that his resignation 
would be necessary. 
 
Kyuma was first elected as a Lower House member in 1980, after 
serving at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and 
as a Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly member. He has been elected nine 
times since then. He served as Defense Agency director general 
during the Hashimoto Cabinet, after serving as state secretary for 
the Transport Ministry and LDP deputy secretary general. He took 
office as Defense Agency director general last September, after 
serving as acting secretary general and Executive Council chairman 
of the LDP. He became the first defense minister when the Defense 
Agency was upgraded to the Defense Minister in January this year. 
 
(2) Kyuma's remarks about atomic bombings: Has the habit of saying, 
"couldn't be helped"; Frequent calls for his dismissal; Arguments 
shallow, explanations less persuasive 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
July 3, 2007/07/03 
 
Defense Minister Kyuma said in a speech that the dropping of atomic 
bombs by the United States on Japan "couldn't be helped" -- a 
comment that has caused a huge commotion. Kyuma apologized for the 
 
TOKYO 00003031  003 OF 009 
 
 
remarks in a press conference on July 1. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 
summoned Kyuma to his office and reprimanded him yesterday. The 
government now is earnestly trying to calm down the situation, but 
opposition party members and the residents of Nagasaki and 
Hiroshima, both of which were atom-bombed, are still angry at Kyuma. 
Officials in the government and the ruling camp are increasingly 
concerned about a negative impact of the remarks on the upcoming 
House of Councillors election. 
 
Kyuma's controversial statement cropped up in a speech he delivered 
on June 30 in a symposium on "peace" at Reitaku University, Chiba 
Prefecture. 
 
Kyuma made the remarks in answering a question after reiterating the 
propriety of the Shigeru Yoshida-led cabinet's decision to join the 
liberal camp during the Cold-War period. Later, Kyuma told 
reporters: "I wanted to say that Japan, which was unable to read the 
Soviet Union's real intentions, made a serious miscalculation." This 
explanation could be taken as implying the Japanese government's 
responsibility for causing serious damage to the Japanese people due 
to its improper judgment in ending the war. 
 
But the defense minister just said in the speech that the US dropped 
the atomic bombs with the aim of preventing the Soviet Union from 
participating in the war, adding: "In the worst case, the Soviet 
Union could have seized (Japan), including even Hokkaido." These 
remarks could be interpreted as indicating that the war ended 
because the US dropped atomic bombs, resulting in preventing an 
invasion by the Soviet Union into Japan and urging Japan to join the 
liberal camp. 
 
Kyuma has so far made a series of remarks that are a deviation from 
the government's policy on Japan's relations with the US. He once 
criticized the US government's decision on the Iraq war as based on 
a wrong judgment. Now, he is under heavy fire for his remarks taking 
the side of the US. 
 
A senior member of the Upper House Liberal Democratic Party 
attributed Kyuma's series of controversial comments to his personal 
characteristics, saying, "His arguments are always shallow." In 
apologizing in a press conference on July 1, Kyuma said: "I said 
various things, like a commentator. That was the problem"; and "'The 
phrase 'couldn't be helped' was vague." But later, he grumbled to 
his aide: "'couldn't be helped' is my favorite phrase." 
 
When asked by reporters about the opposition camp's demand for his 
resignation as cabinet minister, too, Kyuma simply replied as if he 
didn't care about it at all, "Such a situation always happens." Last 
night, however, Kyuma reportedly told his aide in a weak-spirited 
way: "I feel sorry for causing you trouble. I have been off my guard 
probably because I am getting old." 
 
Kyuma knows only a bit of historic background 
 
Comment by Kazutoshi Hando, author of the History of Showa 
 
The arbitrary argument in the United States is that it dropped 
atomic bombs in order to make Japan quickly surrender. There is no 
need for the Japanese defense minister to take the US side's view. 
Many Japanese people must be feeling the same. Japanese people 
should always claim and must continue to claim that the use of 
inhumane weapons is unacceptable for the sake of humans. 
 
TOKYO 00003031  004 OF 009 
 
 
 
Defense Minister Kyuma seems to take the view that the US and the 
Soviet Union fought in order to make Japan surrender, but the US had 
agreed in the Yalta Conference (in February 1945) to allow the 
Soviet Union to join the war three months after Germany's surrender. 
The US had ordered the dropping of atomic bombs before the Potsdam 
Declaration (in July 1945). The Japanese government was moving to 
terminate the war even from before the US dropped atom bombs. Both 
the US and the Soviet Union knew about it. Defense Minister Kyuma 
knows only a bit of the historic background and does not correctly 
understand it. 
 
(3) Editorial: Support rate at 28 % , Tension appears as election 
nears 
 
Asahi (Page 3) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
In Asahi Shimbun's latest public opinion poll, the Abe cabinet's 
sluggish support rate has finally dropped into the 20 %  range. 
When the Koizumi cabinet was in office, the support rate never 
dipped below 30 % , and although polling methods differed, even the 
Mori cabinet fared better.  It has been 6 years since a cabinet 
support rate was this low. 
 
There are only 4 weeks left until the Upper House election, so it 
must be quite a shock to Prime Minister Abe that he is in such 
"dangerous waters." 
 
In this latest poll, 28 %  of respondents said they support the Abe 
cabinet.  Abe's support rate began to drop in late May after the 
eruption of the pension fiasco and the suicide of former farm 
minister Matsuoka.  However, even then his rating didn't fall below 
30 % .  In other media polls, Abe's popularity has taken a similar 
dive. 
 
The reasons for this decline are not difficult to imagine. 
 
In an all-night session of the Diet last weekend, the government and 
the ruling camp, over the objections of the opposing camp, pushed 
through laws regarding the breaking up of the Social Insurance 
Agency and a bill to remove the statute of limitations on pension 
claims.  They also passed legislation to help retiring bureaucrats 
find new jobs and a revision to the Political Funds Control Law. 
 
The prime minister most likely wants to be praised for these 
achievements.  However the results of the poll offer a completely 
opposite view.  59 %  of respondents said they "do not appreciate" 
the government's response to the pension fiasco, and 49 %  said that 
their "anxiety has not been relieved." 
 
As the distrust and dissatisfaction towards the government's 
handling of the pension fiasco continues to grow, the declining 
support rate may be a reflection of the public's disgust with 
strong-arm tactics and the use of numerical superiority to 
forcefully push legislation through the Diet. 
 
Another interesting aspect regarding the results of the poll is the 
increase of unaffiliated voters to 53 % .  When the Abe cabinet was 
first inaugurated, unaffiliated voters were around 40 % , but over 
time, they have slowly increased.  This is a change from the Koizumi 
cabinet, which drew unaffiliated voters to its ranks during the 
 
TOKYO 00003031  005 OF 009 
 
 
battle over postal privatization.  The current situation is a return 
to the old Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). 
 
It has become clear that voters have turned a critical eye towards 
the Abe cabinet's nine months in office. 
 
What is truly pitiful is the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto). 
Their support rate has been stagnant at 16 % .  Minshuto uncovered 
the problem of "vanished pensions," yet 45 %  of respondents said 
that they "do not appreciate" Minshuto's handling of the issue. 
Minshuto must reflect on the seriousness of their inability to 
translate dissatisfaction with the Abe cabinet into support for 
their own party. 
 
LDP leaders, perhaps in a conscious response to the declining 
support rate, commented that "the Upper House elections are a 
midterm evaluation of the Abe administration."  They are probably 
putting up protective barriers to prevent the election results from 
directly necessitating the prime minister's resignation. 
 
However, will the Upper House elections really just be a "midterm 
evaluation"?  Amidst increasingly critical public opinion, the 
upcoming elections could go beyond a mere "midterm evaluation" and 
serve as a judgment of the Abe cabinet as a whole. 
 
The prime minister has also upped the voltage.  (Abe in a debate 
with Minshuto president Ichiro Ozawa) "Who is better suited to be 
prime minister - me or Mr. Ozawa?"  In response, Ozawa showed his 
resolve by stating that he is "betting his political life." 
 
If tension has appeared in the political realm, that is just fine. 
 
(4) USGC chairman: Biotech crops key to stable supply of food 
 
JIJI PRESS ONLINE NEWS 
June 27, 2007 at 19:48 
 
Visiting US Grains Council (USGC) Chairman Vic Miller stated in an 
interview with Jiji Press on June 27 that the expansion of ethanol 
production had caused corn prices to rise, and the gap between 
demand and supply of corn to widen worldwide. He noted that one 
decisive factor in securing sufficient supply of corn would be to 
disseminate biotech crops even more. He continued that the price 
hike was primarily attributable to rising energy costs. 
 
(5) USGC chairman plans to increase corn production primarily by 
using GM corn 
 
HOKKAIDO SHIMBUN (Page 9) (Full) 
June 30, 2007 
 
Visiting US Grains Council (USGC) Chairman Vic Miller arrived in 
Japan on June 29 and visited dairy farmers at Naganuma Town in the 
Sorachi Area in Hokkaido. Miller mentioned the worldwide shortage of 
grains caused by the expanded production of bio-ethanol and said 
that corn acreage in the United States was on the increase, 
indicating that the production of genetically-modified (GM) corn 
would be one key to securing the supply of corn. 
 
The purpose of his visit to Hokkaido was to exchange views with 
diary farmers using imported feed and others. The USGC consisting of 
90 relevant organizations, including growers' bodies, aims for 
 
TOKYO 00003031  006 OF 009 
 
 
promoting exports of US-grown corn, sorghum, and barley. 
 
Speaking of the expansion of the amount of land devoted to planting 
crops, Miller stressed: "A sufficient amount of crops will be 
produced to meet demand" As a key to a stable supply of crops, he 
cited the cultivation of GM corn, which needs a small amount of 
agricultural chemicals and is less affected by the weather, by 
noting: "Corn is likely to occupy a larger part of the area planted 
in the future." 
 
According to the US Department of Agriculture, GM corn is grown in 
70 %  of the land devoted to corn. This  percentage is expected to 
increase even further. 
 
(6) Interview with US Grains Council Chairman Miller on soaring corn 
price; Price to be stabilized in fall 
 
HOKKAIDO SHIMBUN (Page 10) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
US Grains Council Chairman Vic Miller, 60, now visiting Japan to 
publicize American corn, gave an interview to the Hokkaido Shimbun 
on June 29. In the interview, Miller took a view on the price of US 
corn, which has skyrocketed due to demand for ethanol: "The corn 
crop is expected to increase in the fall. So the prices of animal 
feed will stabilize." The following are the details of the 
interview. 
 
-- Dairy farmers in Hokkaido are concerned about the soaring price 
of US corn. 
 
Miller: The skyrocketing corn price is attributed to a sudden 
increase in bio-ethanol production. There is growing concern about 
our corn supply in the world. But there is no need to worry about 
it. According to the US Agriculture Department's latest estimate, 
the crop acreage for this year will increase by 12-15 %  from last 
year. Since we have so far been blessed with magnificent weather, 
the crop will likely increase. 
 
-- Do you think the corn price will stabilize? 
 
Miller: I think so. Actually the market price has been stable for 
the last several days, reflecting the expected boost in the harvest. 
Japan imports annually 16 million tons of corn, mainly for feed. 
About 25 %  of the 16 million tons are consumed in Hokkaido. I 
visited Japan to promise a stable supply of corn to our important 
customers. 
 
-- How do you see Japanese consumers' deep-rooted aversion to 
genetically modified (GM) products? 
 
Miller: Seventy-two % of US-grown products are GM products. I think 
the number of GM foods will increase more and more. The reason is 
that GM products have a great advantage in that they are 
environmentally friendly because they need less use of pesticides. 
We have produced GM crops for more than a decade. Although American 
people have continued to eat them, there has been no report of any 
health hazard. I hope that Japanese consumers will make a right 
decision based on the scientific evidence. 
 
(7) Is US Japan's true ally? 
 
 
TOKYO 00003031  007 OF 009 
 
 
SHUKAN SHINCHO (Pages 178, 179) (Abridged slightly) 
July 5, 2007 
 
By Yoshiko Sakurai 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) lawmaker Keiichiro Asao asked 
an interesting question in a House of Councillors Foreign Affairs 
and Defense Committee session on June 19. The question was about the 
Voice of America's (VOA) May 12 report on US Pacific Command 
Commander Timothy Keating's alleged indication that the United 
States was willing to help China build aircraft carriers. 
 
Keating said in the May 12 press conference: "If China is to push 
ahead with a program to build aircraft carriers, we will help them 
build a carrier to the degree that they seek and the degree that we 
are capable." Having a lunch with Vice Adm. Wu Shengli, commander of 
China's navy, ahead of the press conference, Keating reportedly 
explained in detail to the Chinese side about complexity and 
difficulty building and maintaining aircraft carriers. 
 
To Asao's question a month and week after the VOA broadcasting, the 
defense minister replied that he knew nothing about Keating's 
remarks. Asked about his perception of Keating's statement, Defense 
Minister Kyuma said: "I have nothing to say about it." 
 
Explaining that Japan has told China that possessing aircraft 
carriers would be extremely costly and that adding a new area would 
take a toll on other areas in a limited budget, Kyuma, said: "We 
will keep an eye on China's program." 
 
Was there any need for Keating and Kyuma to point out the need for 
an enormous budget? China must be aware of such an aspect. 
 
China's view on aircraft carriers has been clear. Arguing that China 
possessing aircraft carriers is not a matter of its economic or 
technological power, the People's Liberation Army Daily March 17, 
1989 issue noted: 
 
"Since the emergence of carrier-borne airmen at the turn of this 
century, it has been proven through combats that no country can 
secure maritime control without gaining maritime air supremacy and 
that maritime control goes hand in hand with maritime air supremacy. 
Carrier-borne airmen are the main body of navy seamen, and aircraft 
carriers are bases for the activities of carrier-borne airmen. 
Whether or not the country needs aircraft carriers is not a matter 
of building equipment but a matter of whether or not it needs to 
gain maritime air supremacy." (Yomigaeru Chuugoku Kaigun (Reviving 
Chinese Navy) by Shigeo Hiramatsu) 
 
China eyes an era after annexing Taiwan 
 
Possessing aircraft carriers is China's national objective 
transcending such factors as costs and economic might. Shigeo 
Hiramatsu, a China expert, noted: 
 
"By the mid-1970s, China reached for the South China Sea and made 
the Paracel Islands part of its territory. China's desire for 
building strong navy and possessing aircraft carriers has been 
evident since those days." 
 
On January 11, 1974, China declared that all islands in the South 
China Sea -- the Spratly, Paracel, Macclesfield, and Pratas Islands 
 
TOKYO 00003031  008 OF 009 
 
 
-- were part of its territory. On January 17, the country attacked 
the South Vietnam forces, and placed the Paracel Islands under its 
control on January 20. 
 
Ostensibly it was a battle between China and Vietnam, but behind it, 
there were the Soviet Navy's intention to advance into Asia and 
China's determination to block it. At the time, the United States 
was struggling in the Vietnam War and Britain had withdrawn from the 
east of the Suez Canal since the late 1960s. Taking advantage of the 
situation, the Soviet Union continued to expand its forces to the 
Indian Ocean. 
 
Taking the Soviet Pacific Fleet's passage through the Strait of 
Malacca that led to the reopening of the Suez Canal as a threat, the 
People's Daily reported on May 12, 1974 
 
"(The Soviet Union's) maritime supply line from the Red Sea to the 
Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf has been shortened from 11,000 
miles to 2,000 miles due to (the reopening of the Suez Canal). The 
Soviet Union is expected to further strengthen its naval power in 
the Indian Ocean, as well." 
 
China's fear of the Soviet Union grew stronger, and China 
established diplomatic relations with the United States in January 
1979 to counter the Soviet Union. China back then even urged Japan 
to increase its defense spending to GNP from 1 %  to 2 %  to be 
prepared against the Soviet threat. In 1985, China bought the 
16,000-ton aircraft carrier Melbourne from Australia and opened it 
to the public. 
 
Hiramatsu noted: 
 
"China also made public the aircraft carrier Varyag it bought from 
Ukraine. Beijing was careful not to let the international community 
harbor unnecessary doubts by making it clear that it was too early 
for the country to build its own flattops, while exhibiting its 
eagerness to possess carriers. There is no doubt that they examined 
the Melbourne inside out. After all, it was the first aircraft 
carrier to Chinese military personnel, although it was old in the 
eyes of other countries. I believe they scrapped it after absorbing 
all the necessary knowledge." 
 
The international community reacted coldly to China's purchase of 
carriers, saying, "They are decrepit." Such a reaction was exactly 
what China wanted. 
 
Hiramatsu explained: 
 
"China is cautious. Although they say possessing aircraft carriers 
is their long-cherished wish, their immediate goal is annexing 
Taiwan. Until that is achieved, China doesn't need aircraft 
carriers. I don't think they will possess carriers." 
 
US, Japan as targets of China's operations 
 
The situation is likely to turn around once China annexes Taiwan. 
China's long-term strategy is to gain control of the Pacific and the 
Indian Ocean after placing the South China Sea, the East China Sea, 
and the western Pacific under its control to eventually face off 
with the United States across the western Pacific. Because China 
eyes the maritime control of the entire Pacific Ocean, they do not 
acknowledge the Okinotori islets as Japan's territory. That's why 
 
TOKYO 00003031  009.2 OF 009 
 
 
they have repeatedly conducted maritime surveys in waters around 
those islets without acknowledging them as Japan's territory or in 
Japan's exclusive economic zone. In order to vie for control with 
the US Navy, China must completely know its territorial waters. 
 
Hiramatsu also took this view: 
 
"After annexing Taiwan, China is expected to advance into the 
western Pacific and beyond by making full use of aircraft carriers. 
At that point, they will build their own aircraft carriers to 
nurture an elite overseas navy. In my view that would be sometime 
between 2020 and 2030 -- before 2050 at the latest, the country's 
centennial." 
 
At this point, Japanese people must take special note of the 2010 
China national defense program compiled by the China University of 
National Defense, which goes: 
 
"China will not commission an aircraft carrier before 2010. However, 
the country will be able to build a semi-aircraft carrier similar to 
Japan's Okuma-class amphibious assault ship to acquire experience in 
building and using aircraft carriers to meet demand for amphibious 
operations. The United States and Japan that may intervene in Taiwan 
and a Taiwan naval battle will be main targets of China's operations 
over the next decade." 
 
Pointing out the United States and Japan as China's immediate 
enemies, the program also reads: 
 
"Ground-based fighters will be able to accomplish their missions in 
operations (against Japan and the United States)." 
 
This exposes the Chinese military's excess confidence. However, 
given the US commander's comment expressing his country's 
willingness to help China build its own aircraft carriers and the 
attitude of the Japanese defense minister, who did not know the 
commander's vital statement for over a month, it is only natural for 
China to have full confidence in itself. 
 
SCHIEFFER