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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 003624 
 
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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/08/07 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
 
2) Editorials 
 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4) DPJ President Ozawa will not respond to revision of the 
anti-terror law extension bill 
 
5) Ozawa wants DPJ to present bill scrapping the Iraq dispatch 
legislation 
 
6) Text of Ozawa's press conference on Aug. 7 
 
7) LDP trying to woo DPJ with flexible stance toward anti-terror 
special measures law 
 
8) DPJ planning to make "reform competition" a theme at next Diet 
session but LDP finding proposed revisions to political-funds 
control law hard to swallow 
 
9) More and more LDP lawmakers vocally calling for Abe to step down, 
but the prime minister remains adamant to stay on 
 
10) New Komeito objects to starting the next extraordinary Diet 
session on Aug. 31 as overly hasty 
 
11) LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa blames Bank of Japan's 
monetary policy for the LDP Upper House election defeat 
 
12) Foreign Minister Aso's appointment as next LDP secretary general 
seems to be a done deal 
 
13) Prime Minister Abe denies saying anything about whether he will 
visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, but signs still point to his 
avoiding that day 
 
14) Six-party energy talks: North Korea seeks investment-like aid, 
while Japan continues to pound DPRK on abduction issue 
 
15) Abe shortens trip to Australia due to expected Diet ruckus 
 
16) Defense Minister Koike's trip to Washington is now set 
 
17) Vice Defense Moriya says he know nothing about reports that he 
is being retired 
 
18) Defense Ministry ready to present environmental assessment 
report on Camp Schwab runway plan 
 
19) Senior US official in Tokyo explains US-led framework to stop 
global warming 
 
Articles: 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
Asahi: 
Diet session called after election creating opposition-dominated 
Upper House 
 
Mainichi: 
Rice farmers in Beijing suburb forced to grow different crops for 
 
TOKYO 00003624  002 OF 012 
 
 
sake of Olympics 
 
Yomiuri: 
Supreme Court nixes Steel Partners' appeal of Bull-Dog ruling 
 
Nikkei: 
Japan may fail to meet Kyoto Protocol target 
 
Sankei: 
Cabinet adopts basic plan to halve number of independent 
administrative corporations 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Ozawa to resubmit bill withdrawing troops from Iraq 
 
Akahata: 
JCP's role becoming more vital 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
Asahi: 
(1) Opposition-dominated Upper House: Sense of intensity essential 
for politics 
(2) Minneapolis bridge collapse: Maintenance important 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Extraordinary Diet session: Look for new image of legislature 
(2) Trouble in basketball association deplorable 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) DPJ must now show it deserves voters' faith 
(2) Mysterious Chongyon scam case 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) DPJ bears heavy responsibility as largest Upper House party 
(2) TSE must be role model 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Distrust of broadcasting industry lingers on 
(2) Extra Diet session: National interests must come first 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) New Upper House expected to display greater presence 
(2) An open China expected ahead of 2008 Beijing Olympics 
 
Akahata: 
(1) 40th anniversary of ASEAN 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, August 7 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
09:04: 
Attended a cabinet meeting at the Kantei. Attended a meeting of 
cabinet ministers related to the Tokyo International Conference on 
African Development. 
10:42: 
Met with the recipients of the award on "making a dream in 2025 come 
true through innovation" sponsored by the Cabinet Office, with 
Innovation Minister Takaichi present. 
 
TOKYO 00003624  003 OF 012 
 
 
11:00: 
Met Finance Minister Omi and Vice Finance Minister Tsuda. Followed 
by Secretary General Nakagawa. Later attended a meeting of cabinet 
ministers involved in drawing up monthly economic reports. 
12:15: 
Met Financial Services Minister Yamamoto. 
12:32: 
Attended a joint plenary meeting of party members of both houses of 
the Diet. Later, attended a meeting of lawmakers. 
13:03: 
Attended a Lower House plenary session. 
13:09: 
Arrived at the Kantei. 
15:00: 
Attended an opening ceremony of the extraordinary Diet session at 
the Upper House Hall. Later, met Upper House President Satsuki Eda 
and Vice President Akiko Santo. 
16:00: 
Met Cabinet intelligence Director Mitani at the Kantei. Followed by 
incoming and outgoing Tokyo Metropolitan Police commissioners 
Yashiro and Ito. 
16:34: 
Attended a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy 
18:33: 
Met Secretary General Nakagawa, New Komeito President Ota, and New 
Komeito Secretary General Kitagawa at his official residence. 
 
4) Ozawa rejects antiterror law extension 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ozawa, meeting the 
press yesterday after the Diet convened an extraordinary session, 
voiced his standpoint against the government's plan to extend the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which is set to expire Nov. 1. 
"President Bush started the Afghan war-regardless of the United 
Nations and the international community-on the grounds that the war 
was for the United States to defend itself," Ozawa said. With this, 
Ozawa dismissed the law that is intended to back up US and British 
military operations in Afghanistan. This indicates that Ozawa will 
not respond to consultations with the ruling coalition over 
amendments to the law for its extension. 
 
In addition, Ozawa also indicated that he would consider presenting 
a bill to the Diet in its next extra session, aiming to repeal the 
Iraq Reconstruction Assistance Special Measures Law. "We've yet to 
decide on what kind of theme to choose in the (next) extra Diet 
session, but that's also one of the themes," Ozawa said. With this, 
Ozawa indicated that he would consider bringing the bill before the 
Diet in its next extra session that is expected to be called Aug. 
¶31. 
 
5) Ozawa may submit another Iraq pullout bill 
 
TOKYO (Top play) (Slightly abridged) 
August 8, 2007 
 
Ichiro Ozawa, president of the leading opposition Democratic Party 
of Japan (Minshuto), indicated in his press remarks yesterday that 
he would consider bringing a bill before the Diet again in its 
extraordinary session this fall to repeal the Iraq Reconstruction 
 
TOKYO 00003624  004 OF 012 
 
 
Assistance Special Measures Law. The bill is intended to withdraw an 
Air Self-Defense Force detachment currently sent to Iraq. "We've yet 
to choose any legislative measures," Ozawa said. "But," he added, 
"that would be one of the themes." In the past, the DPJ has 
presented the bill to the Diet three times. However, it has always 
been scrapped. 
 
Ozawa also referred to the issue of extending the Antiterrorism 
Special Measures Law, under which Japan has sent a Maritime 
Self-Defense Force squadron to the Indian Ocean to refuel US and 
other foreign naval vessels there. In this respect, Ozawa raised a 
question about the legitimacy of engaging the MSDF in such 
assistance activities. "US President Bush said the Afghan war is a 
war to defend the United States," Ozawa said. "And," Ozawa went on, 
"he started the war-regardless of the United Nations and the 
international community." With this, Ozawa implied that he would not 
only oppose extending the law but also stand off consultations over 
revising the law. In addition, Ozawa indicated that he looked 
forward to joining hands with the People's New Party (Kokumin 
Shinto) and other opposition parties to form a joint parliamentary 
group in the House of Councillors. "We've yet to reach a final 
conclusion, but I think that's good if it's possible for one group 
to secure some seats," Ozawa said. 
 
6) Main points from DPJ head Ozawa's press conference 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
Diet management 
 
Talks and cooperation are good, but current politics by the Liberal 
Democratic Party and New Komeito give only little consideration to 
the people's livelihood. Public criticism reflects the results of 
the latest election. Finding a solution through talks and 
cooperation between two parties with different ideas means meeting 
the other half-way. We will send out a clear message as parties 
holding a majority in the Upper House. 
 
Next Lower House election 
 
Although the party has lined up only about 100 individuals to run in 
the constituencies, it is meaningless to play a leftover game. Our 
target is to win over 150 single seats to become a majority party, 
and we will build a system to that end. Playing leftover games in 
the 300 constituencies is not our objective. 
 
Income subsidy system 
 
In addition to an income-subsidy system for farmers, we want to 
translate basic ideas into legislation as much as possible to 
establish something like a basic law. Besides farm policy, we will 
present what we promised to the people to the Diet. (A bill to 
abolish the Iraq Special Measures Law) would be a theme in the next 
extraordinary Diet session. 
 
Meeting with US Ambassador Schieffer 
 
A meeting did not take place not because I did not want to see him. 
Instead, it was because there had been no request from (the 
ambassador). Now that I have received a request, I will meet him. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003624  005 OF 012 
 
 
7) Panicky government and ruling parties trying to lure DPJ on 
extension of the anti-terror bill by flexible stance 
 
TOKYO (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 8, 2007 
 
With the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) opposed to an 
extension of the anti-terror special measures law, the biggest issue 
in this fall's extraordinary session of the Diet, the government and 
ruling parties are starting to use every trick in the book to try to 
soften up the stance of the DPJ. The government would like to 
somehow continue refueling services by Maritime Self-Defense Force 
ships in the Indian Ocean for the warships of the US and other 
countries that are seen as a symbol of the Japan-US alliance. It has 
been throwing curve balls at the opposition party saying that of 
course it favors fair play by calling for talks to revise the bill, 
and that it is even willing to present a new bill. 
 
At a news conference yesterday, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa urged cooperation from the DPJ, 
 
SIPDIS 
which has become the leading party in the Upper House. He said: "The 
international role we are playing is being tested on whether we can 
continue our oil refueling support. It is critical for the Japan-US 
relationship, as well. The opposition parties must share this 
understanding. I hope to see flexibility (by cooperation from the 
DPJ)." 
 
Regarding this issue, there has recently been a subtle change in the 
statements of relevant government officials and party executives. 
Immediately after the Upper House election, there was strong 
criticism of the DPJ for clearly opposing the extension of the law, 
but for the past few days, there has been a noticeable low-posture 
approach of seeking to meet the DPJ in some fashion half way. 
 
Specifically, the enticement being dangled before the DPJ is the 
possibility of revision talks. The idea also has been thrown out of 
accepting the concept of prior approval of the Diet in the bill, 
which the DPJ has been seeking. 
 
8) DPJ launches "reform competition" with LDP with decision to 
submit own bill amending Political Funds Control Law to next Diet 
session 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
August 8, 2007 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided yesterday to submit to 
the next extraordinary Diet session a bill amending the Political 
Funds Control Law to obligate all political groups to attach 
receipts for expenditures of more than one yen (excluding personnel 
costs) as a measure to prevent "politics-and-money" scandals. This 
move is aimed to launch "reform competition" with the Liberal 
Democratic Party, with which the coordination of views has bogged 
down. The New Komeito also made a similar decision yesterday. The 
LDP is now being pressured by the main opposition party and its 
ruling partner over reforms. 
 
DPJ Political Reform Promotion Headquarters Chief Katsuya Okada in 
its meeting yesterday criticized the revised law enacted by the 
ruling camp in the earlier Diet session. 
 
The DPJ presented to the regular session its bill mandating all 
 
TOKYO 00003624  006 OF 012 
 
 
political groups to attach receipts for expenditures of more than 
10,000 yen. President Ichiro Ozawa calling in the House of 
Councillors election campaign called for making the requirement 
stricter by lowering the 10,000 yen level to one yen. 
 
9) In LDP meetings, many participants point to prime minister's 
responsibility for election defeat 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
In meetings held by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members 
yesterday, many participants presented views pointing to Prime 
Minister Abe's responsibility for the party's crushing defeat in the 
July House of Councillors election. Some faction leaders have urged 
the prime minister to step down. The stinging electoral rebuke is 
expected to spread further across the party. 
 
In a meeting of the LDP Chugoku / Shikoku bloc last night, former 
Defense Agency Director General Gen Nakatani, secretary general of 
the Tanigaki faction, called for the prime minister's resignation, 
saying: 
 
"Under the current situation, it is necessary for the party to take 
not stopgap but drastic treatment measures. For drastic treatment, 
public confidence and momentum are indispensable. Under the current 
prime minister, however, the party will not be able to make a fresh 
start." 
 
Former State Minister in Charge of Administrative Reform Seiichiro 
Murakami, the secretary general of the Komura faction, also said: 
"Unless the chief executive reflects more deeply on why the party 
lost the election, the party will never be renewed even if junior 
members are replaced." 
 
In a meeting of the Kyushu bloc, many participants urged the prime 
minister to attend a joint plenary meeting of party members of both 
houses of the Diet and listen to views about his course of action. 
After the meeting, though, former Secretary General Makoto Koga, the 
chairman of the Niwa / Koga faction, indicated that he approves of 
the prime minister's decision to stay on, remarking: "Damned if he 
does and damned if he doesn't. Since he has said he will stay in 
power, this is one option." 
 
In a meeting of lawmakers held at noon yesterday, Nakatani, who sat 
next to the prime minister, said: "The prime minister should step 
down." Policy Research Council Vice Chairman Kenji Kosaka (Tsushima 
faction) and former Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba 
(Tsushima faction) also lashed out at the prime minister. Prime 
Minister Abe was listening to such critical views with a stern 
expression. He told reporters at the Kantei last night: "I must 
receive severe views sincerely. I am determined to fulfill my 
responsibility by pushing ahead with reforms." 
 
The Tanigaki faction held a meeting in Tokyo last night to confer on 
how to respond to the situation. Former Secretary General Koichi 
Kato, who has harshly criticized the prime minister, also attended 
the meeting. One senior Tanigaki faction member said: "Even if I am 
unofficially told to join the cabinet in the next reshuffle, I will 
decline the offer." The faction has underscored an anti-Abe posture 
more clearly. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003624  007 OF 012 
 
 
10) New Komeito opposed to decision to convene extraordinary Diet 
session on Aug. 31, citing lack of preparedness by new cabinet 
ministers 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
The government and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have decided 
to convene the next extraordinary Diet session on August 31. But New 
Komeito members have voiced dissatisfaction with this decision. 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apparently desires to summon a session 
immediately after he reorganizes his cabinet on Aug. 27. However, as 
a senior member said: "It was undesirable that the party skipped 
prior consultations with the New Komeito," some LDP members have 
begun to call for giving more consideration to the New Komeito. 
 
New Komeito President Akihiro Ota met with LDP House of Councillors 
Chairman Mikio Aoki yesterday, and they shared the view that if the 
session is convened on Aug. 31, the ruling coalition would result in 
allowing the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to take advantage of 
new cabinet minister's lack of preparedness. A senior New Komeito 
member told an LDP member: "It is premature to convene the next 
session (on Aug. 31)." 
 
Ota met with the prime minister at the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence last night, with LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa 
and New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa also present. Ota 
asked: "Is it true you will convene the session on the 31st?" In 
response, Nakagawa only said: "A decision has not yet been made for 
now." 
 
"The BOJ is to blame for the LDP loss in election," says Secretary 
General Nakagawa; "Our monetary policy is producing results," 
Governor Fukui rebuts 
 
11) YOMIURI (Page 9) (Full) 
August 8, 2009 
 
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is to blame for the LDP loss in the Upper 
House election 
 
With this statement, LDP Secretary General Nakagawa sought to put 
pressure on Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Toshihiko Fukui during the 
government's monthly economic report meeting, which took place 
yesterday, attended by related cabinet ministers. 
 
Nakagawa noted, "I heard people in regional districts during the 
Upper House election campaign that they did not feel the economic 
recovery first-hand. As the reason for that, the government has 
stopped short of achieving its growth goal with the nominal growth 
rate remaining sluggish." He then aimed his attack at BOJ Governor 
Fukui, saying that the BOJ is to blame because of its monetary 
policy changes, including the lifting of the zero interest rate 
policy in July last year. 
 
Fukui directly rebutted him: "The BOJ is administering its monetary 
policy with the aim of sustaining the economic upturn while 
maintaining stable prices. The economic performance has improved 
under this policy." 
 
Nakagawa has continued opposing the BOJ's belt-tightening monetary 
policy at every opportunity. He apparently wanted to complain about 
 
TOKYO 00003624  008 OF 012 
 
 
the BOJ policy before quitting his post following the LDP's crushing 
defeat in the Upper House election. 
 
12) Final coordination underway to install Aso in LDP 
secretary-general post 
 
SIPDIS 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday undertook final coordination to 
appoint Foreign Minister Taro Aso (66) as secretary general of his 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the planned reshuffling of 
his cabinet and the lineup of the LDP executives. Aso has declared 
his support for Abe to stay on. Supposedly, Abe wants to treat Aso 
favorably as a hopeful candidate to succeed him, and also wants Aso, 
who enjoys high popularity, to act as the "face of the LDP" with an 
eye on the next Lower House election. 
 
Aso has been in agreement with Abe on a number of policy issues, 
including foreign policy. He has been deeply trusted by the prime 
minister. 
 
On the evening of July 29, the election day for the Upper House, Abe 
called Aso to the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and 
conveyed his intention to appoint him to a key post when he 
reshuffles the cabinet and the LDP executive lineup, telling him: 
"I'd like you to continue to serve in an important post in the 
future as well." Yesterday, Abe covertly met with Aso in the Diet 
and discussed with him how to manage the government from now on. 
 
In order to deal with the crushing defeat in the recent Upper House 
election, Abe has declared, "I'll change public sentiment by 
reshuffling the cabinet." Abe wants to win the understanding of the 
LDP about appointing Aso, who is an important cabinet member, to the 
post of secretary general. The membership of the Aso faction is only 
¶15. So, someone in the party may point out that it would be 
difficult for Aso to lead the party. 
 
Abe intends to reshuffle the cabinet and the lineup of the party 
executives on Aug. 27, soon after returning home from his overseas 
trips to India and some other countries. As for the selection of the 
three top party posts, such as secretary general, however, Abe is 
considering selecting them on Aug. 26. 
 
13) Prime minister to stay away from Yasukuni on Aug. 15 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
Ryuko Tadokoro, Daisuke Kondo 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday was asked by reporters at the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) whether he would visit 
Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the anniversary of the end of World War 
II. Abe said, "I have made it a policy not to say whether I will or 
will not visit the shrine." He thus again indicated his stance he 
has taken since taking office as prime minister to avoid making a 
clear response about shrine visits. 
 
Given that in the wake of the stinging defeat in the recent Upper 
House election, Abe needs to give even further consideration to 
critical views in his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the junior 
 
TOKYO 00003624  009 OF 012 
 
 
coalition partner New Komeito of his visit to the shrine, he is 
likely to put off visiting the shrine on Aug. 15. An aide to the 
prime minister indicated that in order to avoid irritating the New 
Komeito, the prime minister would stay away on the 15th, saying: 
"The prime minister will not visit the shrine on Aug. 15. He needs 
to consider the partnership with the New Komeito." 
 
Defense Minister Yuriko Koike, when asked by reporters at a press 
briefing yesterday whether she would visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 
15, indicated her intention not to do so, saying, "There is no 
possibility of visiting the shrine also in view of my schedule." 
When she served as environment minister in the Koizumi cabinet from 
2004 to 2005, she paid homage at the shrine on Aug. 15 of those 
years. 
 
14) Six-party working group meeting: North Korea demands 
investment-type aid; Japan stresses its stance of giving priority to 
abduction issue 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
Among working-groups under the six-party talks to discuss North 
Korea's nuclear issue, one on economic and energy cooperation 
started at Panmunjom yesterday. The first round of the two-day 
meeting ended in the evening. 
 
Lim Sung Nam, ambassador of host nation South Korea, told reporters 
that North Korea during a plenary meeting in the morning asked for 
consumption-type aid, such as heavy fuel oil, which is used to 
produce electricity, as well as investment-type aid, including 
facilities for producing electricity and repair of electric power 
plants. He stated that the talks on the 8th would likely focus on 
this issue. 
 
According to a Japanese source, participants from several countries 
made proposals regarding fuel oil aid, including their readiness to 
provide such, though China refrained from revealing when it would do 
so. 
 
The Japanese delegate once again stressed that Japan would not take 
part in the energy aid unless there was progress on the abduction 
issue. 
 
Bilateral meetings, such as a US-North Korea meeting, were held in 
the afternoon. A meeting between Japan and North Korea did not take 
place. 
 
15) Prime minister to shorten trip to Australia in wake of Upper 
House defeat 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday decided to shorten his trip to 
Australia planned for early September. The initial plan was that he 
would stay in Australia for a few days after attending an 
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Sydney on Sept. 
8-9, but he is rescheduling so as to return home as early as Sept. 
¶10. 
 
In order to deal with the crushing defeat in the recent Upper House 
 
TOKYO 00003624  010 OF 012 
 
 
election, Abe is considering reshuffling the cabinet and the lineup 
of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) executives on Aug. 27 and 
convening an extraordinary session of the Diet on Aug. 31. Eyeing 
deliberations in the Diet, Abe appears to have decided to shorten 
his overseas trip. 
 
Abe initially planned to visit Canberra after attending the APEC 
summit and as the first Japanese minister to deliver a speech in 
parliament. But this plan has been cancelled. Abe also intends to 
reconsider his tour of New Zealand. 
 
16) Koike off to US 
 
MAINICHI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
Defense Minister Yuriko Koike departed Narita Airport yesterday 
evening for her first official visit to the United States as defense 
minister. Koike is scheduled to meet with Secretary of Defense Gates 
in Washington on the morning of Aug. 8, late at night today, Japan 
time. In addition, Koike is also planning to call on Vice President 
Cheney and Secretary of State Rice. The defense minister made up her 
mind to visit the United States, making much of an opportunity to 
talk with her US counterparts before the Nov. 1 expiry of the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. 
 
17) Defense Minister Koike decides to let Vice Defense Minister 
Moriya go; Moriya: I haven't heard anything about it 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) 
August 8, 2007 
 
Defense Minister Yuriko Koike has decided to let Vice Defense 
Minister Takemasa Moriya, 62, retire as part of a plan to reshuffle 
ministry officials. 
 
Moriya became vice defense minister in August 2003. He has been in 
his current post over four years, an unprecedented long period of 
time. Under the previous Koizumi administration, he played an 
important role in reaching a Japan-US agreement on relocating 
Futenma Air Station to Camp Schwab. He has been responsible for 
sealing the bilateral agreement. 
 
The relocation plan has since stalled due to calls for changes from 
Okinawa and Nago. Moriya, who is reluctant to making changes to the 
relocation plan, was at loggerheads with former Defense Minister 
Fumio Kyuma. Now that Kyuma is gone, rumor had it that Moriya would 
stay on. Defense Minister Koike, however, has finally decided to let 
Moriya go. 
 
Having served in the current post for over four years, Moriya has 
strong influence in the ministry. He has been criticized in the 
ministry for his tendency to give important posts to people close to 
him. Defense Minister Koike, apparently aiming to get rid of such an 
atmosphere, said in a press conference yesterday: "Coordination is 
underway (for selecting the new vice minister). We must consider 
ways to revitalize the organization while placing the right persons 
in the right places." 
 
Koike reported on Moriya's retirement to Prime Minister Abe in 
person at his official residence on August 6. Koike's decision came 
so sudden that Moriya said to those around him yesterday, "I haven't 
 
TOKYO 00003624  011 OF 012 
 
 
heard anything about the personnel change." 
 
An observation has surfaced in the government and ruling bloc that 
once Moriya, who has been rejecting making changes to the 
government's plan, is gone, the revision move would gain momentum. 
 
Moriya will retire on September 1 timed with the Defense Facilities 
Administration Agency's integration into the Defense Ministry. His 
post will be filled by Tetsuya Nishikawa, 60, who hails from the 
National Police Agency. 
 
18) Gov't proposes eco-assessment for Futenma relocation 
 
MAINICHI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
The Defense Ministry presented an environmental assessment plan to 
Okinawa Prefecture yesterday for the planned relocation of the US 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. The 
presented plan is for the government to detail how to assess the 
possible impact of building an alternative facility for Futenma 
airfield in a coastal area of Camp Schwab, a US military base in the 
island prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago. This is the first 
of procedures for an environmental impact assessment. 
 
The plan-created by a Defense Ministry contractor-purports to ask 
Okinawa Prefecture's local residents and governor for their opinions 
before going ahead with an environmental assessment. The Defense 
Ministry will present local opinions to the Okinawa prefectural 
government. After that, the prefectural government is to state its 
views to the Defense Ministry within 60 days. Meanwhile, Okinawa has 
asked Tokyo to create a sea-based facility in waters off the coast 
of Nago instead of building a land-based airfield. The prefectural 
government is strongly repulsed by the Defense Ministry's 
presentation of the plan, saying the government has yet to fully 
consult with Okinawa Prefecture and its base-hosting municipalities 
about where to locate the newly planned airfield. 
 
19) Prevention of global warming: "The US wants to take initiative 
in establishing post-Kyoto framework," says senior US official 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
August 8, 2007 
 
Prior to a Japan-US high-level meeting to be held in the run-up to 
international efforts to deal with climate change, James 
Connaughton, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental 
Quality, yesterday held a press conference at the US Embassy in 
Minato Ward, Tokyo. He noted during the briefing: "The US will not 
ratify the Kyoto Protocol. It is important that the US takes a 
leadership role in setting up an international framework that will 
mandate developing countries to cut carbon dioxide emissions." 
 
Connaughton explained that the purpose of his visit to Japan was to 
discuss from the aspect of energy security measures reducing carbon 
dioxide emissions starting after the first commitment period from 
2008 through 2012 as stipulated under the Kyoto Protocol. 
 
Reporters pointed out that the US, the largest CO2 emitter in the 
world, has not yet ratified the Kyoto Protocol. Connaughton replied: 
"The Kyoto Protocol does not obligate developing countries, which 
emit more carbon dioxide than industrialized countries, to cut their 
 
TOKYO 00003624  012 OF 012 
 
 
greenhouse gas emissions. It is clearly an extremely imperfect 
international rule." He then categorically said, "The Kyoto Protocol 
will not play a role in bringing progress to all countries." 
 
He stressed: "Japan is developing safe nuclear energy as one of the 
two largest leaders in the world. We want to learn the lessons of 
the earthquake in Japan this time. The US wants to achieve a 
consensus within a UN framework. We want to take the initiative in 
establishing a post-Kyoto framework." 
 
SCHIEFFER