VZCZCXRO2726
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #4570/01 2740158
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010158Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8083
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/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 5851
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3438
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7094
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 2372
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 4158
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9241
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5298
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6164

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 17 TOKYO 004570 
 
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 10/01/07 
 
Index: 
 
1) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
2) Fuji-Sankei poll: Fukuda Cabinet support rate at 55.3 PERCENT ; 
Majority or 51 PERCENT  of public approve the extension of MSDF 
refueling services in the Indian Ocean 
 
Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law: 
3) New anti-terror law will be limited to MSDF providing fuel and 
water in Indian Ocean, but no Diet approval will be needed 
4) Prime Minister Fukuda does not rule out extension of extra Diet 
session, will seek prior consultations with opposition camp on 
anti-terror bill 
5) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will not respond to ruling camp 
request for prior talks on anti-terror bill 
6) Defense Minister Ishiba apologizes for correction in fuel amount 
provided by MSDF to US forces in Indian Ocean 
7) US forces receiving fuel from MSDF engaged in both Afghan air 
strikes and Iraq war; deviation of purpose of Anti-terrorism Special 
Measures Law 
8) 55 PERCENT  of MSDF fuel indirectly provided to US warships in 
Indian Ocean 
9) Diet session to debate charge of diversion of MSDF-provided fuel 
in Indian Ocean to Iraq war 
10) DPJ to send a fact-finding mission to Afghanistan next month 
 
Foreign Minister Komura at UN: 
11) In speech before UNGA, Foreign Minister Komura promises his 
government's best efforts to continue MSDF refueling services in the 
Indian Ocean 
12) Komura in UNGA speech stresses need for UNSC reform 
 
North Korea problem: 
13) Japan unhappy with tentative agreement reached in six-party 
talks on North Korea nuclear issue 
14) Japan to re-extend sanctions on North Korea despite six-party 
tentative accord reached 
15) Japan in bilateral negotiations with North Korea will focus on 
dialogue but its pressure tactic of extending sanctions likely to 
rouse DPRK ire 
 
Fukuda in action: 
16) Prime Minister Fukuda to visit China in January, postpones 
planned US trip until after end of extra Diet session 
17) Fukuda to give Diet policy speech today, as debate restarts 
after 3-week hiatus 
18) Fukuda's office in Gumma gummed up its political fund books by 
improperly accepting 2.1million yen donation from government 
contractor 
19) Government to compile supplementary budget 
20) DPJ to bombard ruling camp with over 10 bills in the Upper House 
trying to tie up Diet business and shake the Fukuda administration 
 
 
Burma in crisis: 
21) Japan seeking punishment of Burmese soldier who shot cameraman 
point blank, and may freeze ODA program 
22) Deputy Foreign Minister Yabunaka says Japan may have to review 
its relationship with Burma (Myanmar) 
23) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura: Japan will go along with 
international agreement, if there is one on imposing sanctions on 
 
TOKYO 00004570  002 OF 017 
 
 
Burma 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 28 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 29, 2007 
 
09:01 
Attended a cabinet meeting at Kantei. Afterwards, telephoned Chinese 
Premier Wen Jiabao, and then, met with Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Machimura, and after him, met with Minister of Economy, Trade & 
Industry Amari. 
 
11:00 
Telephoned South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun. 
 
13:32 
Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
14:26 
Met with Chair Sugiura of the LDP Research Commission on Expanding 
the Size of Regional Divisions and others. 
 
15:09 
et with Foreign Policy Bureau Director-General Kawai and Middle 
Eastern and African Affairs Bureau Director-General Okuda of the 
Foreign Ministry. Later, met with Health Minister Masuzoe. 
 
17:03 
Gave a speech at the Kyodo Press Building at Higashi Shinbashi. 
 
19:22 
Dined with his secretaries and others at the Chinese restaurant at 
Hotel Okura. 
 
21:28 
Arrived at his private residence in Nozawa. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 29 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 30, 2007 
 
Stayed at his private residence in Nozawa. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 30 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2007 
 
09:17 
Attended a special cabinet meeting at Kantei. 
 
10:00 
Made an inspection tour of Kantei before moving in. 
 
11:58 
Arrived at his private residence in Nozawa. 
 
TOKYO 00004570  003 OF 017 
 
 
 
15:30 
ad talks with editorial members of press companies. 
 
16:06 
Had talks with editorial members of TV broadcasting companies. 
Later, had a press briefing with reporters in charge of Cabinet. 
 
17:39 
Met the Emperor and the Empress at Haneda Airport, who have just 
come home. 
 
18:38 Arrived at his private residence in Nozawa. 
 
2-1) Poll: Fukuda cabinet's support rate at 55.3 PERCENT 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 29, 2007 
 
The rate of public support for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's 
cabinet, which was inaugurated Sept. 26, was 55.3 PERCENT , the 
Sankei Shimbun found from its joint public opinion survey conducted 
with Fuji News Network (FNN). The nonsupport rate for the Fukuda 
cabinet was 28.7 PERCENT . The Fukuda cabinet's approval rating upon 
its inauguration marked the sixth highest level since Prime Minister 
Morihiro Hosokawa's cabinet with the start of coalition government, 
following the cabinets of Hosokawa, Junichiro Koizumi, Shinzo Abe, 
Tsutomu Hata, and Ryutaro Hashimoto. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Respondents were also asked how long they thought the Fukuda cabinet 
would continue. In response to this question, 52.9 PERCENT  answered 
"until around the next election for the House of Representatives." 
Respondents were further asked when they thought the next House of 
Representatives election should be carried out. To this question, 
38.5 PERCENT  said the election should be held "during the first 
half of next year," topping all other answers. As seen from these 
figures, many people seem to think the Fukuda cabinet is to manage 
the election and will not last long. In the breakdown of public 
support for political parties, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party 
stood at 33.9 PERCENT , up 3.4 percentage points from the last 
survey taken Sept. 15-16. The leading opposition Democratic Party of 
Japan (Minshuto) was at 28.1 PERCENT . 
 
2-2) Poll: More than half support continuing MSDF refueling mission 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 29, 2007 
 
In the joint poll conducted by the Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News 
Network (FNN) this time, 51.0 PERCENT  supported continuing the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian 
Ocean. Those against it accounted for 39.7 PERCENT . 
 
The proportion of affirmative answers increased 2.3 percentage 
points from the last survey conducted Sept. 15-16. The United 
Nations Security Council has now adopted a resolution expressing its 
gratitude to Japan and other countries participating in antiterror 
mop-up operations. Meanwhile, the ambassadors to Japan of 11 
countries, including the United States, have also released a 
statement calling on Japan to continue the MSDF's refueling mission 
in the Indian Ocean. The public understanding of the MSDF's 
refueling activities seemed to have deepened with the international 
 
TOKYO 00004570  004 OF 017 
 
 
community's growing expectations for Japan. 
 
Asked about the survey results, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda 
commented yesterday: "I think the (public) understanding has been 
gradually deepening. However, we must not be overconfident in the 
figures. I'd like to continue to talk about this matter in a careful 
manner so that many people can feel reassured." 
 
3) New antiterror law for fuel, water supply only 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
October 1, 2007 
 
The government will present a new antiterror legislative measure to 
the Diet during its extraordinary session in order for Japan to 
continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in 
the Indian Ocean. The new antiterror legislation, according to its 
outline revealed yesterday, specifies United Nations Security 
Council Resolution 1776, which was adopted in September and 
expressed appreciation for maritime interdiction operations 
involving the MSDF. In addition, the bill stresses that the 
international community appreciates the MSDF's role. The 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, currently in effect for the 
MSDF's activities in the Indian Ocean and due to expire on Nov. 1, 
requires the government to ask the Diet for its approval of plans to 
send the Self-Defense Forces. The bill does not stipulate this 
requirement. Instead, it will incorporate activities and areas that 
were incorporated in the government's masterplan for the MSDF, 
thereby ensuring civilian control. 
 
The government will hold a meeting of cabinet ministers tomorrow to 
adopt the new legislation's outline, and the government will also 
present it to the ruling parties' project team tomorrow. The newly 
planned law is to specify the UNSC resolution in its purpose. In 
addition, it will also say the MSDF's activities contribute to the 
international community's assistance with Afghanistan's 
reconstruction. 
 
The new legislation limits the MSDF's activities to oil and water 
supply. The current antiterror law stipulates search and rescue 
operations as well as disaster relief operations. The new 
legislation will not incorporate these operations. The scope of MSDF 
activities is the Indian Ocean, including the Persian Gulf. The 
government and the ruling coalition will coordinate to set the newly 
planned law's validity at a period of one year from Nov. 2, the day 
after the current antiterror law expires. 
 
4) Prime Minister Fukuda does not rule out extension of Diet 
session, will seek prior consultations on legislation with DPJ 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpt) 
September 29, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, at a speech at Kyodo News Service on 
Sept. 28, expressed his view that he would call for consultations 
with the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) on the contents 
of bills prior to their being presented. The DPJ is the largest 
party in the Upper House.  He said: "When we consider that from now 
on there is the possibility of bills being rejected in the Upper 
House, we should discuss the contents with the DPJ prior to 
presenting the bill." Regarding the new law to continue refueling 
activities in the Indian Ocean, he said: "We are now considering the 
 
TOKYO 00004570  005 OF 017 
 
 
contents, but it will take a little more time before we present it 
to the cabinet for approval." He also indicated that in his view 
there would be a need to extend the current Diet session, which ends 
on Nov. 10. 
 
5) DPJ decides not to respond to ruling camp's call for prior 
consultations on new legislation aimed to extend MSDF refueling 
mission 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 29, 2007 
 
In an executive meeting of its foreign and defense departments 
yesterday, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided to decline an 
offer by the government and the ruling camp to hold prior 
consultations on new legislation designed to extend the 
Maritime-Self Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean 
until detailed information of the actual state of MSDF operations is 
disclosed. The main opposition party will relay this decision 
directly to Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura today. 
 
On the new legislation that is being worked out by the government 
and the ruling camp, Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama also made this 
remark in a press conference yesterday: "We should not easily 
respond to an idea of holding consultations when an outline is 
compiled." 
 
The DPJ has decided to dispatch its own delegation to Afghanistan 
next week in preparation for laying out its counterproposal. 
 
6) Defense Ministry apologizes for correction of amount of fuel 
provided 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
Evening, September 29, 2007 
 
Referring to the correction the Defense Ministry has made to the 
amount of fuel the Maritime Self-Defense Force provided to a US 
vessel in the Indian Ocean in Feb. 2003, Defense Minister Shigeru 
Ishiba during a Sept. 29 TBS program offered an apology, saying, 
"The mistake occurred due to a data entry error. I apologize for 
making a reply that was different from the facts." He then stressed, 
"It is important to disclose information. We will properly probe 
into why the mistake was made and release the finding." 
 
When he was the director general of the Defense Agency at the time, 
Ishiba replied, "The amount of fuel provided was approximately 
200,000 gallons, which is equivalent to the amount an aircraft 
carrier consumes in a day." Following the point made by a civic 
group, the defense ministry corrected the amount of fuel supplied to 
800,000 gallons. 
 
Keiichiro Asao of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), 
defense minister of the Next Cabinet, pointed out, "Assistance for 
operations in internal regions of Afghanistan should be carried out 
not in the ocean but in internal regions." 
 
7) US forces receiving fueling assistance from SDF engaged in both 
Afghan air strikes and Iraq war; deviation of purpose of 
Anti-terrorism Special Measures Law 
 
AKAHATA (Page 3) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00004570  006 OF 017 
 
 
September 28, 2007 
 
Diet debate on the supplying of fuel by the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force (MSDF) in the Indian Ocean will start in October. The 
government and ruling parties intend to present a new refueling 
bill, which is described under the coalition agreement of the 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito as, "cooperating 
with the international community and continuing the war on terror. 
However, the activities of the MSDF did not stop at supporting the 
retaliatory war against Afghanistan, which is unconnected with the 
war on terror, they also included support for military operations 
that were deviations from even the anti-terror law, such as the Iraq 
war. 
 
Based on the Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law, which was enacted 
in Oct. 2001, a unit of the MSDF dispatched to the Indian Ocean 
started in Dec. that year supplying oil on the high seas to US 
warships. The government explained that the MSDF unit would assist 
by refueling warships of every country participating in Maritime 
Interdiction Operations (MIO) to block terrorist forces in 
Afghanistan from moving through the waters of the Indian Ocean. 
 
However, when the highest volume of fuel was being provided between 
Dec. 2001 and the end of 2002, the US forces were staging air 
strikes on Afghanistan from the Indian Ocean. And in Sept. 2006, as 
well, air strikes on Afghanistan were resumed by AV8B Harriers 
launched from the assault landing craft, the USS Iwo Jima. The 
MSDF's activities supported a retaliatory war that killed many 
civilians in Afghanistan. 
 
Auxiliary duty became normal situation 
 
After 2003, the US warships operating in the Indian Ocean, in 
addition to engaging in the anti-terrorist campaign known as 
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), held the additional duty of 
surveillance operations in the southern part of Iraq (Southern 
Watch), which took precedent. The US Navy has revealed that on Feb. 
25, 2003, the supply ship Tokiwa provided fuel to the US carrier 
Kitty Hawk and other vessels. At the time, the Kitty Hawk and its 
fleet formed the leading unit in the Iraq war. According to US Navy 
documents obtained by the civic group Peace Depot, the role of the 
Kitty Hawk at the time was limited to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), 
for the documents did not mention OEF. 
 
According to the US Navy's website, on Feb. 25, 2003, when the 
Tokiwa provided the Kitty Hawk with fuel, the carrier's main duty 
was Southern Watch. The fuel provided to it thus was diverted 
completely away from the purpose set for it under the anti-terror 
law.  Even after 2004, when there was a pause in large-scale air 
strikes on Iraq, the auxiliary role of US warships (in the Indian 
Ocean) became the regular one. 
 
According to the Navy's home page, the role of US warships being 
provided with fuel by the MSDF, in addition to Maritime Interdiction 
Operations (MIO) (in the Indian Ocean), was also OEF and OIF. 
 
What was especially noticeable among the MSDF activities was the 
supplying of fuel to landing crafts. The main duty of landing crafts 
was to transport US Marines from a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) 
so that they could carry out mop-up operations in Iraq. Landing 
crafts carried out MIO and OEF in tandem with their transporting MEU 
troops. 
 
TOKYO 00004570  007 OF 017 
 
 
 
The duties of US warships in the Indian Ocean went beyond operations 
against Afghanistan and Iraq. There were also many divergences, 
including humanitarian assistance and drills with other foreign 
military units. However, after the MSDF provided fuel, what did 
those ships do? There has never been a probe into that issue. 
 
8) MSDF's Indian Ocean refueling: 55 PERCENT  indirectly supplied 
via supply ships 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
September 29, 2007 
 
The Defense Ministry yesterday made public details of the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling activities that have been carried out 
in the Indian Ocean over the past six years for foreign naval 
vessels, including aircraft carriers, under the Antiterrorism 
Special Measures Law. The MSDF's fuel supply to supply ships 
accounted for about 55 PERCENT  of its total refueling. The current 
antiterror law stipulates that the MSDF's refueling is only for the 
war on terror in Afghanistan and its periphery. The Defense Ministry 
is now looking into whether those supply ships refueled vessels 
participating in the Iraq war. 
 
Supply ships receive fuel supply and refuel other vessels, including 
destroyers. In the case of indirect refueling via foreign supply 
ships, it is difficult to find out or identify refueled vessels. In 
the Diet, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto) has raised a question about this. According to the 
Defense Ministry's International Cooperation Division, the MSDF 
carried out 777 refueling services from fiscal 2001 through the end 
of August this year, and its fuel supplies during that period 
totaled 484,000 kiloliters, including 105 fuel services and 267,000 
kiloliters for supply ships. The MSDF's fuel supplies to supply 
ships accounted for about 82 PERCENT  of its total refueling until 
fiscal 2002. However, the Iraq war started after that. Meanwhile, 
the MSDF's refueling of foreign naval vessels was taken up in the 
Diet as a problem in fiscal 2003. After that, the MSDF's refueling 
sharply decreased to 15 PERCENT . 
 
9) Focus in Diet session likely on allegations of Japanese fuel used 
in Iraq war; Uncertainty looming over new legislation 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 29, 2007 
 
In the extraordinary Diet session to resume next month, the focus of 
discussion is likely to be on allegations that fuel provided by the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) to US warships in the Indian 
Ocean could have been used in the Iraq war. Although the government 
plans to compile an outline for new legislation and hopes to launch 
a discussion with the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) in an effort 
to extend the MSDF refueling operation, things may not proceed 
smoothly as it expects as long as the suspicion persists. 
 
Peace Depot, a non-profit organization (NPO), pointed out the 
suspicion first. According to this organization, official US 
documents it obtained showed that a US fleet replenishment vessel 
refueled by the MSDF had provided the oil from the MSDF to a US 
aircraft carrier that was preparing to participate in the monitoring 
operation in Iraq in February 2003, just before the Iraq war began. 
 
 
TOKYO 00004570  008 OF 017 
 
 
Then Defense Agency Director General Shigeru Ishiba (now defense 
minister) said in a Diet reply that the amount of fuel the MSDF 
provided at that time was 200,000 gallons, but the Defense Ministry 
corrected the amount into 800,000 gallons after Peace Depot's 
announcement. Data released yesterday also revealed that the year 
when the MSDF refueling operation was most active was the year 
before the Iraq war was launched. 
 
The Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, the basis of the MSDF 
refueling mission, specifies that the purpose of the refueling 
operation is to prevent and eradicate international terrorism, so 
the Iraq war is not endorsed by this law. 
 
Defense Minister Ishiba said in a press conference yesterday: "We 
would like to disclose information (on the actual state of oil used 
for unintended purposes) upon obtaining approval from countries 
concerned and except for classified information." But due to the 
difficult process of obtaining approval from countries concerned, it 
is uncertain whether the investigation will produce effective 
results. 
 
In this connection, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama stressed in 
a press conference yesterday that the main opposition party would 
thoroughly pursue the allegations in Diet interpellations and on 
other occasions. He also indicated that the party would not easily 
respond to a request (by the ruling camp) for consultations on new 
legislation, saying: "We will make a judgment on the propriety of 
new legislation through a (Diet) committee." 
 
10) DPJ to dispatch fact-finding team to Afghanistan 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 29, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yuko Hatoyama 
revealed at a press conference on Sept. 28 a plan to send a 
fact-finding team of lawmakers to Afghanistan in early October to 
compile alternative measures to the continued Maritime Self-Defense 
refueling operations in the Indian Ocean. He stated: "We would like 
to visit Afghanistan as early as possible to gather information." 
 
Asked about when the DPJ would display its own proposal, Hatoyama 
responded: "I think at least 2 weeks would be necessary before we 
compile it." He indicated the outlook that his party would be able 
to come up with the counterproposal in mid-October at the earliest. 
 
11) Komura in UN address vows efforts for continued MSDF refueling 
operations 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
Evening, September 29, 2007 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura addressed the UN General Assembly 
in New York on the night of Sept. 28 (on the morning of Sept. 29, 
Japan time). Touching on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
operations in the Indian Ocean, Komura indicated that Japan would 
make legislative efforts for the continuation of the MSDF operations 
as a responsible member of the international community. 
 
In addition, touching on the fact that Japanese photojournalist 
Kenji Nagai was shot to death in Burma, the foreign minister said: 
"It is extremely regrettable that many people, including a Japanese 
 
TOKYO 00004570  009 OF 017 
 
 
national, were killed or injured in the violent crackdown on 
demonstrators." 
 
Komura also highlighted the need to increase the numbers of 
permanent and nonpermanent seats on the UN Security Council, saying, 
"Faced with diversified threats to international peace and security, 
the United Nations is expected to play a greater role than ever." He 
also asked for the cooperation of the member countries in order to 
produce concrete results during the current session of the General 
Assembly through next September. 
 
12) Foreign Minister Komura in UN speech stresses need to reform 
UNSC 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
Evening, September 29, 2007 
 
New York, Hiroyuki Nakamae 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura made a speech during a general 
session of the UN Assembly on the evening of Sept. 28 (morning of 
Sept. 29, Japan time). In the speech, he underscored the need to 
reform the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and sought 
cooperation from member nations so that concrete results can be 
produced during the current assembly (until next September). He also 
expressed Japan's resolve to settle past accounts, including the 
abduction issue involving North Korea and Japan's colonial rule. 
 
Regarding the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF)'s refueling 
operations in the Indian Ocean for assistance to Afghanistan, Komura 
indicated Japan's intention to continue the operations. Former Prime 
Minister Abe was originally slated to make a speech in the general 
session. However, following Abe's sudden resignation, 
newly-appointed Foreign Minister Komura made a speech instead. 
 
Regarding reform of the UNSC, Komura noted that Japan would aim at 
increasing both permanent and non-permanent seats, which is its 
policy from before. He urged member nations to come up with draft 
proposals for a resolution to reform the UNSC and enter 
intergovernmental talks in a concrete manner. 
 
Discussions to reform the UNSC are ongoing at the UN. However, talks 
have come to an impasse without concrete proposals. Behind Komura's 
speech is a sense of urgency that if no progress is made during the 
current session, it would be even more difficult to expect progress 
in the next session because of the US presidential election. 
Regarding assistance to Afghanistan, he referred to the UNSC 
resolution adopted last week, which expressed appreciation for the 
maritime interdiction operations by multinational forces, including 
the MSDF refueling operations. He welcomed the adoption of the 
resolution and said, "We will make efforts for the continuation of 
the operations." 
 
Touching on such issues as climate change and assistance to Africa, 
which came into focus during the current assembly, too, Komura 
underscored that they are areas on which Japan and the UN can 
cooperate. 
 
Regarding the abduction of Japanese by North Korea, he said, "It is 
essential for the international community to send a strong message 
seeking a settlement of the issue as soon as possible." However, 
concerning that nation's nuclear issue, Komura simply stated, "Japan 
 
TOKYO 00004570  010 OF 017 
 
 
will continue its efforts to realize the denuclearization of the 
Korean Peninsula through the six-party talks." 
 
13) Japan unhappy with tentative six-party deal specifying limited 
number of disablement facilities; Gap with US evident 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
October 1, 2007 
 
Satoru Ogawa, Beijing 
 
Negotiators from six countries reached a tentative deal Sunday on 
steps toward North Korea's denuclearization and declaration of its 
nuclear programs to be taken by the end of the year. The Japanese 
government has positively evaluated it, as seen in Foreign Ministry 
Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau chief Kenichiro Sasae's comment 
that it would further advance the denuclearization trend. Further, a 
deadline for removing North Korea from the list of state sponsors of 
terrorism has not been set, reflecting Japan's standpoint. But Japan 
is unhappy with the fact that only a limited number of facilities 
have become subject to disablement. 
 
At the same time, a difference in views between Japan and the United 
States has also become, with the latter pointing to delisting North 
Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism with the aim of prodding the 
North into implementing denuclearization steps before year's end. 
 
A Japanese government source indicated on Sept. 30 that the 
tentative agreement was only a step toward the second phase composed 
of nuclear disablement and the declaration of nuclear programs, 
saying: "Although up to 30 PERCENT  of the roadmap has been drawn 
up, the path beyond that must be determined through additional 
talks." 
 
In the six-party talks, Japan demanded the full declaration of 
nuclear programs and the disablement of all nuclear facilities be 
mentioned in the roadmap to the second phase. Japan's demand came 
from the judgment that disabling all nuclear facilities beyond the 
three in Yongbyon was necessary for the denuclearization of the 
Korean Peninsula. 
 
In the talks on Sept. 28, Sasae underlined the need to fully 
implement the (six-party) agreement reached in February without 
setting a deadline at year's end. This was intended to warn the 
United States not to make compromises to the North and remove it 
from the list of state sponsors of terrorism for the sake of 
implementation by the end of the year. 
 
14) Japan to extend N. Korea sanctions out of need for continued 
pressure to resolve abduction issue 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2007 
 
The government decided yesterday to extend its economic sanctions on 
North Korea for another six months, given that there has been no 
progress on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. 
This policy will be officially adopted by a cabinet meeting to be 
held soon. The sanctions include measures to prohibit North Korean 
vessels from entering Japanese ports and the North from exporting 
any items to Japan. The sanctions were initially imposed in October 
last year in reaction to North Korea's nuclear test. This April, the 
 
TOKYO 00004570  011 OF 017 
 
 
government extended the sanctions by six months to mid-October. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told reporters in Tokyo 
yesterday: "Since there has been no progress on the abduction issue, 
we are not in a situation in which we would decide to stop (the 
sanctions)." In reference to the Japan-North Korea working group 
session on bilateral normalization held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 
September, Machimura said: "Although the atmosphere was favorable, 
there was no substantive progress." 
 
Hearing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda emphasizing the need for 
"dialogue," some pointed out his difference policy stance from the 
tough posture of the former Abe administration. But North Korea has 
yet to make a sincere response on the abduction issue, so the 
current government also has judged it necessary to continue to apply 
pressure on the North. 
 
15) Japan feels sense of accomplishment in talks with North Korea 
owing to new dialogue-oriented policy, but extension of sanctions 
may draw fire from Pyongyang 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
October 1, 2007 
 
Through its talks with North Korea as part of the latest six-party 
talks, the Japanese government has felt a certain level of sense of 
accomplishment in the North's responses to the issue of Japanese 
nationals abducted by the North and other issues. Prime Minister 
Yasuo Fukuda's dialogue-oriented policy has apparently prompted the 
North react positively about improving relations with Japan. 
Nevertheless, Tokyo's decision to keep its economic sanctions 
against the North in place is certain to draw fire from Pyongyang. 
Striking a balance between dialogue and pressure will be a major 
challenge for the Fukuda administration. 
 
Japanese chief delegate and Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian 
Affairs Bureau chief Kenichiro Sasae yesterday revealed this view to 
reporters regarding the Japan-DPRK talks: "Although there was some 
difficulty, a basic agreement was reached on continuing discussing 
matters of common interest of the abduction issue and the settlement 
of past accounts through closer talks." 
 
In the latest multilateral talks, Sasae held a direct meeting with 
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Gwan only once for just 
45 minutes on Sept. 28. 
 
But Kim is not in charge of normalization talks with Japan, so 
substantial talks were not held on the abduction issue and other 
matters. 
 
Despite that, Japan has highly rated the North's response mainly 
because Kim in the Sept. 27 plenary session expressed the North's 
willingness to "make efforts to improve relations with Japan." 
 
The abduction issue and other bilateral matters will be discussed by 
the Japan-DRPK working group. Japan failed to nail down a specific 
date for the next meeting for the working group through the 
six-party talks. 
 
At the same time, there still remains concern that the United States 
might remove the North from its list of state sponsors of terrorism 
even if the abduction issue is not settled. Song Il Ho, North Korean 
 
TOKYO 00004570  012 OF 017 
 
 
ambassador in charge of diplomatic normalization talks with Japan in 
the bilateral working group, warned in the past that Japan's 
decision to continue its economic sanctions against the North would 
have an irreversible ill effect on the talks. 
 
Although Tokyo's decision to keep its economic sanctions against the 
North in place might again stall bilateral talks that seemed to have 
taken a step forward with Japan's new dialogue-oriented policy, 
reducing pressure on the North is unlikely to win public support. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda has declared that he would settle the 
abduction issue. But his administration has already found it policy 
toward North Korea creating difficulties. 
 
16) Prime Minister Fukuda likely to visit China in January, US after 
extra Diet session 
 
SANKEI (Top Play) (Full) 
October 1, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is now coordinating with Chinese 
President Hu Jintao a plan to hold their meeting in early January, 
it was learned yesterday. Fukuda is also considering a visit to the 
United Stated before the end of the year after the current 
extraordinary Diet session closes. He aims to build cooperative 
relations with China in order to resolve the pending issue of 
China's gas exploration in the East China Sea, as well as North 
Korea's nuclear and abduction issues, by strengthening bilateral 
ties, while placing importance on Japan-US relations. This was 
revealed by government sources. 
 
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed in the Japan-China summit 
in April his plan to go to China in this year. In his telephone 
conversation with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao soon after assuming 
office, Fukuda expressed his willingness to visit China at an early 
date. Wen also requested on Sept. 27 former Prime Minister Yoshiro 
Mori, who was visiting Beijing, for an early visit to China by 
Fukuda. 
 
However, the Japanese government had to set Fukuda's trip to China 
for early next year because it expected that the Diet schedule would 
not allow Fukuda to leave Japan since a debate on a new bill to 
continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean is expected to encounter difficulties. 
 
Tokyo and Beijing had agreed to compile a joint plan to develop gas 
fields in the East China Sea, but coordination has been stalled. The 
two countries appear to be hoping to demonstrate friendly relations 
at a time when Fukuda visits China, resolving the gas exploration 
issue by that time. Therefore, Tokyo and Beijing seem to have 
determined that there was not much time if Fukuda visited China this 
year. 
 
Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa is 
planning to visit China in December. A source familiar with the 
Foreign Ministry said, "The prime minister aims to achieve 
diplomatic results bigger than those of Ozawa" by going to China 
after Ozawa. 
 
A senior Foreign Ministry official said: "The purpose of Fukuda's 
plan to visit Washington before Beijing is to play up his stance of 
attaching emphasis to relations with the US" since his foreign 
 
TOKYO 00004570  013 OF 017 
 
 
policy is regarded as being tilted to China. With an eye on a 
temporary suspension of the MSDF refueling mission after the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law expires on Nov. 1, Fukuda intends 
to convey the Japanese government's policy of continuing its 
contribution to the international community. 
 
17) Prime Minister Fukuda will deliver general-policy speech today, 
set stage for Diet debate after lapse of three weeks 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2007 
 
Shinichiro Nishida 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will today deliver a general-policy 
speech at a full session of both the chambers of the Diet, setting 
the stage for debate in the Diet, which has been in effect in 
"spontaneous recess" for about three weeks in the wake of former 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's abrupt announcement of his resignation. 
 
The positions in the Upper House between the ruling and opposition 
blocs were reversed as a result of the latest Upper House election, 
and expectations had been building over Diet debate on such issues 
as the pension fiasco and social disparities, but no debate has been 
held so far for two months since the election. The extraordinary 
Diet session was convened on Sept. 10, but soon after the opening of 
the session, it in effect went into recess owing to the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) presidential election. Given that 
the current Diet session is to end on Nov. 10, there are only 41 
days before the Diet closes. The expiration date of the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law on Nov. 1 is also approaching. 
 
The government will submit a new bill intended to continue the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean, but the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
still remains in the same stand of calling for withdrawing the 
MSDF. 
 
On the "politics-and-money" issue, the LDP intends to put on hold a 
measure for disclosing all receipts of expenses, failing to act in 
concert with its junior coalition partner New Komeito, which has 
called for disclosure of all receipts. 
 
Meanwhile, the DPJ, by making good use of the reversal of the 
positions between the ruling and opposition blocs in the Upper 
House, intends to pass a bill aimed at compensating for each 
farmer's income and a bill for creating a child allowance system to 
pay 26,000 yen monthly in the Upper House and differentiate itself 
from the ruling bloc and create a move for a dissolution of the 
Lower House. On the "politics-and-money" issue, as well, the DPJ 
intends to pass a bill revising (the Political Funds Control Law) so 
as to obligate lawmakers to attach receipts of every expense 
amounting to one yen or more (excluding the personnel expenses) in 
the Upper House and rock the ruling parties. 
 
18) LDP branch headed by prime minister received improper donations 
worth 2.1 million yen during Lower House election campaigns from two 
companies with contractual relationship with state 
 
ASAHI (Page 39) (Full) 
September 29, 2007 
 
 
TOKYO 00004570  014 OF 017 
 
 
The Asahi Shimbun has learned that the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) Gunma Constituency No. 4 branch headed by Prime Minister 
Fukuda (elected from the Lower House Gunma Constituency No. 4) 
received donations totaling 2.1 million yen from a cleaning company 
and a construction company -- both are contractors for 
stated-sponsored public works located in Gunma Prefecture -- on or 
around the days Lower House elections were officially announced in 
2003 and 2005. The Public Offices Election Law bans companies that 
have a contractual relationship with the state from making donations 
in connection with national elections and candidates from receiving 
such donations. 
 
In response to a question asked by this newspaper, Fukuda's office 
replied that it had confirmed that there was no possibility of those 
donations causing misunderstanding, and that the office has taken 
procedures to return the money to those companies. It also explained 
that it was difficult to confirm the details of businesses of the 
donor companies. According to the political fund report filed by the 
branch office, the cleaning company in Takasaki City donated 1 
million yen on Oct. 27, 2003 and on Sept. 1, 2005 respectively. The 
construction company in Fujioka City donated 100,000 yen on Aug. 30, 
¶2005. The Lower House election in 2003 was officially announced on 
Oct. 28 and the one in 2005 on August 30, 2005. 
 
The cleaning company received orders for cleaning national highways 
in fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2005 for 130 million yen and 140 million 
yen respectively from the Land, Infrastructure and Transport 
Ministry. The construction company received an order worth 
approximately 180 million yen from the same ministry for national 
highway repair work from March to November, 2005 for March. 
 
19) Government, ruling bloc to compile supplementary budget bill on 
scale of 180 billion yen as a result of freezing increase in medical 
copayments 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 1, 2007 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Policy Research Council 
Chairman Sadakazu Tanigaki noted on a TV-Asahi talk show yesterday 
that a supplementary budget bill for fiscal 2007 "may be compiled" 
in order to freeze the increase in medical copayments for the 
elderly. The government and the ruling coalition intend to shape the 
supplementary budget bill by the end of the month and put it forward 
in the Diet at the beginning of its ordinary session to be convened 
next year. The junior coalition partner New Komeito's Policy 
Research Council Chairman Tetsuo Saito, as well, echoed Tanigaki's 
view, noting, "That is one approach." Saito indicated that the scale 
of a supplementary budget is expected to be 180 billion yen or so. 
 
A ceiling on budgetary requests for a fiscal 2008 budget determined 
in August under the Abe administration indicates squeezing the 
social welfare-related budget by 220 billion yen. An increase in 
copayments was slated for April 2008, but this increase will now be 
frozen. This means the increased portion will be paid from the 
national coffers. But, if the national coffers' burden in this 
regard is carried over to fiscal 2008, the budget will exceed the 
budgetary request ceiling. So the government and the ruling parties 
have now decided to handle the increase portion in a supplementary 
budget for fiscal 2007. 
 
20) DPJ to submit a storm of own bills to current Diet session 
 
TOKYO 00004570  015 OF 017 
 
 
aiming at tying up session and shaking the Fukuda government 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 1, 2007 
 
The Diet will today resume its extraordinary session for the first 
time in three weeks with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's policy speech 
at the plenary sessions of its two chambers. The main opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is geared up to go on the offensive 
to shake the government and ruling parties by submitting more than 
ten of its own bills to the current session. The DPJ aims to have 
the Upper House, which it now controls, pass its bills, which are 
drawn from pledges included in its manifesto for the July House of 
Councillors election. In this way, the largest opposition party 
plans to demonstrate its strong political presence to the public. 
 
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama in a speech yesterday in Mukawa 
Town, Hokkaido, referred to a bill to ban the use of pension 
premiums for other purposes than pension benefits: 
 
"I think the bill will probably clear the Upper House. But it will 
not pass through the Lower House as is. However, there is an enough 
possibility that the bill will be enacted if you support our 
efforts." 
 
Hatoyama stressed that his party would play up its efforts in 
deliberations at the Lower House after the measure clears the Upper 
House, while shaking the ruling coalition. 
 
The DPJ initially planed to reduce the number of bills to be 
submitted to the ongoing session because it was concerned that it 
might be criticized for its insufficient preparations for fiscal 
sources to cover the costs of pension administration. 
 
However, the party has now assumed the policy of submitting its own 
bills out of fear that the ruling coalition would get all the 
credits if bills are enacted through discussions between the ruling 
and opposition camps based on Prime Minister Fukuda's 
discussion-oriented policy. DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa instructed 
the members of the "Next Cabinet" on Sept. 26, saying, "I don't care 
about details. I want you to present bills as quickly as possible." 
 
21) Japan to demand punishment of Burmese soldier who shot and 
killed Japanese journalist amid civil demonstrations in Burma 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Excerpts) 
September 29, 2007 
 
The government yesterday decided to demand that the military junta 
of Burma (Myanmar) probe into the death of the Japanese photo 
journalist, Kenji Nagai (50), after he was shot by security troops 
of the military junta who were firing on antigovernment protesters. 
The government will seek the punishment of the soldier who killed 
Nagai. This stance will be conveyed to the military regime by Deputy 
Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka, who arrives in Burma possibly 
today. If the Burmese government fails to respond fully to Japan's 
request, Tokyo may freeze economic cooperation, mainly in the area 
of humanitarian aid. 
 
Late yesterday, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda told reporters he 
intended to strongly demand a full account of the incident: "I think 
it absolutely necessary for them to investigate the incident." 
 
TOKYO 00004570  016 OF 017 
 
 
Behind Fukuda's strong stance is the emerging proof that Nagai, who 
was covering antigovernment demonstrations, was shot by a soldier at 
point-blank range. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura gave an account of how 
the reporter had been killed at a press briefing yesterday: "The 
bullet entered into the lower part of his chest from the right side, 
passed through his heart, and exited from the left side of his back. 
We've received a report that he would have died instantly of massive 
blood loss." Foreign Minister Masakiho Komura, who is now in the 
United States, told reporters: "There is the information that the 
reporter was deliberately shot to death." 
 
If the reporter was intentionally killed, "Criticism will erupt 
among (the Japanese public). In addition, the incident raises 
questions about military law," a senior Foreign Ministry official 
noted. According to the information that came to the ministry soon 
after the occurrence of the incident, it was reported that Nagai was 
"shot by a stray bullet." 
 
22) Japan may reconsider relations with Burma in wake of death of 
Japanese reporter 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2007 
 
Masahisa Mikawa, Bangkok 
 
In order to deal with the incident of the Japanese journalist, Kenji 
Nagai (50), having been shot to death at a time when he had been 
covering antigovernment demonstrators in Rangoon (Yangon), Burma, 
Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka (for Political Affairs) 
arrived in Burma yesterday evening. According to the Japanese 
Embassy in Rangoon, Yabunaka intends to lodge a strong protest with 
senior members of the Burmese military junta over the death of the 
Japanese reporter and suggest a comprehensive review of relations 
with Burma. 
 
Yabunaka intends to stay in Rangoon one night and move today to the 
capital of Burma, Naypyidaw, and meet there with leaders of the 
military junta, including Deputy Foreign Minister Kyaw Thu. Yabunaka 
will demand a full account of how Nagai was shot and urge the 
military junta to immediately end the armed crackdown on civil 
demonstrations of citizens and monks. 
 
Yabunaka also is expected to explain Japan's intention to reconsider 
its loan and grant aid to Burma in protest against the junta's use 
of force to oppress democratic forces. 
 
23) Chief cabinet secretary says Japan will follow international 
agreement on sanctions against Burma (Myanmar) 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2007 
 
Appearing on a Fuji-TV talk show yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Nobutaka Machimura spoke of the question of whether Japan would step 
up sanctions against Burma and again indicated a cautious view, 
saying: "China is an overwhelming aid-donor (to Burma). If we drive 
Myanmar into coming much closer to China, can we bring peace to 
Southeast Asia?" On the other hand, Machimura noted, "It is only 
natural for Japan to follow an international decision if it is 
 
TOKYO 00004570  017 OF 017 
 
 
made." Machimura thus indicated an intention to follow an 
international decision if it is made at the United Nations Security 
Council or at other international organizations. 
 
DONOVAN