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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 004822 
 
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 10/16/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
MSDF fueling mission: 
4) Asahi poll: 39 PERCENT  approve, 44 PERCENT  disapprove of MSDF 
operation in Indian Ocean; Fukuda Cabinet support slips to 47 
PERCENT  (Asahi) 
5) Government's new MSDF refueling-mission law to be limited to one 
year (Nikkei) 
6) Text of exchange in Upper House committee on MSDF refueling issue 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
7) Former JDA chief Gen Nakatani on TV talk show calls Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ) "terrorists" for rejecting MSDF service in the 
Indian Ocean (Mainichi) 
8) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura irritated at DPJ for not 
agreeing to prior consultation on antiterror bill or other 
legislation (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
DPJ's Afghan mission: 
9) With party split over Ozawa's ISAF proposal, DPJ is drafting 
legislation that would send civilians to Afghanistan instead of SDF 
troops (Sankei) 
10) DPJ counterproposal to antiterror law is centered on providing 
food aid to Afghanistan via NGOs (Nikkei) 
 
11) Japan, DPRK agree in informal contacts to hold by end of month 
working group talks on normalizing relations (Nikkei) 
 
12) Prime Minister Fukuda pledges 1 billion yen in ODA loans to 
Cambodia (Mainichi) 
 
13) Senior vice minister to visit Teheran, Iran (Mainichi) 
 
14) Political agenda: 
15) Idea of Lower House dissolution through discussions surfaces in 
ruling and opposition camps; "Election could be held next April," 
says DPJ secretary-general (Nikkei) 
16) DPJ pressure tactics on ruling camp centering on summoning 
witnesses, using party's investigative authority (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi & Sankei: 
Acute Medicine Association formulates guidelines on when to take 
terminal-stage patients off respirators 
 
Mainichi: 
Plaintiffs demand apology, relief over hepatitis-C through tainted 
blood 
 
Yomiuri: 
112 foreign crewmembers found missing from tuna fishing ships 
entering Japanese ports 
 
Nikkei: 
Government, ruling camp eye 80 PERCENT  cut in inheritance tax on 
small businesses 
 
TOKYO 00004822  002 OF 010 
 
 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Tokyo District Court recognizes for first time suicide due to 
harassment as work-related death 
 
Akahata: 
167 Okinawa residents demand retraction of history textbook 
screening 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Leak of interrogation records of boy: Arrest of doctor 
excessive 
(2) South Korean presidential election: Make it occasion to open new 
age 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Chinese Communist Party: Democratization is "scientific 
progress" 
(2) Arrest of expert medical witness: Concern that 
information-providers will shrink back 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) 10 years of Organ Transplant Law: How long will Diet put off 
review? 
(2) National Congress of Chinese Communist Party: China needs 
reforms for "harmonious society" 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) How will South Korean presidential candidates deal with North 
Korea? 
(2) Arrest of expert medical witness excessive 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Chinese Communist Party's National Congress: Don't avoid 
political reforms 
(2) 10 years of organ transplants: Diet must pass revision bill as 
early as possible 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Publication of book on interrogation records of boy: Arrest of 
information source cannot be ignored 
(2) Chinese Communist Party's National Congress: Can China creates 
true "harmonious society"? 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Akahata opposes consumption tax hike 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 14 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 16, 2007 
 
Spent the day at private residence in Nozawa. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 15 
 
07:55 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwaki at the Kantei. 
 
TOKYO 00004822  003 OF 010 
 
 
 
09:01 
Upper House Budget Committee meeting. 
 
11:58 
Returned to the Kantei. 
 
13:00 
Upper House Budget Committee meeting. 
 
17:01 
LDP executive meeting. 
 
17:35 
Met with Foreign Ministry Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau 
Director General Okuda at the Kantei. 
 
18:10 
Met with Cambodian National Assembly President Hen Samrin. 
 
19:55 
Returned to private residence. 
 
4) Poll: 39 PERCENT  for, 44 PERCENT  against continuing MSDF 
mission in Indian Ocean 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 16, 2007 
 
The Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide public 
opinion survey on Oct. 13-14, asking respondents if they support the 
government's plan to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
activities in the Indian Ocean. In response to this question, 39 
PERCENT  answered "yes," with 44 PERCENT  saying "no." The 
proportion of affirmative answers increased somewhat from 35 PERCENT 
 in a previous survey taken Sept. 13 in the wake of former Prime 
Minister Abe's clarification of his resignation. However, negative 
answers still outnumbered affirmative ones. 
 
The government will introduce a new legislative measure to the Diet 
in order for Japan to continue the MSDF's activities in the Indian 
Ocean. The newly planned legislation is to replace the Antiterrorism 
Special Measures Law, which is currently in effect (but is to run 
out on Nov. 1.). In the survey, respondents were also asked if they 
supported the new legislation. To this question, affirmative answers 
accounted for only 28 PERCENT , with negative ones at 48 PERCENT . 
 
Meanwhile, the approval rating for the Fukuda cabinet was 47 PERCENT 
, somewhat down from its inaugural 53 PERCENT  rating. The 
disapproval rating was 30 PERCENT  (27 PERCENT  in the last survey). 
Respondents were further asked when they thought the House of 
Representatives should be dissolved for a general election. In the 
breakdown of answers to this question, the proportion of those who 
think the Diet's lower chamber should be dissolved early decreased 
substantially from 50 PERCENT  in the Sept. 13 survey to 32 PERCENT 
in the survey this time. The proportion of those who think there is 
no need to hurry increased from 43 PERCENT  to 60 PERCENT . 
 
Asked about the desirable form of government, public opinion was 
split, with 33 PERCENT  choosing a coalition government led by the 
Liberal Democratic Party and 32 PERCENT  preferring a coalition 
government led by the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto). In the 
 
TOKYO 00004822  004 OF 010 
 
 
Sept. 13 survey, 41 PERCENT  chose an LDP-led coalition, with 33 
PERCENT  opting for a DPJ-led coalition. 
 
5) Government sets one-year time limit for new antiterrorism 
legislation, reflecting LDP's consideration to New Komeito 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 16, 2007 
 
The government and the ruling coalition decided yesterday to set a 
one-year time limit for new legislation designed to extend the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. 
The government had outlined a bill with a two-year time limit and 
presented it to the opposition camp. But the New Komeito insisted 
that the law be limited to one year to ensure civilian control of 
the Self-Defense Force (SDF). Giving consideration to its ruling 
coalition partner's opinion, the Liberal Democratic Party decided to 
change the time limit. With an eye on the next House of 
Representatives election, the New Komeito aimed to play up its 
presence. It also intends to make more requests on the new 
legislation. 
 
In a press conference yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka 
Machimura implied that the government changed its draft bill out of 
consideration to the New Komeito' view. He said: "In the ruling 
coalition, there is a view calling for the term of validity to be 
set at one year to ensure civilian control. The government decided 
to take this view into account." A senior New Komeito member 
commented: "The one-year time limit will be desirable in terms of 
ensuring civilian control." 
 
Under the new legislation unveiled yesterday, the law would be 
effective for one year. The MSDF would supply fuel only to warships 
engaged in maritime intercept operations aimed to prevent the 
movement of terrorists or weapons in the Indian Ocean and not to 
aircraft carriers that may be involved in attacks in Iraq or 
Afghanistan. 
 
With a two-year time limit, the government's original draft required 
reporting the contents of SDF operations one year later, instead of 
incorporating a provision for Diet approval. 
 
However, the New Komeito expressed discontent with the exclusion of 
the requirement for Diet approval. It insisted that the term of 
validity be limited to one year and a vote be taken in the Diet 
every year in order to ensure civilian control. 
 
6) Diet interpellations 
 
TOKYO (Page 7) (Abridged) 
October 16, 2007 
 
The following is a gist of questions and answers in a meeting 
yesterday of the House of Councillors Budget Committee. 
 
Refueling activities 
 
Akio Sato (Liberal Democratic Party): The Maritime Self-Defense 
Force has been tasked with refueling in the Indian Ocean. Do you 
think this is against the Constitution? 
 
Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba: The government has set up noncombat 
 
TOKYO 00004822  005 OF 010 
 
 
areas to avoid using armed force. It's inconceivable to conflict 
with Article 9 of the Constitution. I want the Democratic Party of 
Japan to state its definition of collective self-defense. If they 
are going to send out the Self-Defense Forces to participate in the 
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), they should talk 
about the SDF's competence to use weapons and the equipment it would 
carry. 
 
Sato: What's your view of UN-centered diplomacy? 
 
Ishiba: (Some contend that) if there's a United Nations resolution, 
it's alright to use armed force. This kind of view is inconsistent 
with the government's view. If Japan accepts the use of armed force 
in Northeast Asia, it will obviously help the United States, not the 
United Nations. 
 
Sato: What about the new legislation to continue the MSDF's 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean? 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura: Japan cannot stay away 
from the war on terror. That's a basic premise. The new law will be 
the Diet's current approval itself. The Diet's deliberation on the 
legislation is tantamount to its approval. 
 
Sato: There are questions about which operation the fuel provided by 
Japan was used for. Do you think it's difficult to confirm that? 
 
Ishiba: No country will disclose everything about military 
intelligence. However, the United States discloses as much 
information as possible. It's the government's responsibility to 
come up with materials for discussions. We're making our utmost 
efforts to disclose information. 
 
7) Gen Nakatani criticizes DPJ for its opposition to MSDF refueling 
operations, saying, "Only terrorists are opposing refueling 
activities" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 16, 2007 
 
Referring to the Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ or Minshuto) 
opposition to continuation of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
(MSDF) refueling operations in the Indian Ocean, Gen Nakatani, 
former Defense Agency director general and chairman of the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) Research Commission on Security, during a 
Fuji-TV talk show yesterday said, "The MSDF operation is highly 
praised by the international community. Only terrorists are opposing 
the operations." 
 
The DPJ yesterday was strongly offended by this comment. Diet 
Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka told a press conference 
that "Nakatani's comment was tantamount to saying that those who do 
not support the refueling operation are all terrorists. There are 
many in the LDP who call themselves security specialists. I feel 
this is a very dangerous trend." 
 
Mitsuru Sakurai  also took up this remark at an Upper House Budget 
Committee meeting. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was busy tamping down 
the repercussions of Natakani's remark, saying, "I believe he made 
that remark as an analogy, but it was not appropriate." 
 
8) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura irritated by Diet deliberations 
 
TOKYO 00004822  006 OF 010 
 
 
on new refueling bill not moving forward as planned 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
October 16, 2007 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura has been saying 
frequently that it is "frustrating" that Diet deliberations on the 
continued refueling operation in the Indian Ocean have yet to move 
forward. Although the government and ruling coalition considered the 
budget committee meetings of the two houses of the Diet to be prior 
consultations on the new refueling bill, the main opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) pursued at those 
sessions the alleged diversion of fuel provided by the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force for use in the Iraq operation. 
 
Machimura stated at a press conference yesterday: 
 
"We presented our outline of the bill and hoped to discuss it at the 
Lower House Budget Committee.  It is regrettable that debate on the 
contents of the bill was not conducted. I hope that positive 
discussion will be carried out in the (Upper House)." 
 
Since last week, he has been saying: "Frankly speaking, I am not 
satisfied with Diet debate." 
 
With prior consultations in mind, the government presented the DPJ 
the outline of the new bill, but the DPJ is unlikely to agree to 
hold prior consultations. 
 
9) Japan's ISAF participation limited to civilian assistance only: 
Ozawa 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 16, 2007 
 
Ichiro Ozawa, president of the leading opposition Democratic Party 
of Japan (Minshuto), has advocated participating in the 
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. In 
this regard, Ozawa clarified his view yesterday, limiting Japan's 
ISAF participation to civilian assistance like food aid. In 
response, the DPJ will incorporate ISAF participation in its 
counterproposal to the ruling coalition's new antiterror 
legislation. However, Ozawa has yet to show his view of how to 
involve the Self-Defense Forces in civilian assistance. The DPJ is 
going to discuss it from now on. 
 
Ozawa met with Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) President 
Tsuyoshi Takagi yesterday. "They take it as if I'm saying the 
 
SIPDIS 
Self-Defense Forces will participate in combat operations," Ozawa 
said in his meeting with Takagi. "But," Ozawa went on, "Japan is 
probably not expected to go so far as to do so." He added, "I'm 
saying there are a lot of things to do in civilian areas." 
Specifically, Ozawa cited food aid to the Afghan people. 
 
Ozawa, writing for a monthly magazine that hit store shelves on Oct. 
9, advocated sending SDF members to participate in ISAF after the 
DPJ takes the reins of government. His article about the SDF's 
involvement in ISAF drew objections from within his party. 
Meanwhile, the DPJ has been forming a united front in the Diet with 
the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party 
(Shaminto). The JCP and the SDP, however, are both critical of 
Ozawa's advocacy, with SDP President Mizuho Fukushima calling it 
 
TOKYO 00004822  007 OF 010 
 
 
"unconstitutional." Ozawa is believed to have aimed at dodging the 
proliferation of objections by clarifying his view that restricts 
Japan's ISAF participation to civilian assistance. 
 
Ozawa's advocacy of Japan's ISAF participation has also affected his 
party in its making of a counterproposal to the government's new 
antiterror legislation. "We will work out (bare bones for the DPJ's 
counterproposal) in a few days about Japan's role in ISAF," DPJ 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama said yesterday. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
10) DPJ mulling counterproposal with focus on food aid: Ozawa also 
attaches importance to assistance for human needs 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
October 16, 2007 
 
As a proposal countering the government and ruling camp-sponsored 
new legislation intended to continue Japan's refueling operations, 
the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) plans to compile 
assistance measures with focus on food aid to Afghanistan led by 
non-governmental organizations.  It will undertake coordination to 
compile its plan as a bill. 
 
The DPJ is considering food aid drawing funds from the official 
development assistance (ODA) budget. Commenting on this 
counterproposal, Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama in a speech given 
yesterday noted, "We want to finalize our ideas around the time the 
government adopts its bill at a cabinet meeting. I think it would be 
best if we compile our proposals into a bill." 
 
However, some party members are opposing President Ichiro Ozawa's 
call for active participation in peace operations involving the use 
of armed force led by the United Nations, such as participation in 
the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. 
 
Taking this situation into account, Ozawa is gradually shifting 
emphasis to assistance for basic human needs. 
 
When Tsuyoshi Takagi, chairman of the Japanese Trade Union 
Confederation, asked Ozawa at the DPJ headquarters yesterday, "You 
are saying that Japan should take part in battles involving the use 
of armed force. What is your view on participation the ISAF?", Ozawa 
replied, "No countries in the world would expect Japan in terms of 
armed force. There are many other things Japan can contribute to the 
nation, including food aid." 
 
11) Japan, North Korea agree to hold working group session this 
month 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 16, 2007 
 
Japanese and North Korean officials in charge of negotiations on 
normalizing bilateral ties met in Shenyang, China, on Oct. 14. In 
the meeting, both sides agreed to hold later this month the next 
session of the working group on normalizing ties as part of the 
six-party talks, according to informed sources. They also agreed to 
accelerate the discussion by holding a working-group session several 
times, if necessary, by the end of this year. However, on the key 
issue for Japan of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea, no 
progress was made in the meeting. 
 
 
TOKYO 00004822  008 OF 010 
 
 
Attending the meeting were Foreign Ministry North and East Asian 
Division head Shigeo Yamada and Ambassador of North Korea for 
Normalization Talks with Japan Song Il Ho. Yamada returned to Japan 
yesterday. 
 
A senior Foreign Ministry official said yesterday: "There was no 
major breakthrough." According to this official, an agreement is 
unlikely to be reached in the next working-group session, and in 
order to produce results, it will be necessary to hold several 
meetings by the end of the year. Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi 
stated in a press conference: "We are willing to hold talks with 
North Korea in any form if they contribute to resolving (bilateral 
pending issues)." 
 
Thinking of Kuala Lumpur as the site for the next session, Japan 
will carry out coordination with countries concerned. 
 
According to sources involved in the meeting on the 14th, Japan 
insisted that Pyongyang return Japanese abduction victims to Japan 
at an early date and clear up the details of the issue. Meanwhile, 
North Korea renewed its call for resolving the issue of "settling 
past accounts." Both reconfirmed the need for accelerating talks to 
normalize bilateral diplomatic relations. On the issues of 
abductions and past accounts, a senior government official remarked: 
"In the meeting, both sides tried to probe into the other side's 
readiness to move the issue forward." 
 
12) Yen loans worth 1 billion yen to be extended to Cambodia: Prime 
minister meets with National Assembly president 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Slightly abridged) 
October 16, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda yesterday met with Cambodian National 
Assembly President Hen Samrin at the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence (Kantei). He conveyed a plan to extend new yen loans worth 
1 billion yen to Cambodia as a measure to reduce poverty. Fukuda at 
the same time sought further consolidation of that nation's 
investment environment to promote investment by Japanese companies. 
 
Fukuda made that request in response to the president's comment, "I 
hope relations between Japan and Cambodia will develop in the 
economic field, such as investment and tourism," which he made after 
expressing gratitude for Japan's official development assistance. 
 
13) Senior Vice Foreign Minister to leave for Tehran 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5 (Full) 
October 16, 2007 
 
Regarding the incident of Satoshi Nakamura (23), a senior at 
Yokonama National University,  being kidnapped by an armed group 
while traveling in southeast Iran, Senior Vice Foreign Minister 
Itsunori Onodera, head of the Foreign Ministry Emergency Measures 
Headquarters, will leave for Tehran in order to find a breakthrough 
in the matter. He will stay in Tehran until the 19th and meet with 
key government officials and security officials to ask them to 
secure Nakamura's safety and settle the case at an early date. 
 
14) Idea of Lower House dissolution through discussions surfaces in 
ruling and opposition camps; "Election could be held next April," 
says DPJ secretary-general 
 
TOKYO 00004822  009 OF 010 
 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 16, 2007 
 
There is a rumor in the ruling and opposition parties that the House 
of Representatives will be dissolved "through discussions" next 
April after the compilation of the budget for fiscal 2008. 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary-General Yukio Hatoyama 
stated in a speech in Tokyo yesterday: 
 
"I think around April would be the most likely timing for a 
dissolution of the Lower House. It is possible that compiling the 
budget would be considered as a condition for (Lower House 
dissolution) in discussions." 
 
In the government and ruling coalition, the idea of dissolving the 
Lower House thorough discussions has been talked about. However, it 
was the first time for a DPJ executive to talk about it. The 
possibility is that calls for a general election after the Lower 
House is dissolved in April will likely become stronger. 
 
Asked by reporters last night about Hatoyama's remarks, Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda responded: 
 
"I don't feel like talking about it now. What we should do first is 
pass the bill (to enable the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue 
its refueling operation). I'm not thinking about the timing of a 
dissolution of the Lower House." 
 
During the presidential campaign for the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP), Fukuda said: "If we can share awareness of the issues, there 
will be negotiations with the opposition camp." 
 
The opposition camp traded places with the ruling coalition in the 
July House of Councillors election. The DPJ is expected to oppose 
the key bills backed by its victory in the latest Upper House 
election. Therefore, the present situation is that major bills, 
except for the FY 2008 budget, will unlikely clear the Diet. Many in 
the government and ruling bloc are gradually thinking that it will 
be unavoidable to dissolve the Lower House to call a general 
election after the budget is approved. 
 
15) Refueling issue takes center stage in Upper House Budget 
Committee deliberations; DPJ threatens ruling camp with summoning 
witnesses and invoking investigative powers, setting off confusion 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
October 16, 2007 
 
Deliberations started yesterday at the House of Councillors Budget 
Committee in the divided Diet. Focused on the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, the main opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or DPJ) has begun threatening 
the ruling camp with summoning witnesses to the Diet and exercising 
the right to investigate state affairs. The DPJ is visibly split 
over the hard-line approach, however. The ruling parties have no 
winning hand to play, either. The trends of public opinion are 
likely to sway the future course of the standoff between the ruling 
and opposition camps. 
 
DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chair Kenji Yamaoka in a press conference 
yesterday again referred to the Defense Ministry's correction this 
 
TOKYO 00004822  010 OF 010 
 
 
past September of the amount of oil provided to a US oiler in 2003, 
saying, "We want to know who is really responsible for the matter as 
soon as possible." He also revealed the DPJ's plan to summon former 
Vice Administrative Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya and an 
administrative official responsible for the matter to the Diet to 
testify before the Upper House Budget Committee and other venues. 
 
Given its majority in the Upper House, it is possible for the 
opposition bloc to decide to summon witnesses to the Diet, invoke 
the right to investigate state affairs, and adopt a censure motion 
in the upper chamber. Many in the DPJ think the party should use 
such cards actively. Appearing on an NHK talk show on Oct. 14, DPJ 
shadow foreign minister Yoshio Hachiro called for Diet testimony by 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who was chief cabinet secretary in 
¶2003. 
 
Attention is specifically focused on the allegation that oil 
provided by the MSDF was diverted for use in the Iraq war. Yamaoka 
referred to the possibility of the Upper House exercising its 
investigative powers in order to examine operational actions taken 
by the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk and the Aegis destroyer USS 
Paul Hamilton that received oil directly or indirectly from the 
MSDF. 
 
Such a hard-line approach is popular among Lower House DPJ 
lawmakers, including Yamaoka. At the same time, the overheated 
debate yesterday set off confusion in the DPJ Upper House. Upper 
House Budget Committee principal director Mitsuru Sakurai after the 
committee meeting told the press corps about summoning Moriya and 
others: "(The Upper House) does not know yet what the problem is." 
 
The Upper House customarily decides unanimously on such matters as 
summoning witnesses to the Diet and invoking investigative powers. 
Yamaoka said: "Is it proper to decided on a vital state matter based 
only on an agreement between the ruling and opposition blocs, (as 
before)?" But a senior Upper House Diet Affairs Committee officer 
grumbled: "The procedural requirements would be extremely high, so 
things would not be that easy." A budget committee member also 
voiced displeasure with the DPJ Lower House caucus. 
 
Cautious views are also heard in the DPJ Lower House caucus. 
Summoning witnesses and exercising investigative powers might result 
in a censure motion against the prime minister, depending on how 
things turn out. The adoption of a censure motion might be followed 
by a Lower House dissolution for a snap general election. Pessimism 
is simmering in the party that the hard-line policy course alone is 
not enough to keep attracting voters. 
 
With an eye on discord in the DPJ, the government and ruling parties 
are trying to turn the tables. In the Upper House Budget Committee 
session yesterday, Liberal Democratic Party member Akio Sato asked 
for the government's view on DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa's proposal 
for joining the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 
Afghanistan. In response, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba blasted 
Ozawa, saying, "It is not appropriate politically to call for taking 
part in the ISAF without thoroughly discussing the guidelines for 
weapons use." 
 
SCHIEFFER