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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 005032 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 10/29/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
(1) Editorial: US ambassador's advice must be utilized regarding 
abduction and delisting issues (Sankei) 
 
(2) Government, ruling bloc decide to have antiterrorism passed by 
Lower House in deference to US; DPJ to be pressed for collective 
responsibility (Yomiuri) 
 
(3) War on terror-Japan's option: Japan's immature view of security; 
US growing doubtful of Japan; US strategy overshadowed (Mainichi) 
 
(4) Editorial: New antiterrorism legislation from a commonsense 
viewpoint unnecessary (Mainichi) 
 
(5) Poll on new Fukuda cabinet, political parties (Nikkei) 
 
(6) First month of Fukuda cabinet (Part 2): Two LDP boatmen to row 
the party to the next Lower House election (Nikkei) 
 
(7) First month of Fukuda cabinet (Conclusion): New Komeito growing 
more concerned and too worn out for next Lower House election 
(Nikkei) 
 
(8) Guide to ensuring security: India preparing to counter rising 
China in contrast to Japan, which lacks a policy (Nikkei) 
 
(9) Government, steelmakers to develop hydrogen-powered blast 
furnace to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 PERCENT  (Sankei) 
 
(10) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(11) EDITORIALS 
 
(12) Prime Minister's schedule, October 27 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Editorial: US ambassador's advice must be utilized regarding 
abduction and delisting issues 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 27, 2007 
 
It has been reported in the United States that US Ambassador to 
Japan Thomas Schieffer had sent an official telegram to President 
George W. Bush urging him not to delist North Korea as a state 
sponsor of terrorism. 
 
In March 2006, Ambassador Schieffer visited the site in Niigata City 
where Megumi Yokota had been abducted. At the site, Schieffer said: 
"This is one of the saddest, if not the saddest, stories I have ever 
heard. I don't think anyone that could walk the streets could not be 
touched and affected by what happened. It's something that is so 
awful that you just can't imagine it, and yet I could feel it 
today." In April 2006, a meeting took place between President Bush 
and Sakie Yokota, mother of Megumi, reportedly owing to efforts by 
Ambassador Schieffer. 
 
The advice by Ambassador Schieffer, who takes an accommodating view 
toward the abduction issue, is an encouraging message to the 
Japanese government, which is wary of the United States delisting 
 
TOKYO 00005032  002 OF 013 
 
 
the North before the abduction issue makes any progress. The 
government should take advantage of the ambassador's advice in 
Japan's policy toward the United States. 
 
Visiting the United States, Vice-Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi and 
others have been briefed by US State Department officials on the 
question of delisting the North and other matters in the run-up to 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's visit to the United States in 
mid-November. Prime Minister Fukuda must clearly tell President Bush 
that he is opposed to delisting the North unless the abduction issue 
is settled. 
 
In 1987, a KAL jetliner was bombed by North Korean agents, including 
Kim Hyon Hui who had learned Japanese from Japanese abductee Yaeko 
Taguchi. As evidenced by this, the abduction of Japanese nationals 
was committed by the state as part of its acts of terrorism. Megumi 
Yokota and Japanese abductees were also forced to teach Japanese to 
North Korean agents. 
 
To Japan, North Korea will remain as a terrorist state or a state 
sponsor of terrorism unless the abduction issue is resolved. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda met with representatives of the Association of 
the Families of Victims of Kidnapped by North Korea on the night of 
Oct. 26 in which the premier said: "I would like to mend relations 
with North Korea, if possible. The abduction issue is the first step 
to that end." There was every reason for the prime minister to meet 
with abductees' families. He should have done so earlier. 
 
Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, who is reportedly 
eager to delist the North, has told a subcommittee of the US House 
Committee on Foreign Affairs: "I will continue urging North Korea to 
respond to Japan's concern." Triggered by Ambassador Schieffer's 
advice, we hope to see heated debate in the US Congress on the 
abduction and delisting issues. 
 
(2) Government, ruling bloc decide to have antiterrorism passed by 
Lower House in deference to US; DPJ to be pressed for collective 
responsibility 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) 
October 28, 2007 
 
The government and ruling parties have decided to have a new 
antiterrorism bill passed by the House of Representatives and then 
send it to the House of Councillors. Behind the decision lies their 
intention to play up Japan's commitment to the international 
community, as well as consideration to the United States, which 
spearheads the war on terrorism. The decision is also designed to 
press the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), the largest 
party in the Upper House, to share responsibility. But given the 
DPJ's adamant opposition to the legislation, the fate of the bill 
remains to be seen. 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's services to provide fuel and water 
to naval vessels of such countries as the United States, Britain, 
and Pakistan in the Indian Ocean have been a symbol of Japan's 
commitment to the international community. There is strong concern 
in the government that discontinuing the MSDF operations would end 
up sending the wrong message to the international community that 
Japan has given up on the war on terrorism. 
 
 
TOKYO 00005032  003 OF 013 
 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is scheduled to visit the United States 
in mid-November. He is expected to reaffirm the Japan-US alliance 
and exchange views on the war on terrorism (with President George W. 
Bush). A government source said on Oct. 27, "The Diet must not be 
out of session while the prime minister is visiting the United 
States. We cannot afford to give up on the new antiterrorism." 
 
The decision to have Lower House approval for the new legislation is 
tinged with the ruling bloc's strategy against the DPJ. 
 
Once the bill is sent to the Upper House, a decision on whether to 
vote it down, kill it without finishing deliberations, or carry it 
over to the next Diet session would be left to the DPJ. A senior LDP 
lawmaker took this view: "The DPJ's view on the war on terrorism 
would be exposed. The party would not be able to act 
irresponsibly." 
 
LDP Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki has exhibited an intension to 
discuss with the DPJ the question of extending the current Diet 
session beyond Nov. 10. 
 
The government and ruling parties intend to undertake final 
coordination for a timetable for Lower House approval of the new 
legislation and the length of an extension based on such events as 
sworn Diet testimony on Oct. 29 by former Vice-Defense Minister 
Takemasa Moriya and party-head debates on Oct. 31. 
 
They intend to extend the Diet session by three weeks to one month 
so that it would not affect budget compilation for the next fiscal 
year that would begin in earnest in mid-December. 
 
In the event the bill is voted down in the Upper House, the ruling 
camp would be pressed for a decision on whether to go for 
re-adoption by the Lower House by using a two-thirds majority rule. 
There is a view in the ruling camp that they should not hesitate to 
resort to re-adoption by the Lower House, for such is stipulated in 
the Constitution. At the same time, cautious views are deep-seated 
especially in the New Komeito. 
 
Re-adoption of the bill by the Lower House might be followed by the 
DPJ-led Upper House's approval of a censure motion against Prime 
Minister Fukuda that would result in Lower House dissolution for a 
snap general election. The New Komeito, which wants to delay Lower 
House dissolution, is reluctant about the bill's re-adoption. 
 
Meanwhile, the DPJ, alarmed at Diet business proceeding at the 
ruling bloc's pace, intends to focus on uncovering facts about the 
Moriya scandal and alleged diversion of Japanese fuel. With views in 
the party split over the MSDF operations, the DPJ's effort to come 
up with its own counterproposal is facing difficulty, however. A DPJ 
lawmaker commented, "If the Diet is extended, we would receive 
growing calls from the ruling bloc for a counterproposal. We might 
find it difficult to respond to those calls." 
 
(3) War on terror-Japan's option: Japan's immature view of security; 
US growing doubtful of Japan; US strategy overshadowed 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 24, 2007 
 
"Japan is undertaking the burden of keeping the sealanes in the 
Indian Ocean and holding the terrorists at bay. If Japan 
 
TOKYO 00005032  004 OF 013 
 
 
discontinues its refueling activities, another country will have to 
fill the gap. It's not in Japan's interests." With this, US 
Ambassador to Japan Schieffer and other high-ranking US government 
officials have repeatedly played up the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. 
 
The MSDF has been tasked with antiterror activities in the Indian 
Ocean. In Japan, all eyes are on the MSDF's refueling activities 
only, with a strong propensity to interpret the MSDF's activities 
there in a narrow sense. In the United States, however, 
counterterrorism in the Indian Ocean has a broader meaning. 
Antiterror operations there are considered helpful in deterring 
terrorists to block their drug trafficking and their international 
movements. 
 
In the globalized world economy, the security of sealanes in the 
Indian Ocean-ranging from East Africa to Southeast Asia-is gaining 
in strategic importance. Asia, including India and other South Asian 
countries, is now the world's growth center. Japan, which depends on 
the Middle East for 90 PERCENT  of its crude oil imports, is rapidly 
expanding its trade with countries in the region. So are the United 
States and Europe. That is why both France and Germany, which 
strongly opposed the Iraq war, are participating in coalition 
activities in the Indian Ocean, where they are undertaking security 
and deterrence operations. 
 
A war is usually fought between the armed forces of a country and 
another country. This conventional notion of a war, however, cannot 
cope with the war on terror, which is termed "asymmetrical." Even 
more multilateral approaches are needed for the war on terror. The 
constant security of sealanes is also one of these polygonal 
efforts. 
 
For the Bush administration, which is calling for an expansion of 
freedom, the war on terror-as well as the Iraq war-is synonymous 
with a battle on which to stake its fate. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, 
terrorist attacks, Japan has played a proactive role in fighting the 
war on terror. The US government is increasingly becoming concerned 
about Japan's future course of action, with US Ambassador Schieffer 
noting that Japan's breakaway from the war on terror will not only 
affect its relations with the United States but will also cause 
repercussions on the international community. Japan, in the 
international community, is seen as a special country for the United 
States. The US government is highly concerned about a chain of 
negative reactions Japan may bring about after its breakaway from 
the war on terror; if the United States lets Japan go, other 
countries may also break away from the war on terror. 
 
Against the backdrop of the deteriorated situation in Afghanistan, 
Germany and Italy among North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 
members that constitute the International Security Assistance Force 
(ISAF) have already rejected the United States' request for 
reinforcements. In Canada and the Netherlands, there are also 
arguments calling for pulling out their troops. Washington sees 
Japan's breakaway from the front at this point as the worst case. 
 
Former US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Pace thinks that it would 
not be militarily impossible for US forces to take over Japan's 
refueling activities. Politically, however, it has a different 
meaning. A US military official presumes that Japan would lose its 
presence in the region. 
 
 
TOKYO 00005032  005 OF 013 
 
 
President Bush and former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi built 
"the strongest alliance ever between Japan and the United States." 
Such a rocksolid alliance between the two countries has hit its peak 
and is in a downward phase. Nowadays, the warning light is on. 
 
After the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's rout in this summer's 
election for the House of Councillors, Japan made an about-face from 
its backup of the US-led war on terror to the option of breaking 
away from it. Many of the US government's officials are surprised at 
the "immaturity" of Japan's security policy, including Japan's 
understanding of the war on terror. "Japan jeopardizes our bilateral 
alliance." With this, one of them looked disappointed. 
 
Basically, the US strategy toward Japan was to have Japan expand its 
role in the international community, develop Japan into a strong 
country, strengthen the bilateral alliance further, and enroll Japan 
in order for the United States to work together with Japan in 
countering China and North Korea. However, the United States has a 
growing sense of distrust in Japan. The United States' distrust of 
Japan is also generating doubts about the reliability of its basic 
strategy. 
 
(4) Editorial: New antiterrorism legislation from a commonsense 
viewpoint unnecessary 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 26, 2007 
 
Mikio Morishima 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or JDP) President Ichoro Ozawa's 
constitutional argument over the war on terrorism is significant in 
the sense of raising questions for the government and the general 
public to consider. If it had not been for the divided Diet where 
the DPJ holds a majority in the House of Councillors, Ozawa's 
assertion would not have received this much attention, and an 
extension of the refueling operation would have been approved 
smoothly. 
 
The government has given the following reasons that the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling mission is constitutional: (1) it 
does not constitute the use of armed force, and (2) it is not being 
carried out in a combat zone. Ozawa on the other hand is insisting 
that the mission is unconstitutional, saying that Japan cannot 
support US operations that are self-defense unless use of the right 
to collective self-defense is allowed. 
 
Against the background of the government's standoff with Ozawa, 
political motives are involved that go beyond the dimension of 
policy discussion. As a result, there is no room for compromise in 
the Diet battle. The matter can only be settled by ramming the new 
legislation through the Diet or letting it die. 
 
According to Ozawa's logic, the government has been carrying out 
unconstitutional activities for the last six years. I do not want to 
think of it that way. The Mainichi Shimbun, too, has never regarded 
the dispatch of SDF troops to the Indian Ocean as unconstitutional. 
 
That is because we thought that the Antiterrorism Special Measures 
Law, stipulating logistical support in non-combat zones, would never 
require use of force. We also thought that in order to deal with 
terrorism that can happen anywhere in the world, Japan would not be 
 
TOKYO 00005032  006 OF 013 
 
 
able to fulfill its responsibility as a member of the international 
community simply by enhancing its own defense capabilities alone. At 
the same time, we have repeatedly called for the strict and careful 
application of the law. 
 
But the story takes on a different aspect if the fuel provided by 
Japan had been diverted for use in the Iraq war. That is a diversion 
from the law's objectives. Suspicions about the fuel diversion must 
be dispelled. 
 
The US Department of Defense has released a statement admitting 
difficulty tracking Japanese oil completely, while denying any 
diversions. Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said about the 
statement: "There are no clear grounds that (Japanese oil) has been 
diverted for (other purposes). This is a mature argument based on 
international commonsense." 
 
We also heard a commonsense view six years ago from then Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi. In the Diet debate on the antiterrorism 
legislation, Koizumi dodged the opposition camp's questions by 
saying, "Let's stop the rhetorical argument and make a decision from 
a commonsense viewpoint." The constitutional debate was put on the 
backburner because of the Koizumi-style logic, and the MSDF was sent 
to the Indian Ocean. Whenever a problem arises, trying to settle 
them by bringing up commonsense is not desirable. 
 
In a recent Mainichi Shimbun opinion poll about continuing the 
refueling operations, neither those who were "for" nor "against" 
could reach a majority. The general public does not fully understand 
the government's view or Ozawa's argument. Additionally, 60 PERCENT 
of respondents did not think the refueling operations were helpful 
to prevent terrorism. 
 
The antiterrorism law now in force will expire shortly and the 
refueling operations would be discontinued. At this point, it would 
be wiser to reformulate measures to provide human contributions 
acceptable to many people than expediting efforts to enact the new 
legislation. 
 
(5) Poll on new Fukuda cabinet, political parties 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 29, 2007 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage. Parentheses denote findings from the 
last survey conducted in late September.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Abe cabinet? 
 
Yes 55 (59) 
No 31 (27) 
Can't say (C/S) + don't know (D/K) 14 (14) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support or like now? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 38 (43) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 32 (31) 
New Komeito (NK) 4 (3) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3 (3) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 2 (2) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 
 
TOKYO 00005032  007 OF 013 
 
 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 
Other political parties 0 (1) 
None 15 (13) 
C/S+D/K 6 (5) 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was taken by Nikkei Research Inc. 
over the telephone on a random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the 
survey, samples were chosen from among men and women aged 20 and 
over across the nation. A total of 1,582 households with one or more 
voters were sampled, and answers were obtained from 911 persons 
(57.6 PERCENT ). 
 
(6) First month of Fukuda cabinet (Part 2): Two LDP boatmen to row 
the party to the next Lower House election 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 26, 2007 
 
Some members in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) have said 
that there are two secretaries general in the LDP. They are 
Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki and Election Committee Chairman 
 
SIPDIS 
Makoto Koga. Following the inauguration of the Fukuda cabinet, the 
LDP set up an Election Committee. The source of the secretary 
general's authority is to coordinate party candidates for elections. 
Both Ibuki and Koga have said they are carrying out such 
coordination. This is the reason why there seem to be two 
secretaries general in the LDP. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
In a meeting yesterday of the national secretaries general and 
policy chiefs, Ibuki firmly stated: "We will definitely win the next 
election. I want to concentrate on that point in managing Diet 
affairs, carrying out public relations activities and making 
policies." 
 
Koga, who delivered a speech following Ibuki, stressed: "First we 
will win the election and then stabilize the political atmosphere 
and politics. This is the LDP's responsibility to the nation and the 
public." What the two stressed was the election situation. The LDP 
suffered a defeat in the July House of Councillor election. Shinzo 
Abe, who declared he would remain in his prime minister's seat soon 
after the Upper House election, suddenly announced his intention his 
resignation on Sept. 12. 
 
It is not an exaggeration that Prime Minister Fukuda refer to his 
cabinet as "having its back against the wall." Due to the present 
political distortion in the Diet, in which the opposition camp 
controls the Upper House and the ruling bloc holds a majority in the 
Lower House, deliberations in the current extraordinary Diet session 
have completely changed gears. It will be difficult for the ruling 
coalition to pass the new legislation to continue the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force (MSDF) refueling operation in the Indian Ocean 
because the opposition camp is opposed the mission. There is a sense 
of crisis in the LDP that the party might lose the next election and 
fall into the opposition side. Therefore, coordination of candidates 
in electoral districts has been tough. On Oct. 24 freshman 
lawmakers, the so-called "Koizumi's children," bowed their heads to 
Election Committee Vice Chairman Yoshihide Suga, saying, "We are 
determined to offer our assistance." They expected to talk to Koga. 
For the "Koizumi children," who yet to have their own set 
constituencies, Koga's coordination of electoral districts is 
crucial. Koga now uses the office which used to be the secretary 
general's. 
 
TOKYO 00005032  008 OF 013 
 
 
 
On Oct. 21, Ibuki invited to his private residence People's New 
Party (PNP) head Tamisuke Watanuki and his wife and independent 
lawmaker Takeo Hiranuma and his wife on the pretext of celebrating 
Hiranuma's getting well from a stroke. Although Watanuki and 
Hiranuma left the LDP because they had opposed the 
postal-privatization program, there is no change in relations 
between the two and Ibuki. There is a possibility that the next 
Lower House election will become a close contest. The factor to win 
the race in the end could become a human relationship. Ibuki poured 
Watanuki and Hiranuma a glass of wine, saying: "This bottle of wine 
is the one that Mr. Hiranuma gave me before." 
 
With the divided Diet, prior deliberations between parties are now 
more significant than before and the secretary general's involvement 
in decision-making has increased. On the 23rd, Ibuki told Cabinet 
Office Vice Minister Shunichi Uchida: "The Cabinet Office should 
make more efforts. Your office should not become a subcontractor of 
the Finance Ministry." He meant that the government-ruling coalition 
council on social security and tax reform was being managed under 
the Finance Ministry's initiative. One senior government economic 
agency official said with a forced smile: "There are two policy 
chiefs in the LDP." 
 
(7) First month of Fukuda cabinet (Conclusion): New Komeito growing 
more concerned and too worn out for next Lower House election 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 27, 2007 
 
According to an analysis conducted by the religious sect Soka 
Gakkai, the main backer of the New Komeito, the party that is the 
coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), 30 
PERCENT  of the party's supporters voted for the main opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) in the July House of 
Councillors election. The figures were shocking for the New Komeito 
and Soka Gakkai. The New Komeito has had a coalition with the LDP 
for eight years. The link between the New Komeito and Soka Gakkai 
has been often criticized by opposition forces as violating the 
principle of separation of state and religion. However, the linkage 
between the party and the sect is gradually changing as the prospect 
grows for an early House of Representatives election. 
 
New Komeito Chief Representative Akihiro Ota delivered a speech on 
Oct. 26 in front of JR Akabane Station, in which he stressed: "The 
New Komeito does good things for the public but it does not do bad 
things." His party suffered a setback in the July Upper House 
election. The dominant view in the New Komeito is that the party 
fell victim to public's view of the scandal-ridden LDP, but its 
supporters are taking a severe view at the New Komeito itself. 
 
Before Ota attended the first meeting on Oct. 22 of the 
government-ruling coalition consultative council on social security 
and tax system reform, Election Policy Committee Chairman Yosuke 
Takagi told him that he would take a firm stance. Takagi's major 
concern was that the New Komeito might succumb to the LDP's alibi 
for raising the consumption tax. 
 
New Komeito lawmakers, in reflecting on their party's situation 
concluded that the party failed to make its policy of emphasizing 
peace and welfare well-known to the public. This is the reason the 
party has touted a policy of suspending the plan to increase medical 
 
TOKYO 00005032  009 OF 013 
 
 
co-payments for the elderly. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has sensed the atmosphere that has 
developed between the New Komeito and its religious backer. On Oct. 
19, when Fukuda dined for the first time with senior ruling 
coalition members, Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshio Urushibara 
gave his impression of the meeting: "Compared with the previous 
cabinet, the Fukuda cabinet is giving us scrupulous consideration." 
The reason is because Fukuda even gave consideration to the seating 
arrangements -- he seated himself between senior New Komeito 
members. 
 
The late Takeo Fukuda, the father of Prime Minister Fukuda, was on 
friendly terms with Soka Gakkai Honorary Chairman Daisaku Ikeda when 
he was prime minister. Ikeda wrote in a book that Takeo Fukuda 
called at Soka Gakkai headquarters unaccompanied by a secretary. 
This seems to be one reason that the New Komeito and Soka Gakkai 
look at Fukuda favorably. But there is no guarantee that the ruling 
coalition will be able to overcome the next Lower House election 
with unity alone. 
 
The Japanese Communist Party (JCP), an opposition party, does not 
intend to field candidates in electoral districts where the 
percentage of votes for it in previous elections was low. Senior 
Soka Gakkai members are concerned about a possibility that the votes 
the JCP would have gained will go to the DPJ. "Due to the defeat in 
the Upper House, we are still not ready for another election. There 
is a possibility that an early Lower House election might bring 
about a trading of places between the ruling and opposition camps." 
 
(8) Guide to ensuring security: India preparing to counter rising 
China in contrast to Japan, which lacks a policy 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 26, 2007 
 
By Hiroyuki Noguchi 
 
A radar and wiretapping facility set up by India on leased land in 
northern Madagascar, Africa, was secretly set in motion in early 
July. This is India's first military facility established overseas 
with the aim of monitoring moves by naval ships in the Indian Ocean 
in a bid to protect its interests. This is a result of India 
faithfully following the principle that military affairs are part of 
diplomacy. Japan's approach, however, is quite different. The 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean will be halted on Nov. 1, when the antiterrorism law backing 
the operation is to expire. Japan remains unable to make use of its 
military organization to support its diplomacy, although it has 
emphasized the importance of civilian control. Such a stance is 
strange. 
 
India's new military facility is also tasked with monitoring moves 
by terrorists or pirates. Japan and India are both aiming at joining 
the United Nations Security Council as permanent members In view of 
military contributions to international peace, India has left Japan 
far behind. But India's current main purpose is to counter China, 
which has established connections in Africa and the Middle East and 
built bases for shipping energy resources and for its Navy to escort 
such ships in countries near India, such as Pakistan, Burma, 
Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. This is part of its efforts to secure 
energy resources. About 90 PERCENT  of India's oil imports also 
 
TOKYO 00005032  010 OF 013 
 
 
depend on sea transportation. 
 
India is planning to construct a similar facility on an atoll reef 
leased from Mauritius. If the new facilities in Madagascar and 
Mauritius are linked to the existing monitoring facilities in Mumbai 
and Cochin, India's monitoring and warning capabilities for the 
route to transport oil from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arabian Sea 
through the Mozambique Channel will significantly improve. Last 
year, India inked an agreement with Mozambique for regular 
patrolling along the coast of Mozambique. By dispatching its naval 
vessels to the eastern coast of Africa, India is playing up its 
presence. Foreign Minister Mukhergee said: "Ocean diplomacy is an 
indispensable part of India's foreign policy. Our marine interests 
are expanding far beyond our territorial waters." 
 
Japan should have been in the advantageous position in securing 
marine interests, such as ocean bottom resources and energy 
transport routes. That is because Japan has naval power capable of 
navigating the high seas for a long period of time. 
 
A country's navy is not only responsible for military affairs but 
also allowed to exercise naval police authority to control pirates 
and others. In addition, a navy is equipped with authority to 
promote diplomacy and friendship, such as port calls for friendship 
purposes and joint training. With "military power," "police power," 
and "diplomatic power" forming a triangular shape, it becomes 
possible for a country's navy to change its system freely in 
accordance with which power the organization gives priority to in 
response to the needs of the times and the government. 
 
The strategy of the Japanese Empire's Navy in World War I was to 
build an extension of this "triangular" policy line. When the 
European war reached a deadlock, the Allied Powers urged Japan to 
dispatch its army. Once Japan declined this request, Britain, its 
ally, also criticized Japan, so Japan decided to send its fleets to 
the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean to defend the sea lanes. As a 
result, the Allies approved Japan's rights over its occupation 
areas. Japan was also able to avoid rupturing the Anglo-Japanese 
alliance. This result proves that the government at that time had an 
understanding of the diplomatic power of the Navy. 
 
Japan is now under a similar situation to that at the time of WWI. 
According to an estimate by the US Navy, 1000 vessels are necessary 
in order to ensure the safety of key sea lanes across the world, but 
the US Navy has only 280 deployable ships. Aid from its allies is 
indispensable. 
 
Many politicians stress the significance of the MSDF refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean, defining it as contributing to 
strengthening the Japan-US alliance and to maintaining the safety of 
sea lanes for Japan, an import-oriented nation. But the opposition 
bloc has spent a great deal of time questioning the volume and other 
details of MSDF-provided fuel. Discussion based on the principle 
that international politics is controlled by power and interests was 
never discussed. Hans Morgenthau, professor at the University of 
Chicago and an international political scientist from Germany, once 
said: 
 
"Motives for human behaviors are interests, and the purpose of 
foreign policy is also to pursue interests. The concept of pursuing 
power and interests sometimes takes preference over moralism and 
legalism in international politics." 
 
TOKYO 00005032  011 OF 013 
 
 
 
Sun Tsu, a military commander in the Spring and Autumn Period in 
ancient China, made a similar assertion 2500 years ago. 
 
(9) Government, steelmakers to develop hydrogen-powered blast 
furnace to reduce CO2 emissions by 30 PERCENT 
 
NIKKEI (Top Play) (Slightly abridged) 
October 29, 2007 
 
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will launch a 
project jointly with Nippon Steel Corporation and JFE Steel Corp. to 
develop a new type of blast furnace that emits about 30 PERCENT 
less carbon dioxide (CO2) than the existing ones. For the new 
furnace, hydrogen, instead of coke, will be used. METI plans to 
invest 25 billion yen in the project starting in FY2008 to 
commercialize the technology in 10 years. With this, the ministry 
aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the steel industry, from 
which huge volumes of CO2 have been discharged. 
 
A project office will be established in the Japan Iron and Steel 
Federation early next year. The government will announce this 
project at the Lake Toya Summit to be held in Hokkaido next summer 
and will discuss a post-Kyoto framework for combating global warming 
beyond the 2012 timeframe set under the Kyoto Protocol. 
 
METI will first request the allocation of 600 million yen in the 
budget for next fiscal year. The ministry plans to build a prototype 
furnace at a cost of 10 billion yen over five years to establish 
basic technology and then test several furnaces before the new one 
is commercialized. It plans to earmark 15 billion yen for the 
testing but also intends to ask private firms to provide financial 
contributions. 
 
The method of using hydrogen, instead of coke, contains many 
problems to resolve in view of technology and cost. It was difficult 
to use hydrogen to power blast furnaces and to handle a large 
quantity of hydrogen safely. 
 
The ministry also expects to develop ways to utilize waste heat from 
the furnaces, as well as a technology to isolate CO2 from blast 
furnace emissions and sequester it underground. METI expects a 30 
cut in CO2 emissions in the entire process owing to such technical 
innovation. 
 
The steel industry is the biggest emitter of CO2 in the industrial 
and energy sector, accounting for 41.2 PERCENT  of the sector's 
total emission, or 13 PERCENT  of the total national emission. in 
the nation. 
 
The ministry aims to have the new technologies ready by the latter 
half of 2010, when many of Japanese blast furnaces will be due for 
repairs. Countries that plan to participate in the project hope to 
obtain CO2 emission rights in exchange for providing the 
technologies to steelmakers in China, India and other emerging 
countries. 
 
(10) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
70 PERCENT  of major cities now incinerate plastic as burnable 
trash 
 
TOKYO 00005032  012 OF 013 
 
 
 
Mainichi: 
Kanagawa Prefecture's personal information protection panel orders 
education board not to keep names of teachers refusing to sing 
Kimigayo 
 
Yomiuri: 
Nova gave 100 million yen to Sahashi group starting in FY2000 
 
Nikkei: 
Government, steelmakers to develop hydrogen-powered blast furnace to 
reduce CO2 emissions by 30 PERCENT 
 
Sankei: 
PENTAX Co. mulling filing damage suit against Matsushita Battery 
Industrial 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Fukuda cabinet support rate drops 7.6 points to 50.2 PERCENT 
 
Akahata: 
National rally in Tokyo provides good chance for people to move 
politics 
 
(11) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Establish welfare state of solidarity 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) US additional sanctions against Iran: How is US going to deal 
with suspicions of nuclear development by North Korea, Syria? 
(2) Transfer of Tsukiji market: Think of food safety first 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Put end to Minamata disease problem with new package of rescue 
measure 
(2) China's launch of first lunar orbiter: Japan's space strategy 
shows up badly 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Will showdown between US, Iran enter new phase? 
(2) Local governments urged for legislation to ban multiple 
election 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Start of discussion o basic pension financed entirely by tax 
revenues: Discussion on how to secure financial resource for raising 
public burden should come first 
 (2) Expectations places on effect of sale of insurance policies at 
banks' windows 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Rengo center to support part-time, dispatched and contract 
workers must meet expectations 
(2) Increase number of criminal lawyers to prevent false charges 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Top 15 firms specializing in military equipment receive 475 
ex-Defense Ministry, receive 70 PERCENT  of contracts, and 
contribute huge amount of money to LDP 
 
 
TOKYO 00005032  013 OF 013 
 
 
(12) Prime Minister's schedule, October 27 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2007 
 
09:59 
Attended a memorial service for SDF personnel killed in the line of 
duty, held at the Defense Ministry. 
 
11:33 
Returned to his residence in Nozawa. Spent afternoon at his 
residence. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 28 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 29, 2007 
 
09:59 
Met Defense Minister Ishiba at GSDF Eastern Army Headquarters in 
Oizumi-gakuen, Tokyo. 
 
10:26 
Attended an SDF review ceremony held at GSDF Camp Asaka in Niiza 
City, Saitama Prefecture. 
 
11:55 
Met Ishiba at GSDF Eastern Army Headquarters. 
 
13:01 
Took a look at the prime minister's official residence. 
 
15:25 
Returned to his residence in Nozawa. 
 
SCHIEFFER