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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 005228 
 
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 11/14/07 
 
Index: 
 
(1) New antiterror bill to clear Lower House today, then to be sent 
to Upper House; Snap election still a possibility (Mainichi) 
 
(2) Editorial: Step up efforts to enact new antiterrorism bill to 
continue refueling operation in extended session (Nikkei) 
 
(3) Asia's stability closely associated with stability of Japan-US 
alliance; Japan must contribute to alliance with US and peace 
(Asahi) 
 
(4) Gates presses Tokyo for "fair share" of Japan-US alliance cost, 
expressing opposition to reducing host-nation support (Yomiuri) 
 
(5) Major US defense company cancels contract with Yamada Corp 
(Nikkei) . 
 
(6) Poll on Fukuda cabinet, political parties, MSDF refueling 
mission (Yomiuri) 
 
(7) CFE suspension: NATO presents Russia with compromise plan 
allowing stationing of troops in Georgia (Yomiuri) 
 
(8) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(9) EDITORIALS 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) New antiterror bill to clear Lower House today, then to be sent 
to Upper House; Snap election still a possibility 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
November 13, 2007 
 
The new antiterrorism special measures bill is expected to clear the 
Lower House today. It will then be sent to the Upper House, where 
opposition parties have dominance. The Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ or Minshuto) aims at prolonging deliberations. The prevailing 
view is that the opposition camp will vote down the bill sooner or 
later, and the ruling parties will pass it with a majority of 
two-thirds or more again in the Lower House. Both the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto) want to avoid an early dissolution of the Lower House. 
However, if public opinion regarding the scandal involving Yamada 
Yoko, a trading house specializing in military procurement, changes, 
both sides might find themselves in a situation in which there are 
absolutely no way out. The Diet session will likely enter a tense 
phase towards the end of the session in the middle of next month, 
when Upper House deliberations are nearing an end. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda yesterday told reporters his sentiments 
on upcoming Upper House deliberations on the new antiterror law: "We 
have cleared one step. We have come a long way. We must do our 
utmost to go a long way ahead of us." 
 
The deliberation schedule in the Upper House, where the opposition 
camp has a majority, is fairly tight. The DPJ is insisting on giving 
priority to the Iraq Reconstruction Special Measures Law instead of 
the new antiterror bill. Deliberations on the new antiterror bill 
will unlikely take place until the prime minister's US visit is 
 
TOKYO 00005228  002 OF 013 
 
 
over. 
 
As such, with the start of deliberations in the Upper House plenary 
session on Nov. 19 in mind, the ruling camp has set a schedule for 
the prime minister to immediately return home as soon as the summit 
is over. The prime minister will leave for Singapore on the 
afternoon of the 19th in order to take part in a meeting of the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plus 3 (Japan, China 
and South Korea). 
 
The ruling parties believe that even if the start of deliberations 
is delayed until the 26th, at least 30 hours necessary for taking a 
vote on the bill can be secured. They conjecture that it would be 
possible to keep the bill from being scrapped due to insufficient 
deliberations with the opposition camp prolonging discussions, as 
the Diet session has been extended to December 15. 
 
If an Upper House roll call on the bill takes place at the end of 
the session, it is bound to be voted down, unless a consensus is 
reached with the DPJ at revision talks. Should that occur, the 
ruling parties would be determined to pass the bill by reaching a 
decision with a majority of two-thirds or more again in the Lower 
House. 
 
Both the ruling and opposition camps want to avoid the Lower House 
being dissolved over this issue. LDP Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki 
during a press conference yesterday hinted at a possible dissolution 
of the Lower House and snap election, saying, "There might be a case 
in which the situation will change drastically, if the DPJ 
introduces a censure motion." He thus strongly checked the DPJ from 
submitting a censure motion against the prime minister to the Upper 
House in the event of the bill being passed again in the Lower 
House. 
 
However, if investigation into the former executive director of 
Yamada Yoko and former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Moriya 
by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office spills over into 
political and bureaucratic circles, the pattern of the ruling 
parties being in command following the commotion in the DPJ since 
the party head talks would change completely. As such, a sense of 
alarm about an unexpected Diet dissolution persists. If the prime 
minister takes an aggressive approach to counter an opposition 
censure motion against him, the Lower House could be dissolved 
either at the end of the current Diet session or at the outset of 
the regular Diet session next January. 
 
(2) Editorial: Step up efforts to enact new antiterrorism bill to 
continue refueling operation in extended session 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 10, 2007 
 
It has been decided that the current Diet session will be extended 
by 35 days until Dec. 15. It is necessary to pass such key bills as 
an antiterrorism bill aimed at resuming the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's (MSDF) refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, now under 
deliberation in the House of Representatives, and a bill amending 
the Minimum Wage Law, on which an agreement has already been reached 
between the ruling and opposition camps, as well as to shed light on 
the details of a series of scandals involving the Defense Ministry. 
To do so, the session naturally should be extended. Although it is 
desirable to enact the antiterrorism bill based on an agreement 
 
TOKYO 00005228  003 OF 013 
 
 
between both camps, like the minimum wage legislation, the ruling 
coalition should not hesitate to resort to its two-thirds majority 
in the Lower House in the event the bill is rejected in the House of 
Councillors. 
 
The revelation that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Democratic Party 
of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa discussed the idea of forming 
a grand coalition during their earlier meetings upset many 
lawmakers. The uproar has now calmed down, and the ruling and 
opposition camps have regained composure. It is undesirable for 
politicians to become unsettled under the state of the reversal of 
strengths between the ruling and opposition camps. Reflecting on the 
series of recent uproars, both ruling and opposition parties should 
hold deliberations in the extended session in a serious manner, 
keeping in mind the basic principles of parliamentary politics and 
Diet management. 
 
Even in the situation of the opposition camp holding a majority in 
the Upper House, it should be possible for both camps to push ahead 
with national affairs if they earnestly hold deliberations from the 
viewpoint of protecting the people's livelihoods and national 
interests. A bill amending the Natural Disaster Victims Relief Law 
was enacted yesterday, and the bill amending the Minimum Wage Law 
also cleared the Lower House after the ruling and opposition groups 
agreed to correct some parts. Regarding a bill amending the 
Political Funds Control Law, as well, the ruling and opposition 
blocs are energetically engaged in consultations to find common 
ground. Both sides should continue such efforts. 
 
In the prolonged session, the antiterrorism bill will be soon sent 
to the Upper House. As the Upper House has been referred to as "the 
seat of common sense," its members from both camps, while playing up 
their uniqueness and common sense, should try to form a consensus to 
enable the MSDF refueling mission to be resumed. We expected both 
camps to conduct a serious debate in the Upper House on whether 
Japan's withdrawal from the fight against terrorism is proper and 
what negative impact will be brought about on its national 
interests. 
 
If the Upper House rejects the bill with no good sense, the ruling 
coalition should decide to take a revote in the Lower House. Even if 
the bill is voted down in the Upper House, the coalition is 
authorized to still ram it through the Diet under the Constitution. 
If the ruling bloc judges it absolutely necessary to take this 
measure in order to protect national interests, the coalition should 
not hesitate to use this authority. 
 
Some observers anticipate that if the ruling camp uses its 
two-thirds majority in the Lower House to force the bill through the 
Diet, the DPJ would adopt a censure motion against the prime 
minister and press the Fukuda administration to dissolve the Lower 
House or dismiss his cabinet en masse. But this view is not correct. 
A censure motion has no legal binding power. If the ruling coalition 
adopts a motion of confidence in the cabinet in the Lower House, the 
government will not be driven into a corner. 
 
Once the DPJ refuses deliberations while citing a censure motion 
against the prime minister in the Upper House, the ruling camp 
should dissolve the Lower House to seek the people's judgment in a 
dignified manner. In the Diet, the ruling and opposition parties 
should try to find common ground through talks, and this is 
fundamental in managing Diet business. If both sides fail to reach 
 
TOKYO 00005228  004 OF 013 
 
 
an agreement, constitutional procedures should be taken. Forming a 
grand coalition should come after such procedures are taken. 
 
(3) Asia's stability closely associated with stability of Japan-US 
alliance; Japan must contribute to alliance with US and peace 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
November 10, 2007 
 
Yoichi Funabashi, chief diplomatic correspondent and columnist of 
Asahi Shimbun 
 
When he assumed office late last year, US Secretary of Defense 
Robert Gates said that his priority policy issues were Iraq, Iraq 
and Iraq. It has been one year, but there are no prospects for the 
stability of Iraq and the war on terrorism. In addition, the 
situation in Pakistan, a US ally, has become even more unstable, 
frequently hit by terrorist attacks. 
 
What is more serious is Iran's nuclear program. The move might 
trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, bringing instability 
to the region. Ahead of Japan, Gates visited China where he futilely 
urged the country to join the United Nations' economic sanctions on 
Iran, citing its negative impact on energy security. The United 
States has also exhibited limitations to its power. 
 
Although Gates while in Beijing raised questions about China's 
direction and intention to modernize its military offensive 
capability, evidenced by its anti-satellite missile test, China did 
not respond his call for discussion. China's secrecy regarding 
security has been a barrier. At the same time, Gates exhibited a 
stance of continuing to make persistent efforts for mutual 
understanding by touching on the experience of having promoted 
military exchanges with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Japan 
and China must also make efforts to build mutual trust between 
defense authorities of the two countries. 
 
While in Japan, senior government officials conveyed to Gates their 
concern about delisting North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. 
There also is some skepticism about the effectiveness of the 
six-party agreement on the denuclearization of North Korea, in 
addition to suspicions about nuclear proliferation from North Korea 
to Syria. Gates explicitly said that the United States and Japan 
would continue cooperating on missile defense even after North Korea 
was denuclearized. He regards the uncertainty of the region as 
long-term. 
 
The "Japan-US alliance in a global context" that has been advocated 
by Washington and Tokyo since 9/11 seems to have lost its momentum 
due to the suspension of the refueling operation in the Indian 
Ocean. Despite that, Gates did not say "show the flag" or "send 
ground troops" possibly to avoid being taken as applying gaiatsu 
(foreign pressure). It is also a fact that the United States does 
not have the power to apply gaiatsu. 
 
Throughout the postwar period, Japan built its security and Asia 
policies backed by the strong United States. But the United States 
is now on the wane. As its partner, the United States needs a 
dependable major power that can bring stability to the region. The 
United States has chosen China for the denuclearization of North 
Korean. 
 
 
TOKYO 00005228  005 OF 013 
 
 
Senator Hillary Clinton, who has announced her candidacy for the 
next US presidential race, wrote recently, "Our relationship with 
China will be the most important bilateral relationship in the world 
in this century." About this point, Gates said: "I do not set 
priorities. The world is so unpredictable." In any case, the United 
States would probably relativize the Japan-US alliance as part of 
its diplomatic strategy. The question is how to evolve it so that it 
can contribute to the peace and stability of Japan and East Asia. 
 
Gates delivered a speech at Sophia University (on Nov. 9) touching 
on the importance of expanding multilateral ties. The United States 
is searching for a new order that is neither the horizontal power 
equalization of the old European type or the vertical hierarchy of 
East Asia, according to US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer. 
Policy dialogues among Japan, the United States, and China are 
certain to crop up as a topic for the Japan-US alliance. 
 
The Japan-US alliance has been of great help to the stability of 
Asia. The bilateral alliance is expected to continue to play an 
important role. For the stability of the Japan-US alliance, it is 
essential for Japan to build stable relations with Asian neighbors. 
Will Japan be able to drive home that it is as eager as the United 
States to paint the future of Asia? That is a top priority for Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda's visit to the United States next week. 
 
Gist of question-and-answer session with Gates 
 
War on terrorism 
 
-- What is your view on the state of emergency in Pakistan? 
 
"The seriousness of the situation would change depending on whether 
President Musharraf conducts a general election and quits as the 
army chief general." 
 
"The former Iraqi military was created by (former President Saddam) 
Hussein, whereas the Pakistani military is respected from various 
political forces and stays away from politics. The question is when 
the military runs out of patience and interferes in politics. As far 
as this crisis continues, the government and the military would 
focus more on domestic matters than on the Afghan border issue. Our 
interest lies in the concentration of military and security forces 
on the frontlines of the war on terrorism." 
 
-- Has the war on terrorism accomplished anything? 
 
"The war on terrorism is going much better than the expectation 10 
months ago. Both in Iraq and Afghanistan, we initially did not pay 
much attention to local governments as we were preoccupied with 
building central governments and governing capabilities. The 
situations in some areas have improved through talks with and 
support by tribal chiefs. 
 
Concern about China 
 
-- What did you accomplish by visiting China and what are your 
concerns about that country? 
 
"In talks with the leaders, I pointed out two things. One was about 
the pace and scale of China's modernization of its military. Another 
was about Iran." 
 
 
TOKYO 00005228  006 OF 013 
 
 
-- How did you react to China's anti-satellite missile test? 
 
"I expressed concern, but the talks ended there. Historically, China 
has been secretive regarding security issues." 
 
"I learned from the talks with the Soviet Union 35 years ago on the 
limitation of strategic arms that holding talks for many years 
between military experts to understand each other's strategic 
intensions was helpful to prevent misconceptions and wrong 
decisions. I proposed launching a continuous dialogue in order for 
the two countries' militaries to better understand how they perceive 
threats." 
 
-- How about your concern about China's moves regarding Iran? 
 
"I told the Chinese leaders that China has generated inconsistent 
messages regarding the Iran issue. China supported a UN Security 
Council resolution on sanctions against Iran on one hand, and it 
held talks on sales of arms and on energy on the other." 
 
"I also conveyed the view that Iran is the largest unstable factor 
(in the Middle East). If China is worried about long-term energy 
security, it's vital that Iran does not possess nuclear weapons 
technologies. Otherwise, a nuclear race would start in this region. 
 
North Korea and other issues 
 
-- What is your view of the threat of nuclear weapons possessed by 
North Korea? 
 
"One of the reasons I support the six-party talks is that they aim 
at a step-by-step process. We can tell whether the North is keeping 
its promise at each stage. But the ultimate question is whether the 
North is prepared to denuclearize itself. It has departed, but the 
goal is quite far away." 
 
-- What about allegations that North Korea is providing nuclear 
assistance to Syria? 
 
"President Bush has warned that if North Korea tried to spread 
nuclear arms or technologies, a serious consequence would follow. We 
are watching the country closely." 
 
-- Some have expressed concern about whether the United States 
continues providing the expanded nuclear deterrence (nuclear 
umbrella). 
 
"I reassured Defense Minister Ishiba and Foreign Minister Koumura on 
Nov. 8 that the United States would continue providing the expanded 
nuclear deterrence. The expanded nuclear deterrence is complemented 
by the missile defense (MD) program on which the United States and 
Japan are cooperating. The whole picture, including US force 
realignment, symbolizes the bilateral relationship that is closer 
and more energetic than 15 years ago." 
 
-- In the event North Korea is denuclearized, wouldn't the missile 
defense system be unnecessary? 
 
"I don't think so. The world is always so very unstable that we 
cannot forecast the world 15 years from now. What is important is to 
have the ability to gather military intelligence and maintain 
alliances." 
 
TOKYO 00005228  007 OF 013 
 
 
 
-- What is the impact of the discontinuation of the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean? 
 
"The refueling operation does not concern US-Japan relations alone; 
it is assistance to the coalition of the willing backing freedom in 
Afghanistan. The refueling operation is a significant contribution 
to a broad range of countries jointly making efforts." 
 
-- The United States is calling for settling the Futenma relocation 
issue based on the US force realignment roadmap. Isn't there any 
approach that is more flexible? 
 
"The roadmap is an extremely complex agreement. It is consistent, 
and if only one thread was removed, the whole thing would come 
loose. This must be implemented as soon as possible, and I am 
counting on Japan's cooperation." 
 
(4) Gates presses Tokyo for "fair share" of Japan-US alliance cost, 
expressing opposition to reducing host-nation support 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 10, 2007 
 
Aya Igarashi of Washington Bureau aboard a US military aircraft 
 
Commentary 
 
US Secretary of Defense Roberts Gates in an interview on Nov. 9 with 
news companies, including Yomiuri Shimbun, referred to Japan's 
host-nation support (commonly called the "sympathy budget") for US 
Forces Japan (USFJ) as a "symbol of Japan's enthusiasm for the 
Japan-US alliance." It was an implication that if Japan insists on 
reducing its host-nation support, the matter could escalate into a 
serious political issue that would rock the foundation of the 
bilateral alliance. 
 
On Nov. 1, Japan suspended the nearly six-year Maritime Self-Defense 
Force operation in the Indian Ocean to refuel vessels of the United 
States and other countries. It can be said that Gates called for the 
reinforcement of Japan's "commitment to the alliance" in terms of 
money and people by hitting on Japan's sensitive point. 
 
The sympathy budget covers the maintenance cost of US military 
facilities and utility costs for USFJ, in addition to the labor 
costs of Japanese employees working at US bases in Japan. Although 
the sympathy budget is on the slight decline since it peaked at 
275.6 billion yen in FY1999, the figure for FY2007 was 217.3 billion 
yen. Even some senior Liberal Democratic Party defense policy 
specialists think Japan's host-nation support for USFJ is too large 
in terms of the international standards. 
 
Gates, however, pressed Japan to bear its "fair share" of the costs, 
saying that Japan is benefiting enormously from the alliance with 
the United States. 
 
Although the Japan-US alliance is firm, failure to bridge the gap 
and make efforts to maintain it would result in discord. It can be 
said that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is presented with a heavy 
assignment shortly before his first official visit to the United 
States to hold a summit with President George W. Bush on Nov. 16. 
 
 
TOKYO 00005228  008 OF 013 
 
 
(5) Major US defense company cancels contract with Yamada Corp. 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
November 10 2007 
 
Northrop Grumman Corporation, a major defense company in the United 
States, has cancelled business with defense equipment trading house 
Yamada Corp., located in Minato Ward, Tokyo, it was learned on Nov. 
¶9. Northrop Grumman renounced its agent contract on early warning 
aircraft with Yamada, and it has now concluded a contract with 
Sumitomo Corporation. Yamada Corp's excessive dining and wining with 
former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Moriya likely became the 
reason for Northrop Grumman's cancellation of the contract with 
Yamada. Among companies that have concluded contracts, Northrop 
Grumman was the first company to cancel a contract. Similar moves 
are likely from other foreign companies. 
 
Northrop Grumman called off the agent contract on the E-2C early 
warning aircraft, which detects unidentified airplanes entering 
territorial airspace. The Air Self-Defense Force deployed the E-2C 
early warning aircraft in 1987. The ASDF has now 13 E-2Cs. The major 
job of the Japanese agent is to deliver Northrop Grumman's repair 
parts to the Defense Ministry. Sumitomo Corp. had had the agent 
contract until 1997, but the contract was transferred later to 
Yamada Corp. 
 
Northrop's decision this time around is based on a violation in 
compliance by Motonobu Miyazaki, a former executive of Yamada Corp. 
and former Nihon Mirise president, who has been arrested on 
suspicion of misappropriating corporate funds. 
 
When a foreign defense company concludes an agent contract with a 
Japanese trading house, the foreign manufacturer can include in an 
agreement that if the Japanese trader is unable to carry out agent 
business, the manufacturer can unilaterally cancel the contract. 
 
Yamada Corp. has now concluded agent contracts with US Lockheed 
Martin Corporation on the versatile tactical missile system, and 
with Canadian Aviation Electronics (CAE) on a magnetic anomaly 
detector. General Electric has given Yamada Corp. notice that it 
suspended temporarily the agent contract on engines for fighter 
aircraft and destroyers. 
 
(6) Poll on Fukuda cabinet, political parties, MSDF refueling 
mission 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 13, 2007 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage. Parentheses denote the results of a 
survey taken in October.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Fukuda cabinet? 
 
Yes 52.2 (59.1) 
No 36.0 (26.7) 
Other answers (O/A) 3.3 (3.1) 
No answer (N/A) 8.6 (11.2) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? Pick only one. 
 
 
TOKYO 00005228  009 OF 013 
 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 34.3 (37.8) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 22.5 (18.0) 
New Komeito (NK) 2.7 (2.9) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 2.3 (2.5) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1.1 (0.9) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0.2 (---) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0.2 (0.1) 
Other political parties 0.1 (---) 
None 36.0 (36.9) 
N/A 0.6 (0.8) 
 
Q: Japan sent Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels to the Indian 
Ocean under the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. In the Indian 
Ocean, they conducted refueling activities for vessels belonging to 
the multinational forces engaged in antiterror operations in 
Afghanistan. However, the law expired on Nov. 1. Japan has therefore 
wound up its refueling activities there. Do you support continuing 
the MSDF's refueling mission there? 
 
Yes 50.6 
No 40.3 
N/A 9.2 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) 
Why? Pick as many reasons as you like from among those listed 
below. 
 
Because Japan should participate in the war on terror 24.3 
Because Japan was appreciated by the international community for its 
activities there 45.5 
Because Japan needs to do so in order to keep its relations with the 
US in good shape 36.9 
Because it's important to ensure safety in the Indian Ocean for its 
oil imports 35.1 
Because it's comparatively safe to do so 15.3 
O/A 1.0 
N/A 1.3 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the foregoing question) Why? 
Pick as many reasons as you like from among those listed below. 
 
Because it's against the Constitution 26.6 
Because MSDF-supplied fuel is suspected of having been used for the 
Iraq war 47.2 
Because there's no need to comply with America's request 42.1 
Because it's all right to cooperate in civilian assistance or other 
areas 35.0 
Because the Defense Ministry has been involved in scandals 19.5 
O/A 4.4 
N/A 0.8 
 
Q: The government has now introduced a new bill to the Diet in order 
to continue the MSDF's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. The 
new legislative measure limits the MSDF's activities in the Indian 
Ocean to fuel and water supply only. This bill does not require the 
government to ask the Diet for approval and sets the period of time 
for MSDF activities in the Indian Ocean at one year. Do you support 
this legislation? 
 
Yes 48.7 
No 38.8 
N/A 12.5 
 
TOKYO 00005228  010 OF 013 
 
 
 
Q: Prime Minister Fukuda and DPJ President Ozawa met the other day 
and talked about forming a coalition of the LDP and the DPJ to break 
the political deadlock. However, the DPJ rejected the proposal. Do 
you think it would be better to form a coalition of the LDP and the 
DPJ, or would you like the two parties to consult on each policy 
issue? Do you otherwise think there's no need for them to consult? 
 
Form a coalition government 12.0 
Consult on each policy issue 65.7 
No need to consult 16.7 
N/A 5.6 
 
Q: DPJ President Ozawa announced his intent to resign as his party's 
head to take responsibility for throwing his party into confusion. 
However, he later retracted his resignation and stays on. Is this 
convincing to you? 
 
Yes 35.7 
No 56.4 
N/A 7.9 
 
Q: Do you think the DPJ is competent to hold the reins of 
government? 
 
Yes 32.4 
No 58.1 
N/A 9.5 
 
Q: If an election were to be held now for the House of 
Representatives, which political party would you like to vote for in 
your proportional representation bloc? 
 
LDP 35.7 
DPJ 27.4 
NK 3.1 
JCP 2.5 
SDP 1.2 
PNP 0.5 
NPN 0.2 
Other political parties 0.1 
Undecided 28.6 
N/A 0.7 
 
Polling methodology 
Date of survey: Nov. 10-11. 
Subjects of survey: 3,000 persons chosen from among all eligible 
voters throughout the country (at 250 locations on a stratified 
two-stage random sampling basis). 
Method of implementation: Door-to-door visits for face-to-face 
interviews. 
Number of valid respondents: 1,810 persons (60.3 PERCENT ). 
 
(7) CFE suspension: NATO presents Russia with compromise plan 
allowing stationing of troops in Georgia 
 
YOMIURI (Page 6) (Full) 
November 14, 2007 
 
Koya Ozeki, Brussels 
 
In reaction to the US program to deploy a missile defense (MD) 
 
TOKYO 00005228  011 OF 013 
 
 
system in Eastern Europe, Russia has announced that it would suspend 
its obligations under the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty 
(CFE). In turn, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), by 
reversing its previous position, has presented a compromise plan 
effectively approving the stationing of Russian troops in a former 
USSR-administered area in Georgia, it was learned yesterday. There 
is concern that if the treaty becomes null and void, it might rock 
the foundation of Europe's security environment in the post-Cold War 
era. Attention is focused on Russia's moves. 
 
Russia withholds response 
 
According to some sources familiar with NATO, the plan is designed 
to send a multinational peacekeeping unit to the Republic of 
Abkhazia, which is seeking independence from Georgia. More 
specifically, it is designed to reduce the size of the 2,000-strong 
Russian unit stationed in Abkhazia to allow its continued presence 
there in the form of incorporating it into the peacekeeping unit. 
 
After being approved at NATO high-level talks, the plan was 
presented to Russia at the US-Russia foreign and defense ministers 
meeting (2+2), held in Moscow on October 12, and other venues. 
Coordination is necessary for selecting countries that will send 
troops. Russia seems to be keeping its response on hold. 
 
The CFE setting caps on the conventional weapons allowed to be 
deployed by European nations is defined by a senior member of the US 
mission to NATO as the cornerstone of the European security system 
of the post-Cold War era. As seen in the fact that the Russian 
parliament adopted a CFE suspension bill on Nov. 7, the country is 
implementing necessary procedures steadily to stop following the 
treaty on Dec. 12. 
 
Giles Merritt, director of the Security and Defense Agenda 
headquartered in Brussels, indicated that if Moscow stops abiding by 
the CFE, US-Russia relations would permanently deteriorate and NATO 
might be forced to review its post-Cold War strategy as well. Such a 
sense of crisis lies behind the shift of policy of NATO, which has 
been seeking a withdrawal of the Russian troops from Georgia and 
Moldova. 
 
According to NATO sources, if Russia does not show a willingness to 
compromise on the NATO proposal, NATO members, including the United 
States, intend to persuade Russia to continue abiding by the treaty 
even by making additional concessions to Russia's demands, such as 
applying caps on the possession of arms by the three Baltic States 
that are not signatories of the CFE. NATO is considering allowing 
Russian troops to remain in Moldova, which was administered by the 
USSR, like Georgia. 
 
In terms of military strategy, the loss of the effectiveness of the 
CFE has its drawbacks, including that it would be difficult for 
Russia to grasp the trends of NATO forces. 
 
For this reason, the two sides are likely to make serious efforts to 
probe each other's intentions. With NATO planning to hold intensive 
talks with Russia over the next month with the aim of avoiding the 
loss of the treaty, chances are high that discussions on MD and 
other issues will also move forward. The future course of the talks 
is likely to significantly affect the security situation in Europe. 
 
(8) TOP HEADLINES 
 
TOKYO 00005228  012 OF 013 
 
 
 
Asahi: 
Padded bills: Former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Moriya 
makes phone call to division in charge, after receiving explanations 
from Yamada Yoko 
 
Mainichi: 
Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office to build case against 
Moriya on CX engine procurement: Defense Ministry officials to be 
questioned 
 
Yomiuri: 
Case against Moriya to be built on suspicion of bribery 
 
Nikkei: 
Eleven companies, including Sun Microsystems, to build underground 
information processing center as measure to prevent global warming: 
Electricity consumption to be halved 
 
Sankei: 
Former officer of Chinese Embassy in Japan sentenced to death on 
suspicion of leaking classified information to Japan 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Moriya opposed Defense Ministry's plan, saying, "Is it necessary to 
exclude a trading company?" 
 
Akahata: 
New antiterror bill clears Lower House: Scrap it in Upper House 
 
(9) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) High yen, low share prices: Setback to longest economic boom 
(2) Skill Olympics: Society where goods-making is highly appreciated 
 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) New antiterror bill sent to Upper House: Party-head talks 
needed 
(2) Japanese economy returns to positive growth: Time to attach 
importance to personal consumption 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) New antiterror bill: DPJ's delaying strategy irresponsible 
(2) Board of Audit report: Report wrongdoings to prosecutors 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Refueling bill a challenge for Upper House 
(2)  Positive growth not a time to let our guard down 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Fukuda's US visit: Look squarely at precariousness of Japan-US 
alliance 
(2) Stock plunge and Japanese economy: Time to pay close attention 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Inflation in China: Raising value of yuan holds key to 
correcting distortions 
(2) Skill Olympics opens 
 
Akahata: 
 
TOKYO 00005228  013 OF 013 
 
 
(1) Stock plunge and low dollar: Japan openly tackling commotion 
 
DONOVAN