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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 005429 
 
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 12/04/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Asahi poll asks voters their choice if general election held 
today: 32 PERCENT  each pick LDP, DPJ, indicating race would be a 
dead heat at this time (Asahi) 
 
Fate of the new antiterrorism bill: 
2) Ruling camp reaffirms determination to pass the new antiterrorism 
bill without fail this Diet session to allow MSDF to return to 
Indian Ocean for refueling service (Tokyo Shimbun) 
3) Democratic Party of Japan study group plots ways to constrain LDP 
from Lower House re-voting on antiterrorism bill once it is rejected 
by Upper House (Nikkei) 
4) Opposition camp's top priority is to pursue defense scandals in 
the Upper House and not deliberate the antiterrorism bill (Yomiuri) 
 
5) DPJ's Kan: If the Diet is extended for passing the antiterrorism 
bill, strong possibility this will lead to Diet dissolution and snap 
election (Mainichi) 
 
Defense scandals: 
6) Former defense chief Kyuma, now out of the hospital, denies any 
money-for-favor deals with defense procurement trader, Yamada Corp. 
(Nikkei) 
7) Former Defense Vice Minister Moriya admits to prosecutors taking 
3.6 million yen in bribes from Yamada Corp. that went into wife's, 
relative's bank account (Nikkei) 
 
8) Led by the Prime Minister's office, reform of the Defense 
Ministry's procurement system starts, but debate time is short and 
road to reform steep (Nikkei) 
 
9) Japan plans additional 24 billion yen in foreign aid for 
Afghanistan, mostly for refugee relief and agricultural production 
support (Sankei) 
 
China ties: 
10) China's President Hu in meeting with Foreign Minister Koumura is 
upbeat about resolving gas-development dispute (Tokyo Shimbun) 
11) DPJ leading huge delegation to China that will put the Diet on 
hold for a week; Trip seen as "lacking common sense" by the ruling 
camp (Sankei) 
 
COP13: 
12) U.S., Japan prior consultation on COP13 leads to agreement on 
setting voluntary reduction targets, which EU is unhappy about 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
13) U.S. clash in COP13 over handling China, which objects to 
reduction framework (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Poll: LDP, DPJ even at 32 PERCENT  in popularity rating for 
proportional representation 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
December 4, 2007 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the leading opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) paralleled each other at 
32 PERCENT  in popularity rating for proportional representation, 
the Asahi Shimbun found from its telephone-based nationwide public 
 
TOKYO 00005429  002 OF 009 
 
 
opinion survey conducted Dec. 1-2. In the survey, respondents were 
asked which political party they would like to vote for if a general 
election were to be held now for the House of Representatives. 
Respondents were also asked about the desirable form of government. 
In response to this question, a total of 37 PERCENT  chose an 
LDP-led coalition government, with 36 PERCENT  opting for a DPJ-led 
coalition government. As seen from these figures, the LDP and the 
DPJ were dead even. 
 
The Diet, in its current extraordinary session, is focusing its 
deliberations on a government-introduced bill for special measures 
to resume the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in 
the Indian Ocean. On this issue, respondents were asked if they 
thought the MSDF's refueling mission should be resumed. In response 
to this question, "yes" and "no" paralleled at 44 PERCENT . In the 
last survey for November, 43 PERCENT  answered "yes," with 41 
PERCENT  saying "no." In the survey this time as well, public 
opinion was split over the advisability of resuming the MSDF's 
refueling mission. Respondents were further asked if they supported 
the MSDF refueling bill. To this question, 36 PERCENT  answered 
"yes" (35 PERCENT  in the last survey), with 43 PERCENT  saying "no" 
(43 PERCENT  in the last survey). 
 
Meanwhile, the question is what to do if the bill is voted down in 
the opposition-controlled House of Councillors. In this case, the 
government and the LDP are looking into the possibility of taking a 
vote again on the legislation in the House of Representatives for 
its passage with a concurring vote of two-thirds or more. In the 
survey, respondents were asked if they thought it would be 
appropriate to take a vote again on the legislation in the Diet's 
lower chamber. To this question, 46 PERCENT  answered "yes," with 37 
PERCENT  saying "no." In response to a question asking whether to 
support the bill, negative answers outnumbered affirmative answers. 
However, when it comes to the question of whether it is appropriate 
to take a vote again, affirmative answers outnumbered negative 
answers. Even among those opposed to the legislation, 27 PERCENT 
answered that it would be appropriate to do so. The figures show 
their approval of taking a vote again as a procedure stipulated in 
the Constitution. 
 
The rate of public support for the Fukuda cabinet was 44 PERCENT 
(45 PERCENT  in the last survey). The nonsupport rate was 36 PERCENT 
 (34 PERCENT  in the last survey). In the breakdown of public 
support for political parties, the LDP stood at 31 PERCENT  (31 
PERCENT  in the last survey), with the DPJ at 23 PERCENT  (24 
PERCENT  in the last survey). 
 
2) Government intends to settle new refueling legislation during 
current Diet session; DPJ geared up to arm itself with all 
information it can gather with introduction of censure motion in 
mind 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
December 4, 2007 
 
The extended Diet session is to end shortly on Dec. 15. Bargaining 
between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Democratic Party 
of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) is heating up with major focus on the 
handling of the new antiterror special measures bill (new refueling 
legislation) aimed at enabling the Maritime Self-Defense Force 
(MSDF) to resume refueling operations in the Indian Ocean. 
 
 
TOKYO 00005429  003 OF 009 
 
 
The DPJ, which holds the post of chairman of the Upper House Foreign 
Affairs and Defense Committee, is insisting that the Upper House 
should be allocated with the same length of deliberation time as 
given to the Lower House (about 41 hours). The committee is to meet 
every Tuesday and Thursday. There will be four regular deliberation 
days before the end of the Diet session. Even if there are 
seven-hour deliberations a day, total deliberation time will fall 
short of 30 hours. An increasing number of LDP members are calling 
for re-extending the Diet session to mid-January with passing the 
bill again in the Lower House in consideration. 
 
However, another extension of the Diet session will have a negative 
impact on the compilation of the fiscal 2008 budget. There is also 
concern that a mood for dissolving the Lower House for a snap 
election will rise in one sweep. As such, the LDP has decided to 
strongly urge the DPJ to promote deliberations on the bill for a 
settlement within the current Diet session. 
 
In that case, the new legislation is bound to be voted down. 
However, some noted that the government and the ruling camp would 
secure Diet approval even by adopting it again in the Lower House, 
because even if the opposition camp adopts in the Upper House a 
censure motion against Prime Minister Fukuda, they would be able to 
disregard it and obtain understanding from the public, if they 
indicate a stance of attaching importance to public life when 
compiling the budget. 
 
The DPJ stands firm regarding President Ozawa's view that there 
would not be enough time left to adopt the legislation during the 
current session. It is thus geared up to put in a lot of work in 
pursuing a series of scandals involving the Defense Ministry instead 
of deliberating on the new legislation. It is considering the 
possibility of summoning involved persons, such as Naoki Akiyama, 
senior managing director of the Japan-US Center for Peace and 
Cultural Exchange, as witnesses. 
 
However, since it was impossible to summon Finance Minister 
Fukushiro Nukaga as a witness due to opposition by other opposition 
parties, some DPJ members are pessimistic about a witness-summoning 
strategy. Some members are beginning to feel that their efforts 
would bog down with one senior Upper House member saying, "It would 
be difficult not to let the bill adopted indefinitely, if the Diet 
session is extended. 
 
3) DPJ to launch a study group to forestall move for re-voting on 
new refueling legislation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 4, 2007 
 
The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will shortly 
establish a study group of experts to discuss rules, such as 
re-adopting a bill by a two-thirds majority of votes in the Lower 
House. The purpose is to forestall the move by the government and 
the ruling coalition to re-adopt a new refueling bill to allow the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force to resume the refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean. The DPJ wants to arouse public opinion by emphasizing 
this logic that if the public will shown in the recent Upper House 
election is ignored, that will lead to the notion that the Upper 
House is useless." 
 
4) Upper House committee's question-and-answer session begins today 
 
TOKYO 00005429  004 OF 009 
 
 
on antiterrorism bill; Opposition camp set to pursue Defense 
Ministry allegations 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 4, 2007 
 
The House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee 
begins a question-and-answer session today on a new antiterrorism 
bill for resuming the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
operation in the Indian Ocean. The government and ruling camp are 
eyeing the bill's enactment in the current Diet session. On the 
other hand, the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto), which holds the chairmanship of the committee, is showing 
no signs of expediting the deliberations. There is no bright outlook 
for the bill's enactment. 
 
The committee regularly meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. LDP 
Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki and Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka 
 
SIPDIS 
Machimura confirmed a policy course yesterday to lobby the 
opposition camp to hold sessions also on days other than Tuesdays 
and Thursdays in order to secure enough deliberation time. 
 
The DPJ is demanding 41 hours of deliberation time -- about the same 
hours spent at the House of Representatives Committee on Prevention 
of Terrorism -- before taking a vote on the bill. At the same time, 
the party has no intention of meeting on days other than Tuesdays 
and Thursdays, citing a custom. Today's question-and-answer session 
is scheduled to last six hours. In the event the same deliberation 
time is spent on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the total deliberation time 
before the current Diet session closes on Dec. 15 would be only 24 
hours. 
 
The opposition camp plans to give top priority to pursing 
allegations over the Defense Ministry, with DPJ Diet Affairs 
Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka saying, "We must squeeze the pus 
out rather than providing oil." The opposition bloc is set to demand 
Diet testimony before the Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense 
Committee by former Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma and director Naoki 
Akiyama of the Japan-U.S. Center for Peace and Cultural Exchange, 
for which LDP defense policy specialists are also serving as 
directors. 
 
5) "If the Diet session is extended, the possibility of a Lower 
House dissolution would increase," says Kan on BS11 TV show 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
December 4, 2007 
 
Referring to a possible dissolution of the Lower House and a snap 
election, Naoto Kan, deputy president of the Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), said on BS11 Digital news show "Inside Out" 
yesterday evening , "Whether the government and the ruling camp 
extend the Diet session will be one turning point. Chances are that 
if it is extend to mid-January, potential candidates may start 
running in anticipation of dissolution of the Diet at the end of the 
session. Both the ruling and opposition camps might roll into that 
direction." He this indicated his view that re-extension of the Diet 
session would increase the possibility of a dissolution of the Lower 
House." 
 
Concerning the new antiterror special measures bill, on which 
deliberations by the Upper House committee to be started on Nov. 4, 
 
TOKYO 00005429  005 OF 009 
 
 
Kan noted, "It would be impossible for the bill to be adopted by the 
end of the Diet session on Dec. 15, no matter how much the 
government and the ruling parties try." 
 
6) Kyuma denies provision of special treatment 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 4, 2007 
 
Former Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma appeared on a TBS TV program 
late yesterday and rejected the possibility that he might have 
provided special treatment to firms having business relations with 
the Ministry of Defense. He said, "I've never (provided any special 
treatment) as a Diet member, not to mention when I served as defense 
minister and as Defense Agency director-general." 
 
7) Moriya admits 3.6 million yen was bribery; Money sent to bank 
accounts held by family members, including wife 
 
NIKKEI (Page 43) (Excerpts) 
December 4, 2007 
 
Former Administrative Vice-Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya, 63, has 
begun telling investigators that a total of 3.6 million yen sent to 
bank accounts held by his family members, including his wife, by 
Motonobu Miyazaki, 69, a former managing director of defense 
contractor Yamada Corp., was bribery, sources familiar with the case 
said yesterday. The special investigation squad of the Tokyo 
District Public Prosecutors Office is investigating the case, 
believing the provision of cash was also bribery. 
 
Miyazaki admitted to investigators that the Moriyas had requested 
funds, the sources also said yesterday. 
 
According to the sources, Miyazaki, in compliance with Moriya's 
request, sent over 2 million yen on several occasions to a bank 
account of his wife Sachiko, 56, in 2004. He also transferred over a 
million yen to the bank accounts held by a number of Moriya family 
members, including Moriya's second daughter, between 2004 and 2006. 
 
In all cases, Miyazaki allegedly ordered Osamu Akiyama, 70, former 
president of a Yamada subsidiary in the United States who is under 
arrest on suspicion of corporate embezzlement, to send the money 
from the slush funds under his control. 
 
Of the 3.6 million yen, the portion transferred in 2006 to the bank 
account held by Moriya's second daughter was allegedly to cover 
expenses for her study in the United States. Miyazaki also allegedly 
sent money to a company run by Moriya's relative. 
 
8) MOD reform panel set in motion under Kantei's leadership; Interim 
report due in three months 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
December 4, 2007 
 
An experts' panel on reforming the Ministry of Defense (MOD) was 
launched yesterday with the aim of ensuing civilian control, 
information security, and increasing transparency in procurement of 
defense equipment at the scandal-prone MOD under the leadership of 
the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). The panel is 
scheduled to produce an interim report incorporating a basic reform 
 
TOKYO 00005429  006 OF 009 
 
 
direction in February, which is only three months away. Some think 
the period is too short to come up with measures. A rocky road lies 
ahead of the panel. 
 
The former Defense Agency was hit in 1998 by a breach of trust case 
involving the now-defunct Central Procurement Office, and in 2006, 
by a bureaucrat-initiated bid-rigging scandal involving the former 
Defense Facilities Administration Agency. Although those 
organizations have now been dissolved, there seems to be no end to 
improprieties involving MOD personnel. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda 
said to reporters yesterday, "I want the panel to review the 
ministry in its entirety." 
 
The panel is scheduled to meet twice a month to produce an interim 
report in February. The government will submit a final report to the 
prime minister based on concrete measures to be worked out by late 
March by three working groups each responsible for civilian control, 
information security, and defense procurement. There is skepticism 
in MOD, wondering if a fundamental plan can be produced with only 
six sessions. 
 
9) Government decides to extend financial assistance worth 24 
billion yen to Afghanistan mainly for measures for refugees, 
agriculture 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
December 4, 2004 
 
The government is expected to adopt immediate economic assistance to 
Afghanistan at the end of the year. It yesterday decided to set the 
amount at approximately 24 billion yen. Projects that will lead to 
securing jobs for those who made their way as refugees to Iran or 
Pakistan to take when they return home and improving public security 
will be included in the fiscal 2007 second budget and the fiscal 
2008 budget. With deliberations on the antiterror special measures 
legislation for a resumption of refueling operations in the Indian 
Ocean by the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) having rough going, 
the government and the ruling parties want to obtain understanding 
in the deliberations on the bill, by improving assistance for basic 
human needs as called for by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto). 
 
The government had at first undergone coordination with the 
possibility of incorporating into the fiscal 2008 budget to be 
compiled later in the month assistance measures for Afghanistan 
featuring bilateral grant aid cooperation worth about 5 billion yen. 
The Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which served as the basis 
for refueling operations in the Indian Ocean, expired on Nov. 2, 
making it impossible for Japan to make personnel contributions. As 
such, the government has decided to extensively increase economic 
assistance instead. 
 
The government decided at a meeting of economic cooperation for 
foreign countries on Nov. 1 to implement new economic assistance to 
Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are engaging in the war on terror. 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura during a press conference 
the same day indicated the government's intention to swiftly work 
out specific measures and the amount of assistance and include the 
results in the fiscal 2007 supplementary budget. 
 
With an eye on an increasing number of refugees now returning to 
Afghanistan, the new package of economic assistance measures to be 
 
TOKYO 00005429  007 OF 009 
 
 
included in the supplementary budget will focus on vocational 
assistance to them and development of agriculture and agricultural 
villages to create jobs for them. Another plan is to incorporate 
assistance to the Afghan government-led Disbanding of Illegal Armed 
Groups (DIAG) in order to improve public security in that nation. 
 
10) President Hu positive about resolving the issue of joint 
development gas fields, expresses his plan to visit Japan at an 
early date in meeting with Foreign Minister Koumura 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
December 4, 2007 
 
Yuji Hiraiwa, Beijing 
 
President Hu Jintao of China yesterday met with visiting Foreign 
Minister Masahiko Koumura and declared, "I'd like to officially 
visit Japan at a relatively early date next year." Hu indicated for 
the first time when he plans to visit Japan. 
 
Speaking of a visit to China by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, which 
is expected to occur by the end of the year, Hu noted, "I want to 
exchange candid views with him," and indicated his intention to 
boost a strategic, reciprocal relationship through mutual visits. 
 
On the stalled talks on gas fields in the East China Sea, Koumura 
urged Hu to make a political decision on the issue, saying, "We hope 
to see the issue resolved by the time of Prime Minister Fukuda's 
visit to China. We pin our hopes on President Hu's leadership." In 
response, Hu indicated he would make efforts to break the impasse, 
telling Koumura: "I think it is important for both sides to put 
aside the disputed items and share the perception that both sides 
will jointly develop gas fields. I will accelerate the speed of the 
talks and finalize them promptly and appropriately." 
 
Although Hu did not mention historical perceptions, he referred to 
the Taiwan issue as a "delicate issue" lying between Japan and 
China. Touching on the move by the Chen Shui-bian administration of 
Taiwan to conduct a national referendum on Taiwan's membership of 
the United Nations, Hu made a much clearer request than before to 
Japan, saying, "I hope Japan will definitely oppose (Taiwan's 
joining the UN.)" 
 
In response, Koumura went no further than to say: "Japan has 
consistently followed the same policy toward the Taiwan issue since 
the release of the 1972 Japan-China Joint Statement. Please set your 
mind at ease." 
 
Hu also pointed out the need to continue the high-level economic 
dialogue between Japan and China, improve Japan-North Korea 
relations, and boost defense exchanges. 
 
11) DPJ to send a grand delegation to China before end of Diet 
session, causing plenary sessions on Dec. 6-7 of both chambers of 
Diet to be cancelled and enraging ruling parties 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
December 4, 2007 
 
The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) President 
Ichiro Ozawa is to make a three-day trip to China starting on Dec. 6 
and meet with President Hu Jintao and Chinese Communist Party 
 
TOKYO 00005429  008 OF 009 
 
 
leaders. Ozawa is to visit China in line with his lifework 
Japan-China exchange project "Great Wall Plan." The second purpose 
of his China visit is to attend the first meeting of the DPJ and the 
Chinese Communist Party under the "Exchange Organization." The 
delegation to China will be joined by a total of 46 Diet members, 
namely, 21 DPJ House of Representatives members, including Ozawa, 
former Prime Minister Tsutomu Hata, Deputy President Naoto Kan, and 
Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaokaka, and 25 House of 
Councillors members (22 from the DPJ, one from the People's New 
Party, and two independents). 
 
During a meeting between Ozawa and Hu, they are likely to exchange 
views on security issues, including the North Korean situation, and 
economic and environmental issues. Some 400 persons, including 
members of the supporters' groups, will take part in an exchange 
event under the 15th Great Wall Plan. 
 
On his visit to China, Ozawa has said: "I simply want to see as many 
(Japanese) people as possible build a friendship with Chinese 
people." But a senior DPJ member noted: "China is attaching 
importance to the DPJ. The proof of this is a planned meeting with 
the Chinese president." Apparently, the DPJ intends to play up its 
ability to hold the reins of government. 
 
In the wake of a planned visit to China by 46 lawmakers, including 
Ozawa, both houses of the Diet have been forced to cancel their 
respective plenary sessions slated for Dec. 6 and 7. As a 
consequence, the timetable for the current session of the Diet, 
which is to close on Dec. 15, has become even more jam-packed. In 
fact, a vote on a bill amending the Broadcast Law at the Lower House 
plenary session has been put off to early next week. A number of 
complaints are heard in the ruling parties. 
 
12) Japan, U.S. in meeting prior to COP13 agree on voluntary setting 
of targets to reduce CO2 emissions 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Full) 
December 4, 2007 
 
(Toshiya Kama, Nusa Dua (Bali, Indonesia)) 
 
The governments of Japan and the United States held talks in 
preparation for the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties 
(COP13) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate 
Change. In the talks, both sides agreed on a plan under which 
countries would set their own targets to reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions through voluntary efforts. The U.S. has indicated a 
willingness to cooperate in drawing up a Bali roadmap for future 
negotiations on a new international framework to fight global 
warming beyond the 2012 timeframe set under the Kyoto Protocol, but 
the stance of Japan and the U.S. might encounter reactions from the 
European Union (EU), which has set a unified numerical target, and 
from developing countries. 
 
The Kyoto Protocol requires industrialized countries to cut carbon 
dioxide (CO2) emissions by about 5 PERCENT  from 1990 levels between 
2008 and 2012. In the preparatory talks, Japan and the U.S. agreed 
that all countries, including developing countries, should address 
the issue of global warming under a framework of the UN. They also 
shared the view that greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced most 
effectively if countries voluntarily set their own binding targets, 
instead of being pressed with a mandatory numerical target. On the 
 
TOKYO 00005429  009 OF 009 
 
 
timeframe and other details, Japan and the U.S. reportedly have yet 
to start negotiations. The Bush administration has promised a 20 
PERCENT  cut in consumption of gasoline over the next decade as a 
result of eagerly introducing renewable energy, such as photovoltaic 
power generation. To reduce CO2 emissions, the two governments will 
stress the need to disseminate technologies, as well as to review 
the current market mechanism and trade rules. Both will also 
cooperate in working out methods to effectively use nuclear power. 
 
A Japanese government source stated: "Observers see the United 
States as distancing itself from international conferences because 
it has left the Kyoto Protocol. But the United States, changing its 
attitude, has begun to show its willingness about efforts under a UN 
framework in discussion on a post-Kyoto framework." A U.S. 
government source commented: "It is reasonable for Japan and the 
United States to take the initiative in negotiations on the design 
of a new international framework to fight global warming." 
 
13) In COP13, China reacts to UN framework for CO2 reduction 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
December 4, 2007 
 
(Toshiya Kama, Nusa Dua) 
 
In a plenary meeting on Dec. 3 of the 13th session of the Conference 
of the Parties (COP13) to the United Nations Framework Convention on 
Climate Change, government leaders expressed views on how to replace 
the Kyoto Protocol. China fiercely reacted to reducing carbon 
dioxide (CO2) emissions under the framework of the UN. China is 
expected to become the world's largest emitter of global warming 
gases. At the outset of the climate summit, China was in fierce 
conflict with Japan and the U.S., both eager to involve major 
emitters in an international mechanism. 
 
In the plenary session, a Chinese representative insisted: 
"Industrialized countries are required to reduce CO2 under the UN 
treaty. China will voluntarily make efforts, but such should be 
considered, separately from the discussion this time." Meanwhile, 
Japan and the United States assert that all major emitters of global 
warming gases must commit themselves to reducing emissions under the 
same framework of the UN." 
 
A delegate of the Japanese government emphasized: "It is still 
unknown whether the conflict on the first day will bring about a 
stalemate. We will make efforts so that a Bali roadmap for future 
negotiations on a new framework will be adopted." Participants in 
the plenary session also agreed to set up a subcommittee of major 
member countries to create a roadmap. 
 
SCHIEFFER