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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 005537 
 
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 12/10/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
Host-nation support agreement: 
1) Agreement between U.S., Japanese governments on Japan's 
host-nation support essentially freezes the previous levels (Nikkei) 
 
2) Agreement to extend Japan's "sympathy budget" three years, with 
only minor cuts, reflects consideration for the MSDF withdrawal from 
the Indian Ocean (Asahi) 
3) Consideration to the U.S. went into Japan's decision on the 
host-nation support budget, but the agreement also reflects great 
systemic progress in the alliance (Yomiuri) 
4) Impact on Japanese employees at U.S. bases of the host-nation 
support agreement yet to be assessed (Yomiuri) 
 
Okinawa base issues: 
5) 10 billion yen freed up for Okinawa development projects linked 
to Futenma relocation (Sankei) 
6) Central government, Okinawa prefecture agree to smoothly carry 
out environmental assessment at the site for the Futenma replacement 
runway (Yomiuri)    7 
 
Defense scandals: 
7) Former Naha DFAB chief being questioned in connection with the 
Okinawa aspects of the Moriya bribery scandal (Tokyo Shimbun) 
8) MSDF lieutenant commander to be arrested today for leakage of 
Aegis secrets, the first application of the U.S.-Japan secrecy 
protection accord (Mainichi) 
 
Diet agenda: 
9) Bill to allow MSDF refueling mission likely to be passed by 
override early in the New Year (Tokyo Shimbun) 
10) Socialists threaten censure motion against prime minister if 
refueling bill passed by an override vote (Mainichi) 
11) After Lower House adopts extension of Diet session to Jan. 15, 
ruling camp to call for talks on the social insurance mess (Sankei) 
 
12) Perception that government reneged on promise to settle the 
pension problem has created another major headache for the ruling 
camp in the Diet (Mainichi) 
 
13) Japan supports U.S. in COP13 on not having reduction targets for 
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (Mainichi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) In agreement on host-nation support, Japan and U.S. essentially 
maintain previous levels 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 13, 2007 
 
Japan and the United States reached an agreement yesterday in 
negotiations on a revision to the current Special Measures Agreement 
on Japan's host nation support (the so-called sympathy budget), 
which is due to expire at the end of March. Under the new agreement, 
the amount allocated for utility charges will be at the same level 
as this fiscal year in fiscal 2008 but will be cut by 400 million 
yen in both fiscal 2009 and 2010. Looking at the total amount of 
approximately 140.9 billion yen (in the fiscal 2007 budget), it can 
be taken that both sides, giving consideration to the importance of 
the Japan-U.S. alliance, agreed to maintain almost the same as the 
 
TOKYO 00005537  002 OF 010 
 
 
previous levels in effect. 
 
After meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer at the 
Foreign Ministry yesterday evening, Foreign Minister Masahiko 
Koumura said: "We've reached a satisfactory conclusion. The other 
side had said that Japan should increase the budget. We were able to 
produce an acceptable result." 
 
The sympathy budget includes two portions -- one based on the 
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (approximately 76.5 billion 
yen in fiscal 2007) that covers maintenance costs for US military 
facilities in Japan and other expenses, and another based on the 
Special Measures Agreement (approximately 140.9 billion yen) that 
covers utility charges and labor costs of Japanese employees working 
at U.S. bases. 
 
Japan initially aimed to significantly cut the part of its host 
nation support under a renewed special agreement, given its severe 
financial conditions. But the U.S. fiercely reacted to Japan's 
proposal. 
 
On utility charges, Japan will pay 25.3 billion yen in fiscal 2008, 
the same as the fiscal 2007 allocation, and 24.9 billion yen in 
fiscal 2009 and 2010 each, 400 million yen less than this fiscal 
year under the new agreement. Japan accepted these figures in the 
end, out of consideration to the U.S. 
 
To minimize Japan's burden as much as possible, the calculation 
method for payment was changed. Japan will replace the cap on annual 
usage - as unit prices had risen with the spike in fuel costs - with 
a cap in payments. 
 
Fearing a negative impact of the standoff in negotiations on the 
sympathy budget on the Japan-U.S. alliance, Japan began to aim to 
reach an agreement even if its requests were not accepted 100 
PERCENT , as said by a senior Defense Ministry official. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Ambassador Schieffer, and former 
Ambassador Baker met at a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo on the night 
of Dec. 4. A source familiar with the Japan-U.S. talks said: "The 
aim of the meeting was to strike a deal between Japan and the U.S. 
on Japan's sympathy budget." 
 
2) Japan, US agree on 800 million yen cut in Japan's host-nation 
support for U.S. military forces over three-year period 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 13, 2007 
 
The governments of Japan and the United States agreed yesterday on a 
cut of 800 million yen in part of Japan's host-nation financial 
support for U.S. military forces stationed in Japan (the so-called 
sympathy budget) over a three-year period starting in fiscal 2008. 
The current Special Measures Agreement on Japan's host-nation 
support is due to expire at the end of March. The special agreement 
portion will be reduced for the first time in seven years since 
¶2000. Japan aimed at a drastic cut annually in the special agreement 
portion, which had grown to of 140 billion yen, but the US opposed 
it, citing such reasons as increasing military expenses in Iraq. As 
a result, both sides agreed on only minor cuts. 
 
Foreign Minister Koumura and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas 
 
TOKYO 00005537  003 OF 010 
 
 
Schieffer met at the Foreign Ministry yesterday and agreed to extend 
the special agreement for another three years. After the meeting, 
Koumura told reporters: "The U.S. was even telling Japan at one 
point to increase the sympathy budget, so this is a somewhat 
satisfactory agreement." 
 
Asked about whether the suspension of the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's (MSDF) refueling mission in the Indian Ocean affected the 
negotiations, Koumura said: "That (the MSDF withdrawal) might have 
been behind the U.S. side's strong assertion (that the current state 
must be maintained). It is undesirable to see the current very 
favorable Japan-U.S. relations deteriorate." 
 
In the new agreement, the amount allocated to utility costs will be 
25 billion yen in fiscal 2008 - the same as this fiscal year - but 
will be reduced by 400 million yen in fiscal 2009 and 2010 each. The 
Japanese government has so far covered the utility charges by 
capping the annual usage but will use value instead of usage under 
the new agreement so that Japan will be able to cope with oil price 
rises. 
 
A senior Foreign Ministry official said: "There will be the effect 
of a 5 PERCENT  budgetary cut, compared with the amount set in the 
rough-estimate budget request for fiscal 2008." The agreement also 
stipulated that the U.S. will make further efforts to economize on 
these expenditures. Japan was calling for a bold reform of the 
sympathy budget, reflecting Japan's increased financial burden 
related to U.S. force realignment, such as expenses for transferring 
Marines stationed in Okinawa to Guam. On this request, both sides 
agreed to make a comprehensive review. 
 
On other portions than the special measures agreement, negotiations 
are going on between the parties concerned over cuts in maintenance 
costs for offered facilities (45.7 billion yen in fiscal 2007) and 
allowances for Japanese workers at U.S. military bases (about 10 
billion yen in fiscal 2007). 
 
3) Sympathy budget: Settlement reached with only slight cut based on 
consideration given to U.S.; Major progress in terms of cost-sharing 
system 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 13, 2007 
 
Special agreement talks to discuss Japan's share in the shouldering 
of the expenses for the U.S. forces stationed in Japan (host-nation 
support outlays) reached an agreement on a slight cut in its share 
of the utilities costs. However, the result shows that Japan took a 
noticeable stand of willingness to compromise, since it originally 
aimed at paving the way for ending the shouldering of water, 
lighting and heating expenses. 
 
Meeting the press after talks with Foreign Minister Koumora, U.S. 
Ambassador to Japan Schieffer noted, "The agreement this time was 
extremely beneficial from the viewpoint of maintaining the 
U.S.-Japan alliance." However, one senior Defense Ministry official 
revealed, "There were exchanges of views that were close to a 
shouting match" in the process of the talks reaching a settlement. 
 
The so-called "sympathy budget" combines portions outlaid under the 
special supplemental accord to the Japan-U.S. Status-of-Forces 
Agreement (SOFA) and those paid under the SOFA itself. The budget 
 
TOKYO 00005537  004 OF 010 
 
 
totals 217.3 billion yen (for fiscal 2007). Japan's share is 74.5 
PERCENT  (in 2002), which is outstanding, compared with other 
countries that host U.S. forces. That of South Korea is 40 PERCENT . 
Germany shoulders 32.6 PERCENT . Regarding utility expenses, in 
particular, some Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members belonging to 
the defense affairs policy clique in the Diet have been calling for 
a cut, with one noting, "The U.S. side lacks cost awareness." 
 
For this reason, the Japanese government made a "bullish proposal" 
for cutting Japan's share in the utility expenses, which came to 
25.3 billion yen in fiscal 2007, by 5 billion yen a year over five 
years to make the amount zero in the end. 
 
The talks were rough-going, with the U.S. strongly calling on Japan 
to increase its share, citing as reasons its shouldering of war 
costs stemming from dispatches of an increased number of personnel 
to Iraq and the need to respond to the arms buildup by China. In the 
end, the U.S. side accepted Japan's assertion that it would be 
impossible to obtain public understanding without a reduction, even 
if only slightly. 
 
The result was dissatisfactory for the Japanese side in terms of the 
sum of the money, but major progress has been made in terms of the 
system. 
 
The usual method of setting Japan's share in utility costs was to 
set the ceiling for heating, gas and water supplies first. Then the 
Japanese government shoulders an amount within the set ceiling. 
However, both countries have now adopted a system of setting a total 
amount of utility expenses to be shouldered by Japan, replacing the 
conventional system. 
 
A certain senior Defense Ministry official explained, "The U.S. will 
cover the portion exceeded the ceiling. This would be effective in 
the sense of having the U.S. side realize cost awareness." It would 
also be possible to avoid the effect of a sharp rise in electricity 
expenses due to high oil prices. As such, the same senior Defense 
Ministry official said, "The effect of cost reduction would be 
larger than the 1.5 PERCENT  cut in the budget." 
 
4) "Sympathy budget" to be reduced, affecting Japanese employees; 
Cuts in allowances in focus 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
December 13, 2007 
 
Tokyo and Washington reached yesterday an agreement in principle to 
reduce Japan's host nation support (commonly called the "sympathy 
budget") for U.S. forces in Japan. But in order to slash the overall 
budget, the government still needs to have tough talks with Japanese 
employees working at U.S. bases in the country. Japanese employees 
are reacting strongly to the planned budgetary cuts that would take 
a toll on them. The All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union (Zenchuro) 
plans to stage its third strike on Dec. 17. 
 
The salaries and allowances of Japanese employees working at U.S. 
bases are paid by the Japanese government in accordance with the 
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. 
 
The government is planning to abolish what is called the 
differential and language allowances that are paid in consideration 
of unique circumstances at U.S. bases, such as language and custom. 
 
TOKYO 00005537  005 OF 010 
 
 
At present, 10 PERCENT  is added to base pay. Approximately 10 
billion yen has been included in the HNS annually. 
 
In the talks with Zenchuro that started in October, the government 
presented this view: "With Japanese people working at foreign firms 
in growing numbers today, the difference in language and custom at 
U.S. bases is no longer so unique." This is the reason to abolish 
the outdated system, according to the government. 
 
There is a tacit understanding in the government, however, that 
there lies a bigger reason beneath it. A senior Foreign Ministry 
official admitted that behind it, there is consideration for 
Japan-U.S. relations, saying, "It is a good plan that does not 
directly put a financial burden on the United States and does not 
have adverse effects on the Japan-U.S. relations." 
 
5) Government to implement 10 billion-yen economic package in 
connection with Futenma relocation plan 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
December 13, 2007 
 
The Futenma relocation consultative council composed of the 
government, Okinawa, and affected municipalities met yesterday at 
the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). In the session, 
the government announced its plan to implement shortly its 10 
billion-yen economic package for Okinawa's northern area in fiscal 
2007, which has been frozen, and to include about the same amount in 
its fiscal 2008 budget. An agreement was reached in principle to 
start an environmental impact assessment in areas around Camp 
Schwab, the relocation site, as early as January. Although the 
dialogue between the government and Okinawa has resumed, there was 
no progress on the planned relocation itself. 
 
Tokyo and Washington adopted in May 2006 a plan to build a V-shaped 
pair of runways (on Camp Schwab). Okinawa repeatedly urged the 
government to move the envisaged runways further offshore, citing 
possible noise pollution affecting nearby residents. The government 
flatly rejected Okinawa's request by citing the bilateral agreement, 
and the consultative council has not met since January this year. 
The Fukuda administration, launched in late September, has gradually 
softened its stance, however. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda held his first meeting with Okinawa 
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima on Oct. 31. Fukuda told the press: "I 
would like to push ahead with talks while incorporating Okinawa's 
thinking as much as possible." Talks at the consultative council 
resumed for the first time in 10 months on Nov. 7 under the 
presidency of the chief cabinet secretary instead of the defense 
minister and the Okinawa affairs minister, demonstrating the 
Kantei-led leadership in addressing the Futenma relocation issue. 
 
Many observers ascribe the government's softened stance to the 
resignation of Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya, who had played 
a central role in producing an agreement between Japan and the 
United States. A government official noted: "Mr. Moriya refused to 
budge even an inch regarding the plan he had put together. His 
posture hardened Okinawa's stance." 
 
After the meeting yesterday, Governor Nakaima said to the press: 
"(The government) begins to show an attitude of listening closely to 
Okinawa's views." The government, however, reiterated its position 
 
TOKYO 00005537  006 OF 010 
 
 
of not making any changes to the plan unless there is a rational 
reason. A senior government official said: "Moving (the runways) by 
dozens of meters would be within the margin of error, but Okinawa is 
trying to extend the distance of the relocation by breaking it up 
into a number of times. The U.S. government would not agree to such 
an approach." Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura said in a press 
conference yesterday: "The Japan-US agreement is paramount." 
 
6) Futenma relocation council meets: Government, Okinawa reach 
agreement to make efforts for smooth environmental assessment 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 13, 2007 
 
The Futenma Relocation Consultative Council, a body to discuss the 
planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station 
among the government, Okinawa and affected municipalize, held its 
fifth meeting yesterday at the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
(Kantei). The government and Okinawa reached an agreement to make 
efforts for the smooth implementation of an environmental impact 
assessment that will start as early as next January around Camp 
Schwab, the relocation site, pushing the matter a step forward. The 
government announced that it will implement its fiscal 2007 economic 
package (approximately 10 billion yen annually) to the northern area 
and include about the same amount in its budget for fiscal 2008. 
 
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima and Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro 
reiterated their request to move the government's plan to build a 
V-shaped pair of runways as far offshore as possible. In response, 
Defense Minister Ishiba said: "Changes cannot be made unless there 
is a rational reason." The two sides remain wide apart. 
 
7) Ex-DFAA local chief quizzed over USFJ realignment projects 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged) 
December 13, 2007 
 
A task force of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office 
yesterday questioned a 61-year-old retiree from the now-defunct 
Defense Facilities Administration Agency (DFAA), who was a director 
general of the DFAA's Naha bureau in Okinawa Prefecture (currently 
the Okinawa Defense Bureau), sources revealed. The former director 
general of the DFAA's Naha bureau is said to be a confidant of 
former Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya, 63, who 
has been arrested on bribery charges. The former director general 
was one of those in charge of realigning the presence of U.S. forces 
in Japan. The task force searched the Defense Ministry on Nov. 29 
and then confiscated materials related to Futenma airfield's 
relocation and other documents. The task force is believed to have 
questioned the former DFAA Naha bureau chief about the circumstances 
of the U.S. military's realignment. 
 
The questioned retiree was a noncareer senior official, who served 
as director general of the DFAA's Naha Defense Facilities 
Administration Bureau from January last year through August this 
year. His retirement was pushed back on Moriya's authority, 
according to the sources. 
 
Japan and the United States have finalized their talks over the 
realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, incorporating an agreement to 
relocate Futenma airfield in Okinawa Prefecture to a coastal area of 
Camp Schwab in the island prefecture's northern coastal city of 
 
TOKYO 00005537  007 OF 010 
 
 
Nago. In exchange for Futenma relocation, the Japanese and U.S. 
governments also agreed on a plan to move about 8,000 U.S. Marines 
from Okinawa to Guam. The Japanese government plans to build U.S. 
military facilities and construct housing for about 3,500 families. 
For Guam plans, the Japanese government will invest in a 
private-sector corporation that will undertake construction and 
management. The total cost of Guam relocation is estimated at 6.09 
billion dollars (730 billion yen). 
 
Japanese construction and trading companies are aiming for the Guam 
relocation project. In addition, Yamada Corporation, a trading firm 
dealing in equipment for the Self-Defense Forces, and Nihon Mirise 
Corporation, established by Motonobu Miyazaki, 69, who was a 
managing director of Yamada Corp. and has been rearrested on the 
charge of bribery, also desired contracts for the project. The task 
force seems to be investigating the whole picture of defense 
interests, suspecting that Moriya might have favored Miyazaki. 
 
8) Police to arrest MSDF officer today for Aegis data leaks: First 
application of the Japan-US secrecy protection law 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
December 13, 2007 
 
A 33-year-old Maritime Self-Defense Force petty officer second class 
assigned to the MSDF's Escort Flotilla 1 took out classified data 
about an Aegis ship. In this incident of information leakage, 
Kanagawa prefectural police and MSDF shore police will arrest a 
34-year-old MSDF lieutenant commander today on the charge of 
violating the Japan-U.S. Secret Protection Law. The lieutenant 
commander was with a program unit (currently the Ship Development 
Group) in charge of maintaining and controlling systems for 
Aegis-equipped ships. The police will shortly send papers to 
prosecutors on several MSDF officers, including a 43-year-old 
lieutenant commander and a 49-year-old lieutenant, who were both 
instructors at the MSDF's 1st Service School in the city of Etajima, 
Hiroshima Prefecture. 
 
In 2002, the lieutenant commander allegedly gave classified data 
about an Aegis ship to the lieutenant commander who was an 
instructor at the MSDF's 1st Service School. The two MSDF officers 
got to know each other when they were studying in the United States. 
The former 1st Service School instructor is believed to have asked 
for Aegis data. 
 
The Aegis data was passed on to the lieutenant who was also an 
instructor at the 1st Service School, police said. The lieutenant 
copied a data file and gave its copies to several dozen MSDF members 
who were trained at the 1st Service School and who were not 
authorized to handle classified data. Data file copies were 
multiplied and proliferated to the crew of two MSDF destroyers, 
Shimakaze and Hatsuyuki. In the end, the petty officer second class 
seems to have received the data from a 23-year-old leading seaman, 
who was the petty officer second class' colleague when assigned to a 
destroyer. 
 
9) Upper House committee likely to take vote on new antiterrorism 
bill in early January; Secretaries general of six parties to meet 
today 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
December 13, 2007 
 
TOKYO 00005537  008 OF 010 
 
 
 
The possibility became strong yesterday that the House of 
Councillors Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense will delay 
until early next month a vote on a new antiterrorism special 
measures bill to resume the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
operation in the Indian Ocean. 
 
In a meeting today of the secretaries general of both Diet chambers 
from six ruling and opposition parties, the ruling camp, which aims 
to enact the bill during the current Diet session, will convey its 
policy of re-extending the ongoing session, which will end on Dec. 
15, until the middle of January and seek understanding from the 
opposition bloc. However, if a second vote on the new antiterrorism 
bill in the Lower House is delayed to next January, the regular Diet 
session will convene amid the ruling and opposition remaining in 
standoff. 
 
The largest opposition party Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto) has insisted that its is necessary to shed light on a 
series of scandals involving the Defense Ministry before putting the 
bill to a vote. The DPJ demands 1) hearing from former Yamada Corp. 
executive Motonobu Miyazaki, who is under arrest, 2) Diet testimony 
by former Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma and intensive deliberations 
on reform of the Defense Ministry. The party thinks about 40 hours, 
excluding deliberations on the scandals, are needed. 
 
The committee has spent about 17 hours for deliberations on the bill 
as of yesterday. Since only five working days remain before the end 
of the year, it is difficult to conclude both the clearing up of the 
scandals and deliberations on the bill. 
 
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama yesterday told reporters in the 
Diet building: "We will have to shed light on the scandals. 
Considerable time will be needed. It is not that easy (to take a 
vote on the bill before the end of the year)." 
 
Four opposition parties -- the DPJ, the Japanese Communist Party, 
the Social Democratic Party, and the People's New Party -- will 
decide in a party-head meeting today to oppose a re-extension of the 
Diet session. The ruling coalition, however, intends to take a vote 
on a re-extension in a plenary session on Dec. 14 of the House of 
Representatives. 
 
10) SDP head Fukushima: If new antiterrorism bill is readopted in 
Lower House, censure motion against prime minister should be 
submitted 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
December 13, 2007 
 
Asked by the press about her party's response if the ruling camp 
takes a second vote on a new antiterrorism special measures bill in 
the House of Representatives, Social Democratic Party (SDP) 
Chairperson Mizuho Fukushima said: "That will lead to useless Upper 
House debate. It means neglecting public opinion. I think a censure 
motion against the prime minister should be submitted to the Diet." 
 
11) Re-extension of Diet session to be adopted in Lower House 
tomorrow: Ruling parties calling for participation of opposition 
parties in social security talks 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
 
TOKYO 00005537  009 OF 010 
 
 
December 13, 2007 
 
Following a meeting between Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and New 
Komeito head Akihiro Ota, the government and the ruling parties 
yesterday formally decided to re-extend the extraordinary Diet 
session, which is to end on Dec. 15, until January 15 next year. 
They will present their decision to the Upper House president and 
the Lower House speaker today and adopt it at a plenary session of 
the Lower House on the 14th. Prior to this, Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki yesterday secretly met with 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) Secretary General Yukio 
Hatoyama and others at a Tokyo hotel. Ibuki during the meeting 
called for putting the new antiterrorism special measures 
legislation to a vote in the Upper House before year's end. He also 
proposed setting up a social security national council, a 
consultative panel for the ruling and opposition parties to discuss 
social security and the tax system. 
 
Though the secret meeting bogged down, Ibuki intends to call for the 
opposition camp's cooperation for the new antiterror legislation and 
participation in the envisaged panel by holding a meeting of the 
secretaries general of both the ruling and opposition parties today. 
 
SIPDIS 
After this meeting, he will hold a meeting of Diet Affairs Committee 
chairs of both the ruling and opposition parties of the Lower and 
Upper Houses, where the secretaries general of the LDP and the DPJ 
are expected to propose re-extending the Diet session. 
 
Four opposition parties yesterday afternoon held a meeting of Diet 
Affairs Committee chairs and confirmed a policy of responding to a 
meeting of secretaries general but opposing the proposal for 
re-extending the Diet session and putting the new antiterror 
legislation to a vote before year's end. 
 
The LDP and New Komeito will ask the opposition camp to continue 
deliberations at the Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense 
Committee and seek a roll call on the bill when deliberation time 
exceeded 40 hours. If matters proceed as envisaged, the legislation 
will be voted down in the Upper House and be put to a vote again at 
a Lower House plenary session. However, with the opposition camp 
standing firm on their stance of giving priority to pursuing 
scandals involving the Defense Ministry, prospects for whether this 
will go according to plan have yet to be ascertained. 
 
12) Government breaks commitment to resolve pension issue; Ruling 
camp worrying about negative impact, DPJ aiming to make it a 
campaign issue in Lower House election 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
December 13, 2007 
 
Now that the Liberal Democratic Party's campaign pledge to conclude 
by the end of next March the identification of holders of 50 million 
pension accounts that remain unidentified will likely be broken, 
there was growing concern yesterday in the government and ruling 
parties that they may come under heavy fire now from the public. 
Meantime, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto) intends to pursue the responsibility of Health, Labor and 
Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe and strengthen its offensive with an 
eye on making the pension fiasco a campaign issue in the next House 
of Representatives election. 
 
In a session yesterday of the Lower House Committee on Health, Labor 
 
TOKYO 00005537  010 OF 010 
 
 
and Welfare, DPJ lawmaker Akira Nagatsuma, who discovered the 
pension fiasco, questioned Masuzoe and urged him to thoroughly 
investigate the ledger of pension records. 
 
Masuzoe: "I expressed my determination to Mr. Nagatsuma to resolve 
the ledger problem. But there is a financial and manpower problem." 
 
Nagatsuma: "You are saying that more manpower is needed. It sounds 
you have lost your drive." 
 
Masuzoe presumed that if a reinvestigation of the more than 800 
million pages of paper work was carried out, more input errors into 
the computer system would be found out. Prior the committee session, 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Diet Committee Chairman Tadamori 
Oshima told Masuzoe: "You should better not make remarks that can be 
taken as excuses." His remark indicated that the government and 
ruling coalition were alarmed by the pension issue. 
 
13) Bali Climate Change Conference: U.S. comes up with 
counterproposal for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions without 
numerical targets; Japan supports it 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
December 13, 2007 
 
It was found on Dec. 12 that the U.S. and other countries came up 
with a proposal for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions without 
numerical targets to counter the Bali roadmap covering the next two 
years jointly proposed by the chairmen at the 13th session of the 
Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention 
on (COP13) (Bali Climate Change Conference). 
 
The chairmen's proposal calls on industrialized countries to set 
their own reduction targets. The U.S. also opposed this proposal, 
contending that future discussions would be biased. 
 
The joint chairmen's proposal was submitted on Dec. 11, and 
participating countries expressed their countries' opinions. An 
informal meeting led by working-level officials was held on Dec. 
¶12. 
 
The chairmen's proposal called for 25 PERCENT -40 PERCENT  cuts by 
2020 compared with 1990 levels. However, according to more than one 
informed source, Russia made a counterproposal noting that it would 
be necessary for all countries to strengthen efforts and act jointly 
for more cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. and Japan 
supported this proposal. 
 
SCHIEFFER