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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 005591 
 
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 12/18/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Fukuda Cabinet support plummets 13 points to 33 PERCENT , 
non-support jumps 14 points to 44 PERCENT  in Mainichi poll; 50 
PERCENT  of public want MSDF refuel mission ended (Mainichi) 
 
Defense and security issues: 
2) Ambassador Schieffer hopes to see early restart of MSDF refueling 
in Indian Ocean, indicates understanding for importance of DPRK 
abduction issue (Yomiuri) 
3) Abu Dhabi Crown Prince expects Japan to restart Indian Ocean 
refueling mission soon (Tokyo Shimbun) 
4) MSDF warship readies for first real MD test, intercepting a 
ballistic missile over the ocean (Nikkei) 
5) 2ND LD: Japan intercepts ballistic missile in test KAUAI ISLAND, 
Hawaii, Dec. 17 (Kyodo) 
6) 6,130 local residents file lawsuit against aircraft noise at 
Atsugi Air Station, seeking 4.6 billion yen in compensation (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
7) Former Vice Defense Minister Moriya to be rearrested today on 
even more corruption charges (Yomiuri) 
 
8) Tokyo backs away from PKO dispatch to dangerous Darfur, offers 
air transport support instead (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
9) Prime Minister Fukuda to visit China starting on Dec. 27, meeting 
with President Hu on the 28th (Mainichi) 
 
Political agenda: 
10) Under barrage of criticism, Fukuda retracts flippant remark on 
pensions, apologizes (Asahi) 
11) LDP action plan for 2008 calls the current political situation 
"the worst crisis for our party since its founding" (Yomiuri) 
12) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), sensing ruling camp's 
vulnerability, plans to focus attack Fukuda in Diet now on the 
pension issue (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) OPINION 
 
Poll: Support for Fukuda cabinet falls to 33 PERCENT ; Nonsupport 
rises to 44 PERCENT 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
December 18, 2007 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide public 
opinion survey on Dec. 15-16. The rate of public support for Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda and his cabinet was 33 PERCENT , down 13 
percentage points from the last survey taken in October. The 
nonsupport rate for the Fukuda cabinet was 44 PERCENT , up 14 
points. The Fukuda cabinet's disapproval rating topped its approval 
rating for the first time since it came into office in September. 
The government has now given up on resolving the issue of pension 
records for unidentified persons, and Fukuda recently made a 
controversial remark over this issue. The drop in the support rate 
can be taken as reflecting these events. In public support for 
political parties, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto) outpaced the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The Fukuda 
administration will inevitably face difficulties. 
 
 
TOKYO 00005591  002 OF 009 
 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun has so far conducted three surveys on the 
Fukuda cabinet. In the first survey, which was taken Sept. 25-26 
right after its inauguration, the Fukuda cabinet's support rate was 
57 PERCENT . In the Oct. 20-21 survey, however, its support rate 
went down to 46 PERCENT . In the latest one, it showed a substantial 
drop for the second time in a row. Among men, the Fukuda cabinet's 
support rate was 31 PERCENT , with its nonsupport rate at 49 PERCENT 
. Among women, the support rate was 35 PERCENT , with nonsupport at 
40 PERCENT . 
 
In the survey this time, respondents were also asked about the 
desirable form of government. In response to this question, 23 
PERCENT  chose a grand coalition of the LDP and the DPJ, with 21 
PERCENT  preferring a DPJ-led coalition government and 17 PERCENT 
opting for the current coalition government of the LDP and New 
Komeito. In terms of noncoalition governments, 10 PERCENT  of 
respondents chose LDP single-party rule, with 11 PERCENT  opting for 
DPJ single-party rule. The figures show that there are many people 
seeking a change and pinning their hopes on the DPJ. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the DPJ 
stood at 27 PERCENT , with the LDP at 26 PERCENT . In the last 
survey, the two parties were even at 27 PERCENT . This time, 
however, the DPJ is above the LDP as in previous surveys taken 
around this July's election for the House of Councillors. 
 
Meanwhile, the Maritime Self-Defense Force has now withdrawn from 
its Indian Ocean refueling mission due to its governing law's Nov. 1 
expiry. In the survey this time, respondents were asked if they 
thought the MSDF refueling mission should be resumed. To this 
question, 41 PERCENT  answered "yes," with 50 PERCENT  saying "no." 
In the last survey, respondents were asked if they thought the 
MSDF's refueling activities should be continued. To that question, 
48 PERCENT  answered "yes," with 43 PERCENT  saying "no." In the 
survey this time, negative answers outnumbered affirmative ones. 
 
If a government-introduced bill seeking to resume the MSDF's 
refueling activities is voted down in the House of Councillors or is 
not put to a vote within 90 days after it is sent from the House of 
Representatives, the ruling coalition will revote on the bill in the 
House of Representatives to enact it into law. Respondents were 
asked if they supported this stance. To this question, 57 PERCENT 
answered "no," with 32 PERCENT  saying "yes." As seen from these 
figures, negative answers substantially outnumbered affirmative 
ones. 
 
Such figures can be taken as being affected by a series of scandals 
involving the Defense Ministry. 
 
2) U.S. Ambassador expresses hope for early resumption of refueling 
operation, also saying that (President Bush) understands importance 
of abduction issue 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 18, 2007 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer held a meeting with the 
Japanese press in Tokyo yesterday, in which the Ambassador expressed 
hope for an early resumption of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling operation in the Indian Ocean. The Ambassador said: "It 
was regrettable that the operation was suspended, but Prime Minister 
Fukuda has decided to resume the operation. I hope the Japanese 
 
TOKYO 00005591  003 OF 009 
 
 
people will understand the significance of Japan contributing to the 
international order." 
 
Also, in connection with the question of delisting North Korea as a 
state sponsor of terrorism, the Ambassador said: "I have advised 
President Bush that how the abduction issue is handled is a matter 
that could significantly affect U.S.-Japan relations. As the 
President clearly stated during the U.S.-Japan summit in November 
that he will not forget the abduction issue, I think he understands 
its importance." He also expressed concern over a series of 
irregularities involving the Defense Ministry, saying, "They could 
adversely affect the operational capability of the U.S.-Japan 
alliance." 
 
3) Abu Dhabi expresses hopes for Japan's early resumption of 
refueling mission 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
December 18, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed at 
the Prime Minister's Official Residence last night. The prime 
minister said: "The government is making utmost efforts to enact the 
new antiterrorism bill to resume the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean." The prince expressed his 
hopes for Japan's early resumption of the mission, saying: "The 
presence of Japan in the Indian Ocean is essential." The two leaders 
also confirmed the need to strengthen bilateral ties in not only 
energy but also many other areas. 
 
4) MSDF to test SM-3 missile for 1st time 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 18, 2007 
 
The Defense Ministry announced that the Maritime Self-Defense Force 
would test-fire a missile interceptor for the first time early on 
Dec. 18 Japan time in waters off the U.S. Hawaiian island of Kauai 
to shoot down a dummy ballistic missile. The Kongo, an MSDF 
Aegis-equipped destroyer, will use the sea-based Standard Missile 3 
(SM-3) interceptor for the test. Japan is the first country other 
than the United States to test-fire the SM-3 interceptor. The SM-3 
will be deployed in early next year. 
 
In the test, a U.S. missile site, which is located on the western 
tip of Kauai Island, will launch a dummy ballistic missile. The 
Kongo is in waters several hundred kilometers away from the missile 
site to detect and track the target, and will launch an SM-3 missile 
to intercept the target at an altitude of more than 100 kilometers 
outside the earth's atmosphere. 
 
The seaborne SM-3 test this time is intended to check to see if the 
Aegis ship's missile defense (MD) system will work normally. In the 
initial phase, the Kongo's radar will detect and track the target. 
In the second phase, the Kongo will fire an SM-3 interceptor and 
guide it to the target. In the third phase, the fired SM-3 
interceptor's warhead will be separated and redirected to destroy 
the target. 
 
The United States first test-fired an SM-3 interceptor in January 
2002 and conducted a total of 12 SM-3 intercept tests until last 
month. The United States was successful in 10 of those 12 tests. 
 
TOKYO 00005591  004 OF 009 
 
 
However, the Defense Ministry is precautious as all eyes are only on 
whether the SM-3 can make it, with an official saying, "The test is 
not necessarily intended to intercept the target." 
 
The Kongo, Japan's first destroyer equipped with the SM-3 
interceptor system, will be deployed in the current fiscal year. The 
Defense Ministry plans to renovate an Aegis destroyer every year for 
MD and to deploy a total lineup of four SM-3-equipped Aegis 
destroyers by the end of fiscal 2010. 
 
If the SM-3 fails to intercept ballistic missiles at sea, the 
Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3), a ground-to-air guided 
missile system, is to intercept them. The PAC-3 was first deployed 
in March this year to the Air Self-Defense Force's Iruma base in 
Saitama Prefecture. Japan's MD system will now go operational in 
full gear. 
 
5) 2ND LD: Japan intercepts ballistic missile in test KAUAI ISLAND, 
Hawaii, Dec. 17 KYODO (EDS: UPDATING) 
 
December 18, 2007 07:56:34 
 
Japan successfully carried out a test to intercept a target in space 
using a U.S.-made ballistic missile over the Pacific Ocean near 
Hawaii on Monday, Defense Ministry officials said. 
It was the first test of the high-tech Standard Missile 3 by a 
country other than the United States, according to the officials. 
The interceptor hit the target at around 0:11 p.m. local time 
Tuesday, or 7:11 a.m. Japan time Monday. 
 
Experts said the missile test is a key step in the completion of 
Japan's missile shield against North Korea, while also voicing 
concern that the development of the system could affect the balance 
of defense capabilities in the East Asian region that includes China 
and Russia. 
On Monday morning, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis-equipped 
destroyer Kongou launched an SM-3 missile from waters far off Kauai 
Island to intercept a target in space that was launched from the 
island by the United States, they said. 
 
The system using the sea-based SM-3 interceptor covers the upper 
range of Japan's two-layer missile defense shield. 
The SM-3 is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles 
outside of the earth's atmosphere, while the ground-based Patriot 
Advanced Capability 3 is designed to intercept missiles missed by 
the SM-3, they said. 
 
The project to enable the Kongou to deal with a possible ballistic 
missile attack was initially planned for the end of fiscal 2007 in 
March 2008, top MSDF commander Adm. Eiji Yoshikawa said recently. 
 
But the plan was moved forward by three months following North 
Korea's test launching of ballistic missiles in July 2006 over the 
Sea of Japan, the MSDF chief of staff said. 
 
Yoshikawa also said the MSDF plans to make the SM-3 system 
operational on the MSDF's three other Aegis destroyers by the end of 
fiscal 2010. 
The first PAC-3 missile launcher was introduced at the Iruma base of 
the Air Self-Defense Force in Saitama Prefecture in March this year. 
The ASDF has also equipped the Narashino base in Chiba Prefecture, 
east of Tokyo, with PAC-3 missiles. 
 
TOKYO 00005591  005 OF 009 
 
 
 
The Defense Ministry plans to deploy PAC-3 missile launchers at nine 
other ASDF bases around Japan by fiscal 2010. 
 
6) Record 6,130 residents file Atsugi base pollution lawsuit seeking 
4.6 billion yen in compensation 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Almost full) 
December 18, 2007 
 
A record number 6,130 people living near the Atsugi base (straddling 
Yamato and Ayase cities in Nakagawa Prefecture), which is now being 
jointly used by the U.S. Navy and the Maritime Self-Defense Force, 
have filed a fourth lawsuit with the Yokohama District Court against 
the government seeking a total of 4.656 billion yen in compensation 
for noise pollution from aircraft using the base that caused mental 
and physical distress for them. Of them, 500 have also filed an 
administrative lawsuit seeking the suspension of flights of military 
aircraft. 
 
The number of plaintiffs is the largest ever in noise lawsuits in 
Japan. It is also the first time that an administrative lawsuit has 
been filed seeing the suspension of flights of military aircraft. 
 
The lawsuit was filed by residents of eight cities near the base, 
such as Yamato and Ayase, that recorded over 75 on the Weighted 
Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level (WECPNL). The government 
for the first time in 20 years in January 2006 reviewed the areas 
eligible to receive subsidies for soundproofing work. The plaintiffs 
include residents of Chigasaki and Tokyo's Machida City that joined 
the government's list of subsidies after January 2006. 
 
According to the written complaint, U.S. military and SDF aircrafts 
are causing severe noise pollution at the base. It maintains that 
although courts have ruled three times in the past that the noise 
level at the base was illegal, the problem has not been resolved, 
and therefore, the government that manages the airport is 
responsible to make reparation for the damage. 
 
Under the national redress law, the group is seeking 20,000 yen a 
month per person in compensation for damage in the last three years 
before the lawsuit as well as for the future until the noise 
pollution is settled. Some plaintiffs have filed both criminal and 
administrative lawsuits seeing the suspension of flights. 
 
In the first and second Atsugi base lawsuits, courts rejected the 
plaintiffs' calls for the suspension of lights but ruled in favor of 
them regarding compensation for damage in the past. In the third 
lawsuit, the court ordered the government to pay a total of 4 
billion yen in compensation to the plaintiffs living in areas over 
75 WECPNL. The decision became final in July last year. 
 
7) Moriya to be rearrested today; GE voiced appreciation at party 
after receiving CX order 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
December 18, 2007 
 
"It was good that your company was able to win the order." "Yes, 
thanks to you, Mr. Vice Minister." This conversation allegedly took 
place between former Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya, 63, and 
an engine maker executive shortly after a decision was made on the 
 
TOKYO 00005591  006 OF 009 
 
 
engine for the Air Self-Defense Force's next-generation cargo 
aircraft (CX) in connection with a bribery and corruption case over 
the procurement of defense equipment. The special investigation 
squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office will indict 
and rearrest Moriya today, the deadline for custody, for taking 
approximately 4 million yen in bribes from former Yamada Corp. 
managing director Motonobu Miyazaki, 69, concluding that Moriya gave 
favors to Yamada in the form of awarding the CX engine order in 
return for being treated to free golf and trips. 
 
Moriya allegedly told investigators that he received 4 million yen 
in the knowledge that it was a bribe. The special investigation 
squad will also rearrest Miyazaki and Osamu Akiyama, 70, the former 
president of Yamada's U.S. subsidiary, on suspicion of giving bribes 
to Moriya. 
 
At the same time, prosecutors have decided not to rearrest Moriya's 
wife Sachiko, 56, concluding that she had played only a supporting 
role and not to prosecute her after releasing her by keeping the 
punishment for taking bribes and free rounds of golf on hold. 
 
According to relevant sources, Miyazaki around 2002 lobbied Moriya, 
who was Defense Policy Bureau director general at the time, to 
select a General Electric product as the CX engine. Through 
Miyazaki, Moriya allegedly met with a GE executive who visited Japan 
at the end of that year, when the executive directly urged Moriya to 
select (the GE engine). 
 
8) Japan declines request by Burundi for airlift support for PKO 
troops to Darfur 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
December 18, 2007 
 
It was learned yesterday that the Japanese government declined a 
request by the Republic of Burundi this October for cooperation in 
transporting its troops to participate in a joint African Union (AU) 
/ United Nations hybrid operation (UNAMID), which will start in the 
Darfur region of western Sudan next year. In this region, a serious 
humanitarian crisis is going on, and Burundi is planning to 
participate in UNAMID. As the reason for its refusal, the government 
cited the lack of a ceasefire agreement between the parties 
concerned, one of the five principles set for Japan to participate 
in peacekeeping operations, according to government sources. 
 
The humanitarian crisis in Darfur has drawn much attention 
internationally. This issue is expected to be on the agenda at a 
meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on Africa's 
Development (TICAD) next May and the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido 
next July. Japan, which will host the Toya Summit, is likely to 
receive more requests for international contributions. 
 
According to informed sources, the Burundi government, which lacks 
enough transport equipment, such as helicopters, unofficially asked 
the Japanese government to airlift troops to Darfur when they join 
UNAMID. But Tokyo gave a negative reply, with a senior Foreign 
Ministry official saying: "No comprehensive peace accord has been 
reached between the Sudan government and the antigovernment force." 
The AU unit has been deployed in the Darfur region since August 
¶2004. This July, the UN Security Council decided to dispatch UNAMID 
there. Most of the participating countries are from Africa, and 
materials and funds for UNAMID are significantly lacking. Some 
 
TOKYO 00005591  007 OF 009 
 
 
observers anticipate that the start of UNAMID activities planned for 
next January may be greatly delayed. 
 
9) Premier to visit China on Dec. 27: Talks with President Hu on the 
28th 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
December 18, 2007 
 
The outline of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's schedule to visit China 
was set yesterday. He will leave for Beijing on Dec. 27 and meet 
with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. He will also visit 
Wen's hometown of Tianjin, as well as Taian in Shandong Province, 
where the sacred Mt. Taian, which has recently established a "sister 
mountain relationship" with Mt. Fuji, is located. He thus wants to 
create a friendly mood between the two countries. He is scheduled to 
return home on the 30th. 
 
Fukuda wants to demonstrate his determination to strengthen 
bilateral ties by visiting the nation right after completing the 
compilation of the fiscal 2008 budget. 
 
In talks with Hu, the two leaders are expected to confirm their 
determination to further promote strategic and reciprocal relations 
by characterizing 2008, which will mark the 30th anniversary of the 
signing of the Japan-China Peace and Friendship Treaty, as a "year 
of progress in Japan-China relations." However, it appears difficult 
for them to reach an agreement on the pending issue of jointly 
developing gas fields in the East China Sea, because a gap in the 
views of the two countries remains. 
 
10) "Campaign flyers caused misunderstanding," says premier, 
apologizing for LDP pension pledge 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
December 18, 2007 
 
Regarding the criticism of the government's and the ruling parties' 
approach to the pension record error issue as a breach of a public 
pledge, Prime Minister Fukuda yesterday offered an apology, noting, 
"It is true that the party's flyers included words that caused 
misunderstanding." Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Masuzoe noted 
that it would be difficult to identify the holders of nearly 40 
PERCENT  of 50 million unidentified public pension premium payment 
records. There is no chance that the government can deliver on its 
pledge to identify the very last pension account holder and pay 
benefits. However, the prime minister stressed the government stance 
of continuing to tackle the work of matching records. 
 
He made that comment in response to questions asked by reporters at 
the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). He admitted that 
flyers the LDP prepared for the Upper House election campaign in 
July went too far. The flyers said that the government and the LDP 
would complete the identification of all public pension account 
holders and that all public pension holders can receive the full 
amount they are entitled to. 
 
The prime minister also stressed that there will be no change in the 
government policy of implementing the matching procedure by March 
2008, as the government and the ruling camp decided on July 5. He 
noted: "We don't know whether we can complete the procedure until we 
go through all unidentified pension accounts. We are now in the 
 
TOKYO 00005591  008 OF 009 
 
 
middle of that process. We will continue to tenaciously check every 
single account." 
 
He also defended former Prime Minister Abe, who pledged during the 
Upper House election campaign, "The government will check to the 
very last person and pay benefits," saying, "I think he made a 
comparatively proper comment." However, Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Machimura during a press conference yesterday said, "Some holders 
are deceased. It is not possible to identify records to the very 
last person. The 50 million cases include those who are 
unidentifiable from the start." 
 
11) Biggest crisis since the foundation of the party says LDP in 
2008 action program: Calls for beefing up support, placing priority 
on regional areas 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 18, 2007 
 
The 2008 draft action program of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
was revealed yesterday. The draft characterizes the present state of 
the LDP as facing its greatest crisis since the foundation of the 
party in the wake of the crushing defeat in the July Upper House 
election. It also notes that the party will speed up efforts to 
prepare for the next Lower House election, as well as to correct 
disparities, by giving consideration to regional areas and extending 
more assistance to the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. 
Regarding measures to deal with the current Diet situation, where 
the opposition camp has dominance in the Upper House, the program 
mentions that the party will establish a new Diet management 
mechanism, calling on opposition parties to come to the table for 
policy talks. 
 
The action program will be adopted at a party convention to be held 
on January 17 next year. It underscored the LDP's determination to 
set up a solid structure, by abandoning its overconfidence that it 
is strong in regional areas or it could do better if it only 
receives a boost from the public. It also included the party's 
determination to make efforts to field more candidates in the next 
election as well as to strengthen exchanges with friendly 
organizations to revitalize its support base and recruit more party 
members. 
 
On the policy front, the draft stressed that peace of mind must be 
felt by people in their daily lives. As key policy measures, it 
listed correction of income disparities, promotion of agriculture, 
forestry and fisheries policy, measures for small- and medium-size 
businesses, establishment of a reliable public pension system, and 
revamping the medical services system. 
 
The draft also notes that the party will continue to address its 
basic policies, including enactment of a new constitution, 
continuation of Yasukuni Shrine visits by key government officials, 
and a settlement of the territorial issue with Russia. 
 
12) DPJ gearing up for attacking government over pension mess, to 
seek timing for submitting censure motion against prime minister 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 18, 2007 
 
Taking advantage of growing public criticism of the government over 
 
TOKYO 00005591  009 OF 009 
 
 
the issue of unidentified pension records, the Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) is poised to relentlessly pursue in the re-extended Diet 
session the response measures taken by the government and the ruling 
coalition. The government pledged in the July House of Councillors 
election that it would identify all the holders of the 50 million 
unidentified pension accounts by next March. The DPJ takes the 
"withdrawal" of this pledge as a perfect tailwind for the party. The 
main opposition party intends to seek the best timing for submitting 
censure motions against Prime Minister Yasuo and relevant cabinet 
ministers over the pension issue, as well as on the series of 
scandals involving the Defense Ministry. 
 
In reference to the sharp drops in public support for the Fukuda 
cabinet shown in latest public polls, DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama 
told reporters yesterday: "The polls found that the people, as 
expected, have a growing interest in the pension mess. A series of 
very irresponsible remarks by cabinet ministers drove down the 
support rates." 
 
The reignition of the pension fiasco is a favorable factor for the 
DPJ, which has grilled the government over its sloppy responses. 
Many DPJ members have made bullish remarks, as Akira Nagatsuma, 
state minister in charge of pension issues in the "next cabinet," 
said: "If the government remains unable to settle the pension 
problem, it should hand over the political reins to us." 
 
The opposition party, though, has yet to elaborate a strategy on how 
to make the most use of the tailwind caused by the misstep by its 
opponent. The key lies in when the party, while watching the Diet 
schedule for deliberations on the government's new antiterrorism 
bill that would enable the Maritime Self-Defense Force to resume its 
refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, would play such important 
cards as a censure motion against the prime minister. 
 
Hatoyama said: "We need to consider the possibility of also 
censuring the government for its way of handling the pension 
problem, besides the new antiterror bill. We may submit such in the 
ongoing extraordinary Diet session or in the next regular Diet 
session." But Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka just 
said in a BS program: "I wonder if the antiterror bill deserves to 
be called to account." 
 
In the DPJ, carious views about submitting censure motions have been 
heard, such as: "We should carefully watch how the series of 
scandals involving the Defense Ministry will affect the political 
world;" and "We should not use the censure card until debate on a 
provisional road tax rate that will affect gasoline prices heat 
up." 
 
SCHIEFFER