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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 000354 
 
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 02/12/08 
 
Index: 
 
Okinawa rape incident: 
1) Okinawa police arrest 38-year-old U.S. Marine on suspicion of 
raping a 14-year old schoolgirl  (Asahi) 
2) Governor of Okinawa denounces rape incident as "unforgivable" 
(Okinawa Times) 
3) Local mayor expresses shock and anger at schoolgirl rape incident 
by U.S. Marine in Okinawa  (Okinawa Times) 
4) State Minister for Okinawa Affairs Kishida expresses "strong 
anger" at U.S. Marine rape incident  (Asahi) 
5) Foreign Ministry calls in U.S. Embassy charge to express "extreme 
regret" and demand measures to tighten discipline, prevent 
recurrence  (Asahi) 
6) Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Hatoyama denounce 
"still another" Okinawa rape incident, calls on government to 
"reduce bases"  (Yomiuri) 
 
Iwakuni mayoral election: 
7) Candidate favoring U.S. jet relocation wins Iwakuni mayoral 
election  (Asahi) 
8) Exit poll shows 54 PERCENT  of voters in Iwakuni concurring with 
relocation of carrier-based jets from Atsugi to Iwakuni base 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Defense and security issues: 
9) Solemn ceremony in Uwajima marks anniversary of Ehime Maru 
accident, in which U.S. sub off Hawaii sank training ship filled 
with students  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
10) Government plans to provide Nago City with USFJ 
realignment-related subsidy, premised on start of assessment of 
Futenma relocation site  (Asahi) 
 
Foreign relations: 
11) Secretary Rice to visit Japan, meet Prime Minister Fukuda on 
26th  (Mainichi) 
12) Prime Minister Fukuda to attend inauguration of ROK 
President-elect Lee, hold summit meeting with him on 25th  (Asahi) 
13) Japan to provide Afghanistan with 130 million yen in aid to fund 
PRT projects, such as school construction  (Asahi) 
14) Government mulling dispatching Japan Coast Guard for PKO in E. 
Timor, preparing way for passage of permanent PKO dispatch law 
(Nikkei) 
15) LDP's Taku Yamasaki: Party considering expanded use of weaponry 
for SDF under new permanent PKO dispatch law  (Yomiuri) 
16) Foreign Minister Koumura in Munich for international symposium 
praises U.S.-Japan alliance, expresses concern about China's 
military buildup  (Yomiuri) 
17) Russia denies air-space penetration; Japan demands 
re-investigation  (Yomiuri) 
 
Domestic affairs: 
18) Fukuda Cabinet support rate plummets 5.6 points to 35 PERCENT 
in Kyodo poll, with non-support now at 44.5 PERCENT   (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
19) Hatoyama supports Ozawa to continue as DPJ head in fall party 
election  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) U.S. Marine arrested on suspicion of raping junior high girl 
 
 
TOKYO 00000354  002 OF 012 
 
 
ASAHI (Online) 
February 11, 2008 (11:59) 
 
Police in Okinawa Prefecture today arrested Tyrone Hadnott, 38, an 
Okinawa-based U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant, on suspicion of 
raping a junior high school girl. The suspect has maintained that he 
just hugged the girl in the vehicle, the police said. 
 
According to the investigation, Hadnott is suspected of raping the 
14-year-old local schoolgirl inside a car parked on a street in the 
Okinawa prefectural town of Chatan around 10:35 p.m., Feb. 10. 
 
Hadnott and the girl met in the city of Okinawa around 8:30 p.m. 
that day when she was with two of her friends, and she agreed to 
ride on his motorbike because the suspect told her that he would 
give her a ride home, the police said. However, the suspect took her 
to his house in the village of Kitanakagusuku, according to the 
police. After that, the suspect made her go into his car and drove 
to Chatan where he raped her in his car parked on a street, the 
police said. 
 
After the girl left her friends, they were worried about her and 
called her cellphone before 10:00 p.m., the police said. They called 
an emergency call to the police after the girl replied "Help me!" 
and hung up the phone, according to the police. Around 10:45 p.m., 
the girl called her mother and said she had just run away. The 
police discovered the girl in the town of Chatan. The girl 
remembered what the car looked like, so the police identified 
Hadnott as the suspect. 
 
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima told reporters this morning, "I can 
never forgive this and feel strong indignation, considering the fact 
that it is a serious crime infringing on the human rights of 
women-and especially considering the fact that the victim is a 
junior high school student." The governor added, "I feel that this 
kind of incident must never take place again. It is extremely 
regrettable." 
 
The Okinawa prefectural government will lodge a protest this 
afternoon with the U.S. consul general in Okinawa and will request 
the U.S. forces in Okinawa, the Defense Ministry's Okinawa bureau, 
and the Foreign Ministry's Okinawa office to prevent such an 
incident from recurring. 
 
2) U.S. serviceman rapes junior high school girl; Suspect arrested 
at Okinawa Police Station 
 
OKINAWA TIMES EXTRA (Full) 
February 11, 2008 
 
The Okinawa Police Station arrested on the morning of Feb. 11 Tyrone 
Hadnott, 38, a staff sergeant belonging to the U.S. Marines' Camp 
Courtney in the prefecture on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old 
junior high school girl in his car. Hadnott has denied raping the 
girl, saying he only forced her down and kissed her, the police 
said. Governor Hirokazu Nakaima indignantly said yesterday morning: 
"The incident infringing on human rights of women is unforgivable." 
Okinawa Mayor Mitsuko Tomon and others also condemned the incident. 
The governor's office chief Akira Uehara and prefectural chairman of 
the board of education Morikazu Nakamura filed a protest with the 
U.S. General in Naha yesterday afternoon. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000354  003 OF 012 
 
 
According to investigators, Hadnott is suspected of raping the 
schoolgirl inside a car parked on a street near a park in the 
central part of the main island of Okinawa around 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 
¶10. 
 
According to the police, Hadnott met the girl and two of her friends 
at Koza Music Town in Okinawa City around 8:20 p.m. and he offered 
the girl a ride home. But Hadnott instead took her to his house 
outside the base. Feeling scared, the girl ran way from his house, 
but Hadnott got her into his car after chasing her, drove around the 
central part of town and then raped her. 
 
Worried, her friends called the girl's mobile phone and the girl 
replied "Help me" and hung up the phone. As a result, the friends, 
along with the girl's family members, reported the incident to the 
police. 
 
After being raped, the girl was released a little before 11:00 p.m. 
Police officers found the girl near the park and took her into 
protective custody. 
 
Because the girl remembered the suspect's house, his car and his 
looks, police officers asked Hadnott at his house to come 
voluntarily to the police station and arrested him on the spot. 
 
Governor: "The incident is unforgivable." 
 
Regarding the rape of a junior high school girl by a U.S. Marine, 
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima said yesterday morning: "I feel strong 
indignation against the crime and could never forgive it, 
considering the fact that the victim is a junior high school 
student. It is a serious crime infringing on human rights of woman. 
Every time a vicious rape incident involving U.S. serviceman 
occurred, we asked (the U.S. military) to take through measures to 
prevent a recurrence. It is extremely regrettable that an incident 
like this occurred despite that." Nakaima indicated that he would 
file a protest with the U.S. military and seek further measures. He 
was speaking to the press at the prefectural government office. 
 
Nakaima, who was informed of the incident early yesterday morning, 
said: "It should not have happened. Every time an incident occurred, 
we pressed the U.S. military to take fundamental measures. It is 
extremely regrettable that yet another incident occurred. I would 
like to take appropriate measures in consideration of the victim and 
her family." 
 
3) Yet another incident rocks Okinawa 
 
OKINAWA TIMES EXTRA (Full) 
February 11, 2008 
 
"I feel strong indignation" 
 
Okinawa Mayor Mitsuko Tomon shortly after 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 11 
visited the Okinawa Police Station, where the suspect is being 
detained, and received a briefing from deputy police chief Tokuori 
Shinya and others. Tomon said: "The incident shocked me. I would 
like to file protests with U.S. military organs and the Japanese 
government. The incident reminded me of the 1995 schoolgirl rape by 
U.S. servicemen. It is intolerable that a child with her whole life 
before her has become the victim of such an incident, and I feel 
strong indignation." 
 
TOKYO 00000354  004 OF 012 
 
 
 
U.S. military personnel must be monitored 
 
Mayor Tsuneo Chinen of Uruma City, which hosts Camp Courtney, to 
which the suspect belongs, said angrily: "A terrible thing has 
occurred. Time and again, we have called for preventive measures, 
but the same thing has happened again. A responsible person must 
monitor the actions of U.S. servicemen. In order to prevent a 
recurrence, the city would like to consider countermeasures, such as 
filing a protest." 
 
4) State Minister in Charge of Okinawa Kishida expresses strong 
indignation over allegation that U.S. Marine raped girl 
 
ASAHI ONLINE NEWS 
February 11, 2008, 18:06 p.m. 
 
In connection with the arrest of a U.S. Marine on suspicion of 
raping a junior high school girl in Okinawa, State Minister in 
Charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories Kishida told reporters in 
Tokyo yesterday: "I feel strong indignation over the incident, which 
should never have occurred." 
 
As to whether it is necessary to take a second look at the 
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), Kishida said, "The 
first thing to do is to strengthen discipline among the military 
personnel and discuss measures to prevent a recurrence of similar 
incidents. Then, we must think whether there is need to take other 
action." When asked about the impact of the incident on the 
relocation plan for the U.S. Futenma Air Station, Kishida went no 
further than to say: "While listening fully to views of the Okinawa 
people, we want to deal specifically with the base relocation issue 
and the issue of reducing Okinawa's military burden." 
 
5) Foreign Ministry asks U.S. side to take action to prevent 
recurrence of alleged raping of junior high school girl 
 
ASAHI ONLINE NEWS 
February 11, 2008, 15:12 p.m. 
 
A U.S. Marine was arrested on suspicion of raping a junior high 
school girl in Okinawa. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs' (MOFA) North American Affairs Bureau Director-General 
Shinichi Nishimiya on the morning of Feb. 11 conveyed his regret 
over the incident to Joseph Donovan, deputy chief of mission at the 
United States Embassy in Tokyo, by saying, "If the incident was 
caused by a U.S. solider, it is extremely regrettable." And 
Nishimiya asked the U.S. side to strengthen discipline among the 
U.S. military personnel and prevent a recurrence of similar 
incidents. In response, Donovan was quoted as saying, "The U.S. is 
closely watching the investigation into the facts, and is taking 
this incident seriously. We will fully cooperate with the 
investigation by the Japanese authorities." 
 
Later in the day, Ambassador in Charge of Okinawa Affairs Tadashi 
Imai conveyed his regret over the incident to Lt. General Richard 
Zilmer, commander of the U.S. Marine Corps in Japan. In response, 
Zilmer reportedly said he would cooperate on the investigation and 
strengthen discipline among the U.S. military personnel. The 
Japanese side made both requests over the phone to the U.S. side. 
 
6) DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama on alleged raping of Okinawa girl 
 
TOKYO 00000354  005 OF 012 
 
 
by U.S. Marine: Government should reduce U.S. bases 
 
YOMIURI ONLINE 
20:37, Feb. 11, 2008 
 
Referring at a press conference on Feb. 11 in Mito City to the 
arrest of a U.S. Marine on suspicion of raping a junior-high 
schoolgirl in the town of Chatan, Okinawa Prefecture, Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama 
said: "This kind of rape case has repeatedly occurred. I could not 
help thinking, not another one!" 
 
Hatoyama added: "I would like the government to take a strong 
attitude toward the United States on the realignment of the U.S. 
forces in Japan and the reduction of U.S. bases."  He continued: 
"Even if it takes years, shouldn't we immediately prepare the 
environment so that no more U.S. military bases would exist in 
Japan. The relationship between Japan and the U.S. should be made 
more equal." 
 
7) In Iwakuni mayoral election, new face - backed by groups favoring 
U.S. aircraft transfer plan - defeats former mayor 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Lead Paragraph) 
February 11, 2008 
 
The question of whether to accept the plan of relocating 
carrier-based aircraft from the Naval Air Facility Atsugi in 
Kanagawa Prefecture to the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in 
Yamaguchi Prefecture was put to the local voters in the Iwakuni 
mayoral election yesterday. Yoshihiko Fukuda, 37, a former Liberal 
Democratic Party member, was elected for the first time in a good 
tight contest with former Mayor Katsusuke Ihara, 57, who strongly 
opposes the relocation plan. Fukuda was asked by pro-relocation 
groups to challenge Ihara. The relocation plan - as part of the 
realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan - has stalled since the fall in 
¶2005. With Fukuda's election, the plan will certainly move forward 
now and is likely to be completed by 2014 as initially planned by 
the central government. The number of voters was 121,717, and voter 
turnout stood at 76.26 PERCENT  (65.09 PERCENT  in the previous 
mayoral election). 
 
8) Iwakuni exit poll: 54 PERCENT  favor relocation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
February 11, 2008 
 
The city of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture elected a new mayor 
yesterday. According to an exit poll conducted by the Yomiuri 
Shimbun, more than half of Iwakuni voters were in favor of 
redeploying carrier-borne fighter jets to the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Iwakuni base in line with the planned realignment of U.S. forces in 
Japan. The poll shows that the stance of opposing the redeployment 
of carrier-borne aircraft will only stagnate the city's municipal 
administration. This attitude seems to have boosted Yoshihiko 
Fukuda, who was a House of Representatives member of the Liberal 
Democratic Party and is flexible about the transferal of U.S. jets 
to the base. 
 
In the survey, respondents were asked if they supported an agreement 
reached between Japan and the United States on the plan to redeploy 
U.S. carrier-borne aircraft to Iwakuni. To this question, "yes" 
 
TOKYO 00000354  006 OF 012 
 
 
accounted for 13 PERCENT , with "conditionally yes" (if the plan is 
revised to reflect local views) and "no" accounting for 41 PERCENT 
each. "Yes" and "conditionally yes" totaled 54 PERCENT . 
 
Among those who answered "yes," 80 PERCENT  voted for Fukuda. Among 
those conditionally affirmative, a little over 70 PERCENT  voted for 
Fukuda. Among those negative, a little less than 90 PERCENT  cast 
their votes for former Mayor Katsusuke Ihara. 
 
The survey was conducted at polling stations in the city of Iwakuni 
with voters. Answers were obtained from 903 persons. 
 
9) Lingering sorrow and pain seven years after Ehime Maru incident 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 21) (Full) 
February 12, 2008 
 
It was seven years on Feb. 10 since nine of the 35 crewmembers of 
Ehime Prefectural Uwajima Fishery High School's training ship Ehime 
Maru died when the ship sunk after being struck by a U.S. nuclear 
submarine in February 2001 offshore Hawaii. The high school held a 
ceremony commemorating the victims and maritime safety. 
 
About 340 people -- the families of the victims, those who were on 
the training ship at the time of the incident and were rescued, all 
the school students and teachers -- prayed silently in the school's 
gymnasium at 08:43 a.m. (01:43 p.m. on Feb. 9, local time) while 
ringing the bell that was recovered from the sunken training ship. 
 
High School Principal Haruki Tamai offered a speech, in which he 
said: "Our anger over the incident will never heal. I strongly feel 
that we should not ease up in our determination that similar 
incidents must be avoided." 
 
Four members of the school council, including Hideaki Suzuki, a 16 
year-old, revealed a report on the Ehima Maru incident they 
compiled. A local chorus sang the song "Sea of Hope" produced by 
composer Shigeaki Saegusa. 
 
Each attendant offered a white chrysanthemum at the monument erected 
near the main school gate. Yoshiharu Tanioka, 17, president of the 
school council, said: "I want to realize my dream of engaging in the 
fisheries industry, continuing the enthusiasm of the nine victims. 
Some of the family members of the victims offered silent prayers at 
a park in Honolulu. 
 
10) Government to extend U.S. force realignment subsidies to Nago 
based on early start of Futenma assessment 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
February 9, 2008 
 
The government decided on Feb. 8 to provide U.S. force realignment 
subsidies to the city of Nago, the relocation cite for the U.S. 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, on the assumption that the 
government will start an environmental impact assessment at an early 
time. Nago, which has been opposed to the relocation plan, has not 
been on the government's list of subsidies. The government has 
shifted its policy in an effort to elicit the city's cooperation for 
the relocation plan. With the prefectural and Nago municipal 
governments expected to show understanding for an early start of the 
environmental assessment, the government is likely to provide 
 
TOKYO 00000354  007 OF 012 
 
 
subsidies within the current fiscal year. 
 
The Defense Ministry's assessment, intended to study the possible 
impact on the ecosystem of the base relocation, is an indispensable 
process for realizing the relocation. 
 
Under the U.S. Force Realignment Special Measures Law, the 
government is allowed to extend subsidies to local governments that 
are recognized to be contributing to the smooth and steady 
implementation of U.S. force realignment. The government has 
earmarked in the current fiscal year a total of 4.6 billion yen to 
36 local governments that have announced their acceptance of 
additional burdens resulting from U.S. force realignment. In 
addition to Nago, Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Zama in 
Kanagawa Prefecture, which are opposed to relocation plans, have not 
been on the government's list of cities receiving subsidies. 
 
But in Okinawa, there has appeared a mood to search for common 
ground with the central government regarding the Futenma relocation 
issue, as seen in Governor Hirokazu Nakaima's comment, "I have high 
hopes for the Fukuda administration, which places high priority on 
dialogue." 
 
For this reason, the government has concluded that the provision of 
subsidies will help push the planned assessment forward and obtain 
local understanding. 
 
The Defense Ministry has conveyed its desire to start the assessment 
within this month to the Okinawa government. 
 
11) U.S. Secretary of State Rice to hold talks in Tokyo with Prime 
Minister Fukuda probably on Feb. 26 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 9, 2008 
 
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit Japan 
on the way home from Seoul where she will attend the South Korean 
presidential inauguration to take place for Lee Myung Bak on Feb. 
¶25. Coordination is under way for a meeting on the 26th between Rice 
and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. 
 
According to Japan-U.S. diplomatic sources, the Prime Minister and 
U.S. Secretary of State will discuss the war against global warming, 
economic issues and Africa development, which are expected to become 
main topics at the July Group of Eight summit at Lake Toya in 
Hokkaido. They are also expected to exchange views on an early 
resumption of the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear ambition, 
as well as a new framework of cooperation between Japan, the United 
States and South Korea, with the aim of stabilizing East Asia. 
 
The expectation is that the state of realignment of U.S. forces in 
Japan, including the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station will become a topic of discussion between Fukuda and Rice. 
Fukuda will likely explain Japan's resumption of its refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean based on the new antiterrorism measures 
law in a bid to play up of the unity of Japan-U.S. alliance. 
 
12) President-elect Lee reveals plan to hold Japan-ROK summit soon 
 
ASAHI Com (Excerpt) 
February 11, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00000354  008 OF 012 
 
 
 
A suprapartisan group composed of representatives of the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP), the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the New 
Komeito, and the Social Democratic Party met ROK President-elect Lee 
Myung Bak in Seoul on Feb. 11. The delegation includes Koichi Kato 
and Taku Yamasaki, both of whom served as LDP secretary general, and 
former DPJ Policy Research Council Chairman Yoshito Sengoku. In 
reference to the presidential inauguration scheduled for Feb. 25, 
Lee said: "World leaders will be attending the ceremony. I am 
planning to hold a Japan-South Korea summit first." He thus revealed 
he would meet Prime Minister Fukuda around the 25th. 
 
13) Japan provided 130 million yen from its ODA to PRT in 
Afghanistan for construction of schools 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 10, 2008 
 
Shinya Minamijima 
 
The Japanese government was found to have provided money from its 
official development assistance (ODA) budget to projects promoted by 
the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), a group that consists of 
military personnel and civilians and that engages in reconstruction 
of Afghanistan. The projects include construction of schools. 
Foreign Minister Koumura, who is to arrive in Munich, Germany, in 
Feb. 9, intends to appeal to ministers from the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization (NATO) members about this assistance by Japan to 
the PRT as Japan's contribution to (the reconstruction of 
Afghanistan). But there is an indication that this aid may lead to 
the danger that Japanese aid organizations that operate in 
Afghanistan in the way unrelated to the PRT will be attacked by 
anti-government forces. 
 
According to an informed government source, the Japanese government 
has installed a liaison official in the NATO's civilian 
representative office in Kabul and undertaken coordination with each 
country's troops participating in the PRT in order to facilitate 
fund cooperation. 
 
When it came to what projects Japan financed, Japan financed 
civilian aid projects advanced by the PRT that was under the control 
of the Lithuanian troops, which are based in Afghanistan's Ghowr 
Province, where reconstruction falls behind, and the Estonian troops 
and the U.S. troops. Japan financed the projects on the condition 
that aid money be used for education, vocational training, and 
medical services only. The amount of money Japan has provided so far 
totaled 130 million yen, which covered 13 projects, such as the 
construction of elementary and junior high schools for literacy 
education. 
 
Each country's military found out necessary projects and asked for 
Japan's financial aid through nongovernmental organizations in 
Afghanistan and other countries. The Japanese government financed 
some projects. Reportedly, each country's military engages in the 
job of finding out necessary projects for ODA but they also engage 
in the job of inspecting progress on each project. The Japanese and 
Afghan governments exchanged notes on this cooperation. 
 
For this aid, Japan used "grass-roots human security grant aid 
cooperation" targeted for small projects directly linked to civilian 
aid under ODA. ODA is required to be used for nonmilitary 
 
TOKYO 00000354  009 OF 012 
 
 
assistance. But a government official noted that even in the case of 
rendering cooperation to the PRT, Japan can provide aid to it if the 
aid is for civilian purposes and said: "Japan's aid has been highly 
appreciated by local people and NATO." 
 
Although Japan's cooperation toward the PRT has been limited in the 
financial area, some among Japanese NGOs expressed concern that 
Japanese NGOs, which operate in the region without receiving any 
protection from other countries' troops, may be mistakenly taken as 
the groups linked to those troops and become the target of attack by 
anti-government forces. 
 
14) Government eyes dispatch of Japan Coast Guard personnel to East 
Timor, aiming to underscore Japan's eagerness for PKO cooperation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
February 9, 2008 
 
The government yesterday started looking into dispatching Japan 
Coast Guard (JCG) personnel to East Timor to participate in the 
United Nations' ongoing peacekeeping operations (PKO) in East Timor. 
If the plan is realized, the JCG will send its personnel to a PKO 
for the first time. Under the plan, the dispatched personnel will 
engage in providing guidance and advice to enhance the capabilities 
of the local maritime police section, based on the PKO Cooperation 
Law. The government aims to underscore Japan's eagerness for PKO 
cooperation, as advocated by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. 
 
The government plans to dispatch several JCG members to have them 
join the UN Integrated Mission in Timor (UNMIT) as civilian police 
officers. It will soon send a survey team to explore the best timing 
for dispatching JCG members. Their main mission will be to help the 
local maritime policy section enhance its abilities to stop the 
inflow of narcotics and illegal operations by fishing boats. 
 
Japan has dispatched more than 50 personnel to PKOs across the 
world. This figure is too small, compared with 1,820 persons being 
sent by China (as of last November) and 9,343 by India (the same). 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said: "Japan's presence 
is too thin." 
 
The government's decision stems from the judgment that activities in 
East Timor will involve little risk. The PKO in Sudan has drawn much 
attention in the international community, but the government is 
negative about sending personnel, focusing on security and other 
problems there. Japan has dispatched personnel to East Timor since 
the UN launched a PKO there in 1999. The two civilian police 
officers sent last year returned to Japan on Feb. 5. 
 
Some JCG officials suggest that giving training to naval policemen 
from East Timor in Japan would produce better results. But the Prime 
Minister's Office insists that if activities are outside the 
framework of the PKO, Japan will be unable to demonstrate its 
eagerness to cooperate on peacekeeping. 
 
East Timor has abundant natural resources. Japanese firms have also 
taken part in gas field development projects in the nation. Also 
because East Timor is expected to join the Association of Southeast 
Asian Nations (ASEAN), a senior Foreign Ministry official said: "It 
is strategically significant for Japan to strengthen ties with East 
Timor through personnel support." 
 
 
TOKYO 00000354  010 OF 012 
 
 
By studying the possibility of dispatching JCG personnel, the 
government is also aiming to pave the way for enacting new permanent 
legislation for dispatching Self-Defense Force troops overseas. The 
prime minister has expressed his eagerness for new permanent 
legislation. The LDP has also decided to set up a joint study group 
to look into permanent legislation on the 13th. 
 
Given that Japan has sent only 50 officials overseas, critics may 
pose questions about whether a permanent law is really necessary. 
For the government, the planned dispatch of personnel to East Timor 
will be a good means to produce results. 
 
15) Expanded use of weapons under permanent law on dispatch of SDF 
personnel abroad to be considered, according to Taku Yamasaki of 
LDP 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 11, 2008 
 
Seoul, Masakazu Hamasuna 
 
Former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Taku 
Yamasaki met in Seoul with reporters accompanying him on his visit 
to South Korea. Referring to a permanent law stipulating the desired 
form of the overseas dispatch of Self-Defense Forces' personnel, 
Yamasaki noted that the ruling parties' project team would launch 
discussions this month. He then indicated his party's intention to 
look into the possibility of easing the standards for the use of 
weapons, saying, "Whether it is possible to expand the scope of the 
use of weapons within the scope of the possible interpretation of 
the Constitution will also become subject to discussion." 
 
16) "China's military buildup is giving rise to regional concern," 
says Foreign Minister Koumura in speech given at International 
Security Conference 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 11, 2008 
 
Munich, Hiroo Matsunaga 
 
Foreign Minister Koumura, now visiting Germany, took part in the 
Munich Conference on Security Policy, an international symposium, 
and gave a speech around noon on Feb. 10. Regarding China's military 
modernization, he warned, "It lacks transparency." He also 
underscored the rapidly improving bilateral relations to the 
international community. 
 
This is the first time for a Japanese cabinet minister to give a 
speech at the conference, which brought together members of the 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), starting with the U.S., 
China, India and Russia. In giving the speech, Koumura gave priority 
to explaining matters concerning China in order to respond to 
growing interest in that nation in Europe and the U.S. 
 
Koumura stressed that for the stability and prosperity of Asia, it 
is necessary to enhance transparency through confidence-building in 
the political and military areas and reduce risks that could lead to 
destabilization." Concerning China's continuing military buildup, he 
pointed out, "There are some aspects that lack transparency. China 
needs to provide more detailed accounts. If the situation is left 
unattended, it could increase regional concern." 
 
TOKYO 00000354  011 OF 012 
 
 
 
Koumura presumably stressed that point in order to call on the 
European Union (EU) to continue its weapons embargo against China. 
 
Koumura played up friendly Japan-China relations, noting, "The two 
countries now share common responsibility for the stability of Asian 
and the world. They are tackling to build a mutually-beneficial 
strategic relationship." Part of his aim in giving such a speech was 
to wipe away the vivid memory still retained by European countries 
that Japan-China relations worsened during the Koizumi 
administration, as a senior Foreign Ministry official explained. The 
foreign minister also stressed, "If Japan widens its activities in 
Asia, the value of the Japan-U.S. alliance will increase, leading to 
further strengthening the bilateral alliance. 
 
17) Russia denies alleged intrusion of its aircraft into Japanese 
airspace; Japan demands reinvestigation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 12, 2008 
 
Munich, Hiroo Matsunaga 
 
Foreign Minister Koumura on the evening of Feb. 9 (early hours of 
Feb. 10, Japan time) met with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister 
Ivanov at a Munich hotel. They agreed to launch bilateral 
government-level talks to discuss Japan purchasing some of Russia's 
greenhouse gas emissions quotas. The first meeting will be held in 
Tokyo on Feb. 27. Concerning the issue of the alleged intrusion of a 
Russian bomber into Japanese airspace off the southern part of the 
Izu Island chain, Ivanov said, "We investigated the matter, and 
found that there was no intrusion." 
 
In response, Koumura demanded, "SDF fighter jets, which were 
scrambled to deal with the intrusion, confirmed the incident. We 
would like you to reinvestigate the matter properly." Ivanov pledged 
to do so. 
 
Regarding the Northern Territories issue, Ivanov said that the 1956 
Japan-USSR joint statement stipulating the return of the Habomai 
islets and Shikotan is the closest to a settlement of the issue 
among various attempts. He thus indicated Russia's stance that a 
settlement should be reached based on that statement. 
 
Koumura pointed out that it is important to sign a peace treaty, by 
settling the ownership of the four Northern Territories, including 
the Kunashiri Islands and the Etorofu as well, noting, "It is 
necessary to understand that the statement is not a peace treaty." 
 
18) Support for Fukuda cabinet down to 35 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Abridged) 
February 11, 2008 
 
The approval rating for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and his cabinet 
was 35.6 PERCENT  in a public opinion survey conducted for the month 
by Kyodo News on Feb. 9-10. The figure showed a drop of 5.8 
percentage points from January's survey, in which the Fukuda 
cabinet's support rate had rebounded. The figure is the second 
lowest, following the 35.3 PERCENT  rating in December last year, 
since his cabinet came into office. The disapproval rating for the 
Fukuda cabinet was 44.5 PERCENT , up 1.7 points. 
 
TOKYO 00000354  012 OF 012 
 
 
 
Those who do not support the Fukuda cabinet were asked why. In 
response, 26.1 PERCENT  said "the prime minister lacks leadership 
ability," up 6.5 points from the last survey. This topped all other 
reasons for the first time. Among other reasons, "nothing can be 
expected of his economic policy" accounted for 22.8 PERCENT . In the 
breakdown of reasons for supporting the Fukuda cabinet, "there's no 
other appropriate person" topped all other reasons at 50.0 PERCENT 
. 
 
What lies behind these figures seems to be public concern about the 
Fukuda cabinet's response to the economic situation, including lower 
stock prices, in addition to the recent occurrence of food-poisoning 
incidents involving Chinese-made frozen "gyoza" dumplings. The 
survey shows the public's severe eye on the prime minister's 
political steering. 
 
19) DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama supports idea of President Ozawa 
remaining in office 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 9, 2008 
 
Speaking at a press conference on Feb. 8 of the party leadership 
race in September, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama revealed his position of supporting 
 
SIPDIS 
the idea of current DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa staying on in the 
post. He said: "I want President Ozawa to run in the race. Under his 
leadership, our party should take over the reins of government." 
 
Hatoyama also suggested that an uncontested election be avoided. He 
stated: "I wonder whether the election should be a vote of 
confidence. Another way of holding an election is that candidates 
present their manifesto and conduct the election." 
 
DONOVAN