VZCZCXRO0837
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0423/01 0500138
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190138Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1797
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 8524
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6137
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9802
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4714
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6740
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1711
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7781
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8386

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 14 TOKYO 000423 
 
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 02/19/08 
 
 
Index: 
 
Secretary of State's visit: 
 
SIPDIS 
1) Secretary Rice to arrive in Japan Feb. 27, discuss Okinawa, North 
Korea with Prime Minister Fukuda  (Asahi)    3 
2) Secretary Rice will express regret for the Okinawa incident 
during her visit to Japan  (Yomiuri)    3 
3) Fukuda to speak to Rice about the Okinawa problem  (Sankei)    3 
 
Okinawa incidents: 
4) Even though USFJ imposed strict official discipline following 
rape incident, another U.S. Marine arrested in Okinawa for drunk 
driving  (Asahi) 
5) Drunken Marine arrested in Okinawa for breaking into a private 
home, where he was discovered asleep  (Mainichi) 
6) Prime Minister Fukuda upset by the series of Marine incidents in 
Okinawa: "What's happening down there?"  (Mainichi) 
7) Fukuda wants U.S. to enforce strict discipline effectively on 
military personnel after more incidents occur  (Yomiuri) 
8) Angry Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura calls U.S. forces in 
Okinawa "lax"  (Yomiuri) 
9) Embassy's deputy chief of mission called in by Foreign Ministry 
after another Marine incident in Okinawa occurs  (Yomiuri) 
10) Still another protest by Foreign Ministry as incidents mount in 
Okinawa  (Nikkei) 
11) Okinawa deputy governor meets Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura 
to ask government to seek ways to prevent more incidents in Okinawa 
(Asahi) 
 
12) Government trying to come up with effective countermeasures 
after series of Okinawa incidents  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
13) Anger spreads across Okinawa as series of Marine incidents occur 
 (Mainichi) 
14) Local residents express concern over incidents caused by U.S. 
Marines in Okinawa (Mainichi) 
15) Okinawa police reluctant to do joint patrols with U.S. military 
police  (Mainichi) 
16) Pentagon is revising rules of personal conduct after the latest 
rape incident in Okinawa  (Sankei) 
17) Okinawa rape incident: Stricter requirements for off-the-base 
residency: Measures to prevent recurrence to be mapped out next week 
 (Mainichi) 
 
Defense and security issues: 
18) The freeze is off: with the election of a pro-base mayor, 
Iwakuni City will now start to receive government subsidies 
(Mainichi) 
19) SDF may be sent to Middle East area for peace-keeping 
operations: senior official  (Yomiuri) 
20) Government considering PKO to Sudan's southern part  (Yomiuri) 
 
North Korea problem: 
21) Former senior U.S. official to visit North Korea to seek 
cooperation on the nuclear issue  (Sankei) 
22) Democratic Party of Japan organizing Diet league to promote 
exchanges with North Korea  (Sankei) 
 
Polls: 
23) Jiji poll finds Fukuda Cabinet's popularity continuing to 
dwindle, with non-support rate at 43.2 PERCENT , up 3.4 points, and 
support rate at 32.5 PERCENT , down 2 points  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
24) Nikkei poll: Cabinet non-support rate at 48 PERCENT , up 2 
 
TOKYO 00000423  002 OF 014 
 
 
points, support drops 2 points to 40 PERCENT   (Nikkei) 
25) Yomiuri poll reveals a majority of the public, 51 PERCENT , do 
not support the Fukuda Cabinet, with support falling to 39 PERCENT 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) U.S. Secretary of State Rice to arrive in Japan on Feb. 27 for 
talks on North Korea, Marine incident 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
Eve., February 16, 2008 
 
(Washington) 
 
The U.S. State Department announced on Feb. 15 that Secretary Rice 
will the Republic of Korea, China, and Japan between Feb. 23-28, 
timed to attend the inauguration of Lee Myung Bak as the new 
president of South Korea. Though there had been speculation that she 
would possibly visit Pyongyang to accompany a famous American 
symphony orchestra, the State Department spokesperson on the 15th 
ruled that out. 
 
Rice will first visit South Korea on the 25th and after the 
inauguration depart for Beijing on the 26th. She will stay in Japan 
on the 27th and 28th, meeting Foreign Minister Koumura and other 
senior officials. She will exchange views how to deal with the 
Six-Party Talks on North Korea's nuclear issue. The issue of the 
rape of an Okinawan schoolgirl by a U.S. Marine is likely to come 
up, as well. 
 
2) State Secretary Rice to express "regret" over alleged U.S. Marine 
rape incident during visit to Japan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
Evening, February 18, 2008 
 
Miyazaki, Washington 
 
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Christopher Hill said 
yesterday that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice would express 
sincere regret over the alleged rape of a junior high school girl by 
a U.S. Marine Corps staff sergeant in Okinawa during her meetings 
with Foreign Minister Koumura and other Japanese officials when she 
visits Japan starting on Feb. 27. Hill made the remark in response 
to questions by reporters at an airport in the suburbs of 
Washington. 
 
Hill said: "Secretary Rice is perplexed over the incident and is 
taking it with profound regret." 
 
3) Fukuda reveals plan to discuss with Secretary Rice measures to 
prevent incidents by U.S. Marines 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 19, 2008 
 
Speaking before reporters at his official residence (Kantei) last 
night, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda indicated that he would discuss 
measures to prevent a recurrence of crimes by U.S. Marines, in 
reaction to a series of recent incidents by U.S. Marines in Okinawa, 
with U.S. Secretary of State Rice when she visits Japan on Feb. 27. 
 
TOKYO 00000423  003 OF 014 
 
 
Fukuda said: "What has happened to the U.S. military? I must ask the 
U.S. to take thorough measures to prevent such incidents." Okinawa 
Vice Governor Katsuko Asato and others met Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Nobutaka Machimura at the Kantei last evening and called for more 
preventive measures. 
 
4) Another U.S. Marine arrested in Okinawa, charged with drunk 
driving at a time when policy of strict official discipline in 
effect 
 
ASAHI (Page 34) (Full) 
February 18, 2008 
 
Okinawa Prefectural police on Feb. 17 arrested Tony Alexander Garcia 
(22), a U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa, on the charge of violating 
the Highway Transportation Law (drunk driving). The suspect 
reportedly has admitted the charge. The U.S. forces in Japan have 
promised to enforce strict discipline among military personnel 
following the incident of a Marine having raped a junior-high school 
girl. The Marines in Okinawa have stiffened moral leadership 
training among personnel. 
 
According to the police investigation, Garcia, a little after 7:00 
am on Feb. 17, was charged with driving under the influence of 
alcohol at Chuo 1-Chome in Okinawa City. Reportedly, a police 
officer spotted his car weaving along the highway after it left Gate 
1 of Kadena Air Base. It was moving in the direction of Okinawa City 
Hall along what is known as Koza Gate Street.  Along that road is 
the place where the Marine who allegedly raped a school girl first 
spoke to her. 
 
5) U.S. Marine arrested on suspicion of trespassing in Nago despite 
tightened military discipline 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
Evening, February 18, 2008 
 
Around 4:25 a.m., February 18, a police station received a call form 
a 54-year-old woman of Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, 
saying, "An unknown foreigner is sleeping in my house." Nago Police 
Station officers rushed to her house and found Shawn Jake, a 
21-year-old U.S. Marine Corps corporal based at Camp Schwab, 
sleeping there. He was arrested on the spot on suspicion of for 
trespassing. In the wake of an alleged sexual assault of a middle 
school girl by a U.S. Marine on Feb. 10, U.S. forces in Japan are 
endeavoring to tighten military discipline and prevent a recurrence 
of similar incidents. Earlier on Feb. 17, a 22-year-old Marine was 
arrested in Okinawa City on suspicion of drunk driving. The series 
of incidents involving U.S. servicemen is likely to draw greater 
fire from people in Okinawa. 
 
Jake has denied the charge to investigators, saying he did not 
remember why he entered the house because he was intoxicated at the 
time. No damage, such as vandalism to the house, has been 
confirmed. 
 
Camp Schwab sits on the east side of the residential Henoko 
district. The Defense Ministry is pushing ahead with procedures for 
conducting an environmental impact assessment at around Camp Schwab, 
the relocation site for Futenma Air Station. The residential area 
including the house in question is only some 600 meters away from 
the Camp Schwab No. 1 gate. 
 
TOKYO 00000423  004 OF 014 
 
 
 
Suzuyo Takasato, co-representative of the Okinawa Women Act against 
Military Violence commented: "Although (the U.S. military) says that 
it is enforcing tighter discipline, the incident showed that service 
members lack discipline. The situation is intolerable." 
 
6) Fukuda expresses displeasure about series of arrests of U.S. 
servicemen 
 
MAINICHI (Page 31) (Full) 
February 19, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda last night expressed displeasure 
regarding the fact that U.S. Marines in Okinawa have been arrested 
one after another even after the alleged rape of a middle school 
girl by a U.S. Marine (on Feb. 10). The prime minister said: "What 
has happened? (The arrests) occurred right after the U.S. military 
pledged to enforce tighter discipline." He also indicated that he 
would file a protest with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 
when she visits Japan later this month, saying: "We must strongly 
call on (the United States) to take measures so that such incidents 
will not occur again." 
 
7) Prime minister to call for stricter discipline from U.S. forces 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 2, 2008 
 
Commenting on a series of crimes committed by U.S. Marines in 
Okinawa, Prime Minister Fukuda on the evening of Feb. 18 expressed 
his intention to strongly call on the U.S. to prevent a recurrence. 
He noted, "What has happened to the U.S. military? There must be 
some reason. We must make a strict request to the U.S., by 
determining the reasons." Concerning U.S. Secretary of State Rice's 
visit to Japan on Feb. 27, he indicated his intention to bring up 
this issue during a meeting with her, noting, "I must consult with 
her on the matter so that such incidents will not happen again." 
 
Okinawa Prefecture Vice Governor Katsuko Asato and a group of 
members of the Okinawa Prefecture Assembly on Feb. 18 visited Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Machimura and urged him to reveal a stricter 
education plan for U.S. servicemen and effective measures for 
preventing a recurrence. Machimura replied, "The government has 
asked the U.S. Embassy, dedicating all its strength." Regarding a 
revision to requirements for off-base residency by U.S. service 
members, he said, "We must consider a realistic approach, by 
checking every single requirement." 
 
8) Chief cabinet secretary on series of crimes by Marines: "U.S. 
military in Okinawa is slackening" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 18, 2008 
 
Following an alleged schoolgirl rape incident in Okinawa a week ago, 
two more U.S. Marine Corps corporals were arrested on Feb. 17 and 18 
on suspicion of drunken driving and breaking into a house, 
respectively. Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura expressed anger over 
the series of crimes by U.S. Marine Corps members in a press 
conference this morning. He said: 
 
"When (the rape incident) is eliciting much criticism, more members 
 
TOKYO 00000423  005 OF 014 
 
 
violated the law. 'Slackening off' is the only word for what I feel. 
I urge (the U.S. military) to deeply reflect on its approach. I feel 
it was truly regrettable and I am enraged by the incidents." 
 
Machimura then indicated that he would seek strict enforcement of 
discipline by the U.S. military of its personnel, saying: "We must 
urge the U.S. government to carry out serious reflection." 
 
9) Foreign Ministry asks U.S. for measures to stop crimes by 
Marines 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
Evening, February 18, 2008 
 
Two more U.S. Marine Corps members were arrested on suspicion of 
drunken driving and breaking into a house, following an alleged rape 
by a Marine of a schoolgirl in Okinawa. Foreign Ministry North 
American Affairs Bureau Director General Shinichi Nishimiya made a 
phone call to DCM Donovan this morning and strongly sought that the 
U.S. government take more perfect measures to prevent a recurrence 
of incidents, saying: "We have asked the U.S. for strict enforcement 
of discipline and more preventive measures following the rape case. 
Despite our request, more Marines were arrested. It is truly 
regrettable." 
 
Donovan replied: "The incidents are indeed regrettable. The U.S. 
will fully cooperate with the Japanese investigations, as well as 
review our preventive measures." 
 
10) Government files protest with U.S. over series of incidents 
involving Marines 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 19, 2008 
 
Foreign Ministry Vice Minister Misoji Yabunaka made a phone call to 
U.S. Ambassador Thomas Schieffer yesterday and filed a protest 
against a series of recent crimes committed by U.S. Marines in 
Okinawa. The Ambassador replied: "The incidents are indeed 
regrettable. The U.S. will earnestly step up measures to prevent a 
recurrence." 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda told reporters yesterday: "What has 
happened to the U.S. military? Investigations must be fully 
conducted, and we must ask the U.S. to take full measures to prevent 
a recurrence of similar incidents." 
 
11) Rape of schoolgirl by U.S. serviceman in Okinawa: Vice governor 
calls on Kantei to ask for measures to prevent recurrence 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 19, 2008 
 
Following the alleged rape of a middle school girl by a U.S. Marine 
in Okinawa, Vice Okinawa Governor Katsuko Asato of the Council for 
Promotion of Dezoning and Reutilization of Military Land in Okinawa, 
established by local governments hosting U.S. military bases in 
Okinawa, and others on Feb. 18 visited Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Machimura at the Kantei and called on the government to take steps 
to prevent a recurrence. Machimura indicated the government's plan 
to consider measures on U.S. service members living off base. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000423  006 OF 014 
 
 
Concerning arrests of U.S. service members on suspicion of violating 
the traffic law (driving under the influence of alcohol) and 
trespassing, Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka on the 18th 
expressed his dismay to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Schieffer. The 
Ambassador indicated his intention to speed up efforts to take 
measures to prevent a recurrence. 
 
12) Tokyo, Washington to expedite review of preventive measures in 
wake of series of crimes by U.S. service members 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 19, 2008 
 
A series of scandals involving U.S. Marines in Okinawa has continued 
even after the alleged sexual assault against a middle school girl 
by a U.S. Marine (on Feb. 10). Given the situation, the government 
plans to strongly protest the matter to the United States, with 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura saying, "The United States must 
enforce tight military discipline." The government also wants to 
speedily come up with preventive measures in cooperation with the 
United States. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at his official residence last night 
said to the press: "What has happened to the U.S. military? In the 
wake of a serious incident, the U.S. military just recently declared 
that it would enforce tighter discipline. We must strongly call on 
the United States to find out the cause and make efforts to prevent 
a recurrence." 
 
Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka yesterday afternoon called 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer and filed a protest 
against the string of incidents and called for a speedy review of 
preventive measures at the same time. In response, Ambassador 
Schieffer pledged to expedite the review work, expressing his 
regret. 
 
Meanwhile, a group of Okinawa municipal leaders, including Deputy 
Governor Katsuko Asato and Kin Mayor Tsuyoshi Gibu, yesterday called 
on Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura and Defense Minister 
Shigeru Ishiba. They requested: (1) apologies and compensation to 
victims and their families by the U.S. military, (2) enforcement of 
tighter military discipline and human rights education and a 
decision on effective preventive measures, (3) reduction in U.S. 
troop strength, and (4) fundamental review of the Japan-U.S. Status 
of Forces Agreement. 
 
Machimura indicated the government would study such steps as 
enhancing patrols in entertainment districts and surveying the 
situation of U.S. service members living off base. 
 
13) In wake of alleged rape, anger is spreading among U.S. service 
members in Okinawa 
 
MAINICHI (Page 31) (Abridged slightly) 
Pak Chon Ju, February 18, 2008 
 
This is the first weekend since the alleged rape occurred on 
February 10. I walked around the entertainment district in Okinawa 
City where Tyron Hadnott, a 34-year-old U.S. Marine staff sergeant, 
had offered a ride home to the victim, a 14-year-old middle school 
girl. U.S. service members I met in the district all expressed 
anger, saying that he did a terrible thing and made them angry. 
 
TOKYO 00000423  007 OF 014 
 
 
 
Shortly after 10:00 p.m., Feb. 15, I came to the so-called gate 
street connecting a Kadena Air Base gate to the entertainment 
district lined with bars and clubs crowded with U.S. service 
members. At one bar, I approached a group of two U.S. servicemen and 
two Japanese women. One of them, a 22-year-old airman, started to 
talk to me. "The Air Force and the Marines are separate forces. The 
Air Force is more gentlemanly than the Army, Navy, and Marines. The 
Air Force is the hardest one to get into," he said as if to tell me 
that no one in the Air Force would do such a thing. He went on 
angrily: "What is most important to USFJ is friendship with Japan. 
(Tyron Hadnott) did a stupid thing." 
 
As I returned to the street, I found a group of U.S. service 
members. One of them, a 23-year-old Marine, said: "After the 
incident, I was told by my commanding officer not to do anything 
that would attract attention in town. All my colleagues are now 
angry." 
 
A 32-year-old Marine walking down the street with a woman also said: 
"Because he assaulted a girl much younger than him, he should 
appropriately pay for what he did.  No one on the base has any 
sympathy toward him." 
 
14) Local residents express concern over incidents caused by U.S. 
Marines in Okinawa 
 
MAINICHI (Page 10) (Full) 
Eve., February 18, 2008 
 
Junichiro Nagasawa, Seiichi Ota 
 
Shawn Jake (21), a U.S. Marine Corps corporal belonging to the U.S. 
Marine Corps' Camp Schwab, broke into a house in Nago City's Henoko 
district, to which the U.S. military's Futenma Air Station is 
planned to be relocated. The Henoko district is a village lying next 
to Camp Schwab. The residents in the area are divided over the 
Futenma relocation plan, but with the occurrence of this illegal 
entry, residents began expressing concern about the relocation, with 
one resident saying, "More problems are likely to occur if the base 
is relocated." Critical views are being voiced among Okinawa 
residents about the succession of incidents committed by U.S. 
military personnel. 
 
When six hours had passed after the incident, the Henoko district 
was quiet as usual. 
 
A 75-year-old man living near a restaurant that is patronized by 
U.S. Marines said with disgust: "It's outrageous. It was just 
recently that an alleged rape of a junior high schoolgirl by a U.S. 
Marine occurred." The man continued: "If the base is relocated here, 
we will face more problems. I am opposed to the relocation plan." 
 
A man in his sixties who claimed that drunk U.S. Marines once broke 
into his friend's house said: "Such a thing is impermissible. 
Strengthened discipline is of no use once military personnel drink. 
. . . We tell each other we need to lock our doors because 
non-residents are coming here because of the base relocation 
issue." 
 
A housewife in her sixties said: "Some residents say that if the 
base is relocated, the economy will thrive, but we may face more 
 
TOKYO 00000423  008 OF 014 
 
 
problems if the number of foreigners living in this district 
increases." 
 
15) Okinawa prefectural police chief negative about joint Japan-U.S. 
patrols 
 
MAINICHI (Page 31) (Full) 
February 19, 2008 
 
The Japanese government is considering Japan-U.S. joint patrols as a 
means to prevent crimes by U.S. service members. Okinawa Prefectural 
Police chief Hachiro Tokutsu yesterday took a negative view about 
such a plan, saying: "It would pose problems from the viewpoint of 
taking custody of suspects." Tokutsu pointed out the possibility of 
the U.S. side seizing suspects ahead of Japan and the country not 
being able to conduct investigations independently as a result of 
joint patrols by the prefectural police and U.S. military police. 
 
16) U.S. to strengthen discipline among military personnel in 
response to recent alleged rape case 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 16, 2008 
 
Yoshihisa Komori, Washington 
 
The U.S. Department of Defense's spokesperson Upton on Feb. 14 
expressed regrets over the recent alleged rape of a junior high 
schoolgirl by a U.S. Marine in Okinawa and revealed that orders were 
given to strengthen ethical rules and discipline among the entire 
U.S. military personnel in Japan. 
 
Upton noted that the U.S. military authorities firmly retain the 
policy of not being tolerant of any sexual assault by officers and 
soldiers, and that they have taken the recent incident seriously. 
The spokesperson also stated, "It is highly regrettable that this 
kind of incident occurred. We sincerely sympathize with the victim, 
her family, and other persons concerned." Meanwhile, Upton noted, 
"The Marine in question is considered to be innocent until proved 
guilty. So, it is inappropriate to conjecture at this point in time 
the results of the ongoing investigations." 
 
Upton went on to say, "We are fully cooperating with the Japanese 
authorities so that a fair judgment will be given after the 
investigations are completed. As a set of measures to prevent a 
recurrence of similar incidents, Upton declared that: (1) the 
commander of the U.S. Forces Japan established a special team to 
verify whether training and educational programs are implemented 
toward all U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan, and (2) the 
commander of the U.S. Marine Corps in Japan gave orders for ethical 
rules, discipline and education intended for all officers and 
soldiers under his command to be reviewed on Feb. 13-15. 
 
At a meeting on Feb. 15 of the Lower House Budget Committee, Foreign 
Minister Masahiko Koumura noted, "I think it is necessary for both 
sides to discuss at such fora as the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee how 
many and what kinds of military personnel live off- base." The 
Marine who has been arrested resided outside the base. The Japanese 
government did not know how many military personnel live off-base, 
but in response to the recent incident, it has asked the U.S. side 
to survey how many live off-base. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000423  009 OF 014 
 
 
17) Okinawa rape incident: Stricter requirements for off-the-base 
residency: Measures to prevent recurrence to be mapped out next 
week 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
February 16, 2008 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura on Feb. 15 revealed a plan to 
outline within next week measures to prevent a recurrence of the 
incident of a U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa raping a middle 
schoolgirl. Since the incident was caused by a staff sergeant living 
off the base, the planned set of measures will likely focus on the 
adoption of stricter requirements for allowing U.S. servicemen to 
live off the base. 
 
Koumura told reporters at the Foreign Ministry, "The incident this 
time was caused by a relatively elder person who lives off the 
base." As possible measures, Koumura cited the adoption of stricter 
requirements for allowing off-the-base residency and the 
installation of security cameras. 
 
According to the Foreign Ministry, 5,107 U.S. servicemen have 
entered into contracts for rental housing for U.S. soldiers in 
Okinawa. The number is more than 20 PERCENT  of the entire U.S. 
servicemen living in Okinawa. However, the members of those 
households have not been revealed. Requirements for allowing 
off-the-base residency have not been revealed, either. 
 
18) Government decides to end freeze on subsidy to Iwakuni, 
following election of candidate approving relocation of U.S. fighter 
jets as mayor 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 16, 2008 
 
The government on Feb. 15 decided to offer to Iwakuni City, 
Yamaguchi Prefecture, about 3.5 billion yen in a subsidy by raising 
the grant rate set under the existing law in place of the now frozen 
subsidy for the construction of a new town hall. Regarding the 
reason for raising the grant rate, the Defense Ministry explained, 
"Iwakuni's own circumstances have been taken into account." Offering 
a subsidy in this manner is apparently the establishment of a new 
subsidy system. This is a measure in response to the replacement of 
the previous mayor, who was against the relocation of a U.S. Navy 
air wing to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni (MCAS), by a new mayor 
who is in favor of the transfer. 
 
New Mayor Yoshihiko Fukuda on Feb. 15 visited Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Nobutaka Machimura at the Prime Minister's Official 
 
SIPDIS 
Residence (Kantei). He made a request to Machimura, "We would like 
to receive a subsidy for the construction of a new town hall 
promptly." Machimura replied, "We will facilitate the procedures 
without delay." The government will approve the offering of the 
subsidy as soon as the city officially announces its approval for 
the jet relocation plan. 
 
The subsidy for the construction of an Iwakuni city hall is the 
return for the city accepting the transfer of air-refueling aircraft 
from U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa, 
which was decided in the final report issued in 1996 by the 
Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO). The offering 
of the subsidy has been put on hold with former Mayor Katsusuke 
 
TOKYO 00000423  010 OF 014 
 
 
Ihara opposing the partial change made to the air-refueling aircraft 
relocation plan following the 2006 USFJ realignment talks and the 
decision on the transfer of a carrier-borne jet unit after the city 
decided to accept the air-refueling aircraft transfer plan. 
 
19) High-level government official hints at possible dispatch of SDF 
to PKO in Middle East 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 17, 2008 
 
A high-level government official on Feb. 16 referred to the 
government's move to study a dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces 
(SDF) to the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), a UN 
peacekeeping operation (PKO), and in this connection, the official 
indicated that Japan is also mulling a dispatch of the SDF to the UN 
Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) deployed in the Middle East. 
This official continued: "Participation in UNMIS is among plans we 
are considering. We also are considering dispatching the Japan Coast 
Guard to East Timor. Likewise, we may dispatch personnel to the 
Sinai Peninsula." 
 
UNTSO is a long-running PKO that began in 1948. It is deployed in 
Egypt and Israel on the Sinai Peninsula. As of the end of last 
September, 151 military monitoring personnel were taking part in 
UNTSO. 
 
According to the Foreign Ministry, UNTSO is highly likely to meet 
the five principles for the SDF's participation in a PKO as 
stipulated in the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Law. 
 
20) Japan mulling dispatching SDF to Sudan for PKO 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
February 16, 2008 
 
The government yesterday started to consider dispatching the 
Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to the United Nations Mission in Sudan 
(UNMIS) deployed in the southern part of that country. This group is 
operating separately from the other peacekeeping operation going on 
in Darfur in the west of that country. The duties of the SDF 
personnel Japan assumes includes confirming whether the peace 
agreement is implemented and helping to remove land mines. 
 
In the south of Sudan, a fierce civil war continued between the 
government backed mainly by Muslims living in the northern region 
and the anti-government group based in the southern region, most of 
the population of which were Christians, since 1983 through 2005, 
when a peace agreement was reached. 
 
As of last August, the Group of Eight industrialized nations 
excluding Japan, China, and South Korea sent troops to UNMIS. UNMIS 
now consists of 660 civilian police officers and 607 military 
monitoring personnel. As a result of discussion held so far, Japan 
has now concluded that the SDF's participation in UNMIS meets the 
five principles stipulated under the UN Peacekeeping Operations 
Law. 
 
21) Former high-level U.S. official to visit Pyongyang on nuclear 
issue 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00000423  011 OF 014 
 
 
February 17, 2008 
 
Takashi Arimoto, Washington 
 
Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Gregg on Feb. 15 revealed to 
the Sankei Shimbun that he, along with former Secretary of Defense 
Perry, will travel to Pyongyang accompanying the New York 
Philharmonic, and that on that occasion, he will meet with North 
Korean officials and prod them to swiftly declare their nuclear 
programs, an action that has fallen behind schedule. 
 
According to Gregg, he plans to meet with Vice Foreign Minister Kim 
Gye Gwan, the North Korean chief negotiator in the six-party talks, 
but this plan has not been officially confirmed. Gregg explained: "I 
intend to urge the North Korean officials I will meet to move the 
Korean Peninsula denuclearization process forward." 
 
Gregg will convey the results of the meeting with North Korean 
officials to Assistant Secretary of State Hill, America's chief 
delegate to the six-party talks. 
 
The New York Philharmonic will give its first performance in 
Pyongyang on Feb. 26 at the request of North Korea. A/S Hill 
actively worked to realize this performance in the belief that it 
would help improve relations between the United States and North 
Korea. The six-party talks have been suspended because of a conflict 
between Washington and Pyongyang over the specifics of a nuclear 
declaration by North Korea. The U.S. has high hopes that the New 
York Philharmonic's performance will serve as a breakthrough in the 
stalled multilateral talks. 
 
Meanwhile, State Department spokesman McCormack told a press 
briefing on Feb. 15 that Secretary of State Rice will travel to 
three Asian countries, including Japan, starting on Feb. 23. 
Specifically, Rice will travel to China and Japan to discuss a 
resumption of the six-party talks after attending South Korean 
President-elect Lee Myung Bak's inauguration in Seoul on Feb. 25. 
 
Rice will stay in Japan on Feb. 27-28 and meet with Foreign Minister 
Masahiko Koumura and other Japanese officials. They are likely to 
confer on the North Korean issue and the recent alleged rape of a 
junior high school girl by a U.S. Marine in Okinawa. Ahead of Rice's 
visit to Japan and China, A/S Hill will travel to Japan, China, and 
South Korea starting on Feb. 18. 
 
22) Parliamentary league for promoting exchange with North Korea 
with involvement of DPJ lawmakers to be launched possibly on Feb. 
22 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 19, 2008 
 
A Korean Peninsula Issues Study Council (tentative name), a 
parliamentary league consisting of lawmakers from the Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) and others, will be launched 
possibly on Feb. 22. The council will advocate settling the 
abduction, nuclear, and missile issues and normalizing ties with 
that nation through the promotion of broad-based exchange. Founders 
of the organization are 14 DPJ Upper House members, including 
Yoshihiro Kawakami, Keiko Chiba, Yasuo Yamashita and Yoshiro 
Yokomine, and Upper House member Shozaburo Jimi of the People's New 
Party (PNP). 
 
TOKYO 00000423  012 OF 014 
 
 
 
The charter of the council notes that it would go against the 
national interest to normalize ties with North Korea based on the 
Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration, and that it is not 
desirable to leave unattended the present situation in which there 
is no direct dialogue between the two countries. It makes a clear 
distinction from the suprapartisan Parliamentary Group on the 
Abduction Issue, chaired by Takeo Hiranuma, which intends to press 
North Korea to settle the abduction issue in a hard-line manner. For 
this reason, some DPJ members are alert to the move, with one 
noting, "Mr. Kawakami has a channel with North Korea, as he visited 
that nation before he was elected as a lawmaker. The council might 
tilt toward a stance of reconciling with North Korea." 
 
23) Poll: Fukuda cabinet' nonsupport rate tops 40 PERCENT  for 1st 
time 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 16, 2008 
 
According to a Jiji Press opinion poll conducted for the month on 
Feb. 8-11, the rate of public support for Prime Minister Yasuo 
Fukuda's cabinet was 32.5 PERCENT , down 2.0 percentage points from 
last month. The Fukuda cabinet's support rate dropped for the fourth 
month in a row. The nonsupport rate was 43.2 PERCENT , up 3.4 points 
from last month. The nonsupport rate topped the support rate for the 
first time since the Fukuda cabinet came into office in September 
last year. 
 
Fukuda has launched advisory panels to discuss social security 
measures and push for consumer-oriented policy measures but could 
not stop his cabinet's support rate from falling. 
 
Those who do not support the Fukuda cabinet were asked to pick one 
or more reasons. In response to this question, "nothing can be 
expected" accounted for nearly 30 PERCENT , followed by "no 
leadership" at 17.4 PERCENT  and "poor policies" at 10.4 PERCENT . 
 
Among those in their 50s, the Fukuda cabinet's nonsupport rate 
showed a substantial increase of 8.5 points from last month and 
topped 50 PERCENT  for the first time. Among those in their 30s and 
40s as well, the nonsupport rate topped 40 PERCENT . Meanwhile, 
among those in their 20s, the support rate was only over 10 PERCENT 
. Among those aged 70 and over, the support rate was over 50 PERCENT 
. Among those in their 60s as well, the support rate was over 40 
PERCENT . As seen from these figures, the support rate varied with 
generations. 
 
24) Poll: Cabinet support down to 40 PERCENT 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 18, 2008 
 
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun conducted a public opinion survey on Feb. 
15-17, in which the rate of public support for Prime Minister Yasuo 
Fukuda and his cabinet was 40 PERCENT , down 2 percentage points 
from the last survey conducted in January. The nonsupport rate for 
the Fukuda cabinet was 48 PERCENT , up 2 points. The Fukuda 
cabinet's disapproval rating topped its approval rating for the 
third straight month. Fukuda is now seen as lacking in leadership. 
Moreover, the public gives low ratings for his cabinet's way of 
handling road-related tax revenues and its policy measures to 
 
TOKYO 00000423  013 OF 014 
 
 
revitalize the nation's economy. 
 
Those who do not support the Fukuda cabinet were asked to pick one 
or more reasons. To this question, "no leadership" accounted for 57 
PERCENT , topping all other answers. This answer marked the highest 
percentage for Fukuda since his cabinet came into office, even 
higher than 54 PERCENT  for the former Abe cabinet at its last stage 
in August last year. Among other answers, "poor policies" accounted 
for 31 PERCENT , followed by "unstable" at 25 PERCENT . Among those 
who support the Fukuda cabinet, "trustworthy" accounted for 43 
PERCENT . Affirmative answers for the Fukuda cabinet's job 
performance totaled 31 PERCENT , down 3 points from last month, 
hitting a low for the Fukuda cabinet since its inauguration. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party stood at 39 PERCENT , up 3 points from the 
last survey. The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto) was at 31 PERCENT , up 1 point. The gap between the two 
parties' support rates have widened to 8 points from 6 points in the 
last survey. 
 
The survey was taken by Nikkei Research Inc. over the telephone on a 
random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, samples were 
chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over across the nation. 
A total of 1,530 households with one or more eligible voters were 
sampled, and answers were obtained from 919 persons (60.1 PERCENT 
). 
 
25) Poll: Fukuda cabinet's nonsupport rate reaches 51 PERCENT ; 
Support down to 39 PERCENT 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
February 19, 2008 
 
The approval rating for Prime Minister Fukuda and his cabinet fell 
6.9 percentage points from January to 38.7 PERCENT  in a 
face-to-face nationwide public opinion survey conducted by the 
Yomiuri Shimbun on Feb. 16-17. The disapproval rating for the Fukuda 
cabinet was 50.8 PERCENT , up 9.2 points. The Fukuda cabinet's 
nonsupport rate topped its support rate for the first time since it 
came into office. 
 
In the survey, those who answered that they did not support the 
Fukuda cabinet were asked to pick up to two reasons. In response, 48 
PERCENT  answered that they could not appreciate its political 
stance, topping all other answers, with 37 PERCENT  saying nothing 
can be expected of its economic policy and 28 PERCENT  each saying 
the prime minister is untrustworthy or his cabinet is unstable. 
 
Respondents were also asked what they would like the Fukuda cabinet 
to pursue on a priority basis. In response to this question for 
multiple answers, "food safety" scored 40 PERCENT , up 16 points 
from the January survey. Respondents were further asked if they 
thought the Fukuda cabinet has appropriately met recent changes in 
the economic situation. To this question, a total of 75 PERCENT 
answered "no." Public frustration is growing stronger over issues 
related to their daily lives, such as poisoning from frozen 
Chinese-made "gyoza" dumplings and price increases for various goods 
and services. This seems to have brought about the drop in the 
support rate. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
 
TOKYO 00000423  014 OF 014 
 
 
Liberal Democratic Party stood at 32.6 PERCENT , down 2.9 points 
from the January survey. The leading opposition Democratic Party of 
Japan (Minshuto) was at 20.0 PERCENT , up 3.1 points. 
 
SCHIEFFER