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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8836

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TOKYO 000692 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 03/14/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Editorial: MOD and information; Is it possible to purify water 
by reducing the number of taps? (Mainichi) 
 
(2) MOD bureau chief, alarmed at China, refers to application of 
concept of neighboring contingency to Taiwan (Sankei) 
 
(3) Yomitan Village to form exec committee for prefecture-wide rally 
(Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(4) Jet noise hits this year's high at 104.5 db in U.S. military 
readiness training (Okinawa Times) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Editorial: MOD and information; Is it possible to purify water 
by reducing the number of taps? 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 14, 2008 
 
The Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) must 
have learned how sloppy their information control and capability 
is. 
 
The SDF, an organization that uses force, cannot win trust from the 
people unless they correctly explain the objective and specifics of 
their activities. A press conference is a venue where its 
information capability is tested. 
 
However, discussions that can be taken as distorting lessons learned 
from the accident are taking place in the ministry. A proposal for 
reducing the number of regular press conferences it holds has been 
proposed with the aim of preventing confusion in the transmission of 
information. 
 
In the MOD, the minister, vice minister and spokesman hold a press 
conference twice a week, and once a week by the chairman of the 
Joint Staff Council and the chiefs of the Ground, Maritime and Air 
Staff Offices.  According to the Public Information Division, this 
basic system has been in place for at least 40 years. 
 
Vice Defense Minister Kohei Masuda referred to a revision of the 
press conference system, stating, "The Defense Ministry holds 
regular press conferences by seven officials. The number of 
officials who give press conference is larger than any other 
government offices." Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said, "We must 
think about reducing points of contact for transmitting information 
as much as possible." 
 
The way MOD released statements on the accident caused by Atago were 
sloppy. For instance, it called in the chief navigator to the 
ministry by helicopter on the day of the accident to hear the 
circumstance. Regarding whether the MOD informed the Japan Coast 
Guard (JCG) of this hearing, Masuda admitted to the possibility that 
the MSDF gave a false account to him, noting that they did so. 
However, upon receiving a report from the MSDF that all 
communications were recorded, Masuda had to withdraw his statement 
that the MSDF gave him a false account. 
 
When there are conflicting reports in an emergency, it is necessary 
 
TOKYO 00000692  002 OF 005 
 
 
to collect information, check it and transmit it, by clarifying the 
locus of the responsibility of public relations. 
 
However, what has been revealed in the accident this time is that 
the MOD and the SDF failed to share information. This situation is 
serious. 
 
One person who gave a press conference did not fully recognize the 
contents of the statement another person gave in a press conference, 
causing inconsistency in their statements. It would be a case of the 
tail wagging the dog to reduce the number of press conferences to 
prevent inconsistent information from being transmitted for that 
reason. 
 
At issue is the quality of water running in the organization. 
Cutting the number of taps would not purify the water. The MOD must 
pay attention to the fact that information channels are not working. 
 
 
The former Defense Agency considered ending regular press 
conferences by the chiefs of staff of the Ground, Maritime and Air 
Staff Offices in 2004, when the dispatch of Ground-Self Defense 
personnel to Iraq was close at hand. The move fizzled out shortly. 
 
The existence of the SDF is impossible without public trust. If they 
are aware of that, the top officers of each SDF organization should 
fulfill their accountability to the people in their own words. Their 
proactive action would strengthen the organization. 
 
(2) MOD bureau chief, alarmed at China, refers to application of 
concept of neighboring contingency to Taiwan 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
March 14, 2008 
 
In yesterday's Liberal Democratic Party Security Research Commission 
session, Defense Ministry Defense Policy Bureau Director-General 
Nobushige Takamizawa was asked for Japan's response in the event of 
a contingency in the Taiwan Strait. In response, Takamizawa said: 
"Should anything happen between China and Taiwan, that would be a 
serious matter for our country. It would not be a matter of 
Japan-U.S. security (cooperation), but a matter of the security of 
Japan." He also expressed the view that the Self-Defense Forces' 
warning and surveillance activities must be increased even if it is 
not a contingency in areas surrounding Japan. The statement, made in 
an explanation on China's military trends, apparently reflects 
strong alarm at Chinese military authorities, who have been pursuing 
a military buildup with an eye on unifying Taiwan with China by 
military force. 
 
Before the LDP research commission yesterday, Takamizawa also said: 
"If I was asked by China, 'Do you (recognize) it as a contingency in 
areas surrounding Japan?,' I would (reply), 'Japan will naturally do 
so.'" This statement consequently resulted in the view that 
(Takamizawa) had referred to the application of the concept of a 
neighboring contingency to Taiwan. Given this, Takamizawa held a 
press conference last night in which he said: "I did not talk about 
the recognition of a contingency in areas surrounding Japan. I made 
the statement in the sense to strengthen (the SDF's) warning and 
surveillance activities. My explanation was insufficient, and I am 
sorry if that caused a misunderstanding." 
 
 
TOKYO 00000692  003 OF 005 
 
 
Takamizawa made the remarks in explaining MOD's analysis of China's 
military trends. Touching on China's defense spending, which has 
seen double-digit increases, he said, "It is intended to force 
Taiwan into giving up (its ambition of independence)." 
 
He also commented about Japan's response in the event China attacked 
Taiwan: "Areas close to Taiwan, such as Yonaguni Island, would be 
affected. It might result in combat in a way that does not infringe 
on Japan's sovereignty." 
 
Those remarks by a senior defense official make clear that China's 
military power has been enhanced to a level that cannot be 
overlooked for the security of Japan. The United States Department 
of Defense released a report earlier this month noting that China 
has been increasing not only its capabilities to conquer Taiwan but 
also its naval power to deal with conflicts over the Senkaku 
Islands, known as Diaoyu in China, and the East China Sea. A former 
Self-Defense Force officer indicated that in the event Japan 
provided rear-area support to the U.S. military for the defense of 
Taiwan, the Chinese military might occupy the Southwest Islands of 
Japan and make Japan a target. 
 
A gist of the Takamizawa statement 
 
China's growing military spending is intended to press Taiwan into 
giving up (its ambition of independence). Should a contingency occur 
between China and Taiwan, areas close to Taiwan, such was Yonaguni 
Island, would be affected and might also result in a battle that 
does not inflict on Japan's sovereignty. We would then increase 
warning and surveillance activities. The situation would involve 
neighboring contingency-like factors, so we would deal with it 
accordingly. 
 
If anything happens between China and Taiwan, that would be a 
serious matter for our country. Before discussing whether or not to 
recognize it as a contingency in areas surrounding Japan, the SDF's 
warning and surveillance activities must be increased and other 
appropriate steps must be taken. If I was asked by China, "Do you 
(recognize) it as a contingency in areas surrounding Japan?" I would 
(reply), "Japan will naturally do so." I would also say, "It is 
about the security of Japan. So you must absolutely not cause 
trouble with Taiwan." It is not about Japan-U.S. security 
(cooperation) but about the security of Japan. It is important to 
demonstrate such a stance. 
 
(3) Yomitan Village to form exec committee for prefecture-wide 
rally 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 29) (Abridged) 
March 14, 2008 
 
Okinawa Prefecture will hold a protest rally in Chatan Town on Mar. 
23 against incidents and accidents caused by U.S. military 
personnel. For the rally, local public entities in the prefecture's 
central part-where a junior high school girl was allegedly raped by 
a U.S. serviceman-are going to organize their respective executive 
committees. The government office of Yomitan Village worked on 22 
organizations in the village and will form an executive committee on 
Mar. 17. The village will be the first municipality in the 
prefecture to form an executive committee. Chatan Mayor Masaharu 
Noguni also said his town would form an executive committee by Mar. 
17 and cooperate on the rally. Meanwhile, the Okinawa prefectural 
 
TOKYO 00000692  004 OF 005 
 
 
chapter of New Komeito, a ruling party in the prefecture's assembly, 
decided yesterday to participate in the rally. In response, relevant 
organizations would like a prefecture-wide rally to be held with the 
participation of various political parties. 
 
The Okinawa Prefectural Liaison Conference for the Promotion of 
Juvenile Societies is a key constituent member of the prefecture's 
rally executive committee. Tetsuei Tamayose, who chairs the liaison 
conference, visited the government offices of Chatan Town, Okinawa 
City, Kitanakagusuku Village, and Ginowan City yesterday to ask for 
cooperation in forming their respective executive committees. 
 
Yomitan Village, which has now decided to form an executive 
committee, is calling on its assembly, women's associations, PTA 
federation, and other organizations to participate in its executive 
committee, as in the case of a previous rally over the issue of 
school textbook screening. Yomitan Village Mayor Keizo Yasuda said: 
"We must demonstrate our protest against incidents and accidents 
that have been brought about by U.S. servicemen, or there will be no 
end." 
 
According to the secretariat to the rally executive committee, there 
were positive answers from various organizations in Okinawa City, 
Kitanakagusuku Village, and Ginowan City about participating in the 
rally. 
 
(4) Jet noise hits this year's high at 104.5 db in U.S. military 
readiness training 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full) 
March 13, 2008 
 
KADENA-The U.S. Air Force's Kadena base is now conducting 
operational readiness training in anticipation of emergencies. Along 
with this training, the sounds of U.S. fighter jets hit this year's 
high at 104.5 decibels yesterday afternoon in Kadena Town's Yara 
block. This level of noise is equivalent to that at the side of a 
railway when trains are passing. In addition, jet noise in excess of 
70 decibels-a level uncomfortable to most people-was also monitored 
138 times before 5 p.m. that day. This is the largest number of 
times per day this month. The Kadena base is conducting the training 
with the participation of 12 F-16 fighter jets from the U.S. Air 
Force's Kunsan base in South Korea. It is now clear that the roaring 
sounds of Kadena-based fighter jets and those from a U.S. base 
outside Japan in the readiness training are threatening the daily 
lives of local residents. Kadena Town's assembly will call a meeting 
of its special committee on military base affairs this afternoon to 
discuss this issue, with Koei Tanaka presiding. 
 
"Children were covering their ears with their hands when they were 
on their way to school and on their way back home yesterday," Tanaka 
said, adding: "We are concerned about growing noise damage caused by 
fighter jets from bases outside Japan. We want to make a strong 
request so they will stop the training and fighter jets from bases 
outside Japan will not use the Kadena base." 
 
The readiness training is being conducted with the participation of 
F-16 fighter jets and Kadena-based F-15 fighters. On Mar. 12, they 
took off one after another at around 7:30 a.m. and carried out 
flight training with violent noise. Some of those fighter jets took 
off from the Kadena base's northern runway that is near residential 
streets. 
 
TOKYO 00000692  005 OF 005 
 
 
 
There were also AV-8 Harrier vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) 
fighter jets and FA-18 fighter attackers at the Kadena base 
yesterday. They were not in the readiness training. 
 
Kadena Town has set a noise-monitoring device in the Yara area, 
which is situated about 400 meters away from the Kadena base's 
northern runway. This monitor read 104.5 decibels, this year's high, 
at 1:35 p.m. yesterday. Noise over 90 decibels-which is believed to 
be caused by fighter jets in their takeoff and is equivalent to a 
level in a noisy factory-was also read 41 times, the second largest 
number of times per day this year. 
 
Concerning the Kadena base, a Kadena Town official said: "Noisy 
fighter planes like the F-15, F-16, and FA-18 are now using the base 
all together unlike before. This is an abnormal situation. Local 
residents living near the base are suffering from violent noise." 
 
The readiness training, according to the Kadena base's press office, 
will continue until tomorrow. The F-16s will stay at the Kadena base 
for about a week after the readiness training to carry out dogfight 
training with Kadena-based F-15 jets, the base press office said. 
 
SCHIEFFER