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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 001308 
 
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 05/13/08 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) LDP's Koga, Tanigaki factions to merge today (Mainichi) 
 
(2) Goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 PERCENT -80 PERCENT 
by 2050 takes on life on its own (Sankei) 
 
(3) Editorial: Political decision needed to ban cluster bombs 
(Mainichi) 
 
(4) Relationship between Japan-U.S. alliance and China uncertain 
(Sankei) 
 
(5) Editorial: Japan should urge Burmese junta to accept help 
following the deadly cyclone (Asahi) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) LDP's Koga, Tanigaki factions to merge today 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 13, 2008 
 
Two factions in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) -- one 
headed by Election Committee Chairman Makoto Koga and the other one 
chaired by Policy Research Council Chairman Sadakazu Tanigaki -- 
will today hold a party to formally announce their merger. The two 
factions were derived from the Kochikai (a faction formed by Prime 
Minister Hayato Ikeda in 1957). They will reunite for the first time 
in eight years, having broken apart over the so-called Kato 
rebellion in the fall of 2000, in which former LDP Secretary General 
Koichi Kato called on then Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori to step down. 
The merged faction will have 61 members, bringing it close to the 
second largest Tsushima faction. Although the faction will aim to 
regain the power once held by the prestigious Kochikai, known for 
its liberal policies, it has yet to reach a consensus as to whom it 
will file as a candidate for the party's next presidential election. 
There is an icy view in the faction that it is anachronism to show 
political presence using the numbers of faction members. 
 
Koga, who will head the new faction, told senior members on the 
night of May 7 at a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo: "It is good that 
we will be able to return to the place where we once were. Let us 
make united efforts to overcome our difficult situation!" 
 
Kochikai has produced four prime ministers since it was formed in 
¶1957. Although it has led Japan's postwar politics, along with the 
former Tanaka faction (currently the Tsushima faction), its 
political presence weakened due to its breakups. The merger notion 
was once before floated but then disappeared. The notion was 
propelled forward with one stroke because Koga and Tanigaki jointly 
backed Yasuo Fukuda in the party leadership race last September. 
 
The merger of the 15 membership of the Tanigaki faction and the 46 
membership of the Koga faction involves the risk that the Tanigaki 
faction may lose its political momentum. Despite that, the merger 
will still give Tanigaki an assurance he can secure at least 20 
supporters, the number required to run in a presidential election. 
Tanigaki could not run for the 2006 election because he had failed 
to obtain 20 recommendees. A senior Tanigaki faction member said: 
"The merger is a preparatory step for Mr. Tanigaki to run in the 
next presidential race." 
 
TOKYO 00001308  002 OF 008 
 
 
 
Meanwhile, Koga appears to be aiming to gain the political 
initiative built on numbers. Support for Tanigaki to run for the 
presidential election cannot be found in the Koga faction. The Koga 
faction, however, has not found a presidential candidate of its own. 
Koga has indicated the possibility of cooperating with (the Aso 
faction), telling persons close him: "Former Secretary General Taro 
Aso is a person whom I can entrust matters at ease." 
 
A junior Machimura faction member made this critical comment on the 
merger of the two factions: "Now is the time when politics is 
decided mainly by policies. I am concerned that such a merger will 
give the public the impression that the LDP remains unchanged." A 
mid-level Koga faction member also said: "When the party itself is 
about to go down to ruin, it is no good for a faction to pick a 
party president." 
 
(2) Goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 PERCENT -80 PERCENT 
by 2050 takes on life on its own 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 13, 2008 
 
It was learned on May 12 that the government is undergoing 
coordination with the possibility of incorporating a goal of cutting 
global warming greenhouse gases by 60 PERCENT -80 PERCENT  by 2050 
as part of the "Fukuda Vision," which is to be released in mid-June. 
Given the fact that measures to combat greenhouse gases will become 
a main item of the G-8 Toyako Summit agenda, Japan, as the host 
nation, wants to take the lead in discussion, by indicating its own 
policy in advance. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will call in Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Nobutaka Machimura, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, Economy, Trade 
and Industry Policy Minister Akira Amari possibly before the end of 
this week and order them to launch a full-fledged effort to set 
Japan's own goal and undertake the necessary coordination. 
 
Machimura during a press conference on the afternoon of the 12th 
stressed the meaning of setting a long-term goal: "It is necessary 
for Japan to clarify its stand in the run-up to the G-8. It is 
meaningful for Japan to come up with its goal to be achieved by 2050 
as part of such efforts." 
 
It is imperative for Prime Minister Fukuda to come up with tangible 
results at the G-8, since he failed to use Chinese President Hu 
Jintao's Japan visit to buoy up his administration. It appears that 
in order to make his presence felt, as well, he decided to come up 
with a similar policy to that of European countries regarding 
setting a goal of cutting greenhouse gases, an issue that is viewed 
as the key to a successful G-8 meeting. However, since a reduction 
goal was revealed before full coordination was carried out with 
industrial circles, the percentage alone has taken on life on its 
own, making it difficult to carry out the actual work. 
 
Is the goal attainable? 
 
Concerning a long-term goal of cutting greenhouse gases, then Prime 
Minister Abe at the Heiligendamm Summit held in Germany last year 
proposed the Cool Earth 50 aimed at halving carbon dioxide (CO2) 
emissions throughout the world from the present level. Prime 
Minister Fukuda during the plenary session of the World Economic 
 
TOKYO 00001308  003 OF 008 
 
 
Forum (Davos Conference) in February this year noted that the 
government would tackle global warming by setting country-specific 
reduction goals. 
 
The European Union (EU) has already come up with a goal of cutting 
greenhouse gases emitted by industrialized countries as a whole by 
60 PERCENT -80 PERCENT  from the 1990 level. Japan's National 
Institute for Environmental Studies has released a report noting 
that there is a technical potential of achieving a 70 PERCENT  cut, 
compared with the 1990 level. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) 
takes the position, "70 PERCENT  could become one guideline," as one 
official source said. 
 
Japan as the host nation of the G-8 is in a position of urging 
developing countries, such as China and India, whose economy is 
notably growing, to cut their CO2 emissions. As such, if Japan does 
not display leadership, it will not be able to exercise its 
authority regarding global warming greenhouse gas emissions cuts, 
according to the same source. 
 
Loophole 
 
In the meantime, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) 
is alarmed about the move, because it means further energy-saving 
investment for industry circles with one connected source saying, 
"We have had trouble since Japan accepted a 6 PERCENT  CO2 reduction 
obligation under the Kyoto Protocol without any way to meet such a 
goal. There is a possibility of Japan experiencing the same trouble 
this time." 
 
For this reason, some are of the opinion that Japan should ease the 
reduction goal, using the present emissions level, which is higher 
than the 1990 level, the base year. One senior government official 
has indicated his perception that Japan should adopt a legally 
non-binding target. 
 
Another task is to set a mid-term goal. The EU has set a goal of 
cutting emissions by more than 20 PERCENT  by 2050, compared with 
the 1990 level. The U.S. has also come up with a mid-term goal of 
halting the increase in CO2 emissions by 2025, and then turning 
emissions volume downward. Japan alone has yet to come up with a 
mid-term goal. 
 
However, METI is reluctant to set such a goal with a ministry source 
saying, "Unless a mid-term goal is attached with a condition that it 
should be adopted after energy-saving technology is developed, 
efforts to cut emissions would not make steady progress." The 
ministry insists that fiscal measures are necessary. Machimura also 
stressed during a press conference on the 12th: "Japan will hold 
final talks on a specific percentage late next year. It is premature 
to come up with a mid-term goal now." 
 
Discord at Kantei 
 
Machimura in a speech given on the 10th for the first time revealed 
the government's policy of mapping out the Fukuda Vision. 
 
Machimura said, "The government is preparing to release the Fukuda 
Vision including measures to combat global warming greenhouse gases. 
If possible, we would like Prime Minister Fukuda to release Japan's 
reduction goal." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001308  004 OF 008 
 
 
The announcement was a bolt from the blue for the Kantei. One aide 
to the prime minister has already expressed dissatisfaction with 
Machimura, complaining who was this Fukuda in the Fukuda Vision. 
This is because the Kantei had intended to show the prime minister's 
leadership, revealing its future approach to related cabinet 
ministers before the end of the week. However, Machimura exposed the 
plan first, as one government source noted. The episode has 
underscored the distance between the prime minister and Machimura. 
 
METI, which is expected to be urged to undergo coordination with 
business circles, is perplexed at the move with a source related to 
it saying, "We have yet to map out a menu for cutting CO2  emissions 
by 60 PERCENT -80 PERCENT . Percentage alone is going ahead of 
itself. We do not know whether it is possible to really pile up 
results." 
 
(3) Editorial: Political decision needed to ban cluster bombs 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
May 13, 2008 
 
International negotiations to ban cluster munitions, which kill and 
wound civilians indiscriminately, will now enter the final stage. 
The Oslo Process, where the states that agreed to ban cluster bombs 
are addressing the work of producing a treaty to prohibit such 
munitions, is to hold its last international conference in Dublin, 
Ireland, on May 19. The conference is to adopt a draft treaty, which 
is expected to be signed by the member states in December. 
 
Warfare occurred in Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003, and Lebanon 
in 2006. Cluster bombs were used in these wars, and as a result, the 
number of civilian casualties has been increasing. Civilians need to 
be protected from such harmful weapons. Weapons that give the 
victims unnecessary pain must be prohibited. This principle by 
international law needs to be applied to cluster munitions. We must 
not miss an opportunity to end the absurdity that innocent children 
and adults are being killed by cluster munitions. The draft treaty 
still has some points at issue to be further discussed, for 
instance, whether to completely ban cluster bombs or to allow 
exceptions. We urge participating states to resolve to create a 
powerful treaty as an international standard. 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun has repeatedly called on the Japanese 
government to agree to a ban on cluster munitions under the Oslo 
Process. This past February, Japan finally signed the Political 
Declaration stipulating that a treaty banning cluster bombs be 
established by the end of this year. Regrettably, however, Japan is 
not in a position to lead negotiations on such a treaty. 
 
Japan officially gave its approval in an international conference to 
a ban on cluster munitions. So it is strange for Japan to contend 
that possessing such bombs is justifiable. 
 
For example, Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that Japan "will 
possess as a deterrent" cluster bombs and explained: "In the case of 
using them, we will evacuate civilians first, and then, after 
perfectly verifying that no unexploded bombs are left, we will allow 
residents to come back." But is it possible to evacuate civilians in 
the midst of combat? Is it possible to completely remove unexploded 
bombs? 
 
The U.S. forces dropped cluster bombs in the Vietnam War. Unexploded 
 
TOKYO 00001308  005 OF 008 
 
 
cluster bombs that are still there cause casualties even now. 
Countries possessing cluster bombs have never dropped them in the 
soil of their own countries but used them to attack their enemies. 
The reason is because they did not desire to put their soldiers and 
people in a dangerous situation. Japan contends that possessing such 
bombs is for "defensive purposes". But is this logic persuasive? 
 
The Convention on the Prohibiting of Anti-Personnel Mines was 
adopted in 1997. Japan was initially cautious about signing the 
convention, but it later turned around its policy under (then) 
Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi's decision and signed it. Japan 
scrapped some one million land mines it had possessed until then, 
and since then has addressed the work of removing land mines in 
other countries. For this, Japan has won other countries' 
gratitude. 
 
Cluster bombs, as well as land mines, are inhumane weapons that kill 
and wound ordinary people. It is contradictory to say that Japan may 
possess cluster bombs, even though it has scrapped all land mines. A 
supraparty parliamentary council to promote a ban on cluster bombs 
was established. The council is headed by Lower House Speaker Yohei 
Kono. It's high time for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to make a 
political decision to declare Japan's endorsement of a ban on 
cluster munitions. It is also a good opportunity for Japan, a 
country pursuing the ideal of disarmament, to earn international 
credit. 
 
(4) Relationship between Japan-U.S. alliance and China uncertain 
 
SANKEI (Page 15) (Abridged) 
May 13, 2008 
 
By Tadae Takubo, visiting professor at Kyorin University 
 
I have no objection to regarding the Anglo-Japanese alliance as a 
masterpiece in Japanese diplomatic history. With the aim of 
countering the Russian Empire that began reaching out for the Korean 
Peninsula after effectively putting Manchuria under its control, 
Aritomo Yamagata, Taro Katsura, Takaaki Kato, Jutaro Komura and 
others decided that there was no other option but to join hands with 
Britain. They were farsighted. Although the Russian Empire was a 
common enemy, did Britain opt for teaming up with Japan because it 
had special feelings toward the Asian nation? 
 
With no allies or countries on its side, Britain was suffering from 
isolation before the Russo-Japanese war. 
 
From an anti-British standpoint, German Emperor William II launched 
an effort to enhance its naval force to counter the British Navy. 
Neither France nor Russia had any sympathy toward Britain. In order 
to defend its interests in China from Russia's southward policy, 
Britain perhaps did not have any other option but to align itself 
with Japan. Needless to say, the Anglo-Japanese alliance was not a 
marriage of love but a marriage of convenience. 
 
Such frameworks as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and 
the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty were launched with the aim of 
countering Russian military threats during the Cold War era. NATO's 
membership has been expanding to the east in the post-Cold War 
period. Without any common enemies, discussion is underway on the 
body's objectives. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001308  006 OF 008 
 
 
Kissinger's analysis 
 
NATO's coverage area has expanded to include Afghanistan. There has 
been conflict between countries that have sent troops to relatively 
safe areas in Afghanistan and counties that are responsible for 
dangerous regions. 
 
In contrast to NATO, there have been no major questions about the 
Japan-U.S. alliance in the post-Cold War era. 
 
I recently read an interesting international analysis by former U.S. 
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. He predicts that the new U.S. 
administration to be launched next January will face the question of 
how to distill a new international order from three simultaneous 
revolutions occurring around the globe. The three revolutions are: 
(1) the transformation of the traditional state system of Europe; 
(2) the radical Islamist challenge to historic notions of 
sovereignty; and (3) the drift of the center of gravity of 
international affairs from the Atlantic to the Pacific and Indian 
Oceans. He also notes that Asia will take the central political 
stage in the 21st century and that four Asian countries -- China, 
Japan, India, and in time, possibly Indonesia -- will become major 
players. 
 
Kissinger, without presenting any ethical standards, also writes 
that maintaining the balance of power depends on how the United 
States and China act under such circumstances. We should also bear 
in mind the grim fact that Japan's fate depends on whether 
U.S.-China relations improve, deteriorate, or remain ambiguous. 
 
In other words, the United States has the power of life and death of 
the international order in Asia of this century. 
 
Despite the recent visit to Japan by Chinese President Hu Jintao, 
settling the question of developing gas fields in the East China Sea 
has been put off. An expansion of the development area would 
increase China's military presence to defend the territory. The 
announced figure for China's defense spending far exceeds that of 
Japan. Conventional wisdom has it that China's actual spending is 
twice to three times larger than what is announced. The balance of 
military power between Japan and China is now tilted in China's 
favor. 
 
U.S. administration moving closer to China 
 
I wonder how many Japanese lawmakers are alarmed at such a fact. 
Lamentably, many lawmakers readily decide to withdraw the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force troops from the Indian Ocean, though temporarily, 
possibly in view of the immediate political situation or in their 
own interests. Some other legislators are also saying, "Beijing has 
proposed improving relations with Tokyo, so we must not annoy 
China." 
 
Although I do not think the Japan-U.S. alliance will collapse 
easily, the composition of the Japan-U.S. alliance vs. China is less 
than infallible. I think the Bush administration has moved closer to 
China, especially in its second term. In December 2005, then Deputy 
Secretary of State Robert Zoellick encouraged China to become a 
responsible stakeholder. Since then, this phrase has often been used 
in official U.S. documents. On May 10, 2006, Zoellick before the 
U.S. House also opposed Taiwan's independence, saying: "Independence 
means war, and that means American soldiers." 
 
TOKYO 00001308  007 OF 008 
 
 
 
This can be taken as the President's statement and it overlaps with 
China's assertion, as well. An alliance is not a love affair. 
 
(5) Editorial: Japan should urge Burmese junta to accept help 
following the deadly cyclone 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
May 13, 2008 
 
The extent of the damage caused by a giant cyclone that hit Burma 
(Myanmar) has finally begun to be reported to the outside of the 
nation. The situation there is far more catastrophic than anyone 
imagined. If no relief measures are taken, an increasing number of 
people will inevitably die from diarrhea or contagious diseases. 
Emergency assistance is urgently needed. 
 
The ruling military junta announced that at least 32,000 people were 
dead and that up to 30,000 are still missing. But the United Nations 
(UN) estimates that the disaster caused 100,000 deaths at most and 
that 2 million people were affected by losing their homes and the 
like. 
 
Reporters dispatched by foreign news companies, including the Asahi 
Shimbun, have begun to report on the situation in the ravaged areas. 
There, the average temperature during the daytime is nearly 40 
degrees, and clean drinking water and decent food are not available. 
The lives of the evacuees are totally miserable. 
 
The military authorities were initially reluctant to receive 
international aid, but some of the aid materials have finally 
arrived in affected areas 10 days after the cyclone slammed into the 
nation. The U.S. military's aid-carrying first plane, which had been 
on standby, finally arrived in Yangon on May 12. 
 
The UN World Food Program (WFP) has begun transporting relief 
supplies through the border with Thailand by truck. Humanitarian aid 
must be speedily delivered to the devastated areas. 
 
But the relief goods being provided, the volunteers and equipment to 
distribute the goods, and those providing medical care are all 
insufficient. According to news reports, in seriously damaged areas, 
since people are scrambling for distributed rice and bread, relief 
goods have not reached the weak, including the elderly. 
 
Despite such a situation, the military junta has continued to 
restrict UN and NGO staff from entering the nation, insisting that 
it will take care of distributing goods to affected areas by itself. 
Meanwhile, the junta forcibly carried out a referendum on a new 
constitution for the country. 
 
The Burmese military government has found itself isolated 
internationally as a result of using force to suppress pro-democracy 
protests last year and has made only limited contacts with foreign 
countries. It is outrageous for the junta to remain inflexible 
despite this large scale humanitarian crisis. The international 
community must continue to press the junta to receive international 
aid. 
 
Neighboring Thailand has already dispatched a special envoy to 
Burma. The European Union (EU) also plans to send European Committee 
members in charge of development and humanitarian aid. The 
 
TOKYO 00001308  008 OF 008 
 
 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will call an 
emergency foreign ministerial to confer on ways to persuade the 
junta to accept foreign aid and how to help with the aftermath. 
 
The Japanese government should also take flexible action. In 
response to a request from the UN, the government has decided to 
announce plans to provide the nation with 1.1 billion yen worth of 
aid. Prime Minister Fukuda sent a letter to Head of State of Burma 
Than Shwe calling on his government to receive trained aid 
personnel. It might be desirable that the government, taking one 
step forward, will dispatch Foreign Minister Koumura and others to 
Burma and ASEAN countries to have them cooperate in convincing the 
junta to accept international help. 
 
The government also should work on China, which has strong influence 
over Burma, to persuade that nation. Prime Minister Fukuda agreed 
with President Hu Jintao when he visited Japan recently on the view 
that Japan and China should assume a major responsibility to promote 
world peace and development. The two countries should make use of 
their strategic, mutually-beneficial relationship in dealing with 
the aftermath of cyclone-hit Burma. 
 
This is a huge disaster for Asia. While cooperating with 
international agencies, Japan should play a more leading role. 
 
DONOVAN