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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0026

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 001463 
 
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 05/28/08 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Japan mulling sending SDF aircraft to China to extend assistance 
to areas hit by Sichuan earthquake (Nikkei) 
 
(2) TICAD opens today; SDF refugee relief operations forgotten; No 
mention of SDF in Japan-Rwanda summit (Sankei) 
 
(3) Agreement reached on revising civil service reform bill, 
reflecting prime minister's strong wishes; Ruling bloc totally 
accepts DPJ plan (Yomiuri) 
 
(4) U.S. presidential candidate John McCain's contribution to 
Yomiuri Shimbun: America's Asia diplomacy likely to be an issue in 
upcoming presidential campaign; McCain says, "I attach more 
importance to Japan, South Korea, and Australia than to China" 
(Yomiuri) 
 
(5) Interview with Ambassador to U.S. Kato before leaving office: 
Stronger desire to rely on Japan; Risk-free diplomacy at turning 
point (Asahi) 
 
(6) Government to set up preparatory council on foreign, security 
policies under prime minister (Sankei) 
 
(7) LDP, New Komeito wide apart over standing legislation for 
overseas dispatch of SDF (Yomiuri) 
 
(8) Looking to Africa ahead of TICAD (Conclusion): With an eye on 
oil, Japan wishes to dispatch SDF for peace-keeping in Africa 
(Mainichi) 
 
(9) (Corrected copy) McCain contributes article to Yomiuri, vowing 
to give top priority to U.S. allies, such as Japan (Yomiuri) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Japan mulling sending SDF aircraft to China to extend assistance 
to areas hit by Sichuan earthquake 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
Eve., May 28, 2008 
 
A Japanese government official today revealed that the Chinese 
government has asked Japan for the provision of goods and transport 
means as part of efforts to provide assistance to areas hit by the 
Sichuan earthquake. Following this request, the government has begun 
discussing specific steps, including a dispatch of SDF aircraft to 
China. 
 
If dispatching the SDF planes to China were realized, it would be 
the first case for SDF troops to set foot in China. In the 
disaster-affected areas, tents and other relief goods are in 
extremely short supply. 
 
There is a good possibility that Japan will send ASDF C-130 
transport planes to China for emergency transportation. 
 
(2) TICAD opens today; SDF refugee relief operations forgotten; No 
mention of SDF in Japan-Rwanda summit 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00001463  002 OF 011 
 
 
May 28, 2008 
 
The 4th round of the Tokyo International Conference on African 
Development (TICAD IV) will kick off today at a hotel in Yokohama. 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, chair of the international conference, 
will announce Japan's aid measures, such as doubling its official 
development assistance (ODA) for Africa. Fukuda wants to get support 
from African countries for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the 
United Nations Security Council, as well as for a sector-specific 
approach on reducing greenhouse gas emissions (for a post-Kyoto 
Protocol framework). The achievements of TICAD will be reflected in 
the Group of Eight summit in July (in Hokkaido) which will take up 
policy toward Africa and international food issues as major agenda 
items. 
 
Neither Prime Minister Fukuda nor Rwandan President Paul Kagame 
referred to a relief unit for Rwandan refugees that Japan dispatched 
in 1994 to the former Zaire (currently Republic of Congo) as 
humanitarian contribution. This means that the Self-Defense Forces 
(SDF) historic operations in Africa have been forgotten. 
 
Based on the International Peace Cooperation Law, the Japanese 
government deployed SDF troops in Goma, Zaire, from September 
through December in 1994, to conduct humanitarian relief operations 
for Rwandan refugees. This was the first time for Japan to conduct 
humanitarian operations on its own, not as peacekeeping operations 
(PKO). 
 
However, in his meeting with Kagame, Fukuda said: "I highly praise 
your leadership in making your country a success after overcoming 
the tragedy of the genocide." He, however, did not mention anything 
about the SDF personnel who labored hard during the refugee relief 
mission. 
 
The Rwandan president did not tender his appreciation for the SDF 
and Japan's assistance. 
 
China, which has actively carried out diplomacy in Africa, currently 
has 13,000 troops participating in six PKO missions. Japan's SDF 
members are not taking part in any PKO mission in Africa. All the 
more because Japan's influence has been waning, it is regrettable 
that there was no mention on the SDF's operations in the 
Fukuda-Kagame meeting. 
 
(3) Agreement reached on revising civil service reform bill, 
reflecting prime minister's strong wishes; Ruling bloc totally 
accepts DPJ plan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
May 28, 2008 
 
The ruling coalition and the Democratic Party of Japan agreed 
yesterday to revise a draft bill on reforming the civil service 
system, paving the way for it to be passed into law before the end 
of the current Diet session. The agreement reflects Prime Minister 
Fukuda's strong desire to embark on reform and the ruling and 
opposition camps' concern about being labeled as dismissive of 
reform. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura in a press conference 
last evening indicated that there was the prime minister's strong 
leadership behind the agreement between the two camps on revising 
 
TOKYO 00001463  003 OF 011 
 
 
the bill. 
 
The prime minister's strong wishes also seem to have prompted the 
ruling parties to reach the agreement with the DPJ by abandoning 
cautiousness. 
 
On the afternoon of May 15, the prime minister held a meeting with 
LDP Diet affairs chief Tadamori Oshima and his New Komeito 
counterpart Yoshio Urushibara at the prime minister's official 
residence. In the session, Fukuda expressed his determination to 
pass the bill into law during the current Diet session. The ruling 
camp accelerated its working-level talks following this meeting. 
 
There was a boost from within the LDP, with former Secretary General 
Hidenao Nakagawa saying, "If we fail to enact the bill in the 
ongoing Diet session, the ruling camp would be criticized as 
squelching it." The prime minister also said to his aide earlier 
this month: "It is important to begin reforming the civil servant 
system even by revising the bill." Frustrated with policy issues 
that have not moved forward in the divided Diet, the prime minister 
apparently intended to achieve results by enacting the civil service 
reform bill. According to a person concerned, the prime minister 
made efforts to break the gridlock by, for instance, asking on the 
phone an executive of Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation), 
which supports the DPJ, to encourage the largest opposition party to 
agree on the bill. 
 
A revised plan that was put together in accordance with the prime 
minister's wishes effectively embraced the DPJ plan except for a ban 
on the amakudari, the practice of retiring senior bureaucrats taking 
lucrative jobs in private-sector firms or quasi-government entities 
they previously oversaw. 
 
Moreover, the revised plan did not include a clause restring contact 
between lawmakers and bureaucrats, which had drawn fire from the 
ruling camp, making it easier for the ruling parties to give a nod 
to it. 
 
Nevertheless, the two camps simply agreed on a "reform menu" for the 
next five years. Implementation of the legislation requires 
amendments to such laws as the National Civil Service Law and the 
Cabinet Law. There is a possibility that the ruling camp will lock 
horns with the opposition bloc over specifics. 
 
DPJ opted to soften stance rather than squashing the bill 
 
The DPJ agreed to revise the draft bill from the intention to avoid 
being blamed by the government and ruling parties for crushing the 
envisaged civil service reform, according to a DPJ executive. 
 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama initially criticized the government 
plan for a lack of descriptions on amakudari. But members 
responsible for the matter, including Diet affairs deputy chief Jun 
Azumi, had a strong desire to aim at an improved bill, thinking that 
a failure to enact the legislation would please the Kasumigaseki 
bureaucrats alone. 
 
In addition, with the next Lower House election slipping away, there 
seems to have been a decision that it would be more effective to 
play up the need to eliminate the amakudari practice right before 
the next Lower House election rather than chanting the principles. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001463  004 OF 011 
 
 
Aware of the fact that many LDP lawmakers were negative about the 
draft bill, the DPJ also figured that it would be able to apply 
pressure on the LDP by showing a stance supportive of the government 
plan. 
 
DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa indicated that he would leave the matter 
to the persons in charge. Ozawa, holing a meeting with party 
executives on the evening of May 26, confirmed a policy direction to 
reach an accord with the ruling bloc if it agreed to revise the 
bill. According to Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka, an 
agreement was reached following the ruling bloc's acceptance of the 
DPJ plan in the working-level talks, although LDP heavyweights and 
government officials tried from the night of May 26 through the 
morning of May 27 to make it toothless on behalf of the 
bureaucrats. 
 
(4) U.S. presidential candidate John McCain's contribution to 
Yomiuri Shimbun: America's Asia diplomacy likely to be an issue in 
upcoming presidential campaign; McCain says, "I attach more 
importance to Japan, South Korea, and Australia than to China" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 6) (Full) 
May 28, 2008 
 
Aya Igarashi, Washington 
 
Senator John McCain (71), who is certain to be nominated as the 
Republican presidential candidate, revealed his Asia policy in his 
contributed essay prepared by himself and (Senator Joe Lieberman) to 
the Yomiuri Shimbun. A major feature of his Asia policy is to place 
a higher priority on relations with such American allies as Japan, 
South Korea, and Australia than with China. In planned debates with 
the Democratic presidential candidate ahead of the election in 
November, it is likely that Asia policy will become a campaign 
issue, such as how close should relations with China be. 
 
The essay is in principle based on the Bush administration's 
"value-based diplomacy," an idea of strengthening relations with 
countries who share the same democratic values.  It can be taken as 
an East Asia-version of McCain's article contributed last October to 
a foreign affairs journal in which he suggested creating a league of 
democracies. 
 
In the background are a number of supporters of the Bush 
administration's Asia policy who also back the McCain camp. Among 
them are former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and 
former Senior Director for Asian Affairs at the NSC Michael Green. 
 
The objective of the essay seems to be to provide a sense of 
security to America's allies, which are paying close attention to 
the first change in the administration in the U.S. in eight years. 
The essay in covering the North Korean nuclear issue shows 
consideration to Japan by emphasizing the need to respond with a 
"dialogue and pressure" line. The essay stresses the importance of 
the Japanese abduction issue by noting, "We must not forget it." 
 
McCain and Senator Barack Obama (46), who is likely to be nominated 
as the Democratic presidential candidate, are both calling on China 
to observe international rules, but in the case of Obama, as part of 
his Asia policy, he has revealed that he aims to build a new 
comprehensive security system for East Asia, in addition to 
America's previous alliance framework. This is significantly 
 
TOKYO 00001463  005 OF 011 
 
 
different from McCain's Asia policy. In the economic issues, too, 
McCain sharply criticized Obama for his opposition to concluding a 
free trade agreement with South Korea, saying, "This kind of 
protectionism is highly irresponsible." 
 
(5) Interview with Ambassador to U.S. Kato before leaving office: 
Stronger desire to rely on Japan; Risk-free diplomacy at turning 
point 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 28, 2008 
 
Ambassador to the U.S. Ryozo Kato on May 27 returned home, serving 
out an unusually long term of six years and seven months. He arrived 
at his post right after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. Since 
then, he has tackled various issues that have shaken Japan-U.S. 
relations, including the Iraq war, the BSE issue involving U.S. beef 
exports to Japan, and the U.S. House of Representative's adoption of 
a comfort women resolution. The Asahi Shimbun asked him about the 
state of Japan-U.S. relations. 
 
(Interviewer: Yoichi Kato, bureau chief of the American General 
Bureau) 
 
-- The U.S. forces in Japan realignment is going slowly. The U.S. is 
disgruntled about it. 
 
"The delay in settling the issue does not mean Japan has failed to 
keep a promise. However, in my view, it is necessary for the 
Japanese government to go ahead with the realignment according to 
the procedures agreed upon." 
 
-- There is no end to crimes committed by U.S. servicemen. 
 
"When the cost of keeping the alliance exceeds the benefits the 
alliance brings about, mistrust in the alliance heightens. I think 
it is necessary for both Japan and the U.S. to forge a perception 
regarding management of the alliance. This process will start when 
the U.S. shares the pain felt by Japanese, and Japanese understand 
the burden the U.S. is shouldering." 
 
-- Does the U.S. take the view that the value of traditional 
alliances have declined since the 9/11 terrorist attack? 
 
"It is difficult to talk about it in general terms. There is the 
reality that the U.S. now finds itself in a tight spot as a result 
of taking a unilateral action in a positive way. It may have a 
stronger desire to rely on allies." 
 
-- Do you feel that U.S. expectations for Japan have increased? 
 
"Yes, I do. Although the number of Japan experts in the U.S. 
government has decreased, the interest in Japan has increased as a 
whole. The option of ruling out Japan in discussing issues involving 
Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Africa has disappeared." 
 
-- What impact will the presidential election have on bilateral 
relations? 
 
"Basically, I do not think it will have much impact on Japan-U.S. 
relations. However, there are some elements that may prove that such 
thinking was a mistake. The first element is how Japan will move. 
 
TOKYO 00001463  006 OF 011 
 
 
What presence does Japan want the U.S. to see, or how is Japan going 
to use its presence -- I think this is a major element. The next one 
is that if the president is replaced and people around him are 
replaced, some changes are bound to occur. That is why managing the 
alliance becomes important. 
 
-- Regarding the wartime comfort women issue, what is your view on 
the adoption by the House of Representatives of a resolution seeking 
an apology from Japan? 
 
"This issue has long been in place and it will continue to be in 
place in the future as well. I think the issue will crop up again 
for a while each time the ratio of Republicans and Democrats in 
Congress change. What Japan should do is to continue to steadily 
explain its stand. It is important that the U.S. feels Japan's 
sincerity. 
 
"When I arrived at the post, the major issue was the lawsuit filed 
by a former U.S. Navy seaman who was captured by the former Japanese 
Army during World War II. He demanded more compensation in violation 
of the Treaty of San Francisco. The lawsuit was so serious. It 
pinned responsibility on Japanese companies as well. The matter is 
about to become a dead issue, but it still exists." I think 
 
-- What is your view of the BSE issue involving U.S. beef, another 
unsettled issue? 
 
We must face the U.S. over what are scientific grounds. There may be 
international standards. Each country may have its own criteria 
regarding the degree of risk involved in eating beef. However, I 
have had guests from Japan, including the prime minister, eat U.S. 
beef during my tenure as ambassador to the U.S." 
 
-- Do you think there is a lack of unity between Japan and the 
U.S.? 
 
"Japan and the U.S. are in a line in terms of both aiming at 
preventing North Korea from possessing nuclear arms. However, some 
are concerned about the unity between the two countries, presumably 
because they are concerned about problems likely to occur in the 
process of realizing that goal. The cards we have in making North 
Korea a nuclear-free country are limited. It is necessary to 
undertake coordination regarding how to use those cards in a 
meticulous manner. We must be cautious so that we do not use up 
those cards before producing results." 
 
-- Mr. Ambassador, you have called on Japan to take more risks as it 
expands its role in the international community. What are concrete 
measures for that? 
 
"Japan's diplomacy to date has been exceptionally successful in the 
sense that it has produced maximum benefits at the minimum price. 
However, I think there are issues in which Japan must find 
breakthroughs. I am not saying that Japan should take part in 
military operations at the cost of casualties. However, in order to 
win a higher praise from the international community, it should do 
things that it has never done before. This may include taking part 
in peace-keeping operations (PKO). However, we have now entered the 
age in which environmental and economic cooperation is absolutely 
inseparable from security. Risk-free diplomacy is one option. 
However, Japanese people would not be satisfied with such an 
option. 
 
TOKYO 00001463  007 OF 011 
 
 
 
(6) Government to set up preparatory council on foreign, security 
policies under prime minister 
 
SANKEI (Top Play) (Full) 
May 27, 2008 
 
As part of efforts to strengthen the Prime Minister's office's 
functions regarding foreign and security policies, the government 
decided yesterday to boldly revise the current policymaking system. 
It will set up in the Cabinet Secretariat a "preparatory committee 
on comprehensive foreign and security policies" (tentative name) to 
map out foreign and security policies under the prime minister's 
direct control. This can be defined as a second step to be taken by 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on the security front, following the New 
Fukuda Doctrine regarding foreign policy. The government was slow to 
take action to deal with low-priority key issue, but it has finally 
started moving.  This decision will be incorporated in a report to 
be produced in June by the Council on Reforming the Defense 
Ministry. The government aims to pass a bill revising the law for 
the establishment of the Security Council of Japan next year or 
after. 
 
The former Abe cabinet aimed to reorganize the Security Council of 
Japan, but Fukuda's reform plan will retain the council. The new 
plan also proposes setting up an expert committee on improvement in 
the defense capabilities of the Ground, Maritime and Air 
Self-Defense Forces. The panel will be set up under the Security 
Council of Japan and will be chaired by the chief cabinet secretary, 
so that medium- and long-term policies will be worked out under the 
initiative of the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei). The aim is to 
enable the Kantei to take the initiative in increasing military 
capability, replacing the Defense Ministry, which has continued to 
compile separate budgets for the Ground, Maritime and Air Staff 
Offices. 
 
Under the Cabinet Law, the prime minister is allowed to have up to 
five special advisors. One of the five will take charge of foreign 
and security policies. The responsible special advisor will chair 
the new preparatory committee on comprehensive foreign and security 
policies and will be engaged in preparing for comprehensive foreign 
and security policies. The committee will be composed of the two 
assistant deputy chief cabinet secretaries (for foreign, and 
security/crisis management policies), the cabinet intelligence 
director, the Foreign Ministry Foreign Policy Bureau director 
general, the Defense Ministry Defense Policy Bureau director 
general, and others. 
 
The plan was drafted in consultations involving Prime Minister 
Fukuda, National Defense Academy President Makoto Iokibe, and 
Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a Tokyo hotel on May 4. 
 
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe submitted a bill amending the law 
for the establishment of the Security Council of Japan with the aim 
of creating a Japanese version of the National Security Council 
(NSC), but Fukuda scrapped it. Now that attention is being paid to 
reforming the Defense Ministry, set off by the collision between a 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis ship and a fishing boat in 
February and a series of scandals involving the ministry, Fukuda 
seems to have judged it necessary to demonstrate his own policy 
identity on the security front, as well, although he seemingly has 
put security policy on the backburner. 
 
TOKYO 00001463  008 OF 011 
 
 
 
The Abe concept called for setting up a secretariat in the Security 
Council of Japan after it is reorganized in imitation of the NSC of 
the U.S. But Fukuda intends to increase staff members in the two 
offices headed by the assistant deputy chief cabinet secretaries for 
security and crisis management policies by stationing uniformed SDF 
officials under the assistant deputy chief cabinet secretaries. 
 
The special advisor in charge of foreign and security policies, with 
the two assistant deputy chief cabinet secretaries under him, will 
assume charge of administrative work for the Security Council of 
Japan and three ministers meetings held as needed by the chief 
cabinet secretary, the foreign minister, and the defense minister to 
confer on diplomatic and security issues. 
 
In the Abe cabinet, former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike assumed the 
post of special advisor in charge of national security issues in 
September 2006, but it was not a permanent post at that time. Since 
Koike assumed the post after then Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma 
stepped down in July last year, the post has remained unfilled. 
 
(7) LDP, New Komeito wide apart over standing legislation for 
overseas dispatch of SDF 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 24, 2008 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition 
partner New Komeito on May 23 held the first session of their 
project team to discuss permanent legislation to stipulate how Japan 
will dispatch the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) abroad. The LDP intends 
to establish that kind of permanent law during the upcoming 
extraordinary Diet session in the fall and incorporate in the law 
what is written in the New Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law, 
which is to expire in next January, so that the Air Self-Defense 
Force (ASDF) can continue the refueling mission it is engaged in at 
present in the Indian Ocean. But with the New Komeito cautious about 
enacting permanent legislation, there is every likelihood that what 
will be done in the upcoming extraordinary Diet session will be 
limited to revising the New Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law to 
extend its term. 
 
In its first session, the project team decided that the following 
three points would be the basic course for consideration: (1) no 
changes would be made to the government's current interpretation of 
the Constitution, which prohibits Japan from exercising the right to 
collective self-defense; (2) civilian control would be secured 
through Diet approval, and (3) the government would submit a bill. 
These basic principles reflect the team's consideration to the New 
Komeito, which remains cautious about broadening the overseas 
activities of the SDF. 
 
After the session, Chairman Taku Yamasaki, a former LDP vice 
president, told reporters, "I want to pave the way for the 
government to submit a bill to the upcoming extraordinary Diet 
session." But New Komeito Policy Research Council Deputy Chairman 
Natsuo Yamaguchi noted, "Preparing legislation and submitting a bill 
to the Diet is not our first priority," revealing a difference in 
views between the two parties. 
 
The team will meet twice a week until mid-June and produce an 
outline of the bill. High on agenda for discussion in the meetings 
 
TOKYO 00001463  009 OF 011 
 
 
will be such topics as whether to approve (the SDF's) participation 
in activities not backed by a United Nations resolution, whether to 
include guarding, maintenance of security, and ship inspections 
under the scope of SDF activities, whether to ease the authority to 
allow the use of weapons, and how to obtain Diet approval. 
 
The LDP deems it difficult for Japan to swiftly and smoothly take 
part in international peacekeeping operations if it has to 
repeatedly extend the term of the special measures law as it did 
before. In contrast, heeding public criticism of a series of 
scandals involving the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the recent 
collision between an Aegis vessel and a fishing boat, many in the 
New Komeito and its support base, the Soka Gakkai, share the view 
that given the present situation, it is difficult to obtain the 
public's understanding about enacting a standing law (for overseas 
dispatch of the SDF)." 
 
There is every possibility that approval from both houses of the 
Diet will be required for overseas dispatches of the SDF under the 
standing legislation. In this context, it would be the 
responsibility of the ruling bloc to obtain the cooperation of the 
major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which dominates 
the Upper House, but no prospects are in sight now for such 
cooperation from the DPJ. At a news conference on May 23, DPJ 
Secretary General Hatoyama touched on this kind of permanent 
legislation and noted: "Debate on permanent legislation is 
necessary, but I don't think a standing law will be enacted before 
the Fukuda cabinet wins the public's confidence." 
 
Regarding the MSDF's refueling activities now going on in the Indian 
Ocean under the New Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law, many in 
MOFA and the MOD are calling for continuing the mission, with one 
official noting, "The refuelings symbolize Japan's efforts to be 
actively engaged in the fight against terrorism and to contribute to 
the Japan-U.S. alliance." The government is likely to introduce a 
bill revising the special measures law to the upcoming extraordinary 
Diet session in the fall in order to extend the term of the law, 
even if permanent legislation fails to take shape. In July next 
year, the Iraq Special Measures Law, which specifies the SDF's 
operations in Iraq, is to expire. In this regard, the view being 
floated in the government is that if the new U.S. administration is 
not firmly engaged in Iraq, calls for a withdrawal of the SDF from 
Iraq will likely surface in Japan, and that given the importance of 
Japan's international contributions, it may be wise to continue (the 
MSDF's) refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. 
 
SDF's overseas activities conducted under special measures laws 
 
Legal basis Details of activities Expiration 
New Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law The MSDF's supply ships 
provide fuel and water free of charge to other countries' vessels 
monitoring movements of terrorists in the Indian Ocean. Jan. 15, 
2009 
Iraq Special Measures Law  The Air Self-Defense Force's aircraft 
transports personnel and goods from the UN and the multinational 
force between Kuwait and Iraq. July 31, 2009 
 
(8) Looking to Africa ahead of TICAD (Conclusion): With an eye on 
oil, Japan wishes to dispatch SDF for peace-keeping in Africa 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 24, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00001463  010 OF 011 
 
 
 
Ken Uzuka 
 
On May 10, in a relatively quiet suburb of Sudan's capital of 
Khartoum, government forces and an anti-government insurgency 
clashed, drawing casualties. The incident was only five days after 
Senior Vice Foreign Minister Itsunori Onodera had departed for home 
after meeting with key Sudanese officials in the capital.  Around 
the same time, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yasuhide 
Nakayama was visiting the headquarters of the United Nations 
peacekeeping operations (PKO)  in the southern part of the country. 
 
 
The visits to Sudan by two high-level Japanese officials came about 
at the special request of Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura 
to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Diet Affairs 
Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima. Machimura told Oshima: "I would 
like you to allow the two to travel to that country on the condition 
that they will return home by the time we take a revote (on the bill 
amending the Special Measures Law on Revenue Sources for Road 
Projects)." With a revote on the bill just around the corner, the 
lawmakers of the ruling bloc had been banned from traveling. This 
sort of confinement forced even Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to give 
up on a plan to travel to European countries 
 
Machimura, who formerly served as foreign minister, and the Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), were both motivated by a desire to give 
momentum to calls in Japan for a dispatch of (Self-Defense Forces 
(SDF) personnel) to Sudan by highlighting that the country was safe. 
Their motivation stems from the international competition now going 
on for oil resources in that country. 
 
More than half the oil produced in Sudan is exported to China, with 
Japan coming in second. Last October, China sent an engineering unit 
to Sudan's Darfur, where the dispute continues. Machimura and MOFA 
are in a rush not to be left behind, but the Ministry of Defense 
(MOD) is cautious about sending SDF personnel to Sudan, some 
officials stressing the high risk remaining of becoming entangled in 
the conflict. 
 
Ironically, the dispatch of the two high-level officials resulted in 
only highlighting the danger in that region. On May 13, MOFA raised 
the level of danger in the region so that the public should 
reconsider traveling to the suburban areas of the capital of Sudan. 
 
Notwithstanding, MOFA can't easily give up on all plans to send 
someone to the region. At the end of March, MOFA sent Ambassador of 
Friendship to the Tokyo International Conference on African 
Development (TICAD) Mayu Tsuruta, an actress, to Sudan. MOFA is 
desperate to impress safety in the south of Sudan on the Japanese 
public. 
 
At the TICAD conference, building peace will be among major subjects 
for discussion. Peace building is an idea stemming from the thinking 
that peace is an essential factor for economic growth in Africa. But 
a contest for securing resources has already begun from the stage of 
peace building. 
 
(9) (Corrected copy) McCain contributes article to Yomiuri, vowing 
to give top priority to U.S. allies, such as Japan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
 
TOKYO 00001463  011 OF 011 
 
 
May 28, 2008 
 
Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain, 71, 
contributed an article to the Yomiuri Shimbun on May 26. The 
article, coauthored by Senator Joseph Lieberman, 66, spells out his 
Asia strategy, including policy toward Japan. Making clear the 
policy to give top priority to U.S. allies, such as Japan, McCain 
makes a clear distinction with the Democratic Party, which attaches 
importance to China. 
 
The paper defines the U.S.-Japan alliance as the indispensable 
pillar for the peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. 
Urging Japan to play an international role fitting its political, 
economic and defense power, the paper also calls on the country to 
shoulder a greater burden. At the same time, McCain announced his 
support for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security 
Council. 
 
This is the first time for McCain to unveil his Asia policy since 
his Republican presidential nomination became certain in March. 
Lieberman was a Democratic vice presidential candidate in the 2000 
presidential race. Rumor has it that if McCain wins the presidency, 
he will make Lieberman his secretary of State. 
 
SCHIEFFER