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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 001882 
 
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 07/09/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
G-9 Summit diplomacy: 
4) G-8 leaders reach agreement on global sharing of goal to halve 
greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but include no mid-term target 
(Mainichi) 
5) With U.S. compromising, Prime Minister Fukuda as G-8 chair 
achieves more than expected in climate change talks  (Yomiuri) 
6) G-8 leaders make clear statement on the abduction issue 
(Mainichi) 
7) Prime Minister Fukuda's persistence pays off at the G-8 Summit 
(Yomiuri) 
8) Fukuda played role of the coordinator to elicit G-8 agreement on 
climate change, but not completely able to display his presence 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
9) Perception gap still exists, with G-8 more concerned about Iran's 
nuclear program than North Korea's  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
10) First Lady Fukuda carrying out "smile diplomacy"  (Mainichi) 
 
Russia diplomacy: 
11) Prime Minister Fukuda, Russian President Medvedev agree to speed 
up negotiations to settle the northern territories issue  (Yomiuri) 
 
12) Coordination underway to have Premier Putin visit Japan later 
this year  (Nikkei) 
 
13) South Korea's foreign minister expresses "deep concern" to 
Foreign Minister Koumura about the Takeshima Islands territorial 
dispute  (Asahi) 
 
China diplomacy: 
14) Expressions of concern come out of G-8 Summit about China's ODA 
program  (Nikkei) 
15) China's President Hu calls for strengthening cooperation with 
Japan on abduction issue  (Nikkei) 
 
Defense and security: 
16) Japan's Foreign Minister lauds U.S. for new policy toward 
cluster bombs that aims to fill the gap with international opinion 
(Mainichi) 
17) Democratic Party of Japan adopts new "Okinawa Vision" policy 
statement that includes a drastic revision of the U.S.-Japan Status 
of Forces Agreement  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
G-8 calls on world to share goal of halving emissions by 2050 
 
Mainichi: 
G-8 sets no mid-term numerical goals for emissions cuts 
 
Yomiuri: 
G-8 urges China, India to share long-term goal 
 
Nikkei: 
 
TOKYO 00001882  002 OF 011 
 
 
G-8 calls for emerging economies' cooperation in halving emissions 
by 2050 
 
Akahata: 
G-8 fails to show developed countries' responsibility 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) G-8 statement on Environment: How will China respond? 
(2) G-8 statement on global economy: Long fight against fuel, food, 
and finance 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) G-8 Toyako Summit: Developed nations' responsibility for 
emissions cuts unclear 
(2) Heisei version of Maekawa Report: Japan should stop excessively 
anticipating economic growth 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Can all nations share G-8 emissions target? 
(2) Status of school teachers bought by money 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Whether global emissions will be cut 50 PERCENT  by 2050 is 
uncertain 
(2) G-8 optimistic about economic management 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Question is whether G-8 goal of halving emissions will be 
implemented 
(2) Japan-Russia summit: Prime Minister Fukuda fails to take 
advantage of meeting with Medvedev, Foreign Ministry creates 
problems for future 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Measures against global warming: U.S. concession is progress 
(2) Oita educational circle scandal: Same thing happen in other 
prefectures? 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Economic setback: Put end to structural reform policy 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, July 8 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 9, 2008 
 
10:10 
G-8 summit meeting at the Windsor Hotel Toya in Toyako Town, 
Hokkaido. 
 
12:23 
Planted a memorial pine tree, followed by a photo session. 
 
13:12 
Working lunch 
 
15:09 
Summit meeting. 
 
TOKYO 00001882  003 OF 011 
 
 
 
17:11 
Met with President Medvedev . 
 
19:14 
Working dinner with leaders from the Group of Eight nations 
21:13 Met with Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi. Stayed at the 
hotel overnight. 
 
4) G-8 leaders agree to call on all parties to UN pact to share goal 
of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but statement includes 
no mid-term numerical target 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
July 9, 2008 
 
The Group of Eight (G-8) leaders issued a joint statement on global 
warming and other issues in their meeting yesterday, the second day 
of the Hokkaido Toyako Summit. The leaders agreed to ask "all 
parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 
(UNFCCC) to share the long-term goal of halving global greenhouse 
gas emissions by 2050 and adopt it." 
 
The statement specified that the G-8 nations would "set ambitious 
mid-term nation-specific targets" for greenhouse gas emissions to be 
cut by 2020. But the statement presented no specific numerical 
targets. In the Major Economies Meeting (MEM) and other meetings 
today, the G-8 nations will discuss this issue with China, India, 
and other emerging countries. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the chair of the G-8 Summit said after 
he had announced the leaders' statement: 
 
"The agreement reached this time will lay a solid groundwork for the 
next step. To create a framework that involves all countries, the 
G-8 nations have joined hands and begun to take a step forward to 
work on developing and emerging countries to join our efforts." 
 
The focus of attention in the summit this year was on how to move 
forward the agreement to "study the long-term goal in a serious 
manner" reached in the Heiligendamm Summit last year. The U.S. was 
initially reluctant to agree on the goal, saying: "It will be 
impossible to achieve the goal without the agreements of China and 
India." 
 
Japan and European countries agreed to call on about 190 parties to 
UNFCCC to adopt the long-term goal at its meeting. The 190 parties 
include China and India. 
 
The statement praised the Japan-proposed sector-based approach to 
determine potential reduction volumes in each industry, noting: "The 
approach can be useful in achieving each nation's reduction goal." 
The statement proposed creating an international mechanism to draw 
up a process chart for developing advance technology to curb gas 
emissions. 
 
5) Agreement reached to "share" the target of halving greenhouse gas 
emissions; Results better than expected; U.S. makes eleventh-hour 
concession 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
July 9, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00001882  004 OF 011 
 
 
 
The United States, which was stubborn about setting a greenhouse gas 
emission reduction target, has finally aligned itself with other G-8 
members. After tough negotiations on July 8, the second day of the 
three-day G-8 Lake Toya Summit, Prime Minister Fukuda, the host of 
this year's summit, managed to build a consensus among the G-8 
nations on "sharing" a target. Nevertheless, difficulties are 
expected before the agreement bears fruit. 
 
The G-8 leaders conducted an intensive discussion on global warming 
over a working lunch on July 8. Although global warming was regarded 
as the thorniest issue in this year's summit, their discussion ended 
10 minutes earlier than scheduled. Coordination had been completed 
at the administrative level before the working lunch. 
 
"The work is well done; it's just a first step," Prime Minister 
Fukuda, the chair of the meeting, said to his aide cheerfully. 
 
A Japanese government negotiation source noted two points regarding 
the results of the talks on July 8. 
 
One is that the G-8 members, reaching a de facto agreement on the 
long-term goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 PERCENT 
by 2050 worldwide, decided to aim at an agreement under the 
framework of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP) that includes other 
major emitters, such as China and India. 
 
Another is that the G-8 decided to come up with mid-term 
country-by-country targets in order to realize an "absolute 
reduction" in connection with a framework replacing the Kyoto 
Protocol. 
 
The United States, the world's largest emitter, has announced a 
policy of cutting emissions in 2025 and beyond. The G-8 agreement 
has given rise to chances that the United States will effectively 
retract its policy. If the envisioned post-Kyoto framework from 2013 
is designed to end before 2025, the U.S. government would have to 
begin reducing emissions ahead of schedule, thereby giving impetus 
to international efforts to fight global warming. 
 
The negotiation source excitedly described the results as better 
than expected. The European Union, which was critical of the United 
States' response, also positively evaluated the results, with 
European Commission President Barroso saying: "We are delighted. We 
were also able to agree to set mid-term targets." 
 
6) Abductions mentioned in the G-8 leaders' statement 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
July 9, 2008 
 
Three special documents were issued on July 8 at the Hokkaido Toyako 
Summit, including a statement of the G-8 leaders and a food-security 
statement. The leaders' statement was announced based on specific 
areas, such as the global economy, climate change, development, 
Africa, and politics. The leaders' statement refers to North Korea's 
nuclear declaration, calling on the DPRK to completely eliminate its 
nuclear programs quickly. The statement goes: "Verification is of 
paramount importance, and we strongly call on North Korea to fully 
cooperate with the verification process." Wording about the 
abduction issue was also included that went: "We support the 
 
TOKYO 00001882  005 OF 011 
 
 
Six-Party Talks process that includes such unresolved pending 
matters and the abductions issue." This is the first time that the 
abduction issue was mentioned in a leaders' statement. Until now, it 
was only touched on in the chairman's summary. 
 
In a special statement on terrorism, as well, the abductions and 
taking hostages were condemned as unacceptable acts. 
 
7-1) Prime minister persistent on reaching agreement on global 
warming countermeasures: Makes number of phone calls at night 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 9, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on July 9 undertook behind-the-scenes 
coordination with leaders from the Group of Eight nations at the 
Lake Toya Summit in an effort to reach an agreement on global 
warming countermeasures.  Working-level coordination continued until 
the morning of the same day, but details had yet to be boiled down. 
In parallel, Fukuda telephoned various leaders, including U.S. 
President Bush, from the evening of the 7th through the morning of 
the 8th, explaining the significance of the Group of Eight reaching 
an agreement on a long-term emissions reduction goal. 
 
Participants agreed on the adoption of the words "will ask the whole 
world to share" a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 
PERCENT  by 2050. The prime minister himself released the specifics 
of the agreement. When a reporter asked him about a base year for 
reductions, he replied, "1990." Given a memo, he hastily corrected 
his answer, saying, "It is not 1990. It showed be compared with the 
current situation." However, no base year has yet been set, in fact. 
An aide said, "Having overcome that hurdle, the prime minister 
probable gave a sigh of relief." 
 
(08070902yk) Back to Top 
 
7-2) Fukuda ordered aides to tenaciously negotiate with U.S. 
counterparts 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
July 9, 2008 
 
The U.S. government's concession owes much to decisions by other G-8 
members under heavy pressure from the Japanese government. 
 
Upon arriving at Lake Toya on July 6, Prime Minister Fukuda 
instructed his aides to tenaciously continue negotiations with the 
U.S. government. 
 
Japan insisted on using the word "share" in regard to a long-term 
target. Japan and the United States remained at odds over this word 
until the end. The United States pushed to use the word "desirable" 
in regard to a target. 
 
Seeing the stalled talks, Prime Minister Fukuda placed a telephone 
call to President George W. Bush at the Windsor Hotel Toya and asked 
for a compromise. European members were pessimistic, with a British 
source saying: "We will not be able to find a breakthrough in 
climate change." But European members made active moves on the night 
of July 7. German Chancellor Merkel, European Commission President 
Barroso, and others strongly pressed President Bush for a 
consensus. 
 
TOKYO 00001882  006 OF 011 
 
 
 
As a result, shortly after 1:30 on the morning of July 8, the G-8 
reached an administrative-level agreement on the contents of the 
summit declaration. The results were reported to the G-8 leaders in 
the morning, paving the way for a formal agreement. 
 
Chancellor Merkel, a champion of measures against global warming, 
said after her meeting with President Bush on the morning of July 8 
that she was very satisfied with (the document). She also smilingly 
voiced her expectations for the United States' response in 2009 and 
beyond, saying: "I am certain that the United States will keep this 
agreement even after its president is changed." 
 
At a working lunch, G-8 leaders praised Prime Minister Fukuda, 
saying that the agreement owes much to Japan's efforts. 
 
Meanwhile, the U.S. government has not changed its basic policy of 
pursuing its national interest. Although it accepted a long-term 
target, the United States has succeeded in getting the G-8 to expand 
the scope of its policy worldwide to include China, India and other 
countries. The G-8 summit has paved the way for forcing the United 
States to cut emissions, thereby preventing production bases from 
flowing into emerging countries. 
 
8) Fukuda fails to play up presence, preoccupied with serving as 
coordinator 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
July 9, 2008 
 
"Looking back over the past year, we came a long way," Prime 
Minister Fukuda said after the Group of Eight (G-8) leaders adopted 
a leaders' statement on global warming at the Lake Toya Summit in 
Hokkaido. 
 
In the Heiligendamm Summit in Germany last year, former Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe advocated the long-term goal of halving 
greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The joint statement last year 
noted: "The decision by the EU, Canada, and Japan will be studied in 
a serious manner." 
 
In the annual assembly of the World Economic Forum (Davos 
Conference) in January, Prime Minister Fukuda also expressed his 
determination to grapple with the issue, saying: "As the chair of 
the Lake Toya Summit, I will work hard to form a regime that 
involves all major greenhouse gas emitters in a responsible manner." 
In June, he announced a "Fukuda vision" - a package of Japan's 
measures to contain global warming - in a bid to take the initiative 
in discussions on the issue. 
 
But it was not easy to persuade U.S. President Bush to change his 
stance toward setting a long-term goal. In the bilateral meeting 
with Bush held on July 6, just before the opening of the summit, as 
well, Fukuda was unconvinced that Bush would compromise. 
 
The haggling between European countries and the U.S. over 
emissions-reduction targets have continued since the summit last 
year. A senor Foreign Ministry official expressed a sense of alarm 
on July 7, the opening day of the summit: "If no progress is made, 
critics may question the efforts made over the past year and Japan's 
leadership." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001882  007 OF 011 
 
 
Despite such concerns, an agreement was reached. With this, a 
government source said, heaving a sigh of relief: "When considering 
the circumstances up to yesterday, I think this is a great 
conclusion." 
 
The contents of the agreement, however, are far from satisfactory 
for the prime minister. The most serious problem is that the 
statement did not refer to all major economies' support for setting 
a long-term goal. Emphasizing that an agreement has been reached 
among the G-8 leaders, a senior Foreign Ministry officer said: "They 
do not urge others to agree to something they do not support." This 
expression, though, indicates that priority was given to keeping the 
U.S. and Europe, which are at loggerheads, at the negotiating 
table. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda wanted to play up his political presence at 
home and abroad by taking the lead in discussions. But since he 
devoted himself to playing the role of a coordinator to prevent the 
discussions from breaking down, he was unable to demonstrate his 
presence. 
 
9) Abduction issue elevated to the leaders' statement at the G-8 but 
a gap remains, with priority being given to Iran's nuclear program 
over North Korea's 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 9, 2008 
 
In the leaders' statement on political issues adopted yesterday by 
the G-8, the abduction issue was mentioned for the first time. It 
previously had only been touched upon in the chairman's summary. It 
now has been elevated to the leaders' statement. However, the 
reactions of the G-8 leaders have been less than enthusiastic. 
Although Japan, as the host country, where domestic interest on the 
abduction issue is high, has shown it has clout, he cannot overcome 
the fading interest in the abductions by the international 
community. 
 
"North Korea has not at all carried out any specific action that 
would resolve the abduction issue. The views of the G-8 all agree 
that the human rights situation is North Korea is important, and 
that we should seek improvements through the G-8 and the United 
Nations forums." 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at last night's banquet went beyond his 
position as chairman when the topic of North Korea came up, 
forcefully explaining the need to resolve the abduction issue. 
 
The reinvestigation of the abductions promised by North Korea during 
the recent working level talks between Japan and the DPRK has yet to 
be implemented. On the other hand, with the presentation by the 
North of its nuclear declaration, Six-Party Talks will restart on 
the 10th. In order to move toward resolution of abduction issue in 
tandem with the nuclear problem, the G-8's pressure is 
indispensable. 
 
Moreover, at a time when anxiety has heightened in Japan toward the 
U.S. decision to remove North Korea from the list of states 
sponsoring terrorism, Prime Minister Fukuda would like to elicit the 
maximum involvement of the G-8. As a result, he was able to obtain 
mention of the abductions in the leaders' statement. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001882  008 OF 011 
 
 
But only one G-8 leader told the Prime Minister he had his full 
support and understanding on the abduction issue. 
 
10) First Lady Fukuda carrying out "smile diplomacy" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 28) (Full) 
July 9, 2008 
 
Kiyoko Fukuda, the wife of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, is now busy 
showing the First Ladies of the Group of Eight (G-8) nations around 
the Toyako area, where the G-8 summit is now taking place. 
 
Mrs. Fukuda has been leading the U.S., British, Canadian and Russian 
first ladies and the wife of European Commission President Jose 
Manuela Barroso to various places. The French and Italian first 
ladies and the husband of German chancellor Angela Merkel did not 
visit Japan. 
 
In addition to luncheon and dinner parties, Japan's First Lady held 
a Japanese tea ceremony for them on July 7. She showed them around a 
special market in a neighboring town and the international media 
center on the 8th. She then took them to Mount Usu where they 
planted some trees. Despite the tight schedule, Mrs. Fukuda has kept 
a smile on her face. 
 
At the luncheon on the 7th when the six women met for first time, 
Mrs. Fukuda proposed holding a moment of silence in remembrance of 
those who had died in terrorist bombings in London on July 7 three 
years ago. This was done out of consideration for the British first 
lady, Sarah Brown. Kiyoko has shown she has diplomatic caliber. She 
is supporting he husband, Prime Minister Fukuda, who has seemed 
stiff in appearance. 
 
11) Prime Minister Fukuda, Russian President Medvedev agree to 
accelerate territorial negotiations; Prime Minister Putin likely to 
visit Japan later this year 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
July 9, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met with Russian President Dmitry 
Medvedev last evening for about one hour on the sidelines of the 
Group of Eight (G-8) summit in Toyako, Hokkaido. The two leaders 
agreed to expand bilateral political dialogue with a view to 
realizing an early resolution of the Northern Territories issue. 
They also agreed to arrange visits to Japan by Russian Prime 
Minister Vladimir Putin and three other ministers later this year. 
 
Fukuda stated on the Northern Territories issue: 
 
"In order to raise Japan-Russia relations to a higher level, we have 
to resolve the territorial issue and remove any ill will between the 
two countries. Highly political issues such as territorial disputes 
require the top leader's decision." 
 
Medvedev then expressed enthusiasm for accelerating territorial 
negotiations, saying: "I agree with you. There is no doubt that 
bilateral relations will be elevated to the highest levels if the 
territorial dispute is resolved." 
 
12) Japanese, Russian leaders agree to undertake coordination of 
Premier Putin's Japan visit: Medvedev expresses resolve to 
 
TOKYO 00001882  009 OF 011 
 
 
facilitate territorial issue 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 9, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on July 8 met with Russian President 
Medvedev for about an hour at the hotel that is the venue of the 
Hokkaido Toyako Summit. Referring to the northern territories issue, 
the president said, "I hope we will settle the issue at the earliest 
possible time without putting it put on the back burner." Regarding 
the signing of a peace treaty, both leaders have reaffirmed their 
resolve to expedite the process through sincere talks up to the 
summit level. They also agreed to arrange a visit by Premier Putin 
to Japan, as sought by Fukuda, with the possibility of realizing 
such in the second half of this year. 
 
Fukuda previously met Medvedev in Russia in April before he became 
president. This is the first time for him to visit Japan since 
assuming office. The focus of attention has been on what view the 
president would take regarding the Northern Territories issue. He 
noted, "The absence of a peace treaty is an impediment." He also 
pointed out, "If the territorial issue is settled, our bilateral 
relations will advance to the highest level and improve 
drastically." He also said, "A peace treaty plan must be such that 
serves the interests of both countries and be acceptable to both." 
 
13) Takeshima a serious concern: S. Korean foreign minister 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 9, 2008 
 
Foreign Minister Koumura yesterday met with South Korean Foreign 
Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung Hwan in Sapporo and exchanged 
views on the issue of Takeshima (Dokdo in Korean), a group of 
disputed islets in the Sea of Japan, and North Korea. 
 
Takeshima is now about to cause sparks between Japan and South 
Korea, as Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science 
and Technology (MEXT) has decided to specify it as part of Japan's 
territory in a description of its curriculum guidelines for junior 
high schools. Yu conveyed South Korea's "serious concern" to 
Koumura, a South Korean source said. "That has yet to be decided," 
the source quoted Koumura as telling Yu. 
 
MEXT is expected to announce the description on July 14. There is 
also an opinion being floated from within the government to insist 
that MEXT should forgo its description of Takeshima this time. The 
government is undergoing coordination involving the Foreign Ministry 
and the prime minister's office. "This matter is troubling because 
South Korea strongly wants Japan to avoid doing so," a government 
official said before Koumura's meeting with Yu yesterday. "The 
government will make a judgment after seeing their response to the 
foreign ministerial meeting," the official added. 
 
According to a source familiar with relations between Japan and 
South Korea, Prime Minister Fukuda is scheduled to exchange views 
today with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak, who is now visiting 
Japan to attend an event relating to the Group of Eight (G-8) summit 
in Hokkaido. Given the foreign ministerial meeting, Fukuda is 
expected to explain Japan's circumstances. 
 
According to Japanese and South Korean diplomatic officials, Koumura 
 
TOKYO 00001882  010 OF 011 
 
 
and Yu agreed in their meeting yesterday that it is important for 
Japan and South Korea to make efforts to develop a mature and 
future-oriented partnership-which was formulated when Lee visited 
Japan in April-without hurting it. 
 
14) Concern about China's ODA 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 9, 2008 
 
A number of leaders from the Group of Eight nations expressed their 
concern about China's official development assistance (ODA) at a 
meeting on the development of Africa, held on the sidelines of the 
Lake Toya summit, noting that China does not offer international 
bidding and that it brings labor from its own country. Others 
touched on the accountability of aid donors and underscored that 
emerging countries like China must be fully accountable. Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the chairman, smoothed over the complaints, 
saying, "China needs to deepen understanding of international 
standards. The international community also needs to hold dialogue 
with China and urge it to understand (international standards)." 
 
15) We will strengthen cooperation with Japan over North Korea 
issue, Chinese president says to Foreign Minister Koumura 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 9, 2008 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura on July 8 held a quick meeting 
with Chinese President Hu Jintao at a summit-related reception held 
in Sapporo. Koumura said to Hu, "I would like to achieve progress in 
Japan-North Korea relations in terms of North Korea's 
denuclearization as well as the abduction issue. I would appreciate 
your support on the matter." Hu replied, "I would like to strengthen 
cooperation through joint efforts with Japan so as to propel the 
process of the six-party talks." Concerning global warming measures, 
a main item on the agenda of the meeting on July 8, which will 
include China as well, Koumura said, "I hope to see China will play 
a proactive role." 
 
16) Foreign Ministry hails new U.S. policy on cluster munitions 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
July 9, 2008 
 
Unexploded ordnance (UXO) dispersed from cluster munitions could 
kill or wound civilians. In this regard, the United States has set a 
"new policy" to reduce UXO, sources revealed on July 7. The Japanese 
Foreign Ministry sees the new U.S. policy as "considerably 
substantial." In May, Japan voiced its support for a treaty banning 
cluster bombs, while the United States was opposed. The Foreign 
Ministry's positive appraisal seems to be aimed at closing the gap 
between Japan and the United States. Meanwhile, a nongovernmental 
organization criticized it as "backward-looking." 
 
Japan has yet to be provided with sufficient information about the 
new U.S. policy, according to a Foreign Ministry senior official. 
However, this official took it positively, saying: "If they mean to 
guarantee an unexploded rate in actual warfare instead of lowering 
it to below 1 PERCENT  as a manufacturing benchmark, that is 
considerably substantial." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001882  011 OF 011 
 
 
In late May, Japan supported a draft treaty banning all cluster 
munitions in the Oslo process for disarmament initiated by Norway 
and other countries and also by NGOs. The draft treaty allows Japan 
to conduct joint operations with the United States, which will not 
participate in the treaty. "Japan's support for the draft treaty 
will have no impact on Japan-U.S. relations," another senior 
official of the Foreign Ministry said. 
 
However, there is no denying that a gap may arise between Japan and 
the United States over their security policies. The Foreign Ministry 
wants to shorten the distance between Japan and the United States by 
supporting the United States, which has now shown a positive stance 
about the idea of restricting cluster munitions. 
 
Meanwhile, one NGO executive severely criticized the new U.S. 
policy, saying it was "nonsubstantive and too late." 
 
17) DPJ revises Okinawa vision 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 9, 2008 
 
The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) 
yesterday released its "Okinawa Vision 2008" platform, on which the 
DPJ will base its Okinawa policy. It is a revised version of the 
DPJ's "New Okinawa Vision" of 2005. The revised platform proposes 
revising the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). In 
concrete terms, the policy paper advocates that: 1) Japan is to have 
primary jurisdiction over SOFA personnel's off-base crimes even when 
on duty and in principle will take all suspects into custody; 2) the 
United States is to bear 100 PERCENT  compensation for civilians who 
suffer casualties in accidents caused by U.S. military personnel and 
other SOFA personnel; and 3) the United States is to restore any 
environmental damage resulting from its military activities. In 
addition, the paper refers to the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station in Okinawa. It states that the DPJ will "continue to explore 
ways to relocate the airfield somewhere outside Okinawa Prefecture, 
and based on the changing strategic environment, relocate it outside 
Japan." 
 
SCHIEFFER