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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 002221 
 
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 08/13/08 
 
Index: 
 
Defense issues: 
1) Ambassador Schieffer in meeting with Defense Minister Hayashi 
urges Japan to continue its Afghan assistance  (Nikkei) 
2) Schieffer seeks continuation of MSDF oil refueling service in the 
Indian Ocean  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
3) Prime Minister Fukuda stresses Japan's concern for Afghanistan's 
situation  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
4) Pessimism sweeps across LDP about extension of Indian Ocean 
refueling mission  (Yomiuri) 
5) Prof. Kent Calder in Tokyo speech sees reduction of host-nation 
support coming in future  (Nikkei) 
 
North Korea problem: 
6) Japan, North Korea delegates heading toward an agreement on 
specifics of North's reinvestigation of abduction issue  (Yomiuri) 
7) Uncertain whether there will be actual progress resulting from 
reinvestigation of abductions by North Korea  (Nikkei) 
 
Chinese dumplings: 
8) Prime Minister Fukuda was informed July 8 about gyoza dumpling 
poisonings in China but did not inform the public  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
9) Fukuda on not informing public about China's poisoned dumpling 
cases: Priority was on clearing up the truth about the matter first 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
10) Opposition camp blasts the government for not sharing 
information on the China's poisoned dumpling cases with the public 
(Yomiuri) 
 
11) Rising tide economic policy faction in the LDP being rolled back 
 (Nikkei) 
 
12) Prime Minister Fukuda to take second vacation, five days 
starting today  (Mainichi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) U.S. hopes Japan will continue Afghan assistance: U.S. envoy 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 13, 2008 
 
Defense Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan 
Schieffer at the Defense Ministry yesterday afternoon for the first 
time. Referring to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
activities in the Indian Ocean, Schieffer stressed: Many countries 
are now participating in assistance to Afghanistan. We hope Japan 
will also continue its contribution." Hayashi answered, "All of us 
in the ruling and opposition parties think we must do something to 
assist the war on terror." 
 
On the issue of relocating the U.S. military's Futenma airfield in 
Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, Schieffer referred to the necessity of 
relocating the airfield to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the 
island prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago. "It's important 
to implement the bilateral agreement in a steady way," Schieffer 
said. "We have to push this forward step by step while maintaining 
momentum," Hayashi said. 
 
Meanwhile, the U.S. government has decided forgo its delisting of 
North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. In this regard, 
 
TOKYO 00002221  002 OF 008 
 
 
Schieffer stressed: "The abduction issue is important. The United 
States will not forget this issue at all." 
 
2) U.S. Ambassador in meeting with defense minister calls on Japan 
to continue refueling mission 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
August 13, 2008 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer called on Defense Minister 
Yoshimasa Hayashi at the Defense Ministry yesterday. In their 
meeting the Ambassador urged Japan to continue the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling mission in the Indian Ocean 
beyond its expiration in January. 
 
In reference to the MSDF's refueling activities, the Ambassador 
stated: "A number of countries in the international community have 
joined support operations for Afghanistan. I hope Japan also will 
continue its contribution into the future." Hayashi just said: "The 
international community as a whole is fighting against terrorism. 
All political parties share the view that Japan must also do 
something." 
 
On the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, Schieffer said: "It is 
important to steadily implement the agreement." He tacitly asked for 
an early transfer of the U.S. Maritime Corps' Futenma Air Station 
(Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture) to a coastal area of Camp Schwab 
(Nago City). Hayashi replied: "While maintaining momentum, we must 
move the plan forward." 
 
3) Fukuda indicates need for continued refueling mission: "We cannot 
be indifferent" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
August 13, 2008 
 
In the ruling camp, some executives have begun to call for caution 
about a bill amending the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to 
extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean. Keeping this situation in mind, Prime Minister Fukuda 
indicated the need for Japan to continue its refueling mission. 
Fukuda said: "Our nation cannot be indifferent to Afghanistan. Many 
countries have been working hard to eradicate terrorism while making 
many sacrifices. There is naturally a way our nation should take." 
 
Fukuda stressed: "Afghanistan has exposed the threat of terrorism to 
the international community and is a nation that produces narcotics. 
We also should take into consideration the need for the safety of 
our nation's maritime transportation." 
 
4) LDP pessimistic about extending MSDF mission in Indian Ocean 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 13, 2008 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force is currently tasked with refueling 
activities in the Indian Ocean under the new Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law to back up antiterror operations in Afghanistan. This 
law is set to run out in January next year. The government is now 
planning to amend the law to extend the MSDF's refueling mission 
there. Meanwhile, lawmakers within the ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party are voicing pessimism about extending the MSDF mission. New 
 
TOKYO 00002221  003 OF 008 
 
 
Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, remains reluctant to take a 
second vote in the House of Representatives on a bill revising the 
law if the bill is voted down in the opposition-controlled House of 
Councillors. The legislation therefore cannot be expected to clear 
the Diet during its forthcoming extraordinary session. 
 
"New Komeito is against taking a second vote, so it's difficult (to 
extend the MSDF's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean)," former 
LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato said on a satellite TV program. 
Former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki also said on the same 
program: "If New Komeito abstains from taking a vote, the ruling 
coalition will fall apart. That's the worst case." With this, 
Yamasaki indicated that he was not confident the legislation would 
pass. 
 
New Komeito would accept the government's plan to present the bill 
to the Diet at its extraordinary session. However, the party takes 
the position that the legislation should not be premised on taking a 
second vote. The LDP's leadership also deems it difficult to take a 
second vote as its executives think New Komeito would not easily 
compromise. 
 
LDP Election Strategy Council Chairman Makoto Koga insisted: "I 
wonder if it's appropriate to schedule the extra Diet session for 
the purpose of taking a second vote in the House of Representatives 
like before. We should make efforts to talk with the opposition 
parties about various options, including Japan's international 
contributions other than refueling activities." LDP Secretary 
General Aso and LDP General Council Chairman Sasagawa have also 
proposed looking into the feasibility of taking such backup measures 
as having the MSDF escort Japanese tankers instead of continuing the 
MSDF's current refueling activities. 
 
However, some of the LDP's executives fear that the Fukuda cabinet 
will sustain a blow if the ruling coalition gives up on extending 
the MSDF's Indian Ocean mission. "Prime Minister Fukuda should move 
to resolve the situation with an immediate decision on what to do 
about the MSDF's refueling activities," one of the LDP's executives 
in the House of Councillors said. 
 
5) U.S. scholar constrains move to cut back on sympathy budget 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 13, 2008 
 
Kent Calder, an American political scientist knowledgeable of Japan 
and a professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced 
International Studies, addressed the Foreign Correspondents Club of 
Japan in Tokyo yesterday. In his speech, he indicated that a change 
of government, should it take place in Japan, could become a 
"destabilizing factor" for the continued presence of U.S. forces in 
Japan. 
 
In the Diet, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto) has been calling for the government to cut down on 
Japan's burden of sharing the costs of stationing U.S. forces in 
Japan (omoiyari yosan or literally "sympathy budget"). With this DPJ 
standpoint in mind, Calder indicated that Japan's cutback in its 
host nation support for U.S. forces could lead to a substantial 
reduction of the U.S. military presence in Japan. He said: "Japan 
will be unattractive as a base location. With the advancement of 
information and telecommunications, there is no need to concentrate 
 
TOKYO 00002221  004 OF 008 
 
 
bases." He stressed, "Japan should be well aware of the impact of 
this on the alliance." 
 
6) Japan, North Korea reaching agreement on reinvestigation into 
abductions 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 8, 2008 
 
Japan and North Korea held formal working-level talks in Shenyang, 
China. The meeting lasted from the morning of August 12 to the early 
hours of the 13th. The participants entered near final talks on the 
method to be used in conducting a reinvestigation into the abductees 
that North Korea had pledged at the previous meeting in June. The 
results are expected to be released in a consensus document. 
According to a source familiar with the talks, the talks are heading 
toward an agreement. Coordination of views appears to be continuing 
with the Japanese side seeking the inclusion of the objective of the 
reinvestigation, using words "leading to the return of abductees to 
Japan." 
 
Participating in the talks are Akitaka Saiki, director general of 
the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, and Song 
Il Ho, North Korea's ambassador for normalization talks with Japan. 
The talks started at 9:00 a.m. on the 12th (10:00 a.m. the 12th, 
Japan time) and went into recess at 2:00 p.m. (3:00 a.m., Japan 
time). They then resumed the talks shortly after past midnight on 
the 13th (1:00 a.m. Japan time), after coordination of views with 
the government of their respective home countries. 
 
Saiki on the afternoon of the 12th told reporters, "We are making 
efforts to reach an agreement." He thus revealed his determination 
to aim to reach an agreement with North Korea on the reinvestigation 
at the ongoing talks. 
 
7) Actual progress uncertain in reinvestigation of abductions, with 
wide gap between both sides' views 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 13, 2008 
 
(Takeshi Nagasawa, Hideaki Shimatani, Shenyang) 
 
Japan is calling on North Korea to carry out an effective 
reinvestigation of the issue of its past abductions of Japanese 
nationals, while the North is insisting that Japan partially lift 
its economic sanctions against it. In their first set of talks in 
two months, Japan and North Korea found common ground to some extent 
after many hours of negotiations that lasted until before dawn of 
the 13th. In the coordination process, however, a remaining wide gap 
between their views was underscored. It is still uncertain whether 
the two countries will be able to set a process to actually move the 
abduction issue forward. 
 
In the morning session on the 12th, Japanese and North Korean 
government envoys held negotiations for five hours without even 
taking lunch. Since North Korea spent plenty of time coordinating 
views with its government, the afternoon session opened at little 
past 13:00. Asked by reporters prior to the afternoon session about 
a prospect for an agreement, Japanese envoy Akitaka Saiki, director 
general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, 
replied: "I don't know yet," indicating difficult negotiations was 
 
TOKYO 00002221  005 OF 008 
 
 
going on over a reinvestigation and the easing of sanctions. 
 
Japan placed emphasis on a plan to set up a mechanism to enable it 
to check whether the investigation is being conducted in a proper 
way. In the sessions, the Japanese envoy reportedly called for a 
system to make it possible for Japanese authorities to enter North 
Korea in the course of investigation and receive explanations. In 
its past investigations, North Korea ended the process after giving 
Japan "the results that were totally unacceptable for Japan," 
according to a Foreign Ministry source. To urge the North to accept 
Japan's requests on the reinvestigation, the Japanese side is said 
to have discussed in what process Tokyo would agree to partially 
remove its sanctions if Pyongyang carries out an investigation. 
 
According to informed sources, North Korea's delegate Song Il Ho, 
ambassador for normalization talks with Japan, called for an early 
removal of sanctions, repeatedly saying: "Unless you deliver on your 
promise, the bilateral relationship will be aggravated." 
 
The North responded to Japan's call for bilateral talks with the aim 
of making it certain for the U.S. to delist it as a state sponsor of 
terrorism. The U.S. government, though, decided to forgo its 
delisting decision beyond the date of effect on Aug. 11. Given this, 
some observers had taken the view that the North's motive to 
hurriedly improve relations with Japan was fading. 
 
In actuality, North Korea is eyeing the U.S. even while engaging in 
the talks with Japan. A government source said: "If U.S.-North Korea 
talks do not advance, Japan-North Korea talks will not advance, 
either." The U.S. insists that the establishment of a verification 
system for the North's nuclear declaration is indispensable for 
delisting North Korea. To what extent Pyongyang will seriously 
conduct the reinvestigation of the abduction issue will also affect 
the future of U.S.-North Korea talks. 
 
8) Prime Minister Fukuda received information from China on gyoza on 
July 8 
 
TOKYO SHIMUBN (Page 3) (Full) 
August 13, 2008 
 
The Foreign Ministry revealed yesterday that it was told by China on 
July 7 that some Chinese people were poisoned by Chinese-made gyoza 
dumplings and it then reported it on July 8 to Prime Minister Yasuo 
Fukuda. 
 
According to explanations by the Foreign Ministry's Asian and 
Oceanian Affairs Bureau Deputy Director General Masahiro Kohara in a 
meeting yesterday of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), four 
people in China were poisoned by pesticide-tainted gyoza dumplings. 
 
Kohara explained the reason for disclosing the information: 
 
"Based on the request by the Chinese side, the ministry's bureau in 
charge of the gyoza incident made the decision. There was no 
problem. We reported it to the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
(Kantei) and the National Police Agency. I think they shared our 
judgment." 
 
Kohara stressed that the Kantei, Foreign Ministry, and NPA shared 
the information. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002221  006 OF 008 
 
 
One DPJ lawmaker stressed: "The Fukuda cabinet prioritized 
consideration for the Chinese government over Japanese consumers' 
concerns about food safety." 
 
DPJ Policy Research Committee Chairman Masayuki Naoshima called on 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Mitsuhide Iwaki at the Kantei to ask 
him to open closed-hearing sessions during the Diet recesses. The 
DPJ also requested that Fukuda explain the reason for not disclosing 
the information. 
 
9) Prime Minister Fukuda on one month delay in information 
disclosure: Priority placed on China's investigation into gyoza 
poisoning incident 
 
TOKYO SHIMUBN (Page 3) (Full) 
August 13, 2008 
 
When asked by reporters about why the government left undisclosed 
for one month the information that China had had food poisonings 
from domestic gyoza dumplings, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said 
yesterday: "I was told that if the information was disclosed, the 
truth about the food poisoning incident would not have been learned. 
I apologize to the Japanese people." 
 
Asked about criticism that he prioritized consideration for China 
over the Japanese public, Fukuda rebutted: "Shedding the light on 
the incident is (more important) than giving consideration to China. 
I wanted China to uncover the truth about the matter." 
 
10) Opposition stepping up criticism of government for hiding gyoza 
poisoning information 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
August 13, 2008 
 
Following the discovery that the government received on July 7 the 
information that China had suffered a food poisoning outbreak from 
Chinese-made frozen gyoza dumplings, opposition parties yesterday 
further heightened their criticism of the government. The government 
intends to seek the understanding of the opposition camp by 
explaining that China had asked Japan not to disclose the 
information because it might negatively affect its investigation 
into the food poisoning incident. However, the government, which 
places priority on consumer affairs administration, will have to 
continue to be on the defensive for the time being. 
 
In a meeting yesterday of the main opposition Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ), DPJ lawmakers asked Masahiro Kohara, deputy director 
general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, 
questions as followed: 
 
Lower House member Kazunori Yamanoi: Did the Prime Minister made a 
final decision not to disclose the information to Japanese 
consumers? 
 
Kohara: There was no objection to the decision (to disclose the 
information) among those involved (including the Prime Minister) and 
they shared the perception. 
 
Yamanoi: I do you think the information would have been disclosed if 
the Japanese media did not report it? 
 
 
TOKYO 00002221  007 OF 008 
 
 
Kohara: Since the Chinese side has been conducting an investigation 
into the incident, it is the Chinese side that makes the decision on 
how it will disclose the information. 
 
After the meeting, the DPJ sent a letter that wrote: "Even Minister 
for Consumer Affairs Seiko Noda did not know about the information. 
The Fukuda cabinet's policy of attaching importance to consumers 
turned out to be a pie in the sky." The largest opposition party 
intends to step up the offensive with the next extraordinary Diet 
session in mind, while calling on Fukuda for an explanation. 
 
The government is now desperate to build up its defense argument. 
 
11) Supply-side advocates in LDP aim to take initiative in drafting 
manifesto through National Vision Project Headquarters 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 13, 2008 
 
Persons in the LDP who attach importance to spending cuts and 
economic growth have begun to move. Former Secretary General Hidenao 
Nakagawa, an advocate of economic growth who was not given a key 
ministerial post or party executive post, and others intend to seize 
the initiative in the compilation of a manifesto for the next Lower 
House election through the National Vision Project Headquarters 
(NVPH). Confrontation with the party leadership, which is looking to 
revise the structural reform policy of the Koizumi administration, 
is bound to occur. 
 
Nakagawa, who took office as acting chairman of the NVPH, chaired by 
Prime Minister Fukuda, several days after the cabinet shuffle on 
August 1, telephoned former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa 
Shiozaki and former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and asked them 
to serve as vice chairmen. An aide to Nakagawa said, "We want as 
many reform-minded people as possible to join the NVPH." 
 
Nakagawa wrote on his website: "Those who support fiscal 
reconstruction and postal rebels were given key posts, while 
advocates of economic growth were eliminated in the cabinet shuffle 
this time in an attempt to roll back the reform line." He also 
wrote: "Advocates of economic growth, who have fallen from power, 
will continue to fly the banner of reform, using the NVPH as a 
base." He thus characterized the LDP leadership, starting with 
Secretary General Tar Aso, who has come up with a proposal for 
putting fiscal reconstruction first, as an anti-reformer. 
 
Behind Nakagawa's aggressive comment is the fact that he was given 
the go-ahead from the prime minister. The NVPH is an agency 
responsible for proposing mid- to long-term strategies and policies 
to the prime minister. Its presence has not been felt strongly thus 
far. However, the prime minister ordered the NVPH to consider 
drafting a manifesto, forsaking the traditional practice of having 
the Policy Research Council carry out such a task. If advocates of 
economic growth are tasked with drafting a manifesto at a time when 
the next Lower House election is imminent, their influence is bound 
to increase. 
 
The mounting dissatisfaction felt by junior party members regarding 
the leadership's policy switch is also boosting the confidence of 
advocates of economic growth. One junior lawmaker said in a 
telephone conversation with another lawmaker: "If the government 
compiles a pork-barrel budget, we cannot support it. The 
 
TOKYO 00002221  008 OF 008 
 
 
administration is not consistent." 
 
12) Prime minister to take second summer vacation for five days, but 
he will not rest 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 13, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will take what is effectively a second 
summer vacation for five days starting on August 13. He plans to 
stay at the Kantei for most of the time. However, he is scheduled 
receive a report on the Japan-North Korea talks on the 13th and 
attend the Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead on the 15th. He will 
thus likely spend his vacation without completely resting. For this 
reason, his formal schedule notes that the prime minister will be at 
work. 
 
Asked by reporters about how he is going to spend his summer 
vacation, the prime minister on the evening of the 12th said, "I 
will work as usual." 
 
SCHIEFFER