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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 002332 
 
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 08/26/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Defense & security issues: 
4) "Secret deal" on Japan's waiver of jurisdiction over SOFA 
personnel still effective: JCP daily  (Akahata) 
5) FX fighter still up in the air  (Nikkei) 
6) Defense Ministry plans to buy more CH-47 helicopters  (Sankei) 
7) Defense Ministry to launch Guam relocation office  (Yomiuri) 
 
Political topics: 
8) Japan an important ally: Mondale  (Sankei) 
9) Extra Diet session to last 70 days  (Nikkei) 
10) Lower House Speaker Kono in office for 1,700 days  (Sankei) 
 
Nuclear regime: 
11) Japan to launch int'l panel on nuclear nonproliferation in 
October  (Nikkei) 
12) Ex-Foreign Minister Kawaguchi voices concern over 'exceptional 
treatment' to India's nuclear program  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Government eyes seamless execution of this fiscal year's 
supplementary budget and next year's budget 
 
Mainichi: 
MAFF Minister Ota's political organization logs 23 million yen in 
2005 and 2006 in office expenses for aide's home that requires no 
rent 
 
Yomiuri: 
1 in 350 citizens stands chances of getting listed as lay judge 
 
Nikkei: 
Putin indicates Russia may halt talks on joining World Trade 
Organization 
 
Sankei: 
Russia and Western countries scrambling for resources 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
39 prefectures living off 'savings' 
 
Akahata: 
Secret Japan-U.S. deal on waived jurisdiction by Japan over crimes 
by U.S. service members still valid, according to 2001 paper by U.S. 
military legal officers 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) U.S. presidential race and global anxiety 
(2) Communities do not want gangsters 
 
Mainichi: 
 
TOKYO 00002332  002 OF 007 
 
 
(1) DPJ leadership race needs a vote for deepening policy 
(2) U.S.-Russia summit necessary for breaking gridlock in new Cold 
War era 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Will the U.S.-India nuclear agreement contribute to 
nonproliferation? 
(2) Expanding rice demand the key to sustaining industry 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Revitalize local economies with information and communication 
technology 
(2) China-ROK partnership as momentum for Japan-China-ROK 
cooperation 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Gas fields in East China Sea: We are concerned about prime 
minister's stance toward China 
(2) Tochigi disaster: Police must speedily respond to calls for 
help 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Nuclear nonproliferation efforts must go on 
(2) Police must recover public trust for investigations 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Beijing Olympics demonstrates advanced sporting spirit 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, August 25 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 26, 2008 
 
09:39 
Met Administrative Reform Minister Motegi at the Kantei. 
 
10:57 
Met MLIT Road Bureau Director General Kanai. 
 
11:03 
Met former Australian Foreign Minister Evans and former Foreign 
Minister Kawaguchi, both of whom co-chair the international 
committee on nuclear non proliferation and disarmament. 
 
12:33 
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. 
 
13:54 
Met Lower House member Akiko Yamanaka. 
 
14:28 
Met Science and Technology Minister Noda, Science and Technology 
Conference members Masuo Aizawa and Taizo Yakushiji, and others. 
Noda stayed behind. 
 
15:14 
Met Natsuko Kanayama, a trainee in the pilot project to train human 
resources in the peace-building area, and others, with Yamanaka 
present. 
 
15:46 
 
TOKYO 00002332  003 OF 007 
 
 
Met State Minister for the Abduction Issue Nakayama. 
 
16:25 
Attended a party in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 
sale of the chicken ramen at the Teikoku Hotel. 
 
17:13 
Attended a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy at 
the Kantei. 
 
18:01 
Met Finance Minister Ibuki. 
 
18:47 
Met former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Furukawa at his official 
residence. 
 
21:39 
Met LDP Secretary General Aso, New Komeito Secretary General 
Kitagawa, LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Oshima, and New 
Komeito Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Urushibara, with Machimura 
present. Machimura stayed behind. 
 
21:59 
Met Furukawa. 
 
4) Japan-U.S. secret pact on Japan's waiver of jurisdiction over 
crimes by U.S. service members still effective, according to paper 
by U.S. military legal advisors 
 
AKAHATA (Top Play) (Full) 
August 26, 2008 
 
It has been revealed that Japan and the U.S. concluded a secret 
treaty that specifies Japan's waiver of primary jurisdiction over 
crimes committed by U.S. soldiers off duty in cases deemed of "no 
special importance." A paper issued in 2001 by persons including a 
USFJ legal advisor notes that Japan continues to faithfully observe 
the pact. 
 
It has become known through U.S. government declassified documents 
and other means that the two countries concluded the secret accord 
when the administrative agreement governing the legal status of U.S. 
troops in Japan was revised (in 1953). But it has been found for the 
first time that the agreement is still effective. 
 
The paper, titled "An agreement on the status of foreign troops in 
Japan," was written jointly by Lieutenant Colonel Dale Sonnenberg, 
chief of international law at the office of the judge advocate at 
U.S. Forces Japan, and Donald A. Timm, special advisor to the Judge 
Advocate Headquarters. The paper is in The Handbook of the Law of 
Visiting Forces, published by Oxford University in Britain in 2001. 
 
The paper specifies the existence of the secret pact, noting: "Japan 
has concluded an unofficial agreement under which it abandons its 
primary right to exercise jurisdiction, excluding cases of 'special 
importance.'" The paper emphasizes that the pact is still effective, 
saying: "Japan has been faithful in upholding this agreement." 
 
The paper also points out that the U.S. policy goal is to exercise 
its jurisdiction over crimes by U.S. service members overseas to the 
maximum extent. To that end, the paper says that various measures 
 
TOKYO 00002332  004 OF 007 
 
 
have been taken in Japan, such as (1) having Japan drop cases; (2) 
giving Japan no time for it to notify (the U.S.) of its intent to 
bring an accusation; and (3)  having Japan abandon jurisdiction over 
cases under indictment. 
 
The paper reveals that the U.S. military is trying to insulate U.S. 
service members who commit crimes from trials in Japan by every 
possible means. 
 
It has also been learned that the Justice Ministry issued a notice 
that included the same provisions as those in the Japan-U.S. secret 
pact in 1953. Asked by Akahata about the validity of the notice at 
the present point of time, the Justice Ministry did not rule it out, 
just saying: "We have no comment." 
 
5) Defense Ministry having hard time determining next-generation 
fighter; U.S. embargoes F-22A, Japan's top choice 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 26, 2008 
 
The Defense Ministry is now having a hard time determining the 
next-generation mainstay fighter (FX) for the Air Self-Defense 
Force. Although the ASDF craves for the state-of-the-art stealth 
fighter F-22A, its procurement seems difficult, as the U.S. Congress 
does not allow its exports for security reasons. Although the F-35, 
currently under development, and Europe's Eurofighter are likely to 
be rivals, they both lack decisive factors. The protraction of 
coordination is inevitable. 
 
The FX is to replace some 90 F-4 fighters. The ministry plans to 
introduce about 50 FX fighter jets for two air squadrons. There are 
six candidate models: the United States' F-22A, F-35, F-15FX, and 
FA-18E/F, Europe's Eurofighter and France's Rafale. 
 
Initially, the ministry planned to procure the first seven FX 
fighters during the Midterm Defense Buildup Program (FY2005 - 
FY2009), but its decision inevitably will be slipped to the next 
program starting in FY2010. 
 
China now possesses about 350 fighters comparative to those of the 
ASDF in performance. The East Asian Strategic Overview 2008 by the 
National Institute for Defense Studies reads: "China's air defense 
capability is approaching that of Japan and it might significantly 
outstrip Japan before long." 
 
The Russian military is also rapidly reframing itself under the good 
economic environment resulting from soaring prices of crude oil and 
other resources. 
 
"In order to deal squarely with China and other countries with an 
eye to the next 20-30 years, the state-of-the-art F-22A is necessary 
at this point," a senior ASDF officer said. 
 
At present, chances are slim that the United States will lift the 
ban on exports of the F-22A, and its high price tag -- estimated to 
cost 25 billion yen apiece -- is also a big challenge. Further, the 
United States is scheduled to cease its production in fiscal 2011. 
 
The F-35 now under development for exports involves fewer problems 
than the F-22A. But its development is expected to take several more 
years, and to what extent the technologies used for the F-35 will be 
 
TOKYO 00002332  005 OF 007 
 
 
disclosed remains unclear. 
 
A senior ASDF officer test-piloted the Eurofighter in a British air 
show in July. The Financial Times' website has also reported: "Under 
financial difficulty, the British Defense Ministry has informally 
asked Japan and other countries for purchasing Eurofighers (in place 
of Britain)." The Eurofighter's design concept is different from 
that of U.S.-developed fighters that have been adopted by the ASDF. 
Further, in view of the possible impact on the Japan-U.S. alliance, 
cautious views are deeply seated in the ministry, with a senior Air 
Staff Office officer saying: "I wonder if the ministry can make a 
decision to switch the models." 
 
6) Defense Ministry to request funding for additional CH-47 
helicopters 
 
SANKEI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
August 26, 2007 
 
The Defense Ministry decided yesterday to procure four more CH-47 
heavy-lift helicopters in fiscal 2009 for the Ground Self-Defense 
Force, which has been asked by the United States and other countries 
to operate in Afghanistan. The ministry will also incorporate in its 
fiscal 2009 budgetary request costs for their higher engine power 
and making them bulletproof so that they can be used overseas. 
Although the government does not intend to add ground-based support 
in Afghanistan to a bill extending the Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law to be submitted to the upcoming extraordinary Diet 
session, the decision was apparently made by envisaging the future 
overseas deployment of the helicopters. 
 
The cost of procuring four CH-47 helicopters totals 26.9 billon yen. 
The 58-seater CH-47 helicopters possessed by the GSDF are tasked 
mainly with airlifting supplies in the wake of a disaster. It has 
also been pointed out that their engines are insufficient to fly 
over highlands, such as Afghanistan, and they are not bulletproof 
against attacks by ground troops. 
 
7) Defense Ministry to set up Guam relocation office 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 26, 2008 
 
In connection with the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, the 
Defense Ministry has decided to set up a "Guam Relocation Project 
Office" in order to facilitate the planned relocation of 
Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam. The ministry will earmark costs 
for the office in its budgetary estimate for next fiscal year. 
 
The relocation office will be staffed with about 30 persons. The 
Defense Ministry will station personnel from the office in Guam and 
will also assign several persons in Hawaii, where the U.S. Pacific 
Command is headquartered, to negotiate and liaise with the U.S. 
military. 
 
In May 2006, the Japanese and U.S. governments reached a final 
agreement on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, featuring the 
Guam relocation. The United States will move 8,000 Marines from 
Okinawa to Guam. 
 
8) Obama would place importance on U.S.-Japan alliance: Mondale 
 
 
TOKYO 00002332  006 OF 007 
 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 26, 2008 
 
Takashi Arimoto, Denver 
 
Former U.S. Vice President Walter Mondale (former ambassador to 
Japan) gave an interview to the Sankei Shimbun on Aug. 24. Referring 
to his assumption of the post of joint honorary chairman of a policy 
advisory team on Japan policy for presumptive Democratic 
presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama, Mondale said that the 
purpose of his selection was to demonstrate at home and abroad that 
a U.S. administration led by Obama would continue attaching 
importance to Japan. In this context, a source familiar with 
Japan-U.S. relations revealed that a policy advisory team member 
will visit Japan in early September in order to explain Obama's 
basic Japan policy. 
 
Mondale said: "The advantage of U.S.-Japan relations is that the two 
countries have continued to deal with issues in a bipartisan manner, 
not in a partisan fashion. We will do our best to maintain bilateral 
relations." The team -- which is composed of academic Japan experts, 
think-tank fellows, and former government officials -- reportedly 
has worked on strengthening the alliance. 
 
Mondale said that the current U.S.-Japan relation "are strained" 
over the North Korean issue. He specifically pointed out: 
 
"How to resolve the horrible abduction issue and how to persuade 
North Korea, which seeks the right to have nuclear weapons, to give 
up on its nuclear programs are important issues." 
 
He stressed the importance of cooperation between Japan and the 
United States: "We are basically united, even if there are 
disagreements between the two countries." 
 
Regarding Obama's selection of Sen. Joe Biden as his vice 
presidential candidate, Mondale said: "It's great. He is well versed 
in foreign and security policy. He has visited Japan many times and 
he understands well the importance of the alliance." 
 
9) Extra Diet session to last 70 days from Sept. 12 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 26, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met last night with Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) Secretary General Taro Aso and the LDP's junior 
coalition partner New Komeito's Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa, in 
which the three agreed to hold the upcoming extraordinary Diet 
session for 70 days from Sept. 12 through Nov. 20. 
 
Fukuda instructed them to enact during the extra session a bill on a 
supplementary budget for a package of comprehensive economic 
stimulus measures, a bill extending the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean, a bill 
establishing a Consumer Affairs Agency, and bills carried over from 
the ordinary session. He also told them to make efforts to hold 
consultations with the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) and other opposition parties. The government plans the prime 
minister's policy speech for Sept. 12 and each party's 
representative interpellations in both chambers of the Diet for 
Sept. 16-18. 
 
TOKYO 00002332  007 OF 007 
 
 
 
10) Lower House Speaker Kono in office for 1,700 days 
 
SANKEI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 26, 2008 
 
Speaker of the House of Representatives Yohei Kono today marks his 
1,700th day in office. He is the second-longest serving Lower House 
speaker under the present Constitution. Unless the Lower House is 
dissolved at an early date during the upcoming extraordinary Diet 
session, he will be serving in his post for 1780 days on Nov. 14, 
becoming the longest serving speaker in the postwar period. He is 
expected to become the longest serving speaker on Nov. 20 among 
prewar and postwar Lower House speakers, topping Ikuzo Ooka's 1,785 
days. 
 
11) Japan, Australia to set up international nonproliferation 
committee in October 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 26, 2008 
 
The government announced yesterday that Japan and Australia, aiming 
to strengthen the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime, 
would create an "international committee on nuclear nonproliferation 
and disarmament" and that the committee would hold its first meeting 
in October. The committee will be made up of about 15 members from 
the world, including nuclear powers, and will come up with specific 
proposals for an NPT meeting to be held in 2010. 
 
12) Former Foreign Minister Kawaguchi expresses concern about 
U.S.-India nuclear pact 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 26, 2008 
 
Former Foreign Minister Kawaguchi and former Australian Foreign 
Minister Evans gave a joint press conference at the Foreign Ministry 
yesterday. They expressed concern about recent moves to allow India, 
which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and 
possesses nuclear weapons, to import nuclear fuel and nuclear 
reactors, saying that such moves might undermine the foundation of 
the NPT regime. Kawaguchi and Evans co-chair an international 
committee on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament (tentative 
name), a conference set up under the initiative of Japan and 
Australia. 
 
ZUMWALT