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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2139

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 002904 
 
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 10/20/08 
 
Index: 
 
Opinion polls: 
1) Mainichi poll: Public confidence in Aso Cabinet being lost as 
support rate plummets 9 points to 36 PERCENT , non-support rate 
jumps 15 points to 41 PERCENT   (Mainichi) 
2) Kyodo poll: Aso Cabinet support rate drops 6 points to 42 PERCENT 
; Voters switching from LDP to Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) as 
party of choice in election  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
3) Jiji poll: Cabinet support rate only 38 PERCENT , with LDP, DPJ 
vying neck and neck with voters as choice in next election  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
4) Joint Yomiuri-Waseda University poll finds 80 PERCENT  of 
electorate disgruntled with both the LDP and DPJ going into the 
election season  (Yomiuri) 
 
North Korea problem: 
5) Assistant Secretary Hill in exclusive Asahi interview shows 
understanding toward Japan's position of not participating in 
providing aid to North Korea  (Asahi) 
6) Foreign Minister Nakasone in meeting with Deputy Secretary 
Negroponte agree to cooperate on North Korea policy  (Yomiuri) 
7) Foreign Ministry studying responses to a contingency on the North 
Korea Peninsula  (Nikkei) 
 
8) Foreign Minister Nakasone in meeting with Afghan counterpart 
expresses support for Afghanistan's upcoming presidential election 
(Asahi) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
9) Debate in Lower House on bill to continue MSDF refueling mission 
has climaxed and legislation now goes to the Upper House  (Nikkei) 
10) Prime Minister Aso makes slip of tongue in talking about 
U.S.-Japan security arrangement  (Nikkei) 
11) Companies used to procure oil for the Indian Ocean refueling 
mission overcharged the government  (Asahi) 
12) Defense Ministry to station personnel in Guam, Hawaii to 
coordinate move of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
13) U.S. sounds out Japan on sending troops, helicopters to 
Afghanistan  (Yomiuri) 
14) Aso considering sending MSDF ship to offshore Somalia to cope 
with pirates in those waters  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
15) President Bush to host financial summit next month; Aso plans to 
attend  (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Mainichi poll: Cabinet support rates plummets 9 points to 36 
PERCENT ; Expectations for DPJ's victory again outnumber that for 
LDP; Aso's dissolution strategy might be affected 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged slightly) 
October 20, 2008 
 
By Tamotsu Takatsuka 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide opinion 
survey on Oct. 18-19. The survey showed that the rate of support for 
the cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso was 36 PERCENT , down 9 
points from the previous survey conducted on Sept. 24-25 immediately 
 
TOKYO 00002904  002 OF 011 
 
 
after the establishment of the Aso administration. In the previous 
survey, the LDP took the lead for the first time in response to a 
question asking, "Which party -- the LDP or DPJ -- do you want to 
see achieve victory?" But to the same question in the latest survey, 
the two parties traded positions. The latest survey showed severe 
figures for the LDP in going into the next Lower House election. 
Given the growing chance of the next Lower House election taking 
place on Nov. 30, the results of the opinion survey is likely to 
have an impact on Prime Minister Aso's dissolution strategy. 
 
Some 41 PERCENT  of respondents, an increase of 15 points from the 
previous survey, said that they did not support the Aso cabinet. 
Nonsupport outpaced support by 5 points. Moreover, 21 PERCENT  of 
the public, a drop of 6 points, expressed no interest in the 
cabinet. 
 
As in the previous survey, the prime minister's leadership in the 
latest poll topped the list of reasons for supporting the Aso 
cabinet, although the figure dropped 9-points from last time. At the 
same time, low expectations of the prime minister's policies topped 
the list of reasons for not supporting the cabinet, with 42 PERCENT 
so stating, an increase of 6 points from the previous time. The 
decline seems to stem from strong public dissatisfaction with the 
prime minister's response to the deteriorating economy. The 
resignation of Nariaki Nakayama as land and transport minister due 
to his controversial remarks also seemed to have contributed to the 
low support rate. 
 
A question, "Which party do you want to see win the next Lower House 
election," has been asked for the 14th time since the first one in a 
poll shortly after the Upper House election last summer. In response 
to this question, the LDP scored 36 PERCENT , down 5 points from the 
previous survey, while the DPJ recorded 48 PERCENT , up 11 points. 
Other parties marked 12 PERCENT , up a point. The results showed 
that the DPJ, which had taken the lead in 12 consecutive surveys up 
until August, again outflanked the LDP, this time by 12 points. 
 
People were also asked, "Which party would you vote for in the 
proportional representation segment if the Lower House election were 
to be held now?" As a result, the DPJ was favored by 38 PERCENT , 
far greater than the 25 PERCENT  preferring the LDP. The two parties 
also traded their positions in regard to the rate of support, with 
the LDP dropping 4 points to 24 PERCENT  and the DPJ increasing 5 
points to 27 PERCENT . In the previous poll, the LDP outnumbered the 
DPJ by 6 points. 
 
There was also a question asking, "Who is fit to become the prime 
minister -- Prime Minister Aso or DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa?" To 
this question, some 40 PERCENT , down 2 points, pointed to Aso, 
while 18 PERCENT , also down 1 point, favored Ozawa. The answer 
"neither is fit for the job" increased 10 points to 40 PERCENT . As 
the desirable form of administration, an LDP-DPJ coalition 
government marked 30 PERCENT , followed by a DPJ-led coalition 
administration at 25 PERCENT , and the current LDP-New Komeito 
coalition administration at 12 PERCENT . The trend was the same in 
the January 2007 survey when the same question was asked. 
 
Management of administrating also gets low rating 
 
By Yu Takayama 
 
People were asked to evaluate Prime Minister Aso's management of his 
 
TOKYO 00002904  003 OF 011 
 
 
administration and the DPJ's response to Diet affairs. The results 
showed that negative answers outnumbered positive ones in both 
cases. 
 
Some 43 PERCENT  respondents positively evaluated the prime 
minister's stance of prioritizing economic measures over Lower House 
dissolution/general election, while 50 PERCENT  assessed his stance 
negatively. Among LDP and New Komeito supporters, as well, 23 
PERCENT  and 31 PERCENT , respectively, said they did not positively 
evaluate such a stance. 
 
Some 44 PERCENT  gave positive assessments to the DPJ's stance of 
supporting the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget and calling for 
early Lower House dissolution, while 47 PERCENT  gave negative 
assessments. Negative assessments came to 27 PERCENT  among DPJ 
supporters. 
 
To the continuation of the MSDF refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean, 47 PERCENT  expressed support, while 43 PERCENT  voiced 
opposition. At the same time, 24 PERCENT  of LDP supporters, 30 
PERCENT  of New Komeito supporters, and 40 PERCENT  of DPJ 
supporters expressed support, indicating difficulty making the 
matter a campaign issue in the next Lower House election. Further, 
asked if the establishment of a consumer affairs agency would lead 
to the resolution to the question of food safety, 55 PERCENT  said 
'no.' This indicated deliberations on legislation for the 
establishment of a consumer affairs agency would not serve as a 
positive factor for the ruling bloc. 
 
2) Aso Cabinet support rate drops 6 points to 42 PERCENT  in 
telephone-based opinion poll 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Excerpt) 
October 20, 2008 
 
According to a telephone-based opinion survey carried out Oct. 18-19 
by Kyodo News Service, the support rate of the cabinet of Prime 
Minister Aso was 42.5 PERCENT , a 6.1 point drop from the last poll 
taken in late September. Conversely, the non-support rate rose 6.1 
points to 39.0 PERCENT .  On the question of which party to vote for 
in the proportionate part of the next Lower House election, the 
Democratic Party of Japan was tops with 35.9 PERCENT , surpassing 
the Liberal Democratic Party, which garnered 32.7 PERCENT . 
 
3) Jiji poll: LDP and DPJ neck and neck ahead of next Lower House 
election 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
October 18, 2008 
 
Jiji Press Co. conducted an opinion survey on Oct. 10-13. The 
results showed that 31.8 PERCENT  of people would vote for the LDP 
in the proportional representation segment in the next Lower House 
election, up 3 points from the previous survey. The DPJ marked 30.8 
PERCENT , up 3 points. Although the LDP outpaced the DPJ this time 
around, the two parties were still neck and neck. The rate of 
support for the cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso marked 38.6 
PERCENT , lower than that of the former Abe cabinet's 51.3 PERCENT 
recorded immediately after its establishment and the former Fukuda 
cabinet's 44.1 PERCENT . 
 
Asked which party they will vote for in the next Lower House 
 
TOKYO 00002904  004 OF 011 
 
 
election, 27.7 PERCENT  of unaffiliated voters named the DPJ, 21.3 
PERCENT  the LDP, 5.5 PERCENT  the New Komeito, 2.2 PERCENT  the 
Japanese Communist Party, 0.4 PERCENT  the People's New Party, and 
0.1 PERCENT  the New Party Nippon. Although the rate of support for 
the cabinet recovered from the closing days of the former Fukuda 
cabinet, which had fallen below 20 PERCENT , the rate of nonsupport 
for the Aso cabinet still marked 34.1 PERCENT . 
 
4) Yomiuri-Waseda University poll: 80 PERCENT  unhappy with LDP, 
DPJ 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 19, 2008 
 
A joint nationwide interview-based poll on Oct. 4-5 by the Yomiuri 
Shimbun and Waseda University found that 78 PERCENT  of respondents 
were dissatisfied with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and 
79 PERCENT  were unhappy with the main opposition Democratic Party 
of Japan (DPJ), while 20 PERCENT  and 17 PERCENT , respectively, 
were satisfied with the LDP and the DPJ. Only 5 PERCENT  said they 
had hopes for both parties. Prior to the next House of 
Representatives election, it appears that people do not feel they 
can trust either party with power. 
 
When people were asked whether they were disappointed with the LDP 
and DPJ, 69 PERCENT  said they were disappointed with the LDP and 50 
PERCENT  were disappointed by the DPJ. Asked whether they had 
concerns about the LDP, 82 PERCENT  said yes and 14 PERCENT  said 
no. The figures for the DPJ were 75 PERCENT  and 22 PERCENT . 
 
Some 49 PERCENT  of respondents said they had hopes for the LDP, 
while 50 PERCENT  said they did not. The respective figures for the 
DPJ were 50 PERCENT  and 48 PERCENT . The figures showed that 
although people are disappointed with the LDP, they do not have high 
hopes for the DPJ. 
 
As to the shape of government, 21 PERCENT  of respondents said that 
they think a DPJ-led government would be most desirable in order to 
resolve pressing issues, 20 PERCENT  preferred a LDP-New Komeito 
coalition government, and 19 PERCENT  wanted to see an LDP-DPJ 
coalition government. Some 13 PERCENT  wanted political realignment 
and a new framework. Although people are hoping for political 
change, they do not yet have a clear image of the kind of government 
they want. 
 
5) Assistant Secretary of State Hill in exclusive interview 
expresses understanding for Japan not participating in aid to North 
Korea 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 19, 2008 
 
By Satoshi Ukai in Honolulu 
 
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, the senior U.S. 
delegate to the Six-Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, 
gave an exclusive interview on Oct. `7 to this newspaper in Hawaii 
while on official business there. In it, he indicated understanding 
for the Japanese government's position of not participating in 
providing economic and energy assistance to North Korea, citing the 
abduction issue as the reason. In response to Japan's objections to 
the U.S. removing North Korea from the list of state sponsors of 
 
TOKYO 00002904  005 OF 011 
 
 
terrorism, Assistant Secretary Hill said: "I would like Japan to 
realize that denuclearization in its interests." 
 
Although the Six-Party Talks reached agreement that in return for 
North Korea's disabling of its nuclear facility, each country would 
provide energy assistance that would total one million tons of heavy 
fuel, Japan has refused to comply, citing its abduction issue. Hill 
said, "I understand that Japan attaches special importance to that 
issue." He agreed that it was unavoidable for Japan to provide such 
until there is progress on the abduction issue. 
 
With Japan not participating, it will be necessary for Japan's share 
of 200,000 tons to be divided up among the other countries, but Hill 
said, "I cannot say at this time which countries will bear a share, 
but there are signs that other countries than the five that will 
participate." He suggested that a third country or countries might 
take part of Japan's share. 
 
Hill also made it clear that, in connection with the verification of 
the nuclear plan agreed on by the U.S. and the DPRK that each of the 
six countries will join, when he visited North Korea Oct. 1-3, North 
Korean officials said that they would agree to the verification by 
only countries possessing nuclear weapons. However, the U.S. side 
would not budge on the need to include Japan and South Korea, so in 
the end, North Korea withdrew its demand. 
 
Commenting on the U.S.' removal of North Korea from the list of 
state sponsors of terrorism that disregarded Japan's request to move 
cautiously, Hill stressed: "I understand the special importance that 
the abduction has for Japan. We have clearly told the North Koreans 
in negotiations that there needs to be progress on that issue." He 
added, "Although we are aware that all problems have not been 
resolved, we hope the Japanese people realize that denuclearization 
is in Japan's interest." 
 
On the health of North Korean General Secretary Kim Jong Il, Hill 
said, "It's our impression that something has happened to him." 
Since the middle of August, when the movements of Secretary General 
Kim Jong Il ceased to be reported on, even though there was a brief 
halt in discussion with North Korea, Hill noted: "At the end of 
September, we were able to obtain North Korea's responses. So, they 
are making decisions again." 
 
6) Nakasone, Negroponte agree on importance of preparing document on 
procedures for verifying North Korea's nuclear program 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 19, 2008 
 
(Takashi Nakagawa, Abu Dhabi) 
 
Foreign Minister Nakasone held a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary 
of State John Negroponte at a hotel in Abu Dhabi on the afternoon of 
Oct. 18, local time. They agreed that Japan and the U.S. would 
cooperate in dealing with North Korea's nuclear development and 
abduction issues. Washington's removal of North Korea from its list 
of terrorism-sponsoring nations reportedly was not taken up in the 
meeting. On North Korea's past abductions of Japanese nationals, 
Nakasone called for the U.S. government's cooperation in resolving 
the issue. In response, Negroponte said: "The U.S. position of 
taking the abduction issue seriously remains unchanged. President 
Bush and Vice President Cheney share (Japan's) concern." 
 
TOKYO 00002904  006 OF 011 
 
 
 
Nakasone and Negroponte agreed that it is important to adopt in the 
next session of the six-party talks to be held soon a document on 
procedures for verifying the nuclear program declared by Pyongyang. 
 
On the war on terror in Afghanistan, Nakasone said: "Japan will 
positively extend support." He then spelled out the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. 
Negroponte expressed hopes that Japan will continue the service, 
remarking: "The international community has highly evaluated that 
operation." 
 
7) Government studying response to contingency on Korean Peninsula 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 18, 2008 
 
Referring to rumors about North Korean General Secretary Kim Jong 
Il's health situation, Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs 
Bureau Deputy Director General Kazuhide Ishikawa on October 17 
revealed that the government is looking into ways to respond to a 
possible contingency on the Korean Peninsula. He revealed this at a 
meeting of the "Kitachosen Gaiko o Shincho-ni Susumeru Kai" (Group 
for a Prudent Diplomacy toward North Korea) held at the party 
headquarters on the morning of the same day, joined by like-minded 
persons in the LDP. Ishikawa said, "There is fear that if North 
Korea falls into turmoil, it could affect the abductees living in 
that country. The Cabinet Secretariat is considering what should be 
done in such a case." 
 
8) Foreign Minister Nakasone tells Afghan counterpart that Japan 
will support presidential election 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 20, 2008 
 
Atsuko Niuchi, Abu Dhabi 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, now visiting the United Arab 
Emirates (UAE), held a meeting with Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin 
Dadfar Spanta on the night of Oct. 18, morning of Oct. 19, Japan 
time. In the meeting, Nakasone conveyed to his Afghan counterpart 
Japan's plan to aim at the continuation of the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, as well as to support 
the movement of democratization in Afghanistan, including the 
presidential election planned for next year. 
 
Foreign Minister Spanta gave a positive assessment to the MSDF 
refueling mission, saying, "It is extremely important not only for 
Afghanistan but for the international community." 
 
9) Diet debate on refueling extension to reach crucial stage this 
week as legislation moves to the Upper House 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 20, 2008 
 
With the strong possibility of Lower House dissolution in early 
November, Diet debate on a bill extending by one year the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean will 
reach a crucial stage this week. The bill is expected be adopted in 
a Lower House plenary session tomorrow after a question-and-answer 
 
TOKYO 00002904  007 OF 011 
 
 
session ends today, and it will then be sent to the Upper House on 
Oct. 22. 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso intends to play up the achievements of the 
refueling activities through Diet deliberations as Japan's effort to 
contribute to the international community. Aso wants to take up the 
propriety of international contributions as a campaign issue in the 
upcoming Lower House election. In a speech delivered at the annual 
defense review at the Air Self-Defense Force's Hyakuri base in 
Ibaraki Prefecture, Aso stated in a strong tone: "There is no option 
for Japan to withdraw from the mission." 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has called for 
the need for assistance measures that are different from the 
refueling operation such as the supplying of water and medical 
assistance. In order to realized an early Lower House dissolution, 
the DPJ plans to cooperate with the government and ruling 
coalition's idea of ending deliberations for a short period. The 
Lower House will take a second vote on the legislation in a plenary 
session on Oct 30, after the Upper House votes it down on the 29th. 
 
A bill revising the Law to Strengthen Financial Functions, designed 
to revive the injection of public funds to regional financial 
institutions will be adopted in a cabinet meeting this week after 
coordination between the ruling and opposition camps. The Diet will 
then likely start deliberations on the bill soon. 
 
The expectation is that the bill will be enacted before the end of 
this month, since the ruling coalition and the DPJ share the view 
that a quick response is necessary for the U.S.-originated global 
financial crisis. 
 
10) Prime Minister Aso expresses real thoughts on Japan-U.S. 
security arrangements? 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 20, 2008 
 
In a speech delivered yesterday at the annual defense review at the 
Air Self-Defense's base in Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Prime 
Minister Taro Aso said: "We will endeavor to further improve the 
recovery of trust in Japan-U.S. security arrangements." However, 
afterward, his secretary corrected the remark, saying that Aso had 
intended to say "improve the reliability." 
 
Although aides to the prime minister have explained that he just 
misread the speech, some believe that his real feelings were 
expressed in his remarks, as he was not told by the U.S. of the 
delisting of North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism until 
immediately before it took place. 
 
11) Defense Ministry overpays 230 million yen to two companies for 
procurement of oil used for refueling operations in Indian Ocean 
 
ASAHI (Page 39) (Abridged slightly) 
October 19, 2008 
 
The Board of Audit (BOA) has audited contracts that the Defense 
Ministry (MOD) signed with two domestic trading houses for the 
procurement oil for the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean, which was carried out, based on the now 
expired New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. The audit found that 
 
TOKYO 00002904  008 OF 011 
 
 
the ministry overpaid to those companies by a total of nearly 230 
million yen over a two-year period between fiscal 2006 and fiscal 
¶2007. Since MOD was not aware of the terms of settlement presented 
by the trading companies, it paid too much to them. 
 
The BOA pointed out that it was inappropriate that MOD was not aware 
of the terms of settlement when it was procuring oil based on 
discretionary contracts. A designated bidding system was adopted for 
the procurement of oil used for refueling operations, which are 
being carried out in compliance with the current Refueling Support 
Special Measures Law. Since the contracts adopted fixed exchange 
rates, MOD's payment has again become rather high due to the current 
strong-yen trend. MOD has changed the contract term to one that can 
cope with fluctuations in exchange rates. 
 
MOD had procured fuel for vessels used for refueling operations in 
the Indian Ocean, starting in December 2001, based on discretionary 
contracts with the two domestic companies with the aim of securing 
stable supply. 
 
According to BOA and MOD, one of the two companies had reserved 
exchange rates in order to stave off the risk of exchange 
fluctuations when it borrowed dollars from banks to make payments 
for its purchases of oil. However, MOD was not aware of the futures 
rates. It continued to pay to the trading company, based on higher 
spot exchange rates. As a result, it overpaid about 200 million yen 
two years from fiscal 2006 through fiscal 2007. 
 
The other trading house was a leading company. It was, therefore, 
conceivable that it had enough dollars needed for the payment of 
purchases. Nevertheless, MOD paid approximately 30 million yen in 
two years -- an amount equivalent to foreign exchange commissions. 
 
MOD introduced the designated bidding system for the procurement oil 
used for refueling operations, which were resumed in February 2008, 
based on the present Refueling Support Special Measure Law. Since 
the amount of oil for the refueling mission has decreased, compared 
with the time when the operations were started, MOD has decided to 
sign a contract with one company for each procurement from amount 
several companies, including those two companies. 
 
However, the new contracts adopt a term that payments be made 
several months later, based on the fixed rate at the time of the 
signing of the contract, the amount of payment had become high due 
to the recent strong yen. In response to the point made by BOA, MOD 
has incorporated in contracts a liquidation term that allows a 
flexible response to exchange fluctuations. 
 
12) Defense Ministry from next September to station personnel in 
Guam and Hawaii as relocation of U.S. Marines from Okinawa moves 
into full swing 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Full) 
October 19, 2008 
 
In the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan under the under the 
agreement reached between Japan and the United States, the Defense 
Ministry, which is moving forward with the plan to relocate U.S. 
Marines on Okinawa to Guam, has decided to station next September 
nine personnel to Guam and seven personnel to Hawaii, where the 
Pacific Command (PACOM) is located. PACOM is in charge of the U.S. 
forces on Guam. The Defense Ministry will establish an office in 
 
TOKYO 00002904  009 OF 011 
 
 
charge of the Guam-relocation project. Accordingly, the relocation 
project, which will cost altogether 1 trillion yen, will get 
underway, but there is likely to be debate in Japan about such an 
enormous outlay to construct an American base in another country. 
 
The permanently stationed staff will be charged with coordinating 
with the U.S. such matters as construction of facilities. By 2014, 
some 8,000 Marines and 9,000 family members will have been relocated 
from Okinawa to Guam. Their headquarters building and billets will 
be constructed at Japan's expense in an area near the U.S. military 
base in the northern part of the island of Guam. Family housing will 
be constructed in the southern part of the same military area, and 
it will be financed jointly by the Japan Bank of International 
Cooperation (JBIC) and a private company. The main purpose of the 
newly established company will be to construct the housing and then 
handle upkeep and maintenance. Everything will start next year. 
 
Japan and the U.S. estimate the moving cost at $13 billion 
(approximately 1.0815 trillion yen), and Japan will shoulder the 
burden of $6.71 billion or approximately 640 billion yen, which is 
59 PERCENT  of the total cost. However, the GAO announced that the 
cost would be $15 billion (1.575 trillion yen), much higher than the 
first estimate. Regarding the extra cost, Defense Minister Hamada 
has said, "Naturally, we will consider" picking up the remaining 
cost. If the share of 59 PERCENT  is used to calculate the new cost 
for Japan, based on the GAO estimate, the amount would rise to 
approximately 930 billion yen. Regarding Japan's share of the total 
cost of USFJ realignment, a senior U.S. official on April 2006 
estimated it would come to 3 trillion yen. 
 
The Defense Ministry has included in next fiscal year's budget 
request outlays of 75 billion yen to meet USFJ realignment expenses. 
The amount apparently will be increased annually until 2014. 
 
13) U.S. wants Japan to send SDF helicopters to Afghanistan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 19, 2008 
 
The U.S. has unofficially asked Japan to send Self-Defense Forces 
helicopters to aid reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, according 
to informed sources yesterday. Specifically, the U.S. has made three 
requests: (1) Transport service in Afghanistan by CH-47 transport 
helicopters; (2) Transportation of goods and personnel by C-130 
transport aircraft from overseas to key airports in Afghanistan; and 
(3) personnel contributions to provincial reconstruction teams. The 
U.S. requests show its expectations for further Japanese 
contributions to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, in addition to 
the ongoing refueling service by the Maritime Self-Defense Force in 
the Indian Ocean. 
 
According to an informed source, Afghanistan is suffering from a 
shortage of helicopters, which play a key role in domestic 
transportation due to delays in road repairs and improvement. The 
source quoted a U.S. official as saying that the helicopter shortage 
is hampering the transportation of not only goods but also wounded 
soldiers. Noting that only a few countries possess a number of large 
helicopters, the U.S. official expressed hopes for Japan's 
cooperation, according to the source. 
 
But the dispatch of SDF helicopters and transport aircraft would 
require new legislation. The actual situation is such that the 
 
TOKYO 00002904  010 OF 011 
 
 
Japanese government cannot afford to discuss the U.S. requests until 
after the next general election following the dissolution of the 
House of Representatives. 
 
14) Aso mulls dispatch of MSDF ships to waters off Somalia as 
anti-piracy measure 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
October 18, 2008 
 
In a meeting of the Antiterrorism Special Committee in the House of 
Representatives yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Taro Aso 
expressed a positive view about looking into the possibility of 
sending Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) vessels to 
pirate-infested waters off Somalia. 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) member Akihisa Nagashima said that 
as an anti-piracy measure, "it will be considerably effective for 
MSDF vessels to escort (commercial freighters and other ships). The 
dispatch does not involve the use of force." In response, Aso said: 
"I think that the proposal is very good. We would like to study that 
possibility." 
 
On the question of whether an order for MSDF vessels' "maritime 
patrol action" that is premised on monitoring an unidentified ship 
in Japanese waters can be issued for action in waters off Somalia, 
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said: "The possibility cannot be 
ruled out." He expressed the view that the dispatch of MSDF ships is 
possible in view of legal interpretation if their action is limited 
to escorting Japanese vessels. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura indicated a positive view 
about preparing new legislation in a press conference, saying: "If a 
new law is necessary, a study must be conducted." He appears to have 
had in mind also activities intended to guard other countries' 
ships. 
 
15) Financial summit to be held in U.S. next month: Emerging 
countries, including China and India, to take part 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
October 20, 2008 
 
U.S. President Bush and French President Sarkozy on October 18 
agreed to hold on November 4 after the U.S. presidential election an 
emergency summit in the U.S. to deal with the financial crisis. The 
envisioned summit will be joined by G8 members and emerging 
countries. Several rounds of meetings are expected. Leaders of 
industrialized countries will in an unprecedented move tackle policy 
cooperation in an effort to address the increasingly serious 
financial crisis 
 
Prime Minister Aso undertaking coordination with possibility of 
taking part 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso has started undertaking coordination with 
the possibility of taking part in the summit. The prime minister on 
the 19th indicated a positive stance to reporters in Tokyo, saying, 
"When I had a phone call from President Bush, I told him that it is 
better to hold such a meeting." However, some take the view that in 
the event the prime minister takes part in the summit, it could 
affect his decision on when to dissolve the Lower House, because the 
 
TOKYO 00002904  011 OF 011 
 
 
timetable for holding a Lower House election in November will become 
tight. 
 
According to an aide to the prime minister, the U.S. contacted the 
prime minister about an emergency summit on the evening of the 18th. 
The prime minister on the 19th told reporters, "The matter cannot be 
settled only by G-8 members. There should be other concerned 
countries. It is better to think what should be done, involving 
those countries as well." 
 
SCHIEFFER