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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 002938 
 
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 10/22/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Defense affairs: 
4) Bill extending the MSDF's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean 
clears the Lower House  (Mainichi) 
5) Dispatch of SDF personnel to Sudan on Oct. 24  (Asahi) 
6) Government sets parameters for response to pirate attacks on the 
open sea  (Asahi) 
 
North Korea problem: 
7) Australia a candidate to take over part of Japan's share of 
energy aid to North Korea for disabling its nuclear facility 
(Mainichi) 
8) Government announces considering providing funding for North 
Korea's scrapping of its nuclear program  (Nikkei) 
9) Government studying third phase of North Korea's denuclearization 
process which requires outside funding for implementation  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
10) Government to provide Georgia with 20 billion yen in aid 
(Asahi) 
 
Trilateral cooperation: 
11) Japan, China, and South Korea to discuss system of monitoring 
financial institutions  (Yomiuri) 
12) December agenda for trilateral discussions among Japan, China 
(Mainichi) 
 
Diet affairs: 
13) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) cooperative with ruling camp on 
passing the refueling bill but will fight over the bill to 
strengthen the financial system  (Yomiuri) 
14) DPJ is changing its spots back to old confrontational stance in 
the Diet  (Asahi) 
15) DPJ alarmed at Prime Minister Aso's tactic of delaying 
dissolution of the Lower House  (Nikkei) 
 
16) Prime Minister Aso's foreign affairs schedule is so full, there 
is little time to think about dissolving the Diet  (Sankei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Housing, car loan repayments double in Iceland due to plunging 
currency 
 
Mainichi: 
Disparities widening among schools in Tokyo after free-selection 
system adopted 
 
Yomiuri: 
Fukushima hospital receives donations from patients who underwent 
treatment outside medical insurance framework 
 
Nikkei: 
Part of additional funds offered by Tokyo to Shinginko Tokyo to be 
 
TOKYO 00002938  002 OF 011 
 
 
prejudiced 
 
Sankei: 
Tsushima in danger: Three times more South Korean visitors than 
inhabitants 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Shinagawa to provide low-income earners with 
guardianship-system-related subsidies 
 
Akahata: 
JCP criticizes ruling coalition, DPJ for pushing refueling bill 
through Diet 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Either use of reserves or issuance of government bonds as fiscal 
resources for tax cuts will just leave burden on future 
(2) Japan-India summit: Conduct discussion while focusing on world 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Emissions trading system: Don't end up with just trial 
(2) Create society free of elderly abuse 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Japan should create suitable emissions trading system through 
trial 
(2) Local governments' crooked accounting: Review subsidy system 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Dishonest accounting pouring cold water on decentralization 
(2) Global financial crisis gradually worsening Japanese economic 
conditions 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Refueling bill clears Lower House: DPJ's security policy 
inconsistent 
(2) Chinese economic slowdown: Place emphasis on domestic demand 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Ruling coalition eyes 2 trillion yen tax cut, with eye on 
general election 
(2) Aso's visit to China: Two leaders expected to cooperate in 
stabilizing financial system 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Government must seriously tackle global warming 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 21 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 22, 2008 
 
09:15 
Had a telephone conversation with President Bush at the Kantei in 
the presence of Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura, Deputy Foreign 
Minister Kono, North American Affairs Bureau Director-General 
Nishimiya, and Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs 
Shinohara. 
 
TOKYO 00002938  003 OF 011 
 
 
 
09:44 
Visited the Global Warming   Countermeasures Headquarters. 
Afterward attended a cabinet meeting. 
 
10:25 
Met Finance Minister Nakagawa, Vice Finance Minister Sugimoto, and 
Budget Bureau Director-General Tango. 
 
11:34 
Met Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka. 
 
12:49 
Attended a Lower House members' meeting held in the Diet building. 
 
13:02 
Attended a Lower House plenary session. 
 
14:25 
Met LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Oshima. Afterward attended 
an LDP Women's Bureau executive meeting. Afterward attended a photo 
shoot session. 
 
15:39 
Met at the Kantei Shinohara, Foreign Policy Bureau Director-General 
Bessho and others in the presence of Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Matsumoto. Afterward met deputy foreign ministers Sasae and Kono and 
Ambassador to India Domichi. 
 
16:39 
Met the Asian Clay Shooting Federation chairman and others. 
 
17:00 
Met Japan Business Federation Honorary Chairman Okuda, Chairman 
Mitarai, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Okamura, 
Tokyo Electric Power Co. President Katsumata, Nippon Steel Corp. 
Chairman Mimura and Others in the presence of METI Minister Nikai, 
Environment Minister Saito and others. 
 
17:46 
Met the international peace unit to Sudan. 
 
18:01 
Attended a ceremony to hand commemorative gifts to Beijing 
Paralympics medal winners and a photo shoot, followed a discussion. 
 
19:37 
Met advisor Yamaguchi. 
 
20:06 
Met acquaintances at a restaurant in Akasaka. 
 
21:29 
Dined with his secretary at an ANA Intercontinental Tokyo 
restaurant. 
 
22:47 
Returned to his private residence in Kamiyama. 
 
4) Refueling extension bill clears lower chamber 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00002938  004 OF 011 
 
 
October 22, 2008 
 
A bill amending the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to extend 
the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian 
Ocean for another year cleared the House of Representatives in its 
plenary sitting yesterday with a majority of votes from the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the New Komeito. 
The bill has now been sent to the House of Councillors. The leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) and other opposition 
parties, including the Japanese Communist Party, the Social 
Democratic Party, and the People's New Party, voted against the 
legislation. The House of Councillors will hear a government 
explanation of the bill in its plenary sitting this morning and will 
enter into deliberations on it. The bill will likely be voted down 
in a plenary session of the opposition-controlled House of 
Councillors on Oct. 29, and after that the bill is expected to pass 
the House of Representatives in a second vote that will override the 
upper chamber's decision. 
 
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives also took a vote in its 
plenary sitting yesterday on the DPJ's counterproposal of a 
terrorism eradication bill. The DPJ-proposed bill is intended to 
send the Self-Defense Forces after a conflict cessation accord is 
reached in Afghanistan. However, it was voted down with a majority 
of votes from the ruling coalition, the JCP, and the SDP. 
 
The MSDF refueling mission in the Indian Ocean was suspended last 
fall for a while because the Diet's deliberations on the legislation 
to extend it were protracted against the backdrop of the Diet's 
divided situation. This time, however, the bill cleared the House of 
Representatives after actual deliberations for only two days. The 
government and the ruling parties have now taken a step forward to 
continue the refueling activities under the current law that is to 
expire Jan. 15 next year. 
 
Meanwhile, the DPJ-which is the largest of all political parties in 
the opposition-dominated House of Councillors-is calling for 
dissolving the House of Representatives at an early date as a 
precondition for fast-tracking a vote on the new antiterror 
legislation. 
 
5) SDF officers to leave for Sudan on Oct. 24 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 22, 2008 
 
The government decided yesterday to send two Self-Defense Forces 
officers to the headquarters of the United Nations Mission in Sudan 
for U.N. peacekeeping operations in the southern part of Sudan. The 
two SDF officers, who will leave Japan on Oct. 24, will serve as a 
logistics staff officer to coordinate military supplies and as an 
intelligence staff officer to control databases. 
 
6) Use of weapons on high seas constitutional 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 22, 2008 
 
The government made a cabinet decision yesterday to adopt a written 
statement regarding the use of weapons by Japan Coast Guard 
officials against pirates or suspicious vessels of unknown 
nationality in international waters. It goes: "In the case of 
 
TOKYO 00002938  005 OF 011 
 
 
vessels bearing no national flag, using weapons to crack down on 
crimes under Japan's laws and ordinances is not a problem in the 
light of international law. This does not fall under the use of 
armed force prohibited in Article 9 of the Constitution." This is a 
reply to the prospectus of a Diet interpellation posed by Akihisa 
Nagashima, a House of Representatives member of the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto). 
 
7) U.S. informally asks Australia to shoulder Japan's share of heavy 
oil aid to North Korea 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
October 22, 2008 
 
Akiko Horiyama, Seoul 
 
The United States has informally asked the six-party members to let 
Australia shoulder Japan's share of 200,000 tons of heavy fuel it 
has yet to implement due to the abduction issue, a U.S.-ROK talks 
source in Seoul revealed on Oct. 21. The six parties are in an 
agreement to extend energy aid to the North in return for the 
disablement of its nuclear facilities. The option is said to have 
emerged in the U.S. government to use Australia, a major U.S. ally, 
as a strategic concept with an eye on the discussion to forge an 
East Asian security cooperative regime at the stage of nuclear 
abolishment. The matter is likely to escalate into a debate on 
expanding the framework of the six-party talks. 
 
Besides Australia, New Zealand and the European Union (EU) have 
expressed willingness to join the energy aid in return for the 
disablement since the six countries reached the agreement in 
February 2007 on first-stage measures. 
 
According to the U.S.-ROK negotiations source, North Korea expects 
the EU excluding France to join the aid effort because the North has 
diplomatic ties with it. The United States, on the other hand, 
supports participation by Australia, which can make strategic 
arguments in collaboration with the United States, while keeping in 
mind the discussion on a future regional security system. Multiple 
countries are expected to take part in providing the aid in the end. 
There is a possibility that Australia will play a role beyond being 
a mere aid participant. 
 
A South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry official explained 
on Oct. 21 about a country extending aid in place of Japan: "The 
talks are still at an initial stage, and no country has been picked 
formally." The source also expressed a cautious view about expanding 
the framework of the six-party talks, saying: "The members are 
negative about the possibility of turning the framework into talks 
among seven to eight countries." 
 
8) Government announces its decision to consider assisting North 
Korea's denuclearization 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 22, 1008 
 
The government on October 21 conveyed at a joint meeting of the 
LDP's foreign affairs-related divisions held at the party 
headquarters its decision to start considering providing funds and 
technologies needed for North Korea to dismantle its nuclear 
programs. Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura also revealed the 
 
TOKYO 00002938  006 OF 011 
 
 
plan at a news conference held the same day. Some participants in 
the joint meeting called for a prudent approach with one saying, 
"Japan could send a wrong message that it gives money without 
winning concessions from North Korea." 
 
In the meantime, concerning energy aid to North Korea in return for 
its dismantling its nuclear weapons (Japan's share is 200,000 tons 
of heavy oil), in which Japan will not take part unless there is 
progress in abductions cases involving Japanese nationals, the U.S. 
has indicated a stance of accepting an offer for such aid from 
countries other than the six-party talks member nations. Australia 
and New Zealand are among the candidate countries. 
 
9) Government considering providing funds for third phase of North 
Korea denuclearization 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
October 22, 2008 
 
The government has begun discussions on providing funds and 
technology in connection with nuclear abolition, a major agenda item 
in the third phase of the six-party talks on North Korea's 
denuclearization. Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said in a press 
conference yesterday: "We have made contributions through the 
International Atomic Energy Agency. We will discuss with countries 
connected with the six-party talks how we can contribute to the 
abolishment of North Korea's nuclear programs." 
 
Japan has rejected energy aid corresponding to 200,000 tons of heavy 
oil to North Korea, citing a lack of progress on the abduction 
issue. The government has also begun an effort with countries 
concerned, including the United States, to have Australia, New 
Zealand, and some European countries shoulder Japan's share of 
energy aid. With assistance to nuclear abolishment defined as an 
alternative to energy aid, the government's response has been 
determined in outline. 
 
Specifically, the government is considering bearing the cost of 
removing the fuel rods from nuclear facilities at Yongbyon and 
extracted plutonium and demolishing the nuclear facilities, 
including nuclear reactors. 
 
In energy aid, Australia and New Zealand have informed Japan that 
they would provide 10 million dollars (approximately 1 billion yen) 
each, which corresponds to over 30,000 tons of heavy fuel in total. 
 
Coordination is also underway with such countries as Britain. If 
that is not enough, the United States and South Korea will also 
consider making contributions. 
 
10) Government to provide Georgia with 20 billion yen in aid 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 22, 2008 
 
The government will announce today in a meeting on support for 
Georgia, hosted by the European Union and the World Bank, its 
assistance measures for that country totaling approximately 200 
million dollars (20 billion yen). Most of the assistance will be 
provided in yen loans. Japan's aid will be used to revitalize 
regional economies and improve roads damaged by the conflict with 
Russia in August. 
 
TOKYO 00002938  007 OF 011 
 
 
 
Japan will provide Georgia with its first yen loan package in 10 
years. The loans will likely total 19 billion yen, nearly four times 
of the accumulated total of 5.3 billion yen provided to that country 
so far. 
 
Projects subject to the yen loans include the road improvement plan, 
which is called "East-West Corridor" (length of 370 kilometers) 
linking between Azerbaijan, located on the coast of the Caspian Sea, 
and the Black Sea. The road reportedly is absolutely necessary to 
transport commodities to South Ossetia, which was devastated by the 
conflict. 
 
11) Japan, China, South Korea to set up organization in November to 
discuss system of monitoring financial institutions 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 22, 2008 
 
In an effort to stabilize money markets in Asia, monetary 
authorities of Japan, China, and South Korea will establish a new 
body to discuss a system to monitor financial institutions and 
information disclosure, according to informed sources yesterday. The 
three countries aim to set up an Asian-version Financial 
Stabilization Forum (FSF) composed of the countries participating in 
meetings of the Group of Seven (G-7) finance ministers and central 
bank governors. They will also call on Association of Southeast 
Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries to join the group. The first 
meeting is expected to occur in Tokyo in November to discuss 
specific measures to contain the adverse effect of the ongoing 
global financial crisis on the Asian economy. 
 
China and South Korea responded to Japan's proposal for establishing 
a new consultative organ. The new organ calls itself "the workshop 
to stabilize the macro economy and the financial system" (the 
Asian-version FSF). Representatives from the three countries' 
finance ministries, central banks, and financial supervisory offices 
will meet on a regular basis. Participants are expected to discuss a 
system to monitor financial institutions' internal supervision 
systems designed to grasp the level of the soundness of finances, 
the state of loans, and investment risk. 
 
The Asian economy has continued to grow rapidly, but the global 
financial crisis triggered by the U.S. has driven stock prices down, 
resulting in affecting the real economy. Given this, Japan, China, 
and South Korea judged it necessary to hammer out Asia's own 
measures to stabilize the financial system, separately from the G-7 
framework. 
 
Japanese mega-banks, as well as life and non-life insurance 
companies have also accelerated moves to establish local 
subsidiaries mainly in China and Southeast Asian countries and to go 
into partnership with local firms. For Japanese financial 
institutions that have placed more emphasis on business in Asia, 
efforts to stabilize Asia's financial system are becoming more 
important. 
 
The Asia-version FSF is expected to issue positive proposals on such 
details as the monitoring of financial institutions and the 
transparency of information disclosure, as the same way as being 
done by the FSF since it was established in 1999. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002938  008 OF 011 
 
 
12) Japan-China-South Korea summit: Prime minister sounds out 
possibility of holding it in December, creating stir 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 22, 2008 
 
Mainichi Shimbun on October 21 learned that Prime Minister Taro Aso 
had sounded out China and South Korea about the possibility of 
holding the envisaged Japan-China-South Korea summit in Fukuoka City 
in December. A senior Foreign Ministry official stressed that 
holding such a summit before year's end had been a pending issue 
since the previous Fukuda administration. However, if it is to be 
held in early December, it could clash with the political agenda if 
a Lower House election is held on November 30. Some are, therefore, 
puzzled, unable to determine the true reason for the prime 
minister's eagerness to hold the summit then. 
 
Aso on the evening of the 21st indicated a desire to hold the summit 
before year's end, saying, "The trilateral summit must be held 
before the end of the year." He made that statement in front of 
reporters at the Kantei. The three countries agreed to hold 
trilateral talks once a year, apart from international conferences. 
Japan is to host the first meeting. Though it was originally 
scheduled to be held in Japan on September 21, it was postponed on 
very short notice due to the resignation of former Prime Minister 
Yasuo Fukuda. 
 
However, there has been strong concern in the Foreign Ministry that 
unless the meeting is held before the end of the year, it would 
become impossible for Japan to host the first meeting and should 
that occur, China and South Korea might seize the initiative. For 
this reason, senior Foreign Ministry officials have been pressing 
the prime minister since immediately after his inauguration on the 
need to host the summit. 
 
In addition, following the emergence of the financial crisis, China 
and South Korea have also asked Japan to hold it before the end of 
the year. In response, the prime minister has started undertaking 
coordination with the possibility of holding it in December. He 
appears to have been determined to set the date of the summit for 
December, even if this gives rise to speculation about the timing of 
Lower House dissolution. 
 
In the event of the summit schedule being fixed for early December, 
concern that it may be impossible to hold a Lower House election on 
November 30 is bound to mount. 
 
13) DPJ to cooperate with ruling parties up to amendment to new 
antiterrorism law; Determined to stage battle over financial 
functions strengthening law 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 22, 2008 
 
The DPJ on October 21 held a senior staff meeting, joined by 
President Ozawa, Secretary General Hatoyama and others, at the party 
headquarters. Participants confirmed that the party would not impede 
passage of a bill amending the new Antiterrorism Law to extend the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission but would then 
switch to a confrontational stance in the Diet, if Prime Minister 
Aso puts off dissolution of the Lower House. The party is 
considering staging a battle over a bill amending the Financial 
 
TOKYO 00002938  009 OF 011 
 
 
Function Early Strengthening Law, which the government will submit 
to the Diet on October 24. 
 
Shizuka Kamei, deputy president of the People's New Party, in the 
Diet called on Hatoyama and Deputy President Kan to return to a 
confrontational stance over the bill amending the new antiterrorism 
law during Upper House deliberations. They replied that though the 
party would cooperate on the bill amending the new terrorism law, it 
has yet to decide what approach it would take after that. They also 
said that the party would remain quiet, but it would thoroughly 
oppose it if the government tries to adopt a second supplementary 
budget. Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka at a meeting 
of legislators on the 21st emphatically said, "When the Lower House 
will be dissolved is very unclear. We want to make a response, after 
carefully determining the situation." 
 
Concerning a bill amending the Financial Functions Early 
Strengthening Law, the DPJ sought to check the ruling camp, noting, 
"It is not necessary to cooperate with the ruling parties, if there 
is no dissolution of the Lower House." It is also opposing the 
easing of requirements for injecting public money into financial 
institutions, insisting that it is not possible to inject tax 
payers' money without questioning the management responsibility of 
troubled financial institutions. Some, however, take the stance that 
if the DPJ opposes, it could give an excuse for the government to 
put off Lower House dissolution. 
 
14) DPJ hints at showdown over financial bill 
 
ASAHI (Page4) (Abridged) 
October 22, 2008 
 
The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) is 
assuming a strong stand against the government and the ruling 
parties over their plan to introduce a new legislative measure 
intended to strengthen the functions of financial institutions. The 
DPJ was willing to cooperate on expediting the financial bill's 
passage through the Diet in order to urge Prime Minister Aso to 
dissolve the House of Representatives at an early date. In the Diet, 
however, many surmise that the prime minister will likely put off 
his decision on Diet dissolution. The DPJ is therefore reacting 
negatively. The DPJ will make a decision on its attitude after 
finding out the prime minister's intent and the government bill's 
contents. 
 
The DPJ held a meeting of its executives for Diet affairs in the 
House of Representatives yesterday morning, in which they discussed 
a reported plan of the government. In its plan, the government 
reportedly will not jack up the management of publicly funded 
financial institutions. This point came under fire in the DPJ 
meeting. "That's out of the question," one of the participants there 
said. "The ruling parties are making a big mistake if they think the 
bill will go through on the nod," he added. 
 
Meanwhile, there was a meeting of directors from the House of 
Representatives Committee on Financial Affairs yesterday afternoon. 
In that meeting as well, the DPJ rejected the government's offer to 
explain the bill. "That's all right after a cabinet decision (on the 
bill)," a committee director of the DPJ said in the meeting. 
Furthermore, the DPJ took up the government's planned capital 
injections into the Norinchukin Bank, a banking institution mainly 
for farmers. In this regard, the DPJ noted that agricultural 
 
TOKYO 00002938  010 OF 011 
 
 
cooperatives stand behind the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. "If 
the bill is biased to one single party," the DPJ warned, "we will 
revise it in the House of Councillors." 
 
The current relevant law came into effect four years ago. At that 
time, the DPJ voted against its enactment, claiming that it does not 
sufficiently pursue the responsibilities of management. This time, 
the DPJ was ready to cooperate to have the bill clear the Diet as 
early as possible with countermeasures incorporated for credit 
crunch. However, the DPJ was increasingly concerned that the 
government and the ruling coalition might exploit such a cooperative 
stance of the DPJ to pass a number of bills. "They could overdo 
something they have," a DPJ executive said. 
 
DPJ President Ozawa and other party executives met yesterday at once 
and then confirmed that the DPJ would make its judgment after the 
government has formally presented its draft bill. One DPJ executive 
said, "If there is no definite promise to dissolve the Diet, we will 
deliberate on the bill in a thoroughgoing way." So saying, he 
implied that the DPJ could change its tactics, depending on what 
will happen to its call for an early dissolution of the Diet. 
 
15) DPJ alarmed by possible postponement of Lower House dissolution; 
cautious view about supporting bill to strengthen financial 
functions 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 22, 2008 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the largest opposition party, 
is moving to constrain the ruling coalition in its Diet measures, 
worried about the possibility that the dissolution of the House of 
Representatives and a snap election is being put off. The DPJ has 
been preparing for a general election, with late November in mind. 
However, when the election will be held is uncertain because Prime 
Minister Taro Aso plans overseas travel. The largest opposition 
party has begun to put pressure on the ruling camp in an attempt to 
force an early dissolution of the Lower House, hinting of the 
possibility of changing its policy of cooperating to enact a bill 
amending the law to strengthen the financial system. 
 
DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka said yesterday in 
a meeting of the party's Lower House members: "Dissolution of the 
Lower House remains an extremely uncertainty. We would like to 
respond while watching the situation." Yamaoka indicated in his 
remarks that the DPJ's scenario of Lower House being dissolved 
before the end of October for a snap election in late November might 
crumble. Yamaoka hinted at taking a cautious stance toward the 
handling of the bill amending the law to strengthen the financial 
system's functions, saying: "We will consider our response after 
seeing the contents of the bill." 
 
Many in the DPJ now assume that Prime Minister Aso is planning on 
staying in office, since he has expressed strong desire to attend an 
emergency summit meeting to be held in the United States in 
November. 
 
DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa met yesterday at party headquarters with 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, Upper House Chairman Azuma 
Koshiishi and other officials. Yamaoka referred to the possibility 
of the postponement of Lower House dissolution. Koshiishi stressed: 
"We will not change our policy for this month." The DPJ executives 
 
TOKYO 00002938  011 OF 011 
 
 
confirmed that the party would quickly vote down as planned a bill 
to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean. 
 
Ozawa intends to accelerate preparations for the forthcoming 
election. At DPJ headquarters, he gave words of encouragements to 
candidates endorsed by the party. He told them: "We have not choice 
but to do our best with Nov. 30 election in mind. Since you have not 
enough time, you must deliver at least 50 outdoor speeches a day 
altogether." 
 
16) Prime Minister Aso has tightly packed diplomatic schedule 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 22, 2008 
 
Although there is a rumor that the House of Representatives will be 
dissolved in November for a snap election, Prime Minister Taro Aso 
has a tightly packed diplomatic schedule during that timeframe. Aso 
yesterday told U.S. President George W. Bush on the phone that he 
would attend the emergency summit of the leaders of the Group of 
Eight (G-8) possibly in November in the United States to discuss a 
response to the global financial crisis. It has been announced that 
Aso will visit Beijing on Oct. 23-25 to attend the summit of the 
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). It has also been revealed that Aso 
sounded out China and South Korea on holding a trilateral summit in 
early December in Fukuoka. 
 
The Aso-Bush telephone conversation was held on the morning of Oct. 
¶21. Aso told Bush: "Japan as chair of the G-8 summit needs to 
fulfill the necessary leadership." Aso will meet with the top 
leaders of China and South Korea on Oct. 24 for the first time since 
he took office. The annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic 
Conference (APEC), which successive prime ministers attended, will 
take place in Lima Peru on Nov. 22-23. Aso plans to hold a 
trilateral summit of Japan, China and South Korea in his hometown 
Fukuoka on Dec. 6-7. In addition, the government is considering 
Aso's attendance to the East Asia Summit, which will be held on Dec. 
¶17. 
 
SCHIEFFER