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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 003188 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 11/19/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Interview with former Deputy Secretary of State Richard 
Armitage: Urges Japan to make international contribution on its own 
(Nikkei) 
 
(2) Many problems lie before a plan to dispatch SDF to 
pirate-infested waters off Somalia (Nikkei) 
 
(3) Kantei makes policy switch to attach importance to economic 
affairs: Shift from election-destined cabinet; Third councilor 
appointed (Yomiuri) 
 
(4) It is overly simplistic to see Democratic Party as placing 
emphasis on China (Sankei) 
 
(5) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(6) EDITORIALS 
 
(7) Prime Minister's schedule, November 18 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Interview with former Deputy Secretary of State Richard 
Armitage: Urges Japan to make international contribution on its own 
 
NIKKEI (Page 8) (Full) 
November 19, 2008 
 
-- President-elect Obama has promoted a dialogue policy line. What 
challenges does he face? 
 
"There is one thing that is clear, when viewed from a historical 
perspective. When President Kennedy was elected in 1960, Soviet 
Premier Khrushchev, determining that he was young and inexperienced 
after meeting with him, sought to deploy missiles in Cuba. Mr. Obama 
needs to be careful so as to avoid giving others the impression that 
he does not know the real world or is an idealist. I hope he will 
have an iron fist inside his velvet glove." 
 
-- Russia raised the missile-deployment issue right after Obama's 
presidential election victory. 
 
"Russia is clearly taking a cooperative stance since President 
Medvedev had a telephone conversation with Mr. Obama. Enormous 
assets flew out of Russia since it invaded Georgia. Foreign 
investments have been withdrawn. Oil prices, its advantage, have 
fallen. Russia today is no longer the Russia of three months ago. If 
Mr. Obama thinks highly of Russia, he may manage to settle the 
differences between the U.S. and Russia. The U.S. and Russia can and 
should cooperate, with focus on common issues, such as war on 
terror." 
 
-- Some take the view that a Democrat administration tends to lean 
toward cooperation with China. 
 
"China is becoming nervous about the new Obama administration. That 
is because it views that the Democratic Party will bring out the 
human rights issue and China's protectionism. China will become a 
huge economic power sooner or later. The next administration should 
continue strategic economic dialogue between the two countries. It 
 
TOKYO 00003188  002 OF 008 
 
 
is necessary for China to revalue the yuan at an appropriate time. 
 
-- What do you think will become of relations between Japan and the 
U.S.? 
 
"Those who are slated to take portfolios in the Obama administration 
include former Secretary of Navy Danzig and former Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of State Bader. They are pro-Japan. Since Mr. Bader is a 
China expert, he understands that relations with Japan are most 
important. I do not think a 'Japan passing' phenomenon, like that 
seen during the Clinton administration, will occur again. However, 
if Japan just sits where it is now and does not work to make its 
international contributions, it would invite other countries to pass 
it by. It's up to Japan. Now is the time for Japan to play a greater 
role in the world. It would be in its own interest." 
 
-- When you were deputy secretary of state, you called on the 
Japanese government to dispatch Self-Defense Forces (SDF), using the 
term "boots on the ground." 
 
"I wanted Japan to be more active in Afghanistan, as well. There are 
many things Japan can do there, including the participation in a 
Provisional Reconstruction Team (PRT) and assistance using the 
Air-Self Defense Force's C130 transport planes. These operations 
involve risks, but they are not dangerous, compared with the danger 
U.S. Marines and Army soldiers who are engaging in battle every day 
are facing." 
 
-- How do you think relations between the U.S. and the world will 
change under President-elect Obama? 
 
"The U.S. has lost the support of many countries during the Bush 
administration. President Bush, Vice President Cheney and former 
Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld are to be blamed for that. 
 
"The world is responding to Mr. Obama with good will and welcomes. 
However, best wishes and welcomes will not last forever. Whether 
they will last or not will depend on how Mr. Obama will act. Anyway, 
I believe relations between the world and the U.S. will improve a 
great deal. 
 
(2) Many problems lie before a plan to dispatch SDF to 
pirate-infested waters off Somalia 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 19, 2008 
 
The government is considering introducing a new law to authorize 
Japan to take measures to repress piracy, focusing on a plan to 
mobilize Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) vessels. This 
development reflects the fact that some Japanese commercial ships 
have also become the victim of piracy in the waters off Somalia 
recently. The government is also willing to make anti-piracy efforts 
another main feature in its international contributions, in addition 
to the ongoing refueling service by the MSDF in the Indian Ocean. In 
the divided Diet, though, it will not be easy to translate the 
dispatch plan into action. 
 
Somalia has been in a state of anarchy. An increasing number of 
attacks by pirates against commercial vessels have occurred off the 
coast of lawless Somalia. This year, the number of piracy cases in 
the said waters was 63 (as of the end of September), and this is the 
 
TOKYO 00003188  003 OF 008 
 
 
largest ever on a yearly basis. Until 2006, there was not any 
incident involving a Japanese vessel, but three cases have been 
reported this year. 
 
The U.S., Britain, Germany, Russia, Canada, India, and other 
countries have sent warships into Somalia's territorial waters to 
combat piracy. It is possible even under the existing law for MSDF 
vessels to guard tankers on the high seas if a provision pertaining 
to the issuance of an order for maritime patrol action under the 
Self-Defense Force (SDF) Law is invoked. But activities authorized 
in the provision are premised on those conducted in waters near 
Japan. Focusing on this point, many observers think it would be 
difficult to send SDF vessels into the direction of Africa under 
this law. 
 
Following the terrorist attacks on the U.S. in September, 2001, the 
government decided to dispatch MSDF vessels to the Indian Ocean for 
refueling service. Japan also dispatched SDF troops to Iraq on a 
reconstruction-assistance mission. The SDF dispatch to Iraq was 
based on a UN resolution. On the refueling operation, however, the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), complaining that there is no solid 
foundation based on a UN resolution, has opposed the operation. 
 
Since there is a definite UN resolution supporting anti-piracy 
activities in the waters off Somalia, critics will unlikely find 
problems related to international law for the dispatch of SDF troops 
to that end. Even so, there are a number of issues to be addressed 
before such legislation is enacted, like the issue of the 
constitutional ban on collective self-defense. The government 
envisions a special measure law designed also to allow MSDF vessels 
to escort foreign vessels. The government takes the view that since 
groups of pirates are private ones, guarding foreign vessels does 
not constitute collective defense. But some might question what 
action SDF troops would take if an identified armed group attacks a 
foreign vessel or warship. 
 
Setting weapon-use standards is also a difficult task. The provision 
on maritime patrol action under the existing law allows SDF troops 
to use weapons in self-defense or in such cases as an unidentified 
ship ignoring an order to stop. But in some piracy cases off 
Somalia, pirates use machineguns and rocket grenades in a preemptive 
attack, according to a Foreign Ministry source. A government 
official said: "It is necessary to apply more flexible weapon-use 
standards than the current ones under the existing legislation." 
 
Given the opposition camp's control of the House of Councillors, if 
the ruling coalition fails to obtain approval from the DPJ, it will 
have little hope of having the special anti-piracy bill clear the 
Diet. Although the ruling camp has an option of taking an override 
vote in the House of Representatives, but cooperation from the New 
Komeito is indispensable in this case. A lawmaker responsible for 
security affairs said: "There is a UN resolution authorizing the 
operations to combat acts of pirates, so the DPJ must find it 
difficult to raise opposition." Some DPJ members have expressed 
their support of Japan's engagement in anti-piracy operations, but 
there is no guarantee for the DPJ's cooperation in having the bill 
enacted. 
 
A senior ruling party member said that some New Komeito members 
remain cautious about dispatching SDF troops to the coast of 
Somalia. Prime Minister Taro Aso met former Defense Agency Director 
General Gen Nakatani and others at the Prime Minister's Office 
 
TOKYO 00003188  004 OF 008 
 
 
yesterday. They agreed on the need to swiftly prepare new 
legislation to combat piracy. But if the prime minister loses his 
grip on the party still further, it may become difficult for him to 
gain cooperation from the New Komeito. 
 
(3) Kantei makes policy switch to attach importance to economic 
affairs: Shift from election-destined cabinet; Third councilor 
appointed 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Almost full) 
November 19, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Aso is rushing to reinforce the staff of the Kantei 
(Prime Minister's Official Residence). He underscored his stance of 
proactively tackling the financial crisis and compiling economic 
pump-priming measures by appointing a third Cabinet Secretariat 
councilor, one who will be responsible for the international 
financial policy. The prime minister, who has hinted he will delay 
Lower House dissolution until next spring or later, wants to recover 
his administration's power base by appealing to domestic and foreign 
audiences that he is the "economic Aso." 
 
On the evening of November 17, the prime minister called to the 
Kantei Masakazu Toyoda, executive director of the Headquarters for 
Space Development Strategy and former Economy, Trade and Industry 
(METI) deputy vice minister, and handed him a letter of appointment 
as Cabinet Secretariat councilor. The prime minister will ask Asian 
countries to strengthen their cooperation with Japan on measures to 
deal with the financial crisis. He is dispatching Toyoda and 
Ambassador for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 
Yoshinori Katori to various Asian countries as his special envoys. 
 
Concerning the appointment of Toyoda, Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Kawamura during a press conference on the 17th explained, "We must 
properly deal with the financial crisis. We will have him provide 
information and advice on the real economies of Asian countries to 
the prime minister." 
 
Toyoda once served as director general of the Trade Policy Bureau of 
METI. He was also in charge of the new multilateral trade talks 
(Doha Round) under the World Trade Organization. Commenting on 
Toyoda's appointment, one government source said that he is well 
versed in international and trade affairs with an established 
reputation as being tenacious in international negotiations, having 
produced many results. 
 
Regarding the international finance area, the prime minister on 
November 4 appointed former Vice Minister for International 
Financial Affairs Toyoo Gyoten and former Vice Foreign Minister 
Yoshiji Nogami to be Cabinet Secretariat councilors. Gyoten is a 
financial expert, having once been in charge of international 
financial affairs in the Finance Ministry. Both were dispatched to 
South Korea and Indonesia as the prime minister's special envoys 
right after assuming office to pave the way for the recent G-20 
emergency financial summit, explaining the Japanese government's 
approach. With the addition of Toyoda and Katori, the prime minister 
has achieved a reinforcement of the system that would enable Japan 
to take the lead in strengthening financial cooperation in and 
helping Asia's independent development, as the prime minister 
himself put it. 
 
The prime minister right after assuming office appointed Kyoko 
 
TOKYO 00003188  005 OF 008 
 
 
Nakayama, former State Minister for Abduction Issue, to be special 
advisor to the Prime Minister on the abduction issue. He also 
appointed former Senior Vice Internal Affairs Minister Shunichi 
Yamaguchi to be special advisor to him for revitalization of local 
communities, and former Kitakyushu City Mayor Koichi Sueyoshi, once 
an official at the now defunct Construction Ministry, to be Cabinet 
Secretariat councilor in charge of giving advice to the prime 
minister on town building and the management of local communities. 
He places importance on regional development as the pillar of his 
economic stimulus policy. When the Aso cabinet was launched, it was 
defined as election-bound cabinet, for an early dissolution of the 
Lower House was in the prime minister's mind. However, in view of 
the fact that Aso has been forced to change his political timetable, 
including the timing for dissolving the Lower House, he seems to 
have felt it now necessary for his administration to project the 
image of a working cabinet that places priority on the policy 
development. 
 
(4) It is overly simplistic to see Democratic Party as placing 
emphasis on China 
 
SANKEI (Page 11) (Abridged) 
November 18, 2008 
 
Mineo Nakajima, president of Akita International University 
 
In the United States, Barack Obama has now won the presidency by a 
large margin. What then will happen to U.S. policy toward Asia? 
Since the Obama administration will be seeking to make big changes, 
his administration's Asia policy will mean much to Japan, as well. 
There is a tendency in the Japanese media to think that America may 
favor China over Japan because a Democrat administration is coming 
into office. However, in today's rapidly changing world, things are 
not always that simple. 
 
In my view, when it comes to U.S. policy toward Asia, the key point 
is what kind of international contribution Japan would be able to 
make-or what kind of principles will Japan uphold in developing its 
foreign policy. 
 
Obama came on the scene as a historic star, a candidate who would 
bring about America's recovery. Many here take the view that his 
administration will be heavy with advisers who are expert on China. 
However, if one pays close attention to the lineup of policymakers 
for the Obama administration, focusing on how far they are aware of 
the social problems China today has and the present situation in 
North Korea. Another focus is what the administration will think 
about China-Taiwan relations, due to changing public opinion in 
Taiwan. 
 
For example, similar to Secretary of State Rice in the Bush 
administration, Susan Shirk, a professor at the Graduate School of 
International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of 
California, San Diego, who is affiliated with the Democratic Party 
and is a China and Asia hand, is also likely to come into the 
administration. She has taken a severe view of China and its 
big-power nationalism, as noted in her recent book translated into 
Japanese and titled China: Fragile Superpower. 
 
In her career, Shirk has already held a key foreign-policy post. She 
once served as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and 
Pacific affairs when the Clinton administration was in office. Given 
 
TOKYO 00003188  006 OF 008 
 
 
this fact, her appointment to another post may be a forgone 
conclusion this time around. Obama's policy advisers have their own 
characteristics. Jeffrey Bader, who once served as deputy assistant 
secretary of state, is a likely candidate for an Obama 
administration's foreign policy position dealing with China and 
Asia. One might say that America will now set store on China because 
a Democrat administration is coming into office, but we should not 
take such a simplistic view. We should analyze foreign policy from a 
broader perspective. 
 
Obama and his administration will remain committed to maintaining 
security in Afghanistan. The Obama administration also will likely 
have stronger expectations for continued Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. However, the 
Taiwan issue could be difficult to deal with. 
 
The North Korea problem-including the pending issue of Japanese 
abductees-has still been left unresolved with no way out in sight 
for Japan. Another question is how to deal with the Chinese people's 
concern about their future and a growing sense of crisis. Japan, as 
a responsible nation in Asia, should adopt a proactive engagement 
policy toward Asia to deal with such issues. 
 
To do so, Japan should further bolster its alliance and partnership 
with the United States, based on bilateral security arrangements. 
These days, there is a view in Japan insisting that Japan should go 
its own way apart from America. I cannot agree with such opinion. 
 
(5) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun 
: 
Ex-welfare vice minister and wife, another pension official's wife 
assaulted possibly in terrorist acts 
 
Nikkei: 
DoCoMo to team up with leading South Korean firm to develop mobile 
phone using Google software 
 
Akahata: 
JCP holds emergency talks with representatives from various circles 
to protect people's livelihoods 
 
(6) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Urgently work out effective measures to prevent drunk driving 
(2) Expectation on Middle East policy under Obama administration and 
reality 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Diet session sinking deeper into maze 
(2) Crimes by elderly persons on increase 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) DPJ leader Ozawa should not use security issue as tool for Diet 
dissolution 
(2) Ex-welfare vice minister assaulted: Terrorist acts 
impermissible 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Mega-banks should beef up both defensive and offensive moves 
 
TOKYO 00003188  007 OF 008 
 
 
(2) Attacks on ex-welfare vice minister and wife absolutely 
despicable 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Japan must take action to prevent attacks by pirates 
(2) Government should promptly urge North Korea to disclose 
whereabouts of abducted victims 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Now time for prime minister to decide to submit second extra 
budget bill 
(2) Hit-and-run accident by drunk a crime equivalent to murder 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Selfish proposal by Keidanren for introducing regional system 
 
(7) Prime Minister's schedule, November 18 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 19, 2008 
 
6:37 
Had a walk around his private residence in Kamiyamacho. 
 
09:04 
Attended a cabinet meeting. METI Minister Nikai stayed on. 
 
09:46 
Met Council for Regulatory Reform Chairman Kusakari at the Kantei. 
 
10:04 
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto. 
 
11:11 
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura, followed by LDP Diet Affairs 
Committee Chairman Oshima. 
 
12:56 
Attended a Lower House members' meeting. 
 
13:03 
Attended a Lower House plenary session. 
 
14:55 
Met at the Kantei Nippon Foundation President Ogata, Ocean Policy 
Research Foundation Chairman Akiyama, representative Gen Nakatani 
and secretary general Akihisa Nagashima of the Young 
Parliamentarians' League to Establish a Security System for a New 
Century. 
 
15:46 
Met Kyushu Rengo Chairman Kamata and Cabinet Councilor Sueyoshi, 
followed by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma. 
 
16:13 
Met Japan Sake Brewers Association Chairman Tatsuma and others, 
followed by Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry Vice 
Minister for Policy Coordination Terasaki and International Strategy 
Bureau Director General Ogasawara. 
 
17:09 
Met Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Hatoyama, Finance 
 
TOKYO 00003188  008 OF 008 
 
 
Minister Nakagawa, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Yosano, and 
Budget Bureau Director General Tango, joined by Kawamura. Hatoyama 
stayed on. 
 
19:03 
Met at his official residence LDP Secretary General Hosoda, New 
Komeito Representative Ota and other government and ruling coalition 
liaison council members. 
 
21:02 
Returned to his private residence. 
 
SCHIEFFER