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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2651

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 003222 
 
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 11/25/08 
 
Index: 
 
Aso diplomacy: 
1) President Bush in summit meeting in Lima with Prime Minister Aso 
says he will pass the baton on the abduction issue to the Obama 
administration  (Yomiuri) 
2) Gist of U.S.-Japan and U.S., Japan, ROK meeting at the sidelines 
of APEC in Lima  (Mainichi) 
3) Russian President Medvedev tells Aso he will not let resolution 
of the northern territories issue slip to the next generation 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
4) Despite assurance by Medvedev in meeting with Aso, no signs of 
Russia budging on the territorial issue  (Yomiuri) 
5) Little results from the Japan-China summit on the sidelines of 
APEC  (Yomiuri) 
6) Prime Minister Aso's presence at the APEC conference, weak, even 
in bilateral meeting  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
7) Japan accepts proposed start of next round of Six-Party Talks on 
Dec. 8  (Yomiuri) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
8) Rough draft of special measures bill for MSDF anti-piracy 
operations in waters off Somalia allows escort of foreign ships 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
9) Many problems to overcome, such as use of weapons, in order to 
pass proposed bill to send the MSDF to waters off Somalia to protect 
against pirates  (Mainichi) 
 
10) Japan to completely ban cluster munitions, even the new type 
(Mainichi) 
11) Basic action plan for use of outer space would allow use of 
satellite-gathered information for diplomacy  (Yomiuri) 
 
12) Prime minister careful about responding to Ozawa's likening him 
to a "cheap thug"  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) U.S. president pledges to hand over cooperation with Japan on 
abduction issue to Obama administration 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
November 24, 2008 
 
Masakazu Hamasuna, Lima 
 
Prime Minister Aso and U.S. President Bush met for the first time at 
a hotel in Lima on the morning of November 22 (early hours of the 
23rd, Japan time). Referring to the abduction of Japanese nationals 
by North Korean agents, Bush stated that the U.S. government would 
continue to cooperate to reach a settlement of the problem after the 
change of administration, as well. Aso conveyed Japan's intention to 
continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean. Bush expressed expectations for the operation to 
continue. 
 
Looking back on his own tenure, the President during his 30-minute 
meeting with Aso noted, "The Japan-U.S. alliance has been 
strengthened and deepened over the past eight years." Both leaders 
agreed to further strengthen the bilateral relationship, with the 
prime minister responding to the president's remark, saying, 
 
TOKYO 00003222  002 OF 010 
 
 
"Japan-U.S. relations form the base of Japan's diplomacy." 
 
Concerning the issue of abductions of Japanese by North Korea, the 
President gave his assurance, noting: "I fully understand that the 
problem is a delicate issue for Japan. I will hand over cooperation 
toward Japan on this issue to the Obama administration." The Prime 
Minister said, "I appreciate your cooperation. I would like to have 
your continued understanding of and support for the issue." 
 
The Prime Minister said that he would do his utmost to continue 
Japan's refueling mission. The president responded: "The 
international community highly appreciates Japan's activity. I hope 
Japan will continue the operation." 
 
2) Remarks at Japan-U.S. summit, Japan-U.S.-South Korea summit 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 24, 2008 
 
(Japan-U.S. summit) 
 
Japan-U.S. relations 
 
President Bush: Japan is our important ally. The Japan-U.S. alliance 
is the cornerstone of peace and prosperity for the U.S. and the 
region. The two countries established a solid alliance and then 
deepened it during my eight-year term of office. 
 
Prime Minister Aso: Japan-U.S. relations are the bedrock of Japan's 
diplomacy. 
 
Bush: Since the realignment of U.S. forces is important, I ask for 
your cooperation. Missile defense is also essential. 
 
Aso: I am determined to push ahead with these issues based on the 
roadmap. 
 
North Korea 
 
Bush: We must tackle the nuclear-verification issue with 
determination. I fully understand the abduction issue is a delicate 
problem. I will properly hand over the issue to the incoming Obama 
administration. 
 
Aso: It is imperative to have (North Korea) accept the verification 
process. 
 
Global economy 
 
Bush: I am worried about protectionism. It is necessary to move 
forward the new round of World Trade Organization (WTO) global trade 
talks (Doha Round) in order to protect the principle of free trade. 
 
Aso: I have committed myself to promoting free trade and the Doha 
Round, and I will do my best to advance them. 
 
MSDF refueling mission in Indian Ocean 
 
Aso: A bill to extend the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law for 
another year is now under deliberation in the Diet. I will do my 
utmost to enable Japan to continue the mission. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003222  003 OF 010 
 
 
Bush: I hope the mission will be continued. 
 
(Japan-U.S.-South Korea summit) 
 
North Korea 
 
Bush: It is necessary for Japan, the U.S., and South Korea to 
closely cooperate in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. 
Promoting nuclear verification is essential. 
 
Aso: The abduction issue is also important. I ask the president to 
continue to offer support and cooperation. Let us make efforts to 
construct a mechanism to enable the effective verification of 
denuclearization. 
 
President Lee: I agree. Close cooperation among the three countries 
is vital. 
 
3) Russian president in talks with Aso expresses eagerness for early 
resolution of Northern Territories issue 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
November 24, 2008 
 
Kei Sato, Lima 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso held a meeting with Russian President Dmitry 
Medvedev for the first time on Nov. 22, local time. In reference to 
the Northern Territories issue - the toughest issue pending between 
the two countries, the president expressed eagerness for an early 
resolution, saying: "I have no intention to leave the issue in the 
hands of the next generation." The two leaders agreed to instruct 
working-level officials in their respective governments to speed up 
negotiations. 
 
Aso and Medvedev also agreed to focus now on arranging summit-level 
talks to ressolve territorial and other bilateral issues by taking 
advantage of various occasions, including the planned visit to Japan 
by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Japan and Russia had 
initially planned a Japan visit by Putin this year but the two 
governments decided to put it off due to Russia's domestic 
circumstances. 
 
Aso told his counterpart: "Your resolve to settle the territorial 
issue has not been reflected in working-level negotiations." The 
prime minister indicated his dissatisfaction at slow moves by 
Russian government officials concerned despite the president's 
remark in his meeting with then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at the 
July Hokkaido Toyako Summit expressing his resolve to "move 
negotiations forward, aiming to settle the issue in the end." 
Medvedev replied: "In any countries, there is resistance from 
bureaucrats, but (any issue) will be resolved if the leaders are 
helpful and are determined to do so." 
 
4) Northern Territories issue: Russia shows no sign of making 
concessions 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 25, 2008 
 
Kenichi Ogata, Moscow 
 
 
TOKYO 00003222  004 OF 010 
 
 
Russian President Medvedev during his first meeting with Prime 
Minister Aso on November 22 confirmed his stance that it is 
necessary to settle the Northern Territories issue. However, 
although Russia welcomes the rapid expansion of its economic 
relations with Japan, it is showing no signs of making concessions 
over the territorial issue. 
 
According to ITAR-TASS, Presidential Assistant Prikhodko viewed the 
summit this time as making no new development, noting that Prime 
Minister Aso just repeated what his predecessors said to former 
President Putin and President Medvedev. This source, however, did 
not confirm whether Medvedev stated that he had no intention of 
leaving the issue to the next generation to work out. 
 
Prime Minister Putin, who has influence over Russia's domestic and 
foreign policies, during his tenure as president came up with a 
stance of settling the territorial issue by returning the Habomais 
and Shikotan based on the Japan-USSR joint statement (1956). 
Medvedev is indicating a desire to settle the territorial issue. 
However, it is viewed that there is basically no difference in the 
stances of Medvedev and Putin. 
 
Following the summit, an executive of Gazprom, a Russian 
government-affiliated company, announced a plan to start exports of 
liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan in February. The economic 
relationship between the two countries is continuing to expand, as 
can be seen in Japanese companies' advance into Russia and Russia's 
energy supply to Japan. 
 
At present, the territorial issue is not standing in the way of 
Russia's expanding economic relations with Japan. Russia is in no 
way in a situation in which it has to rush to settle the territorial 
issue. 
 
5) Chinese government repeatedly changes schedule for Japan-China 
summit 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
November 25, 2008 
 
Jun Kato, Lima 
 
A summit between Prime Minister Aso and Chinese President Hu Jintao 
was finally realized after backtracking in arranging a schedule on 
the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. 
Some have contended that Japan was jerked around by the Chinese 
side. Some believe that China was taking advantage of Aso's weak 
political standing. 
 
Aso held a press conference on the evening of Nov. 23 in Lima, in 
which he stressed the achievements in his meeting on Nov. 22 with 
the Chinese president, saying: "We exchanged views on our response 
to the economic and financial crisis. We agreed to make efforts." 
 
However, there were no concrete results in the Aso-Hu meeting, which 
ran about only 20 minutes. Although Aso urged Hu to contribute money 
to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he failed to get a clear 
answer from Hu. After Aso's press conference, the Foreign Ministry 
distributed to the press corps only a piece of paper containing the 
contents of his statement without giving any detailed explanation. 
 
A source familiar with the Foreign Ministry said: "The Japanese side 
 
TOKYO 00003222  005 OF 010 
 
 
did not think to arrange a Japan-China summit in Peru," since a 
Japan-China-South Korea summit is expected on Dec. 13 in Fukuoka 
Prefecture. 
 
However, the Chinese government sounded out the Japanese government 
on a summit immediately before Aso was to leave Haneda Airport on 
Nov. 20. Aso received on the way to Peru a communication from the 
Chinese side stating: "(President Hu) wants to hold a meeting (with 
Prime Minister Aso) on the morning of Nov. 21, when the prime 
minister arrives in Peru." 
 
Despite that, the Chinese side cancelled the planned summit because 
of "Hu's tight schedule." As a result, Aso and Hu met at a dinner 
party on the night of the 22nd for the APEC forum, and the two 
leaders agreed to hold a short meeting after the dinner party. They 
then finally held a summit. 
 
A government official emphasized the significance of the Japan-China 
summit, saying: "It is important for the leaders to meet whenever 
they can do so." However, there is a view in the government that the 
Aso administration should firmly respond to China's dismissive 
attitude. 
 
6) Scope column: Prime Minister Aso's presence weak in APEC, unable 
to present new policy 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
November 25, 2008 
 
Although Prime Minister Taro Aso tried to take the initiative in 
discussing the global financial crisis at the annual Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, following the recent emergency 
(financial) summit, he was unable to present any new policy 
measures. Aso also failed to produce concrete results in a series of 
bilateral meetings with leaders of other APEC member countries. His 
political presence was undeniably weak, compared with the Chinese 
and Russian presidents, who carried out a proactive diplomacy. 
 
Aso proudly said in a press conference on Nov. 23 after the APEC 
conference: 
 
"It was tough for me to attend the conference because it was held 
immediately after the emergency financial summit. I was able to 
share with the rest of APEC member countries some measures to deal 
with the financial crisis." 
 
However, the measures that Aso proposed to overcome the financial 
crisis, including the injecting of funds into the International 
Monetary Fund (IMF), were the same ones he had presented at the 
recent G-20 financial summit. His new proposals included a measure 
to utilize trade insurance in the Asia-Pacific region. He failed to 
produce any new agreements in his eight meetings with the leaders of 
other countries, including the United States and South Korea. 
 
For example, in his meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, 
the two leaders only confirmed the contents of the past summits 
between the top leaders of the two countries on the Northern 
Territories issue. In his meeting with Peruvian President Alan 
Garcia, regarding Garcia's call for concluding an economic 
partnership agreement (EPA), Aso only went so far as to say: "We 
will consider it in a forward-looking manner." 
 
 
TOKYO 00003222  006 OF 010 
 
 
In contrast, Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Latin 
American countries ahead of the APEC conference. China reached a 
final agreement with Peru on the launching of talks to sign an EPA. 
 
Moreover, since the APEC summit statement stipulated that the new 
round of global trade talks (Doha Round) will reach a general 
agreement before the end of the year; chances are high that Japan 
will be forced to compromise in the agricultural area. 
 
Aso appears to have created fresh sources of contention, instead of 
boosting his administration's popularity through his diplomacy. 
 
7) Japan to agree to start six-party talks on Dec. 8 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 25, 2008 
 
U.S. Secretary of State Rice revealed a plan to hold the next round 
of the six-party talks to discuss North Korea's nuclear program on 
December 8. The Japanese government intends to basically agree to 
the proposal. However, some officials are alarmed about the U.S. 
releasing the schedule in an unprecedented move, because host nation 
China used to play that role. 
 
Commenting on the announcement of the timetable for the next round 
of the six-party talks by Rice, one Japanese government on November 
24 said, "I wonder to what extent coordination with North Korea has 
been undertaken. I hope the U.S. is not acting in a unilateral way, 
based on a fixed notion." 
 
Japan welcomes the resumption of the talks itself. In particular, 
some expect a new development in the matter, because the leaders of 
Japan and the U.S. have just agreed to document nuclear verification 
procedures at their summit meeting in Peru. 
 
However, whether the resumed six-party talks will bring about 
progress on Japan-North Korea talks to discuss the abduction issue 
is unclear. Rather, there is deep-seated concern that if the U.S. 
makes concessions to North Korea over the nuclear issue more than 
ever, it would affect the abduction issue. All the more for that 
reason, some government sources are dismayed at the U.S. indicating 
a slight change in its stance of giving consideration to China's 
position, by releasing the timetable for the six-party talks ahead 
of China. 
 
8) MSDF to escort Japanese, foreign ships against pirates off 
Somalia 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
November 25, 2008 
 
The government yesterday unveiled a draft bill for special measures 
to send Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers for the purpose of 
defending tankers and other merchant ships against pirates in waters 
off the coast of Somalia in Africa. Prime Minister Aso has told the 
government and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party to use MSDF 
vessels. The government plans to present a bill to the Diet at its 
ordinary session to be convened in January next year. 
 
According to the draft bill, the MSDF will be tasked with escorting 
Japanese and foreign ships. Specifically, its antipiracy activities 
are to include halting and inspecting pirate ships. In addition, the 
 
TOKYO 00003222  007 OF 010 
 
 
MSDF is to use armed force in legitimate self-defense if and when 
attacked by pirate ships. The government also mulls dispatching P3-C 
patrol aircraft for over-the-sea surveillance. 
 
In June this year, the United Nations Security Council adopted a 
resolution endorsing the use of armed force and other 
countermeasures against pirates off the Somalia coast. The planned 
special measures law is based on this resolution. 
 
The government is also considering establishing new regulations to 
punish pirates in Japan under the United Nations Convention on the 
Law of the Sea. 
 
9) Many difficulties in store for MSDF antipiracy dispatch 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
November 25, 2008 
 
There has been a sharp increase in the number of ships coming under 
attack from pirates in waters near Somalia in Africa. In response, 
the government and the ruling parties are planning to send the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force. Meanwhile, there are also calls from 
among the opposition parties for sending MSDF vessels. This is aimed 
at making an appeal on Japan's international contributions following 
the MSDF's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. However, there 
are many difficulties to get over, such as what to do about legal 
problems and weapons use guidelines. 
 
In the government, the Foreign Ministry is pushing for the idea of 
sending MSDF vessels for antipiracy activities. More than 10 
countries, including the United States and Britain, have sent their 
naval vessels to watch out for pirates. Given this fact, a senior 
official of the Foreign Ministry stressed: "The lives and assets of 
Japanese people are being threatened. Can we depend on foreign 
countries?" 
 
The government first looked into the possibility of invoking 
maritime security operations under the Self-Defense Forces Law's 
Article 82, which allows the SDF to use force as in the case of 
mobilizing the SDF for defense or public order. However, the 
government has so far invoked maritime security operations for only 
two incidents in which foreign crafts violated Japan's territorial 
waters. The Defense Ministry therefore deems it difficult to engage 
the MSDF in ocean activities for a long period of time under that 
law. 
 
As it stands, a nonpartisan parliamentary group of 
lawmakers-including former Defense Agency Director General Gen 
Nakatani from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Akihisa 
Nagashima, a House of Representatives member of the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto)-is now studying the 
feasibility of creating a special measures law intended to task the 
MSDF with antipiracy activities limited to offshore areas near 
Somalia. 
 
However, even in the case of creating a special measures law to 
engage the MSDF in antipiracy activities, that is delicate in 
connection with constitutional prohibitions against the use of armed 
force overseas. Pirates are armed with rockets and other weapons, so 
the Diet will inevitably have to discuss whether the MSDF should be 
allowed to use weapons in legitimate self-defense or beyond the 
bounds of emergency evacuation. In addition, it is difficult to 
 
TOKYO 00003222  008 OF 010 
 
 
instantly tell pirates from terrorists in waters off the coast of 
Somalia that is currently in a state of anarchy. The use of weapons 
could fall into a state of unconstitutionality at once. 
 
There is also a political hurdle to clear. The Diet is now in a mood 
for confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties. There 
is no knowing if the LDP and the DPJ can hit it off in such a 
situation. Another factor is that some in the New Komeito, the LDP's 
coalition partner, is strongly cautious about sending MSDF vessels 
for antipiracy operations. 
 
10) Japan to abolish all cluster bombs, including latest types 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
November 21, 2008 
 
The government has decided to completely eradicate its stockpile of 
cluster bombs and not to introduce even the latest types, which 
European countries have decided to maintain. Japan will not possess 
any types of cluster munitions. Unexploded cluster bombs have 
resulted in death and injuries to civilians, and Japan's decision is 
based on humanitarian considerations. The government will earmark 
approximately 7.3 billion yen in the fiscal 2009 budget to prepare 
single warheads that do not scatter bomblets, in the place of 
cluster bombs. 
 
Japan possesses four types of cluster munitions, including an old 
type that scatters hundreds of bomblets and has an extremely high 
rate of unexploded shells. The government is scheduled to sign the 
Convention on Cluster Munitions on Dec. 3. It will start examining 
ways to abolish its cluster bombs in fiscal 2009. After ratifying 
the treaty, which bans the use and stockpiling of cluster bombs, the 
government will be required to eliminate the weapons within eight 
years. 
 
Even so, the draft of the Convention on Cluster Munitions allows the 
possession of the latest types that have an extremely low rate of 
unexploded bomblets as an exception. Germany and France have 
produced such bombs, and countries in Europe are expected to 
introduce them. 
 
The government gives priority to the need to avoid secondary damage 
from unexploded shells from humanitarian considerations. There is no 
guarantee that even the latest types are totally safe. In addition, 
introducing such weapons costs much, so the government decided not 
to introduce them, with the aim of totally eliminating damage caused 
by bomblets. 
 
The government is also working out measures to minimize the effects 
of the treaty on national defense. It intends to introduce such 
weapons as smart bombs that are guided to targets using the global 
positioning system and are capable of attacking more defined areas 
from a greater distance. 
 
Japan has deployed a large number of bombs for defense against 
landing by enemy troops. After the draft treaty was adopted, 
however, some members of the Defense Ministry and the Liberal 
Democratic Party began to call for replacing the old weapons by the 
latest types. But a land invasion is now hard to imagine, and 
questions have also been raised over the effectiveness of cluster 
bombs in defending large areas. Given these, the government judged 
that stockpiling cluster bombs is less necessary. 
 
TOKYO 00003222  009 OF 010 
 
 
 
11) Japan's satellite data to be used for diplomacy 
 
YOMIUIRI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 25, 2008 
 
The government yesterday unveiled an outline of its masterplan for 
Japan's space activities, which is to determine a basic course of 
action for Japan's space strategy. The government will study the 
plan in its space development and strategy taskforce and will work 
it out in May next year to come up with new specific measures for 
Japan's space activities, including the use of space for defense. 
 
According to the outline, the government will implement the space 
plan based on five basic strategies. In particular, the outline 
stresses a course of action to push for Japan's international 
cooperation focusing on space development. Japan will contribute to 
the international community by using its data and technology as 
diplomatic tools, including official development assistance. 
 
Specifically, the outline touches on a plan to provide some 30 
countries in the Asia-Pacific region with meteorological information 
and satellite imagery during major disasters. Meanwhile, it suggests 
the need for the government to cooperate with the industrial and 
academic sectors at home and enhance Japan's technological 
infrastructure by utilizing the technical know-how of small 
businesses, universities, and other entities. 
 
Japan has now enacted the Space Law, under which Japan is going to 
expand its use of outer space for defense purposes through such 
measures as launching new intelligence-gathering satellites. In this 
respect, the outline says Japan's expanded use of space for defense 
is within the bounds of its exclusively defense-oriented policy, 
adding that the government will consider new space activities in the 
security area. 
 
12) Aso does not respond to Ozawa's provocative remark 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
November 25, 2008 
 
Yoso Furumoto, Lima 
 
In a press conference on Nov. 23, Prime Minister Taro Aso took a 
stance of not responding to Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
President Ichiro Ozawa's provocative remarks. He appears to have 
carefully chosen words in consideration to criticism of his careless 
remarks from within the ruling coalition. 
 
After his meeting with Ozawa on Nov. 17, Aso criticized Ozawa, 
saying: "Dangerous. I no longer trust him." Appearing on an NHK 
program on the 23rd, Ozawa retorted: "He talks like a street punk, 
something that is wholly inappropriate for a nation's prime 
minister." 
 
In the press conference, although one reporter said that the Liberal 
Democratic Party and the DPJ were criticizing each other, Aso 
refrained from responding, just saying: "Since I don't know what 
(Mr. Ozawa) said, I should not say anything." Aso then said: "If I 
respond to a question, that will be taken as a further challenge. 
That might be good for you (the media), but not for me." 
 
 
TOKYO 00003222  010 OF 010 
 
 
SCHIEFFER