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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 16 TOKYO 003383 
 
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 12/12/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Override vote today on refueling extension for another year; 
Japan avoids breakaway from war on terror (Yomiuri) 
 
(2) Editorial: Refueling mission; Mandate-given administration must 
work out comprehensive assistance measures (Mainichi) 
 
(3) Opposition parties in Okinawa assembly to approve expenses for 
governor's planned U.S. visit (Okinawa Times) 
 
(4) Former ASDF Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami speaks his mind; U.S. 
forces must withdraw from Japan, Japan must discuss nuclear option 
(Part 1) (Shukan Gendai) 
 
(5) Physicians distancing themselves from the LDP a serious problem 
(Yomiuri) 
 
(6) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Yomiuri) 
 
(7) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(8) EDITORIALS 
 
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, December 11 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Override vote today on refueling extension for another year; 
Japan avoids breakaway from war on terror 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
December 12, 2008 
 
International commitment 
 
Today, the Diet is expected to pass a bill amending the new 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law for a one-year extension of the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian 
Ocean. Government officials are relieved, but the United States 
hopes Japan will do more in the war on terror. It is certain that 
Japan will be urged to take even more difficult measures in the 
offing. 
 
In its meeting yesterday, the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs 
and Defense Committee voted down the government-introduced bill 
amending the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law with a majority 
of votes from the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto) and other opposition parties. The bill is expected to be 
voted down in a plenary sitting this morning of the 
opposition-controlled upper chamber as well. However, the ruling 
coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito will 
take a second vote on the legislation in a plenary sitting this 
afternoon of the House of Representatives with a majority of 
two-thirds to override the upper chamber's decision. 
 
The government has positioned the MSDF's refueling mission as a 
"minimum contribution," according to Foreign Minister Nakasone. 
Japan has made a de facto international commitment to continue its 
refueling activities in the Indian Ocean, and the refueling bill is 
now expected to pass the Diet. "We're now spared the worst-case 
scenario," a senior official of the Foreign Ministry said. 
 
TOKYO 00003383  002 OF 016 
 
 
 
One government source stressed: "If the international community 
moves away, the Afghan government will go under. The war on terror 
is a must to uphold Japan's alliance with the United States. Working 
at sea is less dangerous than in Afghanistan. Besides, there are 
great needs for fuel." 
 
However, the MSDF's refueling (of U.S. and other foreign naval 
vessels in the Indian Ocean) peaked at 184,400 kiloliters in 2002 
and has since been decreasing from year to year. In 2008, the MSDF's 
refueling totaled 10,940 kiloliters as of November. According to the 
Defense Ministry's account, that is because there was a decrease in 
the amount of fuel provided to U.S. naval forces that had many large 
ships. However, a DPJ executive says the refueling role is over. 
 
In Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force or ISAF 
for short, which is made up of troops from 41 countries, has been 
working to maintain public security and already has nearly 1,000 
casualties. Japan sits out due to its constitutional constraints. 
Actually, Japan's contributory role is now less important. 
 
Meanwhile, Hisashi Tokunaga, a DPJ lawmaker seated in the House of 
Councillors, attended a meeting of the House of Councillors Foreign 
Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday and explained why his party 
was opposed to the refueling bill. He stated before the committee: 
"The United States and other countries are laying emphasis on their 
activities on the military side, but such activities cannot improve 
the war on terror. Even if Japan continues refueling, that will not 
be a fundamental solution to the problem in Afghanistan." 
 
DPJ Representative Ozawa has been insisting that it is 
unconstitutional to back up activities that are not endorsed by a 
United Nations resolution. The DPJ has yet to clarify what to do 
about the MSDF's refueling activities if the party takes the reins 
of government. However, a government source presumes that the DPJ 
would call off the MSDF's refueling activities and recall the MSDF. 
 
Last year, the DPJ presented a legislative measure of its own to the 
Diet. The DPJ-proposed legislation featured a plan to send the 
Self-Defense Forces to Afghanistan, where the SDF is to be tasked 
with humanitarian and reconstruction assistance activities in 
Afghanistan, such as road construction and medical support, if 
militants and other armed groups there agree to stop their 
conflicts. The DPJ-introduced bill was voted down. However, the DPJ, 
if it takes the reins of government, will present the same bill to 
the Diet again, according to Keiichiro Asao, who is defense minister 
in the DPJ's shadow cabinet. 
 
Obama administration 
 
Having seen such a situation in Japan, the United States-which is at 
the center of the war on terror-is growing frustrated 
 
In late June, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Bobby 
Wilkes visited Japan. On that occasion, the visiting Pentagon 
official sounded out the Japanese government behind the scenes on 
sending CH-47 heavy-lift helicopters to Afghanistan and sharing the 
burden of costs amounting to nearly 2 trillion yen for such purposes 
as training Afghan forces. In September, U.S. Secretary of Defense 
Gates virtually named Japan for funding contributions, saying: "Some 
of our allies have not sent out combat troops to Afghanistan. This 
is a good chance for them to provide financial assistance to the 
 
TOKYO 00003383  003 OF 016 
 
 
Afghan forces." 
 
In January next year, U.S. President-elect Obama will be sworn in. 
Obama is believed to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq and send 
reinforcements to Afghanistan. One aide to Obama said, "We will 
continue to ask Japan for assistance." 
 
In June, Japan also sent a government fact-finding team to 
Afghanistan. The government has earmarked costs in its fiscal 2009 
budgetary estimate for such purposes as bulletproofing heavy-lift 
helicopters in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan. 
However, the Diet was divided with the ruling bloc holding a 
majority of the seats in its lower chamber and the opposition bloc 
controlling its upper chamber to share legislative power. The then 
prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, and his government were unable to make 
the SDF dispatch decision. In September, Fukuda stepped down. The 
Diet still remains unable to deepen its debate. 
 
On Dec. 8, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, 
who knows Japan well, met with DPJ Deputy President Katsuya Okada in 
Washington. Armitage then told Okada, "'Boots on the ground' does 
not only mean military boots." With this, Armitage asked Okada and 
his party to consider sending civilians to Afghanistan in 
cooperation with the government and ruling parties. 
 
In Afghanistan, however, Kazuya Ito, a member of Peshawar-kai, which 
is a nongovernmental organization, was shot to death in August. As 
seen from this fact, that country is in a dangerous situation. The 
Japanese Red Cross Society has sent a team of doctors and 
pharmacists to the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. According to a 
JRCS official, they are strictly prohibited from going out of their 
hotel except for moving to and from a hospital. It is extremely 
difficult for a large number of civilians to work in Afghanistan. 
 
There is also an idea for Japan to send civilians to provincial 
reconstruction teams (PRTs). However, one government official is 
negative about this idea, saying: "They will have to work under the 
protection of foreign troops. We can't take responsibility." 
 
The United States is growing impatient. U.S. Ambassador to Japan 
Schieffer wonders why Japan will not join the international 
community's efforts to assist Afghanistan. "If Afghanistan becomes a 
failed state and becomes a habitat for terrorists," Schieffer noted, 
"every country will be exposed to danger." 
 
Japan has outlaid a total of 1.45 billion dollars in humanitarian 
and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan since September 2001. 
Japan has tackled such activities as disarming former soldiers, 
helping them with social rehabilitation, disbanding illegal armed 
groups, defusing landmines, and working against drugs. Another 
possible option for Japan is to go ahead with additional funding 
cooperation. However, one official is concerned about this option, 
saying: "They will say, 'Again, Japan is trying to do nothing but 
give money.' Japan will come under international fire." 
 
The Foreign Ministry is going to hold specific consultations with 
the incoming U.S. administration on Japan's possible contributions 
in Afghanistan. The DPJ will also work out its Afghan policy around 
the turn of the year, with an eye to the new U.S. administration's 
debut. However, Japan, should it fail to set forth a sufficient 
contributory plan, may have to make the "worst start" with the Obama 
administration, according to a senior official of the Foreign 
 
TOKYO 00003383  004 OF 016 
 
 
Ministry. 
 
(2) Editorial: Refueling mission; Mandate-given administration must 
work out comprehensive assistance measures 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
December 12, 2008 
 
A bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to extend 
the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean, which expires in January, was voted down in a committee 
meeting of the House of Councillors. The bill is expected to be 
rejected in an Upper House plenary session today but later will be 
enacted by the ruling coalition's two-thirds majority in the House 
of Representatives. 
 
We consider the refueling mission to be within the realm of choices 
in waging the war on terror. But at the same time, the dispatching 
of Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops overseas is a theme involving the 
vary basis of our national security. Moreover, views over whether to 
extend the refueling service have divided the Diet. Given these 
factors, we have insisted on the need to ask for the public to take 
a stand in an election on what assistance Japan should offer to 
Afghanistan and what to do in the war on terror. 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso, however, decided to use the overriding vote 
tactic, as the previous government did in January. We are unhappy 
about this choice. 
 
In addition, the bill requires on the cabinet's approval in adopting 
an implementation plan that specifies the area covered by SDF 
activities and their basic policy, as well as the size of a unit and 
equipment there. There is no reference in the bill to "Diet 
approval." This is apparently a strategy to deal with opposition 
parties by skipping the many committees they control in the Upper 
House. 
 
The commotion over a controversial historical essay written by 
former Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami 
disclosed that civilian control over SDF ranking officers is not 
properly functioning under the coalition government of the Liberal 
Democratic Party and the New Komeito. Only when the Diet, which 
reflects public opinion, is involved, can civilian control be 
guaranteed from the start, but bill, not requiring such Diet 
approval, is seriously defective. 
 
Since January, the government used the overriding vote tactic three 
times. The use of a revote is allowed under the Constitution, but 
the current ruling camp's strength in the Lower House was formed in 
a special election held after the Diet was dissolved over a feud in 
connection with postal privatization. At that time, the issue of 
extending the refueling operation was neither included in the LDP's 
campaign pledges nor was it a point of contention, either. We have 
to say that the revote tactic in that sense is politically 
illegitimate. 
 
Deliberations on the bill in both Houses of the Diet were far from 
those reflecting recent l changes in the environment in and around 
Afghanistan. 
 
The security situation in Afghanistan has been worsening, while 
momentum is gathering in the Karzai government and the U.S. 
 
TOKYO 00003383  005 OF 016 
 
 
government for holding a dialogue with the moderate Taliban group, 
the former governing force. With the change of government in 
Pakistan, making an approach to that nation is becoming more 
important. Japan should come up with comprehensive assistance 
measures for Afghanistan, including aid in the military, public 
welfare, and diplomatic areas. Japan is expected to play a major 
role there. 
 
In the U.S., the Obama administration will be launched next month. 
President-elect Barack Obama, who has pledged to shift priority from 
Iraq to Afghanistan, is expected to call on Japan to offer financial 
cooperation and a personnel contribution to Afghanistan. How will 
Japan respond, in such a case? 
 
There should be limits to what the Aso administration can do now 
that it is losing political ground. In order for Japan to map out 
comprehensive assistance measures in the war on terror and to 
Afghanistan, a government holding a mandate from the people must 
first be established. 
 
(3) Opposition parties in Okinawa assembly to approve expenses for 
governor's planned U.S. visit 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
December 12, 2008 
 
Six opposition parties in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly approved 
yesterday the prefectural government's revised plan on earmarking 
expenses for Governor Hirokazu Nakaima's planned visit to the U.S., 
which was resubmitted to a regular meeting in November. A 
supplementary budget bill, which includes the travel expenses, is 
likely to be unanimously adopted on the final day of the session on 
Dec. 19, through deliberations at the General Coordination and 
Policy Planning Committee. 
 
If the budget is approved, Nakaima will leave for the U.S. on Jan. 6 
and present the prefecture's requests to those who are expected to 
join the incoming Obama administration and U.S. Congress. He is 
scheduled to stay in the U.S. for 10 days. In California, the 
governor will take activities to bring U.S. firms into Okinawa. 
About 9.1 million yen will be set aside for the governor's U.S. 
tour. 
 
(4) Former ASDF Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami speaks his mind; U.S. 
forces must withdraw from Japan, Japan must discuss nuclear option 
(Part 1) 
 
SHUKAN GENDAI (Excerpts) (Pages 16-21) 
December 20, 2008 
 
I have been dismissed from the post of Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) 
chief of staff. Since I have acted based on my belief, I have no 
intention of retracting my series of views. To begin with, I do not 
understand why I have to be criticized. I said, "Japan was a good 
country," and I was told, "You are fired." 
 
The assertion of the Aso administration and the Liberal Democratic 
Party was: "In the government's view, Japan was a bad country. You 
should not have described Japan as a good country." I was forced to 
leave public office because I praised my own country. Is there any 
country in the world that is as absurd as Japan? 
 
 
TOKYO 00003383  006 OF 016 
 
 
As if to add insult to injury, not only the LDP but also the 
Democratic Party of Japan fiercely criticized me. They pursued the 
government's responsibility, saying, "Why did you make a person who 
says Japan was a good country the ASDF chief of staff?" The DPJ 
said: "A person who says Japan was a rotten country should become 
the top SDF officer." 
 
Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa wrote a book titled 
Blueprint for a New Japan, aiming to turn Japan into a normal 
country. His son was an SDF member, as well. I wonder what has 
happened to him and his party. 
 
After such a ridiculous argument, I was pressed to return my 
retirement allowance. It annoyed me. After all, I selflessly worked 
for the country for 41 years, including the National Defense Academy 
days. 
 
One described the circumstances in which a top SDF officer is 
allowed to make remarks freely as civilian control in danger. But I 
have no intention of denying civilian control. I did not leak any 
military secrets and I did not violate any rules. I simply stated my 
view on history. 
 
Despite that, lawmakers and media organizations labeled me as a 
dangerous individual. I became the object of public anger and 
ridicule and was fired. Freedom of expression is an important right 
that is guaranteed in Article 21 of the Constitution. If people are 
not allowed to discuss things freely, that is not a democracy. It's 
the same as North Korea. 
 
I am afraid that Japan might head in a direction that will tie its 
hands tighter because of its masochistic view of history that is 
gripping Japan today. I am concerned that unless someone stops it, 
Japan might fall in the near future. 
 
After the end of the war, the victorious nations, including the 
United States, have pressed upon Japan the Tokyo Tribunal's view 
that Japan's history until then had all been evil, prompting Japan 
to lose its pride as a state. As a result, important traditional 
Japanese cultures have been destroyed rapidly. A Japanese-version 
Cultural Revolution is underway, so to speak. I believe this must be 
stopped at all costs. 
 
My view is not outlandish. I believe many Japanese people share my 
view. Yahoo! News conducted an opinion survey on Nov. 4-11, asking: 
"Is there any problem with the Tamogami statement?" Answers came 
from 97,084 individuals. Of them, 44,269 people said, "There is no 
problem," and 12,412 indicated, "There are hardly any problems." In 
other words, 58 PERCENT  of the total said, "There aren't any 
problems." 
 
Furthermore, on TV-Asahi's "Let's Discuss until Morning" program at 
night on Nov. 28, a fierce discussion took place under the theme of 
the Tamogami issue and the SDF. The program also solicited viewers' 
opinions and 497 sent in their views. Of them, 303, or 61 PERCENT , 
said, "I can relate to the Tamogami statement." The Asahi Shimbun 
has relentlessly attacked me, but over 60 PERCENT  of the people 
support me. 
 
Of course, I believe a lot of SDF personnel that number 240,000 
agree with my view at the bottom of their hearts. Lawmakers and 
media organizations are alarmed at a possible coup. Such will never 
 
TOKYO 00003383  007 OF 016 
 
 
happen. In a democracy, it is not allowed to change society with 
violence, and SDF personnel are perfectly aware of that. 
 
In my essay, I deliberately took up a number of good things Japan 
had done in the past. Until now, only bad deeds have been trumpeted, 
so I argued against them that history is not that unilateral. 
 
In fact, Japan was on the invaded side during that period. From 
around the 15th century, white nations continued to invade colored 
nations. Japan was not invaded until the last. 
 
No one raises any questions today about such brutal history of white 
nations' invasions of Asia. Only Japan's advance onto the Korean 
Peninsula and Chinese mainland has been the subject of criticism. 
 
White nations exploited Asia for many years, whereas Japan 
endeavored for the development of Asia. For instance, Japan built 
many schools in Manchuria, the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan. We left 
behind significant improvements to the infrastructure that affects 
everyday life -- roads, power plants, water supply, etc. Before the 
war, there were nine imperial universities. We established Keijo 
Imperial University, the sixth, in Seoul in 1924, and Taipei 
Imperial University, the seventh, in Taipei in 1928. Osaka Imperial 
University was eighth and Nagoya Imperial University was ninth. The 
Japanese government built imperial universities in Korea and Taiwan 
even before Osaka and Nagoya out of consideration for the colonies. 
Such is totally inconceivable under control by white nations. 
 
That is why leaders of Asian nations at times have expressed their 
appreciation, saying that because Japan had fought with such 
countries as the United States and Britain, they have now become 
able to talk to them as equals. 
 
Clash with Chinese Lt. Gen. over historical issues 
 
I have repeatedly expressed such a view. I have introduced it in my 
contribution to an SDF journal and discussed it in my speeches, as 
well. 
 
In addition to within the SDF, I have openly expressed my stock 
argument toward China. In June 2004, I visited Beijing as the leader 
of a Joint Staff College training team. During the visit, I had an 
opportunity to interview for about 30 minutes Lt. Gen. Fan 
Changlong, the No. 2 officer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army 
general staff section. For the first 10 minutes, Lt. Gen. Fan 
eloquently criticized the Imperial Japanese Army's brutal acts. 
 
Feeling such was unbearable, I cut in: "I do not think the Japanese 
Army did bad things toward China. Assaults and murder occur even in 
peacetime." A portrait of President Ziang Zemin was on the wall, so 
I also told Lt. Gen. Fan that President Ziang was unpopular in Japan 
because during his visit to Japan in 1998, he extensively traveled 
in the country and criticized Japan by touching on its 
responsibility for past events. 
 
I did not plan to dampen the previous venue of exchanges by 
broaching the historical issue during my courtesy call on the 
Chinese military leader. But at that time, the other side first just 
talked on and on about the history issue, so I could not just bowed 
my head and come back, saying, "You are right." 
 
Because Japan has turned a deaf ear to such an argument, China 
 
TOKYO 00003383  008 OF 016 
 
 
brazenly keeps beating a dead horse. I don't think that is good for 
the future of relations between the countries. 
 
In any case, my rebuttal seemed quite upset the Chinese side. Many 
Chinese officers did not show up at the party we hosted at the 
Beijing Hotel before leaving China. They all said, "Something came 
up." The visit to China planned for the following year was called 
off. 
 
Incidentally, the debated between Lt. Gen. Fan and me was officially 
reported to Tokyo in detail via a cable from the Japanese Embassy in 
Beijing. The Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the Prime 
Minister's Office, and everyone else became aware of the event, but 
I was not punished in any way. That was not all. Some in the Defense 
Ministry even praised me for what I did. 
 
My view has always been the same and consistent. I don't understand 
why I have to be beaten up this time around. 
 
Japan forced to purchase U.S.-made equipment for prices twice as 
high 
 
Now, I am going to discuss what I think about the United States. 
 
It has already been 63 years since the end of war, but Japan, as a 
defeated nation, still acts in accordance with the wishes of the 
United States. National defense is a prime example of that. 
 
The Cold War ended over a dozen years ago, but the United States 
still plays a main role in the defense of Japan. There are many U.S. 
bases in Japan and U.S. troops are stationed there. 
 
And the SDF purchases major defense equipment from the United 
States. It can hardly be said that they are sold at fair prices. 
From my experience, I can honestly say that Japan has been ripped 
off quite a bit. There is a possibility that Japan has bought 
aircrafts of the same model at prices higher than those to other 
countries. In other words, the United States has siphoned off 
Japanese taxpayers' money unfairly. 
 
As far as the ASDF is concerned, it has purchased the F-104 (400 
million yen apiece), F-4 (2 billion yen), F-15 (10 billion yen), and 
F-22 (50 billion yen; U.S. Congress has yet to approve) in 
chronological order. The price jumped five times every time new 
model came along. The United States also overcharged for a variety 
of other weapons, sometimes twice higher. 
 
At one time, the ASDF had a plan to procure air-to-air missiles for 
its fighters. Washington begrudged selling the kind of missiles 
Japan wanted. As a result, a Japanese maker independently developed 
similar missiles, and Washington all of a sudden expressed its 
willingness to sell the kind of missiles to Tokyo for prices much 
cheaper than those produced domestically. 
 
In 2000, when I was serving as the deputy chief of staff for 
logistics, the ASDF had a plan to introduce the Link-16, the latest 
model of the strategic data link system, to the Patriot 
(ground-to-air missile system). Japan needed to purchase its 
terminal equipment from the United States. In the process of 
negotiations, the United States raised the price of a set of 
terminal equipment from 100 million yen to over 200 million yen. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003383  009 OF 016 
 
 
I lodged a protest with a senior U.S. Air Force Department official, 
who happened to be in Japan around that time. Three weeks after his 
return to the United States, the price dropped to the original 
level. The United States has taken advantage of Japan's weak 
position. 
 
In the world of equipment, there is something called the black box, 
which must be unfamiliar to civilians. It signifies the technical 
information not disclosed to Japan when procuring equipment from the 
United States. 
 
Software codes correspond to the black box. Such black boxes are on 
the rise. Preventing the outflow of technology is Washington's 
official position. I think that is its public stance; its true 
intention is to siphon money from Japan. 
 
That is because if a glitch occurs in a part concerning the black 
box, only the United States would be able to fix it. Weapons also 
require maintenance, and for that, Japan has to place orders to U.S. 
corporations semi-permanently. Simply put, the more the black box 
grows, the more the United States can rake in money. 
 
Reason why the abduction issue has not bee resolved 
 
I am not anti-American; I like the United States. To begin with, a 
state pursues its national interests. It is natural for the United 
States to make every effort to sell its products to other countries, 
including its allies. 
 
The problem lies in Japan. Japanese people are too good-natured. 
They are good-natured and masochistic. I believe such a country is 
rare in the world. 
 
A good country cannot be a victor in the international political 
scene. The world is filled with black-hearted people. Good people 
are destined to be used by black-hearted people. 
 
For example, why has the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the 
North not been resolved? Let's say many U.S. citizens were abducted 
by the North. Would the North take the cold and overbearing attitude 
toward the United States, in the same way with Japan? 
 
I can say this with confident that if it was with the United States, 
the abduction issue would have been resolved a long ago. That is 
because America's military power is a threat to the North. With just 
a hint at an air strike by the United States, the North is certain 
to respond to a call for talks. 
 
Japan's attitude is poles apart from that of the United States. 
Japan's hands are tied because of its own constitution prohibiting 
the use of force. This encourages the North to use the abduction 
issue to apply pressure on Japan. 
 
Japan has created a national army enormously lacking in attack 
capability in the name of an exclusively defense-oriented policy of 
the postwar period. In order to conduct decent talks with the North, 
Japan needs at least to deploy air-to-ground missiles and 
ship-to-ground missiles to strike enemy territories. 
 
Japan has become such a good-natured country in the postwar period 
solely because of America's Japan policy. Japan has been transformed 
into a country convenient for the United States. 
 
TOKYO 00003383  010 OF 016 
 
 
 
As was just discussed, Japan is now under the protection of 
America's great military power, but we must keep in mind that the 
United States take action based on its own national interests. For 
instance, if the United States finds it more beneficial to team up 
with China, it would abandon Japan overnight. 
 
During my stay in the United States this summer, I asked a 
high-ranking U.S. military officer: "If Japan and China clash over 
the Senkaku Islands, would the United States attack China as Japan's 
ally?" 
 
As expected, the officer offered an ambiguous answer. 
 
If China continues to build up its military buildup at the current 
pace, the Chinese ministry would surpass the SDF in five to ten 
years. The military gains strength in promotion to the money spent 
on it. 
 
The alliance with the United States allows Japan to be under 
America's umbrella and to be on America's coattails in the 
international political scene, so I think the alliance with that 
country is useful to Japan. Even so, I believe a country should be 
defended by its own people. In other words, we need to strengthen 
the SDF and U.S. force in Japan must leave the country gradually. I 
believe that's the way Japan should be. Without the withdrawal of 
the U.S. military, Japan cannot be called a truly independent 
country. 
 
(5) Physicians distancing themselves from the LDP a serious problem 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 12, 2008 
 
Senior members of medical associations in such major cities as 
Sendai, Chiba, Nagoya and Fukuoka met on Nov. 15 at a hotel in Chiba 
City. 
 
A questionnaire result was distributed to each participant in the 
meeting. Many participants were amazed by the result. One member 
said: "So many members have distanced themselves from the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP)!" 
 
One of the questions was whether to support the LDP in order to 
realize policy measures the Japan Medical Association proposes. In 
responding, only nine percent said that they would support the 
ruling LDP, while 20 percent said that they would back the 
opposition parties so that a change in government would occur. 
 
A total of 2,362 doctors of regional medical associations in major 
cities responded to the questionnaire. Nakahiko Hakuno, chairman of 
the Chiba City Medical Association which conducted the 
questionnaire, said: 
 
"We had supported the LDP unconditionally. However, medical 
institutions are in a serious condition due to the policy the LDP 
implemented in the past few years. The figures show our sense of 
alarm." 
 
Under the Japan Medical Association (membership of 165,000), there 
are approximately 900 local medical associations comprised of 
physicians. The JMA has fielded its representatives as candidates 
 
TOKYO 00003383  011 OF 016 
 
 
for an upper house election every time, and it is one of the strong 
support organizations for the LDP. 
 
One direct reason for the JMA having decided to distant itself from 
the LDP is that the administration of then Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi decided in 2006 on a policy of reducing natural increase in 
social security spending by 220 billon yen annually. The JMA has 
sought the withdrawal of the spending cut policy for the reason that 
the policy has caused the collapse of medical institutions. 
 
Although the JMA has still supported the LDP, some local medical 
associations are now distancing themselves from the LDP. The Ibaraki 
Medical Association's political organization intends to recommend 
candidates on the official ticket of the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) in all the seven electoral districts in the prefecture. 
Ibaraki Medical Association Chairman Katsumasa Haranaka criticized 
the LDP, saying: 
 
"The LDP does not function well because in that party there are many 
lawmakers who succeeded to Diet seats held by their parents and 
grandparents. Since second-generation politicians just take over the 
stable electoral turf held by their parents or grandparents, they 
will not become politicians who can control the bureaucracy. The LDP 
should change, but it no longer has power to reform itself." 
 
Prime Minister Aso has taken a positive stance to a review of the 
spending-cut policy since he assumed office last September. 
Believing that Aso was considering also a review of the policy of 
curbing social security expenditures, persons connected to medical 
associations held high hopes for Aso. However, Aso made a gaffe (on 
Nov. 19): "There are many doctors who lack common sense." 
 
On Nov. 29, in a general meeting of the Niigata City Medical 
Association, in the face of LDP Lower House member, who were invited 
to the meeting, Chairman Kenichi Okawa severely criticized the Aso 
administration: "Prime Minister Aso's policy flip flops and the 
spate of gaffes are regrettable." 
 
Aso's slip of the tongue added fuel to the fire. 
 
A person closed to Aso said ostensibly calmly: "The JMA does not 
have many votes. So the impact on the election will be small." 
However, as seen in the result of the Chiba City Medical 
Association's questionnaire, the outlook is that if many local 
medical associations support the DPJ in an election, an impact on 
the election will not be that small. 
 
Hakuno said: 
 
"Since we conducted the anonymous survey, physicians responded 
genuinely. The support rate for the opposition party was twice 
higher than that for the LDP. This means that physicians are 
seriously angry." 
 
(6) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties 
 
YOMIURI (Page 9) (Full) 
December 8, 2008 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage) 
 
 
TOKYO 00003383  012 OF 016 
 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
Yes 20.9 
No 66.7 
Other answers (O/A) 1.4 
No answer (N/A) 11.0 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) 
Pick only one from among the following reasons for your approval of 
the Aso cabinet. 
 
Something can be expected of its policy measures 23.5 
The prime minister has leadership 11.7 
There's something stable about the prime minister 9.7 
His cabinet's lineup is good 10.3 
Because it's a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New 
Komeito 35.2 
O/A 4.4 
N/A 5.1 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the foregoing question) Pick 
only one from among the following reasons for your disapproval of 
the Aso cabinet. 
 
Nothing can be expected of its policy measures 31.5 
The prime minister lacks leadership 29.2 
There's nothing stable about the prime minister 25.0 
His cabinet's lineup is not good 1.4 
Because it's a coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New 
Komeito 10.3 
O/A 1.1 
N/A 1.6 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 27.2 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 28.2 
New Komeito (NK) 3.3 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3.4 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1.4 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) --- 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) --- 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) --- 
Other political parties --- 
None 33.6 
N/A 2.9 
 
Q: Which one do you think is more appropriate for prime minister 
between Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa? 
 
Prime Minister Aso 28.8 
DPJ President Ozawa 36.4 
N/A 34.7 
 
Q: Do you think the Aso cabinet is dealing exactly with the current 
economic situation? 
 
Yes 9.6 
No 82.5 
N/A 8.0 
 
Q: Regarding a second supplementary budget for an additional package 
 
TOKYO 00003383  013 OF 016 
 
 
of economic stimulus measures, the government and ruling parties 
will not present it to the Diet during its current session. This is 
because it will take time to prepare this extra budget and for some 
other reasons, according to their account. Instead, they will 
present it to the Diet when its ordinary session opens early in the 
new year. Do you think this is appropriate? 
 
Yes 19.6 
No 66.5 
N/A 13.9 
 
Q: The government plans to hand out cash benefits totaling 2 
trillion yen. Do you appreciate this? 
 
Appreciate very much 7.5 
Appreciate somewhat 15.9 
Don't appreciate very much 26.7 
Don't appreciate at all 45.3 
N/A 4.5 
 
Q: Do you appreciate the DPJ's response during the current Diet 
session? 
 
Appreciate very much 6.6 
Appreciate somewhat 21.6 
Don't appreciate very much 34.3 
Don't appreciate at all 24.9 
N/A 12.6 
 
Q: Do you think Prime Minister Aso's recent questionable remarks and 
gaffes will affect his political management? 
 
Affect very much 46.4 
Affect somewhat 30.6 
Don't affect very much 15.2 
Don't affect at all 4.4 
N/A 3.4 
 
Q: When would you like the House of Representatives to be dissolved 
for a general election? 
 
Right away 21.7 
Early in the new year 36.0 
Around the spring of next year 22.4 
Sometime before the current membership's expiry in September 14.3 
N/A 5.6 
 
Q: If an election were to be held now for the House of 
Representatives, which political party would you like to vote for in 
your proportional representation bloc? 
 
LDP 24.2 
DPJ 40.2 
NK 3.5 
JCP 4.3 
SDP 1.1 
PNP 0.3 
RC --- 
NPN 0.1 
Other political parties 0.1 
Undecided 20.5 
N/A 5.6 
 
TOKYO 00003383  014 OF 016 
 
 
 
Q: What form of government would you like to see after the next 
election for the House of Representatives? 
 
LDP-led coalition government 12.2 
DPJ-led coalition government 20.8 
LDP-DPJ grand coalition government 25.4 
Government under new framework after political realignment 32.9 
O/A 0.2 
N/A 8.4 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Dec. 5-7 across the 
nation on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. 
Households with one or more eligible voters totaled 1,819. Valid 
answers were obtained from 1,091 persons (60.0 PERCENT ). 
 
(Note) In some cases, the total percentage does not become 100 
PERCENT  due to rounding. 
 
(7) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Ruling parties refuse to follow prime minister's order to specify 
"consumption tax hike in three years" in midterm program 
 
Mainichi: 
Tax reform outline to be decided on today; Corporate tax to be 
lowered to 18 PERCENT 
 
Yomiuri: 
Stimulus package to amount to 40 trillion yen 
 
Nikkei: 
Government mulls framework to buy 2 trillion yen in commercial 
paper 
 
Sankei: 
January-November period marks record number of indiscriminate 
attacks 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Timeframe for consumption tax hike not to be specified 
 
Akahata: 
JCP Chairman Shii: Workers' counterattack began 
 
(8) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Law to strengthen banking sector: Small firms needs more funds 
(2) Court clerk scandal: Trust in courts undermined 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Refueling mission: Comprehensive support necessary under 
mandate-backed administration 
(2) Tobacco tax hike shelved 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Six-party talks: North Korea's defiant attitude must not be 
allowed 
(2) Plan to cut social security costs has already failed 
 
 
TOKYO 00003383  015 OF 016 
 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Credit crunch must be stopped 
(2) Tough challenges for 30-year-old reform policy of China 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Employment and Human Resources Development Organization of Japan 
must be abolished 
(2) Utilize financial function strengthening law for resolving 
credit crunch 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Tax reform: Where is financial source for social security? 
(2) Japan-China-South Korea summit: Financial crisis requires joint 
step 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Refueling extension legislation too reckless 
 
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, December 11 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 12, 2008 
 
09:41 
Met at Kantei with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Konoike. 
 
10:41 
Met China's People's Daily President Zhang Yannong. 
 
11:04 
Met Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign 
Countries Deputy Chairman Li Ziaolin, joined by Upper House member 
Katsuhito Asano. Met later with ROK-Japan Parliamentary League 
Chairman Lee Sang Duk, attended by Japan-ROK Parliamentary League 
Chairman Yosano. 
 
11:42 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma. 
 
12:58 
Attended Upper House Financial Committee session. 
 
15:51 
Met at Kantei with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani, followed by 
LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hori and Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Kawamura. Hori remained. 
 
16:19 
Met with Yosano. Met later with Deputy Foreign Minister Sasae, Vice 
Finance Minister for International Affairs Shinohara and METI Trade 
Policy Bureau chief Okada, joined by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Matsumoto. 
 
17:08 
Met with Finance Minister Nakagawa, Vice Finance Minister Sugimoto 
and Financial Services Agency Director General Sato. Met later with 
Indonesian Regional Representative Council Chairman Ginandjar, 
followed by Filipino Foreign Minister Romulo. 
 
19:10 
Dined with former Prime Minister Abe, Administrative Reform Minister 
Amari and Election Strategy Council Deputy Chairman Suga, later 
 
TOKYO 00003383  016 OF 016 
 
 
joined by Finance Minister Nakagawa. 
 
22:10 
Returned to his official residence in Kamiyama-cho. 
 
SCHIEFFER