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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 003483 
 
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 12/22/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Anxieties and expectations of "ABB" approach (Yomiuri) 
 
(2) Verification of SDF Iraq dispatch: Overview necessary for future 
(Asahi) 
 
(3) Editorial: Switch to omni-directional diplomacy with SDF 
withdrawal from Iraq (Asahi) 
 
(4) Shaky alliance-5 years on the battlefield (Part 1): Thin-ice 
landings on airport under attack (Yomiuri) 
 
(5) Shaky alliance: Five years at the battlefield (Part 2): 
Reversing stance, U.S. calls for civilian dispatch (Yomiuri) 
 
(6) Nishimatsu Construction-related political organization donated 
420 million yen to politicians, including Mori, Nikai and Ozawa 
(Akahata) 
 
(7) Former Prime Minister Mori: "New Nakagawa party" is possible 
(Nikkei) 
 
(8) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(9) EDITORIALS 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Anxieties and expectations of "ABB" approach 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 21, 2008 
 
By political reporter Ayumi Tsuda 
 
The Japanese Foreign Ministry distributed to journalists in late 
November a paper titled: "Dispel five misunderstandings about the 
incoming Obama administration and Japan-U.S. relations." The paper 
lists five growing concerns: (1) The new administration might make 
light of Japan; (2) the administration might make direct approaches 
to China, bypassing Japan; (3) the administration might make 
concessions to North Korea; (4) Japan-U.S. friction might be 
reignited; and (5) the Japanese Foreign Ministry has few connections 
with the U.S. Democratic Party members. The paper expresses ministry 
views denying these negative possibilities. 
 
The paper first questions whether the next administration would 
treat Japan lightly.  It argues to the contrary: "The incoming 
president understands the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance as 
indispensable, being based on common values and interests and he has 
expressed his support for it." It also states: "The Clinton 
administration signed an agreement to return the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station and issued the joint security declaration." In 
response to concern that there are few ties with Democratic Party 
members, the paper notes confidently: "In preparation for the 
inauguration of a new administration, Japan has taken necessary 
steps from more than a year ago." 
 
President-election Barack Obama has named more members for his 
administration in the run-up to the inauguration of his 
administration in January. He has brought in many persons close to 
 
TOKYO 00003483  002 OF 009 
 
 
former President Bill Clinton, including Hillary Clinton's 
appointment as Secretary of State. 
 
The aim of the Foreign Ministry's release of the paper ahead of the 
inauguration of a the first Democratic administration in eight years 
was to dispel pessimistic views growing in Japan about the future of 
Japan-U.S. relations. The spread of pessimism was touched off by a 
China-centered Asia policy platform written by Senator Clinton last 
fall. But at the root of such pessimism has been fear that the new 
administration might take an approach contradictory to the policies 
taken by the Bush administration. 
 
To make a clear distinction from those of the previous Clinton 
administration, Republican President Bush significantly changed 
foreign and domestic policy directions. This stance was called an 
"anything but Clinton (ABC) approach." 
 
In the days of the Clinton administration, economic friction 
occurred often between Japan and the U.S. In contrast, Japan-U.S. 
relations under the Bush administration were in extremely good 
shape, in part because of a relationship of trust established 
between President Bush and then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. 
That is why many are now worried that the Obama administration might 
take an anything but Bush (ABB) approach. 
 
Meanwhile expectations are growing of the incoming Democratic 
administration in Okinawa Prefecture, which expects the new U.S. 
administration to translate the Futenma-return plan decided by 
former President Clinton into practice. Governor Hirokazu Nakaima 
said: "I have the impression that Mr. Clinton had sensitive feelings 
toward Okinawa. I would also like to talk with Senator Hillary 
Clinton." 
 
It is uncertain, though, what view Clinton has about this issue. A 
person close to Obama said: "It is impossible to decide what 
approach the U.S. should take to the Futenma issue before a new 
cabinet is formed through a general election in Japan." 
 
In the same way as Japan concerned about moves by the incoming Obama 
administration, the U.S. also seems to be nervous about Japan's 
unstable political situation. 
 
(2) Verification of SDF Iraq dispatch: Overview necessary for 
future 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
December 19, 2008 
 
By Hiroshi Nakanishi, professor at Kyoto University 
 
The dispatch of Self-Defense Force troops to Iraq was a major 
turning point in Japan's postwar foreign and security policies. The 
SDF has participated in UN peacekeeping operations (PKO), with 
national security as its basic policy, since the end of the Cold-War 
period. Global opinion was split over the propriety of the Iraq war. 
The Coalition of the Willing was formed from countries that 
cooperated with U.S. and British-led operations, while the rest of 
the world remained opposed to the conflict. Under such a situation, 
the Koizumi administration decided to support the U.S.-led war. 
 
Waging war in Iraq might have not been the right decision for the 
U.S., but Japan's decision to support the U.S. was not wrong. Japan 
 
TOKYO 00003483  003 OF 009 
 
 
was able to achieve politically and diplomatically magnificent 
results by having the SDF perform considerably safe missions, 
although it certainly was favored with luck. 
 
But the approach taken by Prime Minister Koizumi created problems 
for the future. His replies on the location of a noncombat zone were 
illogical. It was a peculiar decision by a peculiar prime minister 
under a peculiar political environment. It is dangerous for confused 
replies to be accepted. Japan has sent Self-Defense Force (SDF) 
troops overseas based on an unrealistic argument. If anything should 
happen, how will Japanese politics take responsibility? Dispatched 
SDF troops must have had such a question. 
 
I do not think that Japanese troops must take part in multinational 
forces without fail based on the Japan-U.S. security treaty. As a 
strategy, it is important for Japanese troops to give priority to 
international cooperation and peace building. It is important for 
the SDF to join hands with nongovernmental organizations (NGO). It 
is also necessary to work out a mechanism for SDF members to join UN 
PKO in Africa and the Middle East in cooperation with China, South 
Korea, and Southeast Asian countries. 
 
The dispatch of SDF troops to Iraq has left major problems. The 
government should responsibly overview the Iraq dispatch and hold 
discussions in the Diet. 
 
(3) Editorial: Switch to omni-directional diplomacy with SDF 
withdrawal from Iraq 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
December 19, 2008 
 
Air Self-Defense Force transport planes, deployed to carry out 
airlift activities in Iraq, have left for Japan, completing a 
five-year mission. 
 
In spite of a split in public opinion, then Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi, who backed the Iraq war, pushed through the SDF dispatch to 
Iraq. SDF personnel carried out airlift activities under intense 
heat in Iraq. 
 
The ASDF airlift squadron often took evasive action as transport 
planes detected danger. Bombs exploded near the vehicles of the 
Ground Self-Defense Force. It was lucky that there were no SDF 
personnel who suffered casualties. 
 
Germany and France did not participate in the Iraq war. Spain and 
Italy withdrew their military units due to a change in government. 
But Japan's SDF continued its activities. This was a notable 
achievement for the Japanese government. 
 
Japan has intently followed the United States for about seven years, 
starting from the 9/11 terrorist attack, and Afghan and Iraq wars. 
The SDF dispatch to Iraq was a symbol of such one-sided diplomacy. 
 
The Iraq war resulted in a devastating consequence. The United 
States failed to justify the war, since there were no weapons of 
mass destruction in Iraq. There have occurred a number of violent 
incidents in Iraq after the dictator was toppled. The war on terror 
has instead emboldened terrorists and spread them. 
 
The taskforce on external affairs, an advisory panel to Prime 
 
TOKYO 00003483  004 OF 009 
 
 
Minister Koizumi, in its 2002 report released before the Iraq war 
started, pointed out that the United States had begun to lose its 
spirit of tolerance toward the objections and different values of 
others, and that as a result, the spirit of U.S. diplomacy would 
likely weaken. Unfortunately, such concern proved right. 
 
However, the Japanese government and the leaders of the ruling 
parties never looked at this fact straight on, but have only kept 
silent. 
 
Japan's postwar foreign policy is described as always following in 
the U.S.' footsteps, but it was rare for Japan to resort to such 
monochromatic diplomacy. 
 
Looking at the 1990s, the Hashimoto and Obuchi administrations 
actively carried out diplomacy not only with such Asian countries as 
China and South Korea but also with Russia and Middle Eastern 
countries. Those governments had a flexible idea of boosting 
national interests by carrying out omni-directional diplomacy with 
Japan-U.S. relations as the bedrock of Japan's diplomacy. 
 
At present, diplomacy with neighboring countries that was destroyed 
the Koizumi administration is now gradually being restored. It has 
been decided that a summit of the leaders of Japan, China and South 
Korea would be held once a year. In the United States, the Bush 
administration, which has focused on unilateral action, will now 
end, and Obama administration, which advocates the importance of 
international cooperation, will soon be inaugurated. 
 
Now is a good chance for Japan to restore omni-directional 
diplomacy. Japan can play an active role in dealing with such 
international issues as the economic crisis and global warming. 
Japan could contribute on its own way to the reconstruction and 
stability of Afghanistan and Iraq. Japan should revitalize its 
participation in UN peace-keeping activities without being bound by 
the context of the Japan-U.S. alliance. 
 
Japan should make the withdrawal of the SDF from Iraq a starting 
point to break away from the diplomacy of always following in the 
footsteps of the United States. 
 
(4) Shaky alliance-5 years on the battlefield (Part 1): Thin-ice 
landings on airport under attack 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 18, 2008 
 
One day in the summer of 2007, Air Self-Defense Force Lt. Gen. Kunio 
Orita's telephone rang. Orita was the commander of the ASDF Air 
Support Command, which locates its headquarters in the western Tokyo 
city of Fuchu, and the command was in charge of commanding the 
ASDF's airlift activities in Iraq. The phone call was from the 
commanding officer of an ASDF detachment based in Kuwait. 
 
"I had a report from the captain right now," the commanding officer 
said over the telephone. He went on: "Baghdad Airport is being 
attacked with rockets. We need your judgment." 
 
An ASDF C-130 cargo plane in flight was instructed by a U.S. 
military air traffic controller to standby over the airport. Above 
and below the ASDF transport, five planes including military 
aircraft were also turning around at intervals of 200 meters. If the 
 
TOKYO 00003483  005 OF 009 
 
 
ASDF plane turned back because a battle was going on, it could run 
into a midair collision with other planes flying around. 
 
Orita turned it over in his mind. "Leave it to the captain. I will 
take responsibility." So saying, Orita hung up the phone. There was 
too little information to judge. An hour later, he received a report 
about the C-130's safe landing. That one hour was tremendously long, 
Orita recalls. 
 
During the ASDF's five-year mission in Iraq, the Air Support Command 
was asked by the ASDF detachment only once at that time for an 
emergency judgment. In April 2007, U.S. forces went into operations 
in full swing to mop up armed insurgents. After that, the ASDF 
troops were always at the risk of their lives. 
 
The C-130s were equipped with a missile sensor when they were sent 
to Iraq. If and when the sensor were to be activated, the alarm 
would sound and missile-guiding flare bombs would be fired. On the 
cockpit screen is an arrow that shows the direction of an 
approaching missile. 
 
"I was frightened many times by the alarm beep sound," says Maj. 
Tomoyuki Sakai, who was a C-130 captain on the airlift mission to 
Iraq from April through August 2007. Sakai was extremely nervous 15 
minutes before landing in Baghdad. That is because a plane in a 
landing approach is within the range (about 4 kilometers) of an 
armed group's antiaircraft missiles. There is no hard evidence to 
show that the ASDF aircraft was ever targeted. However, the captain, 
as soon as the alarm sounds, will try to make a random steep 
approach (RSA) with right and left turns. Six other crewmen onboard 
will look out of the windows to scout out for missiles. A missile 
once flew ahead with white smoke curling, according to Sakai's 
account. 
 
In the summer of 2006, the Ground Self-Defense Force withdrew from 
its Samawah camp. After that, three ASDF C-130 cargo planes, based 
in Kuwait, made flights to and from Baghdad and sometimes to and 
from the northern and southern Iraqi cities of Arbil and Ali. Asked 
by multinational air force headquarters, the ASDF airlifted U.S. 
soldiers, foodstuffs, and supplies everyday except on Saturdays and 
Sundays. The ASDF crew continued their flights over battlefields. 
They flew once or twice a week. On every Wednesday, however, their 
task was hard as they were on a shuttle flight to and from Arbil via 
Baghdad. Their flight was seven hours long. "I lost nearly 3 
kilograms in one day," Sakai said with a sour smile. 
 
The ASDF was able to wind up its mission in Iraq without accidents. 
This is greatly owing to the existence of U.S. forces. For example, 
U.S. air instructors boarded the ASDF C-130s before their Iraq 
mission and they often gave training and advice to the ASDF crew for 
how to dodge missile attacks. When the ASDF was actually on the Iraq 
mission, U.S. forces kept backing up the ASDF mission by providing 
threat information and being ready to rescue the ASDF crew in the 
event of emergencies. This is a result of working hard together as a 
member of the multinational forces. "Alliance is not paper but is 
solidarity," former U.S. Secretary of State Kissinger said. This is 
a message calling Japan into question after Iraq. 
 
Japan and the United States were said to be in a golden age, and the 
Self-Defense Forces' activities in Iraq shored up the bilateral 
relationship. The SDF's Iraq mission has now been completed. There 
will be a change of administration in the United States, and the 
 
TOKYO 00003483  006 OF 009 
 
 
international situation is now at a turning point. Will the 
Japan-U.S. alliance go ahead or retreat? This series will look into 
the alliance that is now at a crossroads. 
 
(5) Shaky alliance: Five years at the battlefield (Part 2): 
Reversing stance, U.S. calls for civilian dispatch 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
December 19, 2008 
 
Attended by Japanese trading firms and construction companies, a 
Japan-Iraq economic form will be held early next year in Iraq. It 
will be the first such event since the Iraq war started in 2003. 
"Thanks to the Self-Defense Forces, we are now able to claim the 
right to do business in Iraq," a connected source said. 
 
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will send before 
year's end its personnel to the northern Iraqi city of Arbil on a 
regular basis. 
 
When the government decided in December 2003 on a Self-Defense Force 
displacement basic plan, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 
played up the significance of SDF activities, saying: "We have to 
prove not only in word but also in action that the Japan-U.S. 
alliance is compatible with international cooperation." Fruitful SDF 
activities have resulted in some room for civilian activities. 
 
The United States is likely to shift its weight from Iraq to 
Afghanistan under the next Obama administration. Washington is 
already turning its attention to civilian activities in place of the 
SDF dispatch. 
 
On December 9, a discussion was held by ambassadors of eight 
countries that have sent troops to Afghanistan. In the session, U.S. 
Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer asked: "It is understandable 
that under the Constitution, (Japan) cannot send the SDF, but what 
about civilians?" In response, British Ambassador David Warren said: 
"I believe it is possible to provide helicopter transport services 
by civilians." In a press conference on December 15, U.S. Department 
of State Japan Desk Director Daniel Russel said: "We strongly hope 
that (Japan) will send specialists, such as police officers and 
nurses." 
 
In reality, activities by JICA and other organizations have achieved 
solid results. At the inaugural ceremony of the Kabul International 
Airport Terminal Building held on November 6, JICA President Sadako 
Ogata pledged that her organization would continue its activities. 
Even so, there have been strong calls for the dispatch of Japanese 
civilians (to Afghanistan). The calls resulted form strong 
disappointment with Tokyo's failure to swiftly improve the law to 
utilize the SDF overseas. 
 
Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan wrote a memoir 
titled What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington's 
Culture of Deception. He also wrote in the preface to his 
Japanese-version memoir: "Whether it was correct or not, Japan has 
gained strong influence over the United States owing to Prime 
Minister Koizumi's decision." 
 
Japan has successfully deepened mutual trust, the core of any 
alliance, by supporting the (Iraq) war, which was not necessarily 
popular in the international community, and by dispatching the SDF 
 
TOKYO 00003483  007 OF 009 
 
 
against all odds. 
 
Many observers think the government made the decision to pull the 
SDF out of Iraq at the best timing. The reason is because seven 
countries, including South Korea, have also announced to withdraw 
their troops from the country by the end of the year and also 
because Japan's withdrawal in this transitional period is unlikely 
to draw fire either from the current or the next U.S. 
administration. 
 
Nevertheless, a review of the government's interpretation of the 
right to collective self-defense has been shelved due to the 
political turmoil after the Koizumi administration. The realignment 
of U.S. forces in Japan centering on Okinawa is also lagging behind 
schedule, and the Aso administration remains unable to decide on 
greater support for Afghanistan and measures against piracy. Even 
though the Democratic Party of Japan led by Ichiro Ozawa advocates 
support for mainland Afghanistan, the party has insisted that the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's fueling mission in the Indian Ocean 
was unconstitutional, causing the United States to become 
increasingly distrustful. 
 
Contrary to the good reputation of the SDF mission in Iraq, the 
foundation of the Japan-U.S. alliance has begun to shake. 
 
(6) Nishimatsu Construction-related political organization donated 
420 million yen to politicians, including Mori, Nikai and Ozawa 
 
SHIMBUN AKAHATA (Page 15) (Full) 
December 21, 2008 
 
Shimbun Akahata learned on December 20 through its own investigation 
that a political organization established by a person associated 
with the Nishimatsu Construction Co., a second-tier general 
construction contractor based in Minato Ward, Tokyo, has been doling 
out donations totaling more than 400 million yen to political 
circles for more than a decade. A former executive of Nishimura 
Construction was indicted on the 9th on charge of professional 
embezzlement for allegedly misappropriating portions of a large 
slush fund that this executive had accumulated through overseas 
business operations. The future course of this investigation will be 
in the spotlight. 
 
The political organization in question is the New Study Group on 
Political Issues. The name is the same as that of late former Prime 
Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's fund management organization. The 
manager of the Management and Control Department of Nishimatsu 
Construction on November 1, 1995, established that organization as 
soon as he retired the company and took office as its 
representative. The organization was disbanded on December 15, 2006. 
A former part-time auditor at Nishimatsu Construction served as the 
accountant there. 
 
According to its political funds report, the study group purchased 
tickets for political fund-raising parties held by politicians and 
factions of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the name of public 
relations expenses for 12 years from 1995 through 2006. It also 
doled out more than 420 million yen in donations to political 
parties and politicians. 
 
Since the retention period for original political funds reports is 
three years, only reports for 2005 and 2006 were available for 
 
TOKYO 00003483  008 OF 009 
 
 
inspection at the Internal Affairs Ministry to find the names of 
politicians who had received donations from the organization. 
 
According the available reports, among LDP members, 4.66 million yen 
was donated to the Nikai Group led by Economy, Trade and Industry 
Minister Toshihiro Nikai, 200,000 yen to Nikai, 3.6 million yen to 
former Transport Minister Takao Fujii, 2 million yen to former Prime 
Minister Yoshiro Mori and former Finance Minister Koji Omi 
respectively and 1 million yen to former National Public Safety 
Commission Commissioner Mikio Hayashi. 
 
Among DPJ members, President Ichiro Ozawa received 10 million yen 
and the DPJ Iwate Prefectural Chapter received 3 million yen. 
 
Heads of local governments also received donations from the 
organization, including 500,000 yen received by Oita Prefectural 
Governor Katsusaka Hirose and Shizuoka Prefectural Governor 
Yoshinobu Ishikawa respectively, 300,000 by Kobe Mayor Tatsuo Yada 
and 700,000 yen by Mayor Yoshio Sakaguchi of Suita City, Osaka. 
 
Funding resources for those donations were membership fees, which 
cost 30-8.2 million yen a year, and political funds-raising parties, 
which the organization held three times a years in the name of the 
New Century Political and Economic Round -Table meeting. 
 
However, there is some unnatural aspect about the organization's 
membership system, such as that the membership was 1,410 in 1996, 
but in 2006, there were only 13 members. It reported that it gained 
about 6 million yen a year from the sales of party tickets. However, 
nothing is known about who purchased those party tickets. 
 
Since Nishimatsu Construction's slush funds became an issue, this 
political organization is urged to clarify its unclear funding 
flow. 
 
(7) Former Prime Minister Mori: "New Nakagawa party" is possible 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 20, 2008 
 
Appearing on a TBS program yesterday, former Prime Minister Yoshiro 
Mori of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) replied to a question 
asking whether former Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa would make 
a move to realign the political world: "He has talked about the 
possibility quite a lot. I have heard about such a possibility for 
some time now." He added: "The LDP and the New Komeito may fail to 
win a majority in the next House of Representatives election. Some 
lawmakers might take action to form a new political party under Mr. 
Nakagawa." 
 
On the possibility of Nakagawa forming a new political party, Mori 
said: "He might have such an intention, unlike me and other LDP 
members who have never left the party." Nakagawa has criticized 
Prime Minister Taro Aso for his announcement of a plan to raise the 
consumption tax three years from now. Asked about Nakagawa's 
criticism, Mori complained: "It is time for all the party members to 
unanimously propose policy measures." 
 
(8) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
Then Prime Minister Sato told U.S. in 1965 to use nuclear weapons in 
 
TOKYO 00003483  009 OF 009 
 
 
event of Japan-China war 
 
Mainichi: 
Aso-Yosano line revived over whether to specify consumption tax hike 
three years from now 
 
Yomiuri: 
Financial crisis also hits Dubai, with number of workers dismissed 
 
Nikkei: 
Survey of 100 corporate chiefs: 86 PERCENT  believe economic slump 
getting worse 
 
Akahata: 
JCP Policy Planning Committee Chairman Koike calls in TV program for 
ruling, opposition camps to devise measures to protect the 
unemployed 
 
(9) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Clarify how money from increased taxes will be used for social 
security 
(2) Step up efforts to rehabilitate those who abuse spouses 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Local governments urged to set up safety net for job security 
(2) Feeling of emptiness behind a series of random street murders 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) With bailout of U.S. automakers, bankruptcy is avoided for a 
while, but crisis will persist 
(2) Announcement of test results: Make efforts to improve students' 
academic ability 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Collapse of WTO talks an emergency signal against protectionism 
(2) U.S. Big-Three automakers must make painful decision 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Massive investment losses at universities perplex students 
(2) Death of Japanese crested ibis: Returning animals to the wild 
necessary 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Let's move forward with a smile at year's end 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Improve nursing-care system and increase facilities 
 
ZUMWALT