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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 000098 
 
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 01/16/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Editorial: Japan should take positive diplomatic approach in 
response to Hillary pro-Japan policy (Sankei) 
 
(2) Foreign Minister Nakasone: Secretary of State-designate 
Clinton's emphasis on Japan-U.S. relations was "reassuring" (Jiji 
Press) 
 
(3) Obama era: In North Korea policy, pay serious attention to 
Japan's stances and requests (Mainichi) 
 
(4) Kasumigaseki confidential: Distance growing between Prime 
Minister's office (Kantei) and Foreign Ministry (Bungei Shunju) 
 
(5) Kasumigaseki confidential: If a DPJ-led government is launched, 
... (Bungei Shunju) 
 
(6) Explosive found to be U.S.-made bomb used during Okinawa Battle 
(Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(7) Okinawa International University helicopter crash information 
disclosure lawsuit: Supreme Court scraps (high court's) presentation 
order, not allowing in-camera deliberations (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(8) Japan should swiftly dispatch MSDF ships to pirate-infested 
waters off Somalia (Sankei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Editorial: Japan should take positive diplomatic approach in 
response to Hillary pro-Japan policy 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 15, 2009 
 
Delivering a speech before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 
during her confirmation hearing, Secretary of State-designate 
Hillary Clinton expressed her resolve to renew the country's 
international leadership by using "smart power" including 
diplomatic, military and economic power, as well as cultural 
influence. 
 
Her speech can be taken as the debut of "Hillary diplomacy" in 
effect. Senator Clinton emphasized that the incoming administration 
of President-elect Barack Obama would take a multinational approach 
as promised in his campaign, saying: "The U.S. cannot solve the most 
pressing problems on its own, and the world cannot solve them 
without the U.S." She then said that the U.S. would address problems 
by cleverly using its all power, with military power as a last 
resort. 
 
In an apparent bid to draw a line between her ideas and the foreign 
policy of the President Bush administration, which had to pour its 
all energy into the war on terror, Clinton indicated a willingness 
to use international organizations and to address climate change. 
She also stressed the need to settle (Middle East issues) from an 
overall viewpoint, taking up the tangle of interests of countries in 
the region, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. 
Anticipating that her ideas and eagerness will contribute to make 
America strong and reliable again, we would like to closely watch 
her diplomatic efforts. 
 
TOKYO 00000098  002 OF 008 
 
 
 
But what we need now are not smart public pledges but pragmatic 
diplomatic efforts. In the U.S. presidential election campaign, 
Senator Clinton criticized President-elect Obama's call for direct 
talks with dictatorships as "immature," but in the hearing, she did 
not deny the possibility of direct talks with North Korea and Iran. 
As shown by the failure in the session of the six-party talks held 
late last year, problems with North Korea and Iran will not be 
easily settled. Those countries do not listen to what others say. We 
expect Clinton to take a well-balanced approach of dialogue and 
pressure. Needless to say, the new administration must not forget 
the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. 
 
Clinton emphasized that the next administration will continue to 
place emphasis on the Japan-U.S. alliance, saying: "The alliance is 
essential in order to maintain peace and prosperity in Asia and is 
based on common values and benefits." In the election campaign, she 
once said, "U.S.-China relations are of primary importance," but in 
the hearing, Clinton said: "The future of U.S.-China relations 
depends on China's moves," indicating that she would urge China to 
take responsible action. 
 
Strengthening and developing the Japan-U.S. alliance are naturally 
important for Japan in Asia, which is going through turbulent 
changes. The relationship of "dependency" that marked that under the 
Bush administration will not pass muster under the Obama 
administration. The two countries are expected to establish a more 
dispassionate relationship. It is likely that the U.S. will urge 
Japan to offer more specific contributions in helping reconstruct 
Afghanistan and combating pirates in waters off Somalia. Instead of 
only making requests to the U.S., Japan as its reliable ally should 
take a positive diplomatic approach. 
 
(2) Foreign Minister Nakasone: Secretary of State-designate 
Clinton's emphasis on Japan-U.S. relations was "reassuring" 
 
JIJI PRESS (Internet) (Full) 
January 16, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, meeting with the press this 
morning after a cabinet meeting, commented on Secretary of 
State-designate Clinton's statement, "The U.S.-Japan alliance is the 
cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy for the Asia region." He said: 
"It thought it was tremendously reassuring. For both countries to 
display their leadership is indispensable for the stability and 
prosperity of the world, in my view. I have worked to strengthen the 
alliance." 
 
(3) Obama era: In North Korea policy, pay serious attention to 
Japan's stances and requests 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
January 16, 2009 
 
Editorial writer Tetsuo Nakajima 
 
North Korea took a high-handed stance in a comment released on 
January 13 by a Foreign Ministry spokesman that went "Our nuclear 
weapons will become unnecessary when the U.S. nuclear threat is 
removed, and the U.S. nuclear umbrella covering South Korea is no 
longer in place." The spokesman said, "Unless that situation comes 
about,) we will never show our nuclear weapons first." 
 
TOKYO 00000098  003 OF 008 
 
 
 
The statement also demands if North Korea's report on its nuclear 
development program is to be verified, inspections should take place 
also of U.S. military bases in South Korea and of armaments that can 
transport nuclear weapons there, as well. 
 
Of course, most observers think that with the inauguration of the 
Obama administration just ahead, North Korea is setting the stage 
here for future talks with the U.S. by asking too much. However, the 
DPRK may be serious. There is lingering concern that Pyongyang may 
never give up its nuclear weapons, unless its present regime 
collapses. 
 
A confirmation hearing to consider Senator Hillary Clinton's 
nomination to become secretary of State took place in Washington the 
same day. Senator Clinton said that she is now looking through the 
records of talks with that nation, hinting that she will deal with 
North Korea's nuclear issue through the six-party talks and direct 
dialogue. Basically, she took a harsh stance, saying, "Our goal is 
to terminate North Korea's nuclear program." 
 
There are some worrisome points, however. Clinton indicated a policy 
of preventing nuclear proliferation from starting in North Korea and 
Iran, stressing a stance of attaching importance to nuclear 
nonproliferation. So far, so good. However, if she means that it 
will be all right for the time being as far as nuclear technology 
does not fall into the hands of other countries or terrorist groups, 
then it would be troublesome for Japan. 
 
Clinton during the hearing praised the Japan-U.S. alliance as the 
cornerstone of American foreign policy in Asia. However, in the 
question session, China was brought up many more times than Japan 
was. It is clear that U.S. interest is tilting toward China in terms 
of both the bright and dark aspects. The six-party talks, in which 
the U.S. and China are key players, form a framework for setting 
North Korea's nuclear development issue. Even so, Japan wants to 
make the six-party talks lead to a settlement of the abduction 
issue. Agreements reached so far in the six-party talks include a 
goal of normalizing ties between Japan and North Korea. However, the 
Japanese public would never accept the option for establishing 
diplomatic relations with a nuclear-capable North Korea amid a 
situation where the six-party talks had failed to make progress on 
the abduction issue. 
 
Such being the case, we have no other choice but to continue our 
requests regarding the Obama administration's North Korea policy. To 
begin with, it must aim at making North Korea dismantle its weapons 
program in a complete and irreversible way. Leniency in the 
negotiations or agreements must be avoided. 
 
We want the Obama administration to understand Japan's pain over the 
abduction issue and to play a role of urging North Korea to join 
talks with Japan. If it errs on this, friction like that which 
occurred in the last days of the Bush administration would once 
again occur. 
 
(4) Kasumigaseki confidential: Distance growing between Prime 
Minister's office (Kantei) and Foreign Ministry 
 
BUNGEI SHUNJU (Page 234 &235) (Full) 
February 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00000098  004 OF 008 
 
 
The presence of the Foreign Ministry has dwindled in the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). After the Aso administration 
was inaugurated, incumbent Deputy Vice Minister Chikao Kawai was 
suddenly sacked from the post of assistant deputy chief cabinet 
secretary. Relations between the ministry and Prime Minister Taro 
Aso are delicate indeed. The relationship between Aso and 
Administrative Vice Minister Mitoji Yabunaka is not so close, but 
instead it has grown rather distant. 
 
Reportedly, visits to the Kantei by senior ministry officials, 
including Deputy Minister Kenichiro Sasae and Asian and Oceanian 
Affairs Bureau Director General Akitaka Saiki, are fewer in number 
than those of their predecessors. The situation implies the 
farsightedness of the ministry which has adjusted the timing in a 
cautious manner. 
 
Under such circumstances, Aso reportedly has found former Deputy 
Press Secretary Tomohiko Taniguchi, currently an advisor to the 
ministry, useful, relying on him as a speech writer. 
 
Taniguchi was picked by then Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura. At 
that time, Taniguchi was a senior staff member of Nikkei Business 
Publications Inc., which publishes the weekly magazine Nikkei 
Business. He is famous for his English capability. He once appeared 
on a BBC debate program when he was a correspondent in London. Aso, 
the replacement of Machimura as foreign minister, highly appreciated 
not only Taniguchi's English capability but also his ability to 
gather information. It is believed that the appointment of Taniguchi 
as an advisor to the ministry is in line with the intention of Aso, 
who likes to have unique information pipelines. We can say that the 
appointment of Taniguchi, who is not a Foreign Ministry bureaucrat, 
to an important post as an advisor indicates that there is the 
distance between Aso and the Foreign Ministry. 
 
(5) Kasumigaseki confidential: If a DPJ-led government is launched, 
... 
 
BUNGI SHUNJU (Page 235) 
February 2009 
 
With the Aso administration's plummeting support rate in the polls, 
high-ranking bureaucrats are trembling with fear at the possibility 
of the Democratic Party of Japan (DP) taking the reins of 
government. The DPJ-led by Ichiro Ozawa intends to have all bureau 
director-level officials in the government offices submit their 
resignations if the party grabs power. Because of a shortage of 
talent, the DPJ will likely allow most ministries and agencies to 
reappoint their senior officials. However, in an attempt to give the 
impression of a change in government and its effort for breaking up 
the bureaucracy, the DPJ is expected to target the Finance Ministry 
and Foreign Ministry for reforming the bureaucracy. 
 
Top Finance Ministry officials have served for the governments led 
by the Liberal Democratic Party. For example, Administrative Vice 
Minister Sugimoto served as a secretary to then Prime Minister 
Yoshiro Mori; and Budget Bureau Director General Tango, as secretary 
to then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. If an Ozawa-led 
administration is launched before July when personnel changes are 
usually carried out in the Finance Ministry, the possibility is that 
the vice minister and candidates for the vice minister's post will 
be sacked. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000098  005 OF 008 
 
 
A rumor is going around that if this is the case, a private-sector 
person would be appointed as vice finance minister in a dramatic 
way, or Budget Bureau Deputy Director General Shunsuke Kagawa, the 
only person in the ministry who has a communication channel to 
Ozawa, would be promoted to the vice minister's post. The reason is 
that Kagawa served as secretary to then Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Ozawa in the Takeshita cabinet. 
 
In the Foreign Ministry, Deputy Minister Sasae and Deputy Vice 
Minister Kawai are candidates to succeed Vice Minister Yabunaka. 
Like Sugimoto, Sasae served as secretary to the Prime Minister Mori. 
How Sasae will be treated remains to be seen. Yabunaka could be 
retained in his current post, because he got acquainted with Ozawa 
when Ozawa was secretary general of the LDP. It is said that 
Yabunaka indirectly supported the Hosokawa administration's rice 
import liberalization policy. 
 
For about last ten years, the Finance Ministry and Foreign Ministry 
have maintained influence by sending ace-officers to the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). However, if political change 
occurs, the senior officials of the two ministries could be removed 
from the front stage. It is a lucky break that both ministries did 
not send ace-officers to the Aso cabinet. 
 
(6) Explosive found to be U.S.-made bomb used during Okinawa Battle 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 1) (Full) 
January 15, 2009 
 
The explosion that took place yesterday morning at a construction 
site in the city of Itoman injured two persons seriously or slightly 
and shattered a nearby facility's windowpanes. Okinawa prefectural 
police concluded yesterday that the explosive that went off there 
was a dud bomb used during the Battle of Okinawa, given that a base 
detonating fuse was discovered at the site. According to government 
officials and police authorities, the discovered base fuse was made 
in the United States. The dud bomb is believed to be a U.S.-made 
250-kilogram bomb, judging from the scale of its explosion. The 
Ground Self-Defense Force's 1st Combined Brigade, mobilized at the 
prefectural police's request, confirmed yesterday afternoon that the 
base fuse discovered at the site was made in the United States. 
Itoman Mayor Hirotsune Uehara revealed that magnetic prospecting had 
been little made for roadworks ordered by the city's municipal 
government. The mayor indicated that the city would carry it out for 
future roadworks. 
 
According to the GSDF, the fuse was found with its fitting portion, 
which is about 20 centimeters across and about 3 centimeters thick. 
The discovered base fuse is fitted to a bomb that weighs 50 
kilograms to 1 ton. The dud bomb that exploded this time has yet to 
be identified in terms of what type and how large. However, the 
government and the prefectural police-judging from the scale of the 
explosion and other findings-surmise that the dud bomb is likely to 
be a 250-kg bomb with a diameter of about 35 centimeters and an 
overall length of about 120 centimeters. In Okinawa Prefecture, a 
number of 250-kg bombs have been discovered. 
 
A stone, which is believed to be blown off by the blast, hit and 
damaged the piping framework of a plastic greenhouse in a farm 
situated about 700 meters away from the explosion site, the Ryukyu 
Shimpo found. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000098  006 OF 008 
 
 
According to the Children's Medical Center at the Okinawa 
Prefectural Southern Medical Center, Jun Kohagura, a 25-year-old 
construction worker of Tomigusuku in the prefecture, was involved in 
the explosion and seriously injured in the face and chest. His 
aspiration and blood pressure are normal. However, the hospital says 
he could have complications and it therefore cannot tell anything 
about his condition. 
 
Most seriously damaged is a nursing home. The blast shattered about 
100 windowpanes at the facility. Its damaged portions are fixed with 
plywood boards for temporary repairs. The home predicts that repairs 
would take a month or longer. 
 
The explosion took place at around 8:20 a.m. Kohagura was operating 
a power shovel at a waterworks construction site when the explosion 
occurred, according to the police. In this explosion, a 75-year-old 
male tenant of the nursing home was slightly injured in the leg with 
a piece of broken glass. 
 
(7) Okinawa International University helicopter crash information 
disclosure lawsuit: Supreme Court scraps (high court's) presentation 
order, not allowing in-camera deliberations 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 1) (Full) 
January 16, 2009 
 
In connection with a lawsuit by Tetsu (?) Nagamine, 43, of Naha City 
seeking the disclosure of documents on Japan-U.S. talks over an 
August 2004 crash of a U.S. military helicopter in Okinawa 
International University, the Supreme Court's First Petty Bench 
(Presiding judge Tatsuo Kainaka) made a decision on Jan. 15 
overturning the Fukuoka High Court's decision that ordered the state 
to present the court with part of the documents. This is the first 
decision not allowing de facto closed-door deliberations (in-camera 
deliberations) to decide whether or not to disclose (undisclosed 
documents) by allowing only a court to have access to undisclosed 
documents. 
 
The top court's First Petty Bench scrapped the Fukuoka High Court's 
May 2008 decision that ordered the state to present the undisclosed 
parts, noting that in order for a court to make a decision from a 
neutral position, it is absolutely imperative to have direct access 
to documents. The top court also rejected Nagamine's appeal for an 
order for disclosing objects to be inspected, effectively dismissing 
his demand for information disclosure. 
 
In May 2005, Nagamine filed a lawsuit with the Fukuoka District 
Court demanding that all documents be disclosed, claiming that the 
government's step not to disclose parts of the documents on 
Japan-U.S. talks was unjust. The court in the first instance 
dismissed his demand on the grounds that relations of trust with the 
United States would be harmed from a security perspective. Nagamine 
appealed, and the Fukuoka High Court consequently ordered the 
government to disclose the documents. The state then appealed to the 
Supreme Court. 
 
The Fukuoka High Court ruled that in-camera deliberations should be 
allowed when it was essential for a court making a final decision to 
directly confirm documents. Meanwhile, Supreme Court First Petty 
Bench Presiding Judge Kainaka ruled that unless there is a clear 
provision, evidence cannot be examined under the in-camera formula, 
noting that if disclosed documents were examined in an information 
 
TOKYO 00000098  007 OF 008 
 
 
disclosure suit, that would result in a situation effectively the 
same as the disclosure of documents. Learning of the Supreme Court's 
decision, Nagamine expressed anger, saying, "It was regrettable. I 
wanted to see a ruling in favor of my claim." A Justice Ministry 
official said: "The in-camera procedure is not allowed under the 
Information Disclosure Law. It was natural the court made the 
decision in favor of the state." 
 
(8) Japan should swiftly dispatch MSDF ships to pirate-infested 
waters off Somalia 
 
SANKEI (Page 13) (Slightly abridged) 
January 16, 2009 
 
By Satoshi Morimoto, professor at Takushoku University Graduate 
School 
 
20 ships engaged in anti-piracy operations 
 
Piracy is terrorism in the high seas. Behind the rampant hijackings 
by pirates in waters near Somalia is the collapse of its government. 
Pirates armed with rocket launchers and other heavy weapons attack 
commercial freighters and kidnap crewmembers for ransom. Their acts 
are violent and vicious. More than 100 attack cases in the Somalia 
waters reported last year.  The number of hijacked ships reached 36, 
with 700 crewmembers detained. 
 
Over 2,000 Japanese ships navigate the Somalia waters annually, with 
5.5 ships a day on average. Last year, seven ships were attacked by 
pirates in the waters. Pirates target particularly LNG tankers 
because of their slow speed. 
 
The UN has adopted four UN Security Council resolutions. Based on 
the resolutions, many countries have already mobilized their 
warships to the waters. A total of 20 naval vessels have been 
deployed there, but more vessels are needed there. 
 
Japan should quickly dispatch Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) 
vessels to guard tankers and member crew, an essential duty to 
secure resources. The Japan Coast Guard (JCG) (patrol ships) cannot 
take effective countermeasures in the pirate-infested Somalia 
waters. Dispatching MSDF vessels is desirable in light of exchanging 
information with warships and patrol planes from other countries and 
carrying out cooperative operations. 
 
New legislation best, but many problems to clear lie 
 
Other countries can send warships without taking new legal measures, 
but Japan needs new legislation to authorize its dispatch plan. If 
the government decides to dispatch MSDF vessels, the best way would 
be to enact a new law that includes clear rules for the MSDF to use 
weapons on the mission, as pointed out by Yoshiko Sakurai in the 
Sankei Shimbun dated Jan. 8. 
 
Upon saying that it would take time for legal preparations, Prime 
Minister Aso instructed government officials concerned to study the 
possibility of deploying MSDF vessels on an anti-piracy mission 
under a provision in the Self-Defense Forces Law to order a maritime 
policing action. The cabinet has started drafting a bill, and the 
ruling parties have also begun a discussion. 
 
In preparing new legislation, there are a host of problems to clear, 
 
TOKYO 00000098  008 OF 008 
 
 
such as a legal basis for the dispatch, standards for the use of 
weapons, rescue of other countries' ships, and treatment of arrested 
pirates. Despite such problems, I hope that the government will 
enact a law without fail in light of national interests. 
 
Even if a bill authorizing the dispatch plan is submitted to the 
Diet in March, however, it is uncertain whether the bill would be 
enacted in the divided Diet. Even if new legislation is prepared, 
first naval vessels will not arrive at the Somalia waters before 
early summer due to necessary preparations. 
 
China has already sent three warships into Somalia waters. South 
Korea is making legal preparations and plans to have its troops join 
the coalition group soon. Taiwan reportedly will also shortly 
dispatch warships. Japan must take action, given that a number of 
its freighters have sailed these dangerous waters. 
 
Action possible with coordination among government agencies 
 
In the Defense Ministry, discussions have been conducted on the plan 
to dispatch MSDF vessels, including a case of dispatch under the 
provision on maritime patrol action, and will soon submit a report 
to the defense minister. In this case, Japan will be able to take 
prompt action, but troops are not allowed to use weapons in 
arresting criminals or preventing their escape, so they will be 
unable to provide protection to other countries' ships. In addition, 
there is the question of propriety of holding in Japan trial of 
pirates arrested by JCG officers. 
 
The provision on maritime patrol action is invoked for MSDF escort 
ships to be mobilized to cope with a situation that demands higher 
capability than what the JCG (patrol ships) can offer. Maritime 
patrol action based on the provision is taken as an extension of 
policing action but is categorized as exercising the right to 
individual self-defense. So there is no need to explain the action 
in relation to UNSC resolutions, international cooperation, or the 
Japan-U.S. alliance. 
 
The above listed problems should be discussed in the process of 
deliberating on new legislation. There supposedly will be scenes in 
which SDF troops exchange information with troops from other 
countries, but the main purpose is to protect national interests, 
including the safety of Japanese ships and member crew. It would be 
wise for Japan to swiftly take measures under the provision on 
maritime policing action while advancing legislation work. 
 
To take maritime policing action, relevant ministers (the chief 
cabinet secretary, the transport minister, the defense minister, and 
the foreign minister) should hold a meeting, quickly carry out 
coordination, and then seek the prime minister's decision. This 
process can be done in a day. It is hard to understand why the 
government remains indecisive about the dispatch of SDF troops on 
the mission of protecting the state and the people. 
 
ZUMWALT