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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 000367 
 
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 02/18/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Disappointed with unexpected events in Japan, U.S. opts for 
direct dialogue with public over government (Asahi) 
 
(2) Diplomatic events a gamble for Aso (Asahi) 
 
(3) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Tokyo pays respect to 
Japanese culture (Sankei) 
 
(4) U.S. Secretary of State Clinton's Japan visit indicates U.S. 
stance of attaching importance to alliance with Japan: Is Japan's 
contribution to Afghanistan, climate change, relations with China 
expected? (Yomiuri) 
 
(5) U.S. administration sees Japan with compound eyes (Nikkei) 
 
(6) Editorial: Visit of U.S. Secretary of State to Japan allows 
chance to deepen policy coordination from a strategic perspective 
(Yomiuri) 
 
(7) Editorial: Action needed for deeper alliance (Sankei) 
 
(8) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(9) EDITORIALS 
 
(10) Prime Minister's schedule, February 17 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Disappointed with unexpected events in Japan, U.S. opts for 
direct dialogue with public over government 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
February 18, 2009 
 
Yoichi Kato, Naoto Inagaki 
 
Shoichi Nakagawa's resignation as finance minister monopolized 
Japanese television programs last evening when foreign media, such 
as CNN and BBC, were reporting live a joint press conference held 
after the Japan-U.S. foreign ministerial. The Nakagawa fiasco that 
overshadowed activities by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 
has deeply disappointed the United States government, which chose 
Japan as Secretary Clinton's first foreign destination. Such a 
development has already cast a pall on the first meeting between 
Prime Minister Taro Aso and President Barack Obama, planned for Feb. 
¶24. 
 
Nakagawa's resignation has dealt a serious blow to the Aso 
administration which has been following a reckless path. A source 
connected with the U.S. government discouragingly said: "Everyone 
(in the United States) is disappointed. What does it take to create 
a (Japanese) government that can implement agreements? A path 
leading to that end is nowhere in sight." 
 
The United States pinned great hopes on Clinton's visit to Japan 
ahead of other countries. 
 
The Japan-U.S. summit to be held on Feb. 24 was formally announced 
in the foreign ministerial yesterday. The announcement required 
 
TOKYO 00000367  002 OF 013 
 
 
tremendous efforts for arranging the event in accordance with 
Japan's strong desire to realize it before the G-20 financial summit 
in April. According to connected source, Clinton did not have the 
go-ahead from the White House (for the announcement of the Aso-Obama 
meeting) when she departed from Washington and it was only about two 
hours before her plane arrived at Haneda Airport that the final 
decision was conveyed to Japan. Secretary Clinton reportedly placed 
a call to Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone during the flight to 
let him know that. 
 
As part of her homework, Secretary Clinton listened to views from 
experts ahead of her Asian tour. There was a scene in which Clinton 
cut off an expert discussing China, saying, "I want to hear about 
Japan." Her eagerness was evident from her Feb. 17 schedule that was 
packed with events from a visit to Meiji Shrine at 8:30 in the 
morning to a meeting with Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) executives 
after the dinner party. 
 
According to a connected source, the United States tried especially 
hard to send a message directly to the Japanese public. In fact, 
Secretary Clinton gave many interviews to Japanese newspapers, 
including the Asahi Shimbun, and television broadcasters, and held a 
town hall meeting at the University of Tokyo. "It is as if her 
presidential campaign was continuing," a person connected with the 
U.S. government commented. 
 
There is no doubt that the United States had paralyzed Japanese 
politics in mind. If the Japanese government and political parties 
cannot play the kind of role the United States expect to see them 
in, the idea was to pave the way for strengthening relations with 
Japan by directly talking to the Japanese public. 
 
Nakagawa's resignation was something that the United States had not 
calculated on. 
 
There is a high likelihood that Prime Minister Aso, who has been 
invited to the White House as the first foreign leader, will further 
lose momentum.  A U.S. official ostensibly explained: "Forging 
personal relationships is not our goal. The question is how the two 
countries can cooperate. There will be no problem." 
 
It is true that there is such a side to managing an alliance. It is 
also a fact that the United States now feels a sense of 
accomplishment from, among other events, the signing of a U.S. force 
realignment pact, through Clinton's Japan visit. At the same time, 
the United States showed some disappointment, with one official 
saying, "It was not the best scenario." 
 
A power shift from the LDP to the DPJ would be one possibility to 
break the political gridlock in Japan. The DPJ, however, had to make 
arrangements for a meeting between Clinton and its president, Ichiro 
Ozawa, after initially turning down a U.S. request, showing that the 
largest opposition party was as disoriented as the Aso 
administration. This, too, has disappointed the United States. 
 
(2) Diplomatic events a gamble for Aso 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
February 18, 2009 
 
"How are you? Thank you for choosing Japan as your first official 
destination," Prime Minister Taro Aso said in English while shaking 
 
TOKYO 00000367  003 OF 013 
 
 
hands with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at his office 
last night. 
 
Shortly before the meeting with Clinton, Aso was asked by a reporter 
about the significance of his meeting with President Barack Obama 
which would be held earlier than expected. In response, Aso said: "I 
think it is based on the desire to maintain the sound alliance with 
Japan under the extremely difficult economic conditions. An alliance 
is a living creature." 
 
The prime minister and his aides who are struggling with dwindling 
support ratings are trying to find a way out in diplomacy, in which 
Aso takes pride. 
 
The prime minister is scheduled to meet with Russian President 
Dmitry Medvedev in Sakhalin on Feb. 18 and with U.S. President 
Barack Obama in Washington on Feb. 24. Those events were set based 
on proposals from the two leaders for the weekdays when Diet 
deliberations would enter into the most critical phase. "There is no 
other option but to make a public appeal on the diplomatic front," a 
high-ranking official said. 
 
But Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa's resignation has generally 
blown up Aso's plan to turn the tables with those diplomatic events 
as the leverage. While Clinton was calmly carrying out diplomatic 
events yesterday, Nakagawa was busy explaining the trouble he 
caused. 
 
To begin with, Japan had almost no "cards" to show to the visiting 
U.S. Secretary of State for strengthening Japan-U.S. relations. 
Given the divided Diet, there are no prospects to dispatch the 
Self-Defense Force to support Afghanistan, the Obama 
administration's top priority. It is unknown whether Japan can 
respond positively to Washington's call for possessing more U.S. 
bonds. 
 
The Feb. 24 Japan-U.S. summit might end up accentuating the contrast 
between the world's most vigorous president and the increasingly 
unpopular prime minister. 
 
Asked about the significance of the planned visit to the United 
States by Aso who is close to being a lame-duck prime minister, a 
senior Foreign Ministry official said: "The (United States) will 
hold the summit with Japan. Japan is extremely important 
strategically and geopolitically. It is designed to serve their 
interest." This comment can be taken to mean that the United States 
does not care about the prime minister. 
 
A former foreign minister of the ruling bloc cynically noted: "I was 
surprised that the Japan-U.S. summit has been set for Feb. 24 under 
these circumstances. It is America's effort to rescue the Aso 
administration. That probably means that the Obama administration 
prefers the Aso administration over the Ozawa-led DPJ." 
 
(3) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Tokyo pays respect to 
Japanese culture 
 
SANKEI (Page 6) (Slightly abridged) 
February 18, 2009 
 
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is indisputably a 
"star," setting aside a question of like or dislike of her. That 
 
TOKYO 00000367  004 OF 013 
 
 
star visited Japan. In the cutthroat contest for the Democratic 
presidential nomination, she had tears in her eyes without 
disguising his feelings on occasion. What expressions was she taking 
on while in Tokyo? 
 
Meiji Shrine 
 
On the 17th, Secretary Clinton started the day with a visit to Meiji 
Shrine in Shibuya Ward. Clinton, wearing a blue jacket and black 
slacks, told reporters with a smile in the precincts of the shrine: 
"I came here to pay respect to the history and culture of Japan." 
 
Clinton paid her respects by offering a tamagushi - a sprig from the 
sakaki tree - and bowing once in front of the shrine. Accompanied by 
the shrine's chief priest, Seitaro Nakajima, she watched shrine 
maidens perform a sacred dance based on a poem by Emperor Showa, 
that indicated hopes for peace. 
 
There was a scene in which Clinton went up to a couple who were 
taking their three-month-old baby girl to the shrine to pray for 
blessing and spoke to them. She also listened to the chief priest's 
explanation about the shrine in which he emphasized the importance 
of "balance and harmony." 
 
U.S. Embassy 
 
After visited Meiji Shrine, Secretary Clinton dropped in at the U.S. 
Embassy in Minato Ward and spoke before about 200 employees. 
Probably greatly impressed by the priest's words, she said: 
"(Pursuing balance and harmony) is a wonderful approach for the U.S. 
in performing its duties in the world." 
 
She meant that these are essentials for the Obama administration's 
policy of giving priority to multinational cooperation. 
 
Imperial Palace 
 
Secretary Clinton arrived at the Imperial Palace a few minutes 
before 3:00 p.m. for a tea ceremony hosted by Empress Michiko. They 
chatted for about an hour. The Empress met Clinton at the entrance, 
and the two women embraced. They previously met in April, 1996, when 
she visited Japan as the wife of then President Bill Clinton. 
Hillary Clinton was invited to the palace in her capacity as a 
former first lady, and not as state secretary. 
 
Tokyo University 
 
Clinton attended a town meeting with 270 students at the University 
of Tokyo in Bunkyo Ward. In her speech, she referred to the North 
Korean nuclear development issue. Besides, she emphasized that the 
U.S. and Japan have long established friendly relations, citing such 
names as New York Yankees player Hideki Matsui and U.S. major league 
members who visited Japan about 75 years ago, including Babe Ruth. 
She then stressed the need for younger generations to further 
develop ties between the two countries. 
 
Tokyo University students actively posed questions about various 
issues that included the Japan-U.S. alliance, the North Korean 
nuclear problem, climate change, religions, and women's 
participation in society. Clinton eagerly replied as if she were 
doing during a session of the U.S. Senate. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000367  005 OF 013 
 
 
The atmosphere in the hall became animated when one female student 
asked: "How can I become as strong as you?" She jokingly replied 
first: "I played baseball with boys quite often." She then eagerly 
and seriously said: 
 
"Be faithful to yourself and carry out what you think are important, 
even if they are different from your parents' or friends' views. 
Stand up to translate your dream into reality. 
 
Clinton became excited when she spoke of Afghanistan. 
 
"Islamic extremists have not approved of giving educational 
opportunities to women. A girl at the age of 12 or 13 who had 
suffered a serious burn caused by an extremist told me, 'I am 
feeling uneasy, considering when I can go back to school'." 
 
Hitomi Kurokawa, a senior student of the department of agriculture, 
commented: "I used to have the impression that she was strong and 
cool, but I found sincere and truthful aspects to her character. In 
order for women to survive in a male society, it probably is 
necessary to be honest with themselves. I thought she was honest and 
cool." 
 
Clinton met with Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa at 
the Hotel Okura few minutes after 9:00 p.m. At the outset of the 
meeting, they shook hands with smiling for photos, but they did not 
exchange words. When Ozawa said: "(Taking photos) has finished, 
hasn't it," she held out both arms. 
 
Haneda Airport 
 
Delivering a speech during a welcome ceremony held for her in the 
VIP room at Haneda Airport just after arriving in Japan on the night 
of the 16th, State Secretary Clinton said to female astronauts, 
Chiaki Mukai and Naoko Yamazaki: "I wanted to become an astronaut 
when I was little." 
 
Athletes with intellectual disabilities also attended the ceremony. 
Saying, "The combination of athletes and astronauts is wonderful," 
Clinton posed for photos with a tender smile at them. The pictures 
taken there were distributed across the world through foreign news 
agencies. 
 
(4) U.S. Secretary of State Clinton's Japan visit indicates U.S. 
stance of attaching importance to alliance with Japan: Is Japan's 
contribution to Afghanistan, climate change, relations with China 
expected? 
 
YOMIURI (Page 11) (Full) 
February 18, 2009 
 
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Japan for the first 
time since taking office. She met with various Japanese leaders, 
starting with Prime Minister Aso. This news paper delved into the 
intention of the Obama administration in attaching importance to 
Japan. 
 
Both quality, quantity enriching 
 
Secretary Clinton on February 17 kept her schedule, which was 
divided into minutes, in Tokyo. She widely saw to Japan-U.S. 
relations, meeting with key government officials, including Prime 
 
TOKYO 00000367  006 OF 013 
 
 
Minister Aso and Foreign Minister Nakasone. At a town hall meeting 
held at Tokyo University, she gave maximum consideration to the 
Japanese public as well, by saying, "I would like your generation to 
further solidify the Japan-U.S. alliance." 
 
There was a scene that astonished the Japanese side during a meeting 
with her counterpart Nakasone. She touched on the Tokyo 
International Conference on African Development (TICAD) hosted by 
Japan in detail, when their talk moved to assistance to Africa. A 
Foreign Ministry official, who was present at the meeting, was 
amazed at her bringing up TICAD, saying, "TICAD is hardly known, and 
yet ..." 
 
Clinton and Nakasone exchanged views of global-scale issues, such as 
bilateral relations, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region and 
climate change, in detail. They confirmed that Japan, the U.S. and 
South Korea will cooperate in dealing with issues involving North 
Korea. Concerning China, they agreed to get involved in pending 
issues in the international community, such as climate change and 
the economy, in a constructive manner. 
 
The meeting was enriching in terms of both quality and quantity. The 
Japanese government appears to have managed its first encounter with 
the U.S. Obama administration innocuously. 
 
Also aimed at wiping away anxieties about Democratic administration 
 
Clinton has used the word "cornerstone" when describing the 
seriousness of Japan-U.S. relations from before she took office. She 
used the word during a joint press conference held after the foreign 
ministerial meeting. Regarding the bilateral summit set for the 
24th, she said, "Prime Minister Aso will be the first world leader 
to visit President Obama at the White House." She stressed to the 
utmost the U.S. stance of attaching importance to Japan. 
 
The Japanese government views that the U.S. approach reflects that 
it attaches importance to the presence in Asia of Japan, with which 
it has had an alliance for more than 50 years. Asia, too, is saddled 
with many uncertain factors. The Japanese government has been 
worried about a Democratic administration, which came into power 
after an eight-year hiatus. Tokyo feared it might lean toward China. 
But now it believes that the U.S.' laying importance on Japan is 
aimed at wiping away such concern. 
 
Keio University Professor Naoyuki Agawa, a specialist in American 
diplomacy, analyzed, "The U.S. has made a cool-headed determination 
that it must not treat Japan lightly amid a growing change in 
economic and security matters in the global situation." 
 
For instance, regarding assistance for the reconstruction of 
Afghanistan, which the Obama administration prioritizes, some U.S. 
government sources expect to see Japan apply its experience and 
track records to such areas as assistance to developing countries 
and assistance for reconstruction and development, instead of 
assistance on the military front. Clinton during a joint press 
conference said, "We want to learn from Japan's past involvement as 
much as possible and use its experience as reference when reviewing 
the U.S. policy toward Afghanistan." 
 
U.S. sources say that they hope Japan will display leadership in 
setting rules regarding the climate change issue. Japan will be 
asked to make more proactive efforts for international contribution. 
 
TOKYO 00000367  007 OF 013 
 
 
Former National Security Council Senior Director for Asian Affairs 
Michael Green said: "Tokyo has been worried about Japan passing. 
However, what it should be worried about now is whether it can take 
contribution measures that will meet expectations." 
 
The Obama administration intends to bring not only industrialized 
countries but also emerging countries, such as China, into its 
network. It is expected to pursue practical diplomacy that attaches 
importance to relations that will lead to settling global-scale 
issues. Following the Japan-U.S. foreign ministerial meeting on the 
17th, Foreign Minister Nakasone will visit China for talks with its 
leaders. One foreign affairs expert of the Democratic Party pointed 
out that it will become more important for Japan to tackle issues 
spontaneously, saying, "If Japan cannot join us as a partner, we 
will leave it behind." 
 
Countries with sources of contention avoided in her first foreign 
trip: Aspect of being visit of courtesy in Clinton's Japan visit 
 
U.S. motives 
 
Some take a slightly different view of State Secretary Clinton's 
Japan visit, during which she strongly indicated a stance of laying 
emphasis on Japan. 
 
The Obama administration has been promoting proactive diplomacy on a 
global scale ever since the inauguration. On January 22, the third 
day since the inauguration, the administration announced the 
appointment of former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of the 
Democratic Party as special envoy for Middle East Peace to be in 
charge of currently most prominent issues. Former Ambassador to the 
UN Richard Holbrooke, who contributed to the General Framework 
Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been picked as a 
Special Representative responsible for Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
Mitchel and Holbrooke visited those countries respectively soon 
after their appointments to the posts. The Obama administration 
early February also dispatched Vice President Biden to Europe, U.S. 
relations with which worsened during the former Bush administration. 
Biden sought more contribution from Europe regarding measures on 
Afghanistan. 
 
For this reason, some take the view that the administration is 
"preserving" Clinton, who has just made her debut (on the 
international stage), by having her play a role of engaging in an 
image strategy as a key person of the administration so as to 
impress its diplomatic principles and stance, while having experts 
and politicians experienced in foreign affairs deal with actual work 
in countries with flashpoints. This is the reason why some say that 
though the U.S. administration says that it will attach importance 
to Japan, there is, in fact, an aspect of being a visit of courtesy 
about her Japan visit. 
 
There is a mountain of serious issues in Asia, such as North Korea's 
nuclear issue. However, many observers say that the degree of 
urgency concerning the North Korea issue is lower, compared with the 
Middle East issue. In that sense, Clinton's tour of Asia appears to 
have laid emphasis on appealing to the international community the 
Obama administration's effort to create a global network designed to 
settle problems that cannot be solved by a single country, instead 
of resolving pressing issues. 
 
(5) U.S. administration sees Japan with compound eyes 
 
TOKYO 00000367  008 OF 013 
 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 18, 2009 
 
The relationship between Japan and the United States goes beyond the 
simple ties between the governments of the two countries. The 
bilateral relationship includes a broad range of areas of common 
interest. Japan and the United States should deepen the various 
aspects of the relationship regardless of political party 
affiliations. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appears to have 
sent such a message to Japan through her visit. 
 
Clinton chose Asia on her first oversea stop as secretary of State. 
Vice President Joe Biden visited Europe; Special Envoy George 
Mitchell, the Middle East; and Special Representative Richard 
Holbrooke, South Asia. Clinton's travel to Asia is part of efforts 
to enhance role-sharing. 
 
Clinton emphasized that she had chosen Japan for her first trip 
abroad. She then revealed in Tokyo a plan to hold a summit between 
Prime Minister Taro Aso and President Barack Obama on Feb. 24. Aso 
will be the first foreign leader to meet with Obama at the White 
House. 
 
Japan's successive governments had close feelings toward Republican 
administrations, but Democratic governments made them feel alarmed. 
The Obama administration was probably conscious of that. It then 
came to the Aso administration's rescue by arranging such events as 
a meeting between Clinton and the family members of Japanese 
abducted by North Korea, realizing that Prime Minister Aso was at an 
impasse politically. In return for that, Aso hosted a dinner party 
for Clinton at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. While it is 
usual for a leader to host a dinner party for a top leader, it is 
unusual for a leader to hold such for a cabinet minister. 
 
After the dinner party, Clinton met with Ichiro Ozawa, president of 
the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). If the 
bilateral relationship does not mean just relations between the two 
governments, it is only natural for the Obama administration to fix 
its eyes on a Japanese party that might replace the Aso 
administration. 
 
With an eye on a post-Aso government, Clinton and Foreign Minister 
Hirofumi Nakasone signed an agreement on the relocation of the U.S. 
marines from Okinawa Prefecture to Guam. 
 
The accord was reached at a meeting in May 2006 of the Japan-U.S. 
Security Consultative Committee (2-plus-2) between the Japanese 
government-led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the 
Republican Bush government. The Japanese government intends to 
submit a bill to the ongoing Diet session to secure approval. It is 
appropriate to elevate a bilateral political accord to a legal 
agreement between Tokyo and Washington. 
 
Since the agreement is called a treaty, a bill can get Diet approval 
after 30 days since the House of Representatives has adopted it, 
unless the Diet session expires or the Lower House is dissolved. 
This means that a divided Diet situation does not affect the 
enactment of a treaty. If the accord takes effect as a treaty, it 
will not be binding as long as it is not revised through 
negotiations with the United States even under a DPJ-led government 
after the Lower House election. 
 
TOKYO 00000367  009 OF 013 
 
 
 
(6) Editorial: Visit of U.S. Secretary of State to Japan allows 
chance to deepen policy coordination from a strategic perspective 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
February 18, 2009 
 
With so many difficult foreign policy challenges to face - North 
Korea, Afghanistan, the global economy, world climate change, etc. - 
the governments of Japan and the United States should deepen policy 
coordination by adding a strategic dialogue. 
 
In their meeting, Foreign Minister Nakasone and Secretary of State 
Clinton confirmed that there should be a strengthening of the 
bilateral alliance, and they also signed an agreement to move U.S. 
Marines from Okinawa to Guam. The Secretary chose Japan as her first 
overseas stop since assuming her duties, and it was quickly decided 
that a summit meeting between Prime Minister Aso and President Obama 
would be held on Feb. 24.  All of these moves are regarded as 
evidence of the importance that the Obama administration attaches to 
the Japan-U.S. relationship. 
 
However, we should not be satisfied with just that. Even more 
essential is the enhancement of the contents of the bilateral 
dialogue, as well as the development of a strategic foreign policy. 
The litmus test of such at this time is North Korea. Although it did 
its utmost to delay its nuclear report and disable its nuclear 
facility, it expected to receive economic assistance and a removal 
of its name from the terror list in return. That is the typical 
pattern the DPRK uses. It is necessary for Japan and the U.S., after 
lining up China and South Korea, to press the North to make strict 
efforts to verify its nuclear programs. 
 
The abductions of Japanese (by North Korea), Secretary Clinton 
stressed, "should be a priority issue for the United States." We 
would like to see Japan-U.S. cooperation lead to specific progress, 
such as the realization of a reinvestigation by the DPRK into the 
abduction victims. 
 
North Korea has shown signs of preparing to launch a long-range 
ballistic missile. There must be no wavering in talks between the 
U.S. and North Korea that would give the DPRK the advantage. A 
missile launch would not bring benefit to North Korea, for it would 
be a violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution 
issued after the last launching in Oct. 2006, and would lead to 
additional sanctions. It is crucial for Japan and the U.S. to issue 
such a clear message to North Korea. 
 
The war on terror also is an important theme for the strategic 
dialogue. Foreign Minister Nakasone proposed that Japan hold a 
cabinet-level conference to assist Pakistan, and the Secretary 
promised to cooperate. The stability of Pakistan, similar to the 
recovery of law and order in Afghanistan, is an essential element in 
containing international terrorism. Japan and the U.S. are expected 
to play a leading role. 
 
On measures to deal with the financial crisis and global warming, as 
well, we would like to see Japan and the U.S. to come up with 
various ideas, and closely cooperate. 
 
In setting up the meeting between Secretary Clinton and Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa, the Ozawa side was 
 
TOKYO 00000367  010 OF 013 
 
 
negative and balked initially about setting the time for it. If the 
DPJ is really serious about aiming at a change in government, it 
should not have hesitated about meeting with the Secretary of State, 
and should have built an environment for a productive discussion. 
 
For that reason, is it acceptable for the DPJ to continue to oppose 
the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and the relocation of 
Futenma Air Station to another site in Okinawa Prefecture? The party 
should not continue to avoid basic debate regarding foreign and 
security policies. 
 
(7) Editorial: Action needed for deeper alliance 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 18, 2009 
 
U.S. Secretary of State Clinton visited Japan and met with Prime 
Minister Taro Aso, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, and Defense 
Minister Yasukazu Hamada. On the sidelines of their meetings, Japan 
and the United States have agreed to hold the first summit meeting 
of Prime Minister Aso and President Obama in Washington on Feb. 24. 
 
Secretary Clinton said Prime Minister Aso is the first foreign 
leader to be invited to the Obama White House. Among working-level 
officials, the Aso-Obama summit had been expected to take place in 
March. The summit meeting, however, has now been moved up to a date 
that is substantially earlier than expected. Its significance is no 
small thing. In connection with the Afghan issue, the Japanese 
government will host an international donors conference for Pakistan 
in Tokyo, and the United States has also decided to extend 
cooperation. 
 
Secretary Clinton chose Japan for her first official overseas trip. 
In addition to such an unprecedented decision, we would like to laud 
her proactive stance of placing emphasis on Japan and aiming for a 
still deeper alliance between Japan and the United States. 
 
The Secretary also met with Shigeru Yokota, his wife Sakie, and 
other abductee families. In her meeting with Foreign Minister 
Hirofumi Nakasone, the Secretary agreed to step up trilateral 
cooperation between Japan, the United States, and South Korea along 
with the Japanese government's policy of seeking a comprehensive 
solution to the issues of North Korea's nuclear programs, missiles, 
and abductions. In its talks with North Korea, the United States 
shifted its weight to the nuclear issue when the former 
administration was at its last stage. Concurrently, its 
consideration for the abduction issue weakened. This disappointed 
the Japanese people. Given this fact, the agreement reached this 
time is an important sign of change. 
 
Generally speaking, however, the visit this time laid emphasis on 
confirming the two countries' basic stance to deepen and develop the 
alliance. The Secretary clarified the United States' forward-looking 
attitude. Then, the question is whether Japan-as an ally of the 
United States-will be able to specifically meet the United States' 
expectations and fulfill Japan's responsibilities. 
 
Concerning the issue of realigning U.S. forces in Japan, the 
Japanese and U.S. governments signed a pact to move U.S. Marines in 
Okinawa to Guam. However, the U.S. force realignment, including the 
Guam relocation, is up to the relocation of Futenma Air Station's 
heliport functions. Okinawa has been calling for alterations to the 
 
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bilateral agreement on the construction of an alternative facility 
in the Henoko district. The government's coordination with Okinawa 
is facing rough going. 
 
Prime Minister Aso said it would be difficult to modify the Futenma 
relocation plan. It has already been more than 10 years since the 
agreement was reached between Japan and the United States. As it 
stands, the Obama administration probably feels it cannot trust 
Japan. 
 
We are also concerned about the six-party talks. Secretary Clinton 
indicated that the United States would press North Korea to come up 
with information about the abducted Japanese nationals. We welcome 
this stance. Needless to say, however, Japan and the United States 
should cooperate in an even closer and smarter way to put the 
abduction issue on the right track along with the process of North 
Korea's nuclear abandonment and with the issue of normalizing 
diplomatic relations between the United States and North Korea in 
the future rounds of talks. 
 
In the Japan-U.S. summit, Prime Minister Aso and President Obama are 
expected to discuss issues like the Group of Twenty Finance 
Ministers and Central Bank Governors (G-20), global environment, and 
antipiracy measures. The question is how to flesh out the future 
course of action in order to strengthen and develop the alliance 
from a global perspective-and what Japan will do in that course. 
More importantly, Prime Minister Aso should deliver on his policy in 
a specific way. 
 
(8) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nikkei, Sankei, Tokyo Shimbun, and 
Akahata: 
Finance Minister Nakagawa steps down over G-7 behavior before budget 
clears Diet, dealing serious blow to Aso administration; Economic 
and Fiscal Policy Minister Yosano to concurrently serve as 
Nakagawa's successor 
 
(9) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Finance Minister Nakagawa resigns: Aso administration no longer 
functional 
(2) Japan-U.S. relations: Aso-Obama meeting set 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Finance minister's resignation: Aso administration's days are 
numbered 
(2) Clinton visit: Multilayer development essential for Japan-U.S. 
dialogue 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Aso must work all out to get budged passed 
(2) Clinton visit: Deep strategic policy coordination necessary 
 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Politics too irresponsible amid economic crisis 
(2) U.S. administration looks at Japan with compound eyes 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Nakagawa's resignation raises question about Aso's ability to 
 
TOKYO 00000367  012 OF 013 
 
 
govern 
(2) Japan-U.S. summit: Deepening bilateral alliance takes action 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Finance minister resigns: Aso administration in miserable state 
(2) Japan-U.S. diplomacy: Build wise and smooth relations 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Prime minister will be held responsible for appointing Nakagawa 
as finance minister 
(2) Base construction agreement will increase national pain 
 
(10) Prime Minister's schedule, February 17 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 18, 2009 
 
08:32 
Attended cabinet meeting in Diet building. Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Kawamura remained. 
 
09:03 
Met at Kantei with ruling coalition's anti-piracy project team 
co-chairs Nakatani and Sato, joined by Kawamura. Met later with 
Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
09:41 
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto. 
 
12:02 
Met with Kawamura. 
 
12:56 
Met Finance Minister Nakagawa. 
 
13:01 
Attended Lower House Budge Committee session. 
 
15:39 
Attended Lower House Budget Committee session. Met with Lower House 
Budget Committee chief director Suzuki. 
 
15:55 
Attended Lower House Budget Committee session. 
 
17:15 
Met with Kawamura. 
 
18:19 
Mat at Kantei with Nakagawa. 
 
19:23 
Met with U.S. Secretary of State Clinton. Joined later by New 
Komeito leader Ota. Hosted dinner party for Clinton. Foreign 
Minister Nakasone and other cabinet members attended the party. 
 
21:06 
Issued written official appointment to Yosano as finance Minister 
and state minister for financial services, attended by Kawamura and 
Matsumoto. Kawamura and Matsumoto remained. 
 
21:21 
 
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Met at his official residence with Matsumoto. 
 
ZUMWALT