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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000402 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 2/23/09 
 
Index: 
 
Opinion polls: 
1) Asahi poll: Aso Cabinet support rate drops to 13 PERCENT , with 
71 PERCENT  of the public wanting the prime minister to step down 
immediately  (Asahi) 
2) Mainichi poll: Cabinet support rate drops 8 points to 11 PERCENT 
, placing Aso as the third most unpopular prime minister since 1949 
(Mainichi) 
3) Nikkei poll: Cabinet non-support rate now at 80 PERCENT 
(Nikkei) 
4) Yosano rises in public eye as a successor to Aso in Nikkei poll, 
but DPJ head Ozawa still leads the pack  (Nikkei) 
 
Aso-Obama summit meeting: 
5) Prime Minister Aso in meeting with President Obama to agree Japan 
will join strategy session on joint Afghan policy  (Mainichi) 
6) U.S., Japan to agree at summit meeting to fund financial and 
economic cooperation to Afghanistan and Pakistan  (Yomiuri) 
7) In Washington summit meeting, Japan to be pressed to strengthen 
cooperation with U.S. on accepting more Treasury bills and expanding 
Afghan aid  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
8) Real motive for special treatment of Japan, including Secretary 
Clinton visit and early summit for Prime Minister Aso linked to U.S. 
desire for Japan's money  (Sankei) 
 
Financial cooperation: 
9) Japan to expand fiscal and monetary assistance to Indonesia 
(Nikkei) 
10) ASEAN plus 3 (Japan, China, and South Korea) agree to formally 
adopt 11 trillion yen regional currency swap arrangement to calm 
crisis  (Yomiuri) 
 
11) Japan making another pitch for UNSC permanent seat, but some 
countries, like Italy, are opposed to expansion of the Security 
Council  (Sankei) 
 
Pirates: 
12) Japan Coast Guard to cooperate with IMO in training coast guards 
of African states to that they can cope with pirates  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
Political agenda: 
13) Fiscal 2009 budget will most likely pass the Diet this fiscal 
year  (Yomiuri) 
14) LDP Diet Affairs Chairman Oshima confident that Prime Minister 
Aso will be around to attend the April G-20 summit conference 
(Asahi) 
15) Former LDP Secretary General Takebe: Can't go into the next 
election under Prime Minister Aso  (Asahi) 
16) LDP's Hidenao Nakagawa: Aso's stepping down is inevitable 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Poll: 71 PERCENT  want Aso to quit; Cabinet support at 13 PERCENT 
 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
February 21, 2009 
 
In the wake of Finance Minister Nakagawa's recent resignation, the 
 
TOKYO 00000402  002 OF 011 
 
 
Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based spot nationwide public 
opinion survey from the late afternoon of Feb. 10 through the 
evening of Feb. 20. In the survey, a total of 71 PERCENT  answered 
that they wanted Prime Minister Aso to step down early. The cabinet 
support rate was 13 PERCENT , remaining low as the 14 PERCENT 
rating in the last survey taken Feb. 7-8. The nonsupport rate was 75 
PERCENT  (73 PERCENT  in the last survey). 
 
Respondents were also asked if they thought the House of 
Representatives should be dissolved early for a general election. To 
this question, "yes" increased from 60 PERCENT  in the last survey 
to 64 PERCENT  in the spot survey this time. An increasing number of 
people are calling for a general election. 
 
Among those who support the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the 
support rate for the Aso cabinet was 40 PERCENT , which is lower 
than its 44 PERCENT  nonsupport rate. Among those with no particular 
party affiliation, the Aso cabinet's support rate was only 3 PERCENT 
. In a survey taken shortly after the Aso cabinet's inauguration in 
September last year, the Aso cabinet's total support rate was 48 
PERCENT . The support rate among those unaffiliated was 31 PERCENT 
in that survey but has now almost hit the bottom after five months. 
 
In addition, respondents were further asked if they thought Prime 
Minister Aso or Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ozawa 
was more appropriate for prime minister. To this question, 19 
PERCENT  chose Aso, with 45 PERCENT  preferring Ozawa. Ozawa is now 
more above Aso than in the last survey (20 PERCENT  for Aso and 39 
PERCENT  for Ozawa). 
 
2) Poll: Aso cabinet's support at 11 PERCENT 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
February 23, 2009 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide public 
opinion survey on Feb. 21-22. The public approval rating for the Aso 
cabinet dropped 8 points from January to 11 PERCENT , which is the 
third worst level ranking next to the 9 PERCENT  rating for the 
cabinet of Noboru Takeshita in March 1989 and also for the cabinet 
of Yoshiro Mori in February 2001 since the survey cited the current 
questionnaire formula in 1949. Respondents were also asked how long 
they thought Prime Minister Taro Aso should remain in office. To 
this question, 39 PERCENT  answered he should quit right away. Aso 
has now gotten into an even more serious scrape to run his 
government. 
 
The disapproval rating for the Aso cabinet was 73 PERCENT , up 8 
points from the last survey, and it renewed the second worst record 
of 75 PERCENT  for the Mori cabinet in February 2001. The Aso 
cabinet's support rate was 45 PERCENT  soon after its inauguration 
in September last year. Meanwhile, the Aso cabinet's nonsupport rate 
topped its support rate in October last year. In the latest survey, 
the Aso cabinet's support rate fell to a fourth of its inaugural 
rating. 
 
Respondents were also asked who they thought was more appropriate 
for prime minister between Aso and Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto) President Ichiro Ozawa. In this popularity ranking, Aso 
was at 8 PERCENT , down 8 points from the last survey. Ozawa leveled 
off at 25 PERCENT . The gap has now increased to 17 points. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000402  003 OF 011 
 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party stood at 30 PERCENT , the same as in the 
last survey. The DPJ was at 29 PERCENT , up 3 points from the last 
survey. The DPJ topped the LDP in four surveys in a row. Respondents 
were further asked which political party between the LDP and the DPJ 
they would like to see win the next election for the House of 
Representatives. To this question as well, the LDP was at 22 PERCENT 
, down 5 points. The DPJ was at 51 PERCENT , up 1 point. 
 
3) Poll: Support rate for Aso cabinet at 15 PERCENT , nonsupport at 
80 PERCENT 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
February 23, 2009 
 
The rate of public support for Prime Minister Taro Aso's cabinet 
fell 4 points from the last survey in January to a historical low of 
15 PERCENT , the Nihon Keizai Shimbun found from its joint public 
opinion survey conducted with TV Tokyo on Feb. 20-22. The nonsupport 
rate rose 4 points to 80 PERCENT , reaching the highest level since 
the survey started. In the poll, respondents were also asked when 
they would like the House of Representatives to be dissolved for a 
general election. To this question, a total of 70 PERCENT  answered 
that the House of Representatives should be dissolved as early as 
possible or should be dissolved after the budget for next fiscal 
year clears the Diet this spring. 
 
The Aso cabinet's support rate was lower than the 16 PERCENT  rating 
as the lowest figure marked for the Mori cabinet in February 2001. 
It was a low level following the Miyazawa cabinet's 6 PERCENT 
rating in June 1993 and its 10 PERCENT  rating in July that year at 
its last stage and the Takeshita cabinet's 13 PERCENT  rating in a 
survey taken in March 1989 as the last one for the Takeshita 
cabinet. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party rose 5 points to 34 PERCENT , with the 
leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) dropping 2 
points to 35 PERCENT . The gap between the two parties shrank 7 
points. In the public preference of political parties for 
proportional representation in the next election for the House of 
Representatives as well, the gap between the two parties have 
decreased, with the LDP rising 5 points to 26 PERCENT  and the DPJ 
rising 2 points to 42 PERCENT . 
 
In the survey, respondents were further asked when they would like 
the House of Representatives to be dissolved for a general election. 
To this question, 38 PERCENT  answered that the Diet should be 
dissolved after the budget clears the Diet this spring, topping all 
other answers. Among other answers, 32 PERCENT  said the Diet should 
be dissolved as early as possible, with 16 PERCENT  saying there is 
no need to be in a hurry. 
 
The survey was taken by Nikkei Research Inc. by telephone on a 
random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, samples were 
chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over across the nation. 
A total of 1,531 households with one or more eligible voters were 
sampled, and answers were obtained from 960 persons (62.7 PERCENT 
). 
 
4) Poll: Yosano rises in popularity for premiership; Ozawa still 
ranks top 
 
TOKYO 00000402  004 OF 011 
 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
February 23, 2009 
 
In a recent poll conducted by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and TV Tokyo, 
respondents were asked who they thought would be appropriate for 
prime minister from now on. In this popularity ranking of 
politicians for premiership, Ichiro Ozawa, president of the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto), stood at 17 PERCENT 
, still ranking top from 18 PERCENT  in the last survey. Kaoru 
Yosano-now wearing three hats as finance minister, financial 
services minister, and economic and fiscal policy minister-jumped 
from 2 PERCENT  in the last survey to 9 PERCENT . Former Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who criticized Prime Minister Taro Aso 
for his remarks over the privatization of postal services, also 
scored 9 PERCENT . Aso was at 4 PERCENT , ranking seventh. 
 
Ranking for prime minister 
 
Ichiro Ozawa 17 
Kaoru Yosano 9 
Junichiro Koizumi 9 
Nobuteru Ishihara 7 
Yuriko Koike 7 
Taro Aso 4 
Hidenao Nakagawa 2 
Naoto Kan 5 
Seiji Maehara 4 
Katsuya Okada 3 
Yukio Hatoyama 2 
Other answers + can't say + don't know 31 
 
5) Aso, Obama to agree in Feb. 24 summit for Japan and U.S. to make 
joint efforts for Afghan policy 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
February 22, 2009 
 
Katsumi Kawakami 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso and U.S. President Barack Obama will hold 
their first summit in Washington on Feb. 24. Prime Minister Aso is 
the first foreign leader invited to the White House by President 
Obama. In their talks, the two leaders are expected to agree for 
Japan and the United States to work together in formulating policy 
toward Afghanistan. In drawing up an Afghan strategy, Tokyo intends 
to make active contributions in civilian assistance and improving 
security, areas to which the Obama administration attaches 
importance. In the talks, Japan and the United States also intend to 
confirm their plan to work together to get China, a major emitter, 
involved in the effort to address global warming with the aim of 
generating a new image of the alliance that aims at cooperation in 
global issues. 
 
The prime minister is scheduled to depart from Haneda Airport on the 
night of Feb. 23, hold the summit on the morning of Feb. 24 (before 
dawn of Feb. 25, Japan time), and return to Japan on the night of 
Feb. 25. 
 
According to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Obama 
administration wants to reflect Japan's experience in developing 
teachers and disarming former national soldiers in America's 
 
TOKYO 00000402  005 OF 011 
 
 
policymaking process regarding the question of Afghanistan, which 
has been the frontline in the war on terror. Based on this, the 
prime minister will announce Japan's participation in work to map 
out an Afghan strategy, making a clear distinction with the kind of 
cooperation under the Bush administration. 
 
The financial summit to be held in London on April 2 is also a major 
item that requires coordination between the two countries. The prime 
minister is expected to explain the government's policy course to 
take a 12-trillion-yen fiscal step to address the ongoing global 
financial crisis. He will also play up the government's official 
development assistance (ODA) program to underpin the Asian economy. 
The prime minister would probably not be able to mention additional 
economic measures because the fiscal 2009 budget has yet to pass the 
House of Representatives due to the resignation of Finance Minister 
and Financial Services, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Shoichi 
Nakagawa. 
 
6) Japanese, U.S. leaders expected to agree on Afghanistan 
reconstruction assistance 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 23, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Aso will leave for the U.S. tonight and will hold his 
first meeting with President Obama in Washington on the morning of 
the 24th, local time. Aso will be the first state leader invited by 
Obama to his own country since he assumed office as president. In 
the upcoming meeting, the two leaders are expected to confirm the 
need to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance. They also expect to 
agree to tackle in cooperation the ongoing global financial crisis 
and to help reconstruct Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
 
Aso is considering the possibility of handing to the President a 
"blue ribbon," a symbol of the abduction issue in Japan. 
 
The summit meeting was arranged only one month after the Obama 
administration was inaugurated. The president is now quite busy 
preparing his first State of the Union address before Congress. 
 
A diplomatic source in Washington conjectured the U.S. motives about 
scheduling the Japan-U.S. summit at this time: 
 
"The U.S. and Europe have different views over how to contain the 
financial crisis and climate change. On climate change, it is 
necessary to bring China into international discussions. By 
underscoring its alliance with Japan, whose policy is close to the 
U.S.' and which is the world's second largest economic power, the 
U.S. is aiming to solidify its position and come to grip with these 
issues." 
 
The economic stimulus package the U.S. adopted on Feb. 17 has not 
contributed to boosting the stock market. Obama has indicated an 
intention to deal with the financial crisis, with Japan's "lost 
decade" in the 1990s as a lesson. Focusing on this, another 
diplomatic source pointed out: "The president might be aiming to 
play up the justification of the economic package to the American 
people by getting understanding of it from the prime minister." 
 
Meanwhile, the meeting will be a good opportunity for Aso, who has 
been hit with dismal public-support ratings, to play up his 
presence. Aides to the prime minister expect the Japan-U.S. summit 
 
TOKYO 00000402  006 OF 011 
 
 
meeting to serve to give a boost to the administration. Vice Foreign 
Minister Mitoji Yabunaka, who is visiting the U.S., explained the 
circumstances of Washington to Aso at his official residence 
yesterday. After meeting Aso, Yabunaka told reporters: "I keenly 
felt that the Obama administration has placed emphasis on the 
Japan-U.S. alliance." 
 
Even so, as a senior Foreign Ministry official said: "I had not 
anticipated a summit meeting only one week after the foreign 
ministerial." Not enough time was spent for preparations for the 
upcoming Aso-Obama meeting. No arrangement has been made for the two 
leaders to issue a joint statement or to even dine together. Aso 
will not be accompanied by his wife, either. 
 
7) First Aso-Obama meeting tomorrow under growing pressure on 
Japan-U.S. alliance 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 23, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso will hold his first meeting with U.S. 
President Barack Obama on the morning of Feb. 24, local time, in 
Washington. The two leaders are expected to discuss such key issues 
as the global economic crisis, Afghan reconstruction assistance, and 
the North Korean nuclear and abduction problems. 
 
In a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on Feb. 19, 
Prime Minister Aso emphasized the need for Japan and the U.S. to 
work together to contain the ongoing global economic crisis, 
remarking: "The key (to solving the issue) lies in what response the 
world's largest and second largest economic powers will make." Aso 
intends to ask the U.S. to avoid assuming protectionist policy and 
to take measures to expand domestic demand. 
 
President Obama has decided to carry out a plan to cut taxes by 400 
dollars per person and to inject public funds into environmental and 
information technologies in his recently announced economic stimulus 
package worth 787 billion dollars, or about 72 trillion yen. To 
finance these measures, floating huge amounts of government bonds is 
necessary. The U.S. expects Japan and China to be major buyers of 
such bonds. 
 
Obama invited Aso to the White House as the first state guest among 
the leading countries' heads, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 
picked Japan as the destination of her first overseas trip in her 
new role. A Japanese government source takes the view that the Obama 
administration's stance of giving priority to Japan is aimed to have 
Japan agree to purchase its government bonds. Once the two leaders 
agree to strengthen cooperation, the U.S. is likely to ratchet up 
pressure on Japan to bear a due burden. 
 
In Afghan reconstruction assistance, to which the Obama 
administration has attached emphasis, the focus of attention is on 
whether Japan would make personnel contributions, including a 
dispatch of military troops. 
 
Japan has offered contributions in non-military areas, such as 
helping soldiers to disarm themselves and return to society, 
constructing schools, and training teachers. Japan has also proposed 
hosting an international conference on assisting Pakistan. On the 
military front, the Maritime Self-Defense Force has continued its 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, but it has yet to dispatch 
 
TOKYO 00000402  007 OF 011 
 
 
SDF troops to Mainland Afghanistan due to concerns about the 
security situation there. 
 
President Obama has decided to dispatch 17,000 more troops to the 
nation in an effort to restore civil order. He will unofficially ask 
Aso to expand Japan's assistance in the military area. 
 
On the issue of past abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korean 
agents, Secretary Clinton said when she met with family members of 
abduction victims in Japan: "This is also a priority issue for the 
U.S." Aso is hopeful of drawing out a more positive statement from 
President Obama. 
 
The Bush administration, despite the abduction issue left 
unresolved, removed North Korea from its list of 
terrorist-sponsoring nations. Aso is ready to explain Japan's view 
that a settlement of both the abduction and ballistic missile 
development issues, in addition to the nuclear problem, is vital for 
Japan to normalize its diplomatic relations with North Korea. 
 
8) U.S. Secretary of State during her first visit to Japan invites 
prime minister to Washington and U.S. gives Japan preferential 
treatment: The aim is to ask for money, possibly to seek cooperation 
that will shore up confidence in the dollar 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 23, 2009 
 
Preferential treatment of Japan by the U.S. has become visible 
recently, as can be seen by President Obama's invitation to Prime 
Minister Aso to be the first foreign leader to visit the White 
House. In addition, Secretary of State Clinton chose Japan as the 
first destination of her first overseas trip since taking office. 
Given this situation, market insiders are increasingly of the 
opinion that the U.S. will be asking Japan for financial 
cooperation. There has appeared in the U.S. the view that the 
government may nationalize leading banks, in addition to the series 
of economic stimulus packages. As such, it appears unavoidable for 
it to issue more Treasury bonds to finance such a plan. Japan will 
likely be asked to purchase more U.S. Treasury bonds and help 
maintain the dollar-based international currency system. 
 
Commenting on the preferential treatment of Japan by the U.S., a 
senior Foreign Ministry official pointed out, "The aim is for the 
U.S. and Japan, the largest and second largest economies in the 
world, to check Europe by cooperation in settling the global 
financial crisis." The U.S. during the Democratic Clinton 
administration showed signs of approaching China, bypassing Japan. 
However, the Obama administration views that it must place priority 
to relations with Japan, according to the same source. 
 
Behind the change is that Japan is drawing attention as a most 
likely purchaser of U.S. Treasury bonds, the issuance of which is 
expected to increase sharply. According to an estimate by Goldman 
Sachs, the U.S. may find it necessary to issue Treasury bonds worth 
2.5 trillion dollars or approximately 230 trillion yen to finance 
the series of economic stimulus packages. Its fiscal deficit is 
estimated to reach 1.425 trillion dollars or roughly 130 trillion 
yen. For this reason, Goldman Sachs projects that the government 
will need to increase public bidding or introduce for new Treasury 
bonds, such as seven-year Treasury bonds. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000402  008 OF 011 
 
 
According to a U.S. Treasury bond holdings report, tallied by the 
U.S. Department of the Treasury, China for the first time has become 
the largest holder on a year-end basis with 696.2 billion dollars or 
roughly 64 trillion yen, up 45.8 PERCENT  over the preceding year, 
followed by Japan with 578.3 billion dollars or roughly 53 trillion 
yen, down 0.3 percent. The issuance of Treasury bonds for regular 
bidding held from February 10-12 totaled largest-ever 67 billion 
dollars or 6.164 trillion yen. Market insiders observe that China 
and Japan were main purchasers. 
 
Clinton during the recent visit to Japan did not make any specific 
request. However, when she visited China, she highly praised China 
for holding U.S. Treasury bonds. If the global economy is thrown 
into turmoil, shaking confidence in the dollar, the value of U.S. 
Treasury bonds will drop significantly. For this reason, the U.S. 
will ask Japan and China to continue to help maintain the 
dollar-based international currency system. 
 
9) Japan to expand assistance to Indonesia, by doubling currency 
swap framework; More than 1 trillion yen to strengthen safety 
network 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 22, 2009 
 
Phuket, Masahisa Mikawa 
 
The Japanese government on February 21 revealed a fiscal and 
financial assistance plan for Indonesia. It will help that nation 
secure fiscal resources, by attaching government guarantee worth up 
to 1.5 billion dollars or roughly 140 billion yen to yen-denominated 
government bonds issued in Japan. The plan also includes expansion 
of the currency swap framework -- designed for the holder of 
unwanted currency to exchange that currency for an equivalent amount 
of another currency in the event of currency plunging --  to 12 
billion dollars or roughly 1.120 trillion yen, double the current 
level. The aim is to prevent a recurrence of a crisis by 
strengthening a safety network for securing funds with the spillover 
effect of the ongoing financial crisis in mind, though the 
Indonesian economy is stable. 
 
Parliamentary Secretary Suematsu of the Finance Minister, who is now 
visiting Phuket in southern Thailand to attend a meeting of ASEAN 
finance ministers and their counterparts from Japan, China and South 
Korea (ASEAN plus 3), announced the plan during a meeting with after 
a meeting with Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani. 
 
10) Japan, China, South Korea and ASEAN to establish body to monitor 
economic conditions: Action plan adopted; Currency swap arrangement 
to be expanded to 11 trillion yen 
 
YOMIURI (Top Play) 
February 23, 2009 
 
Finance ministers from Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
(ASEAN), Japan, China and South Korea (ASEAN plus 3) on February 22 
formally decided to expand the funding framework of the Chiang Mai 
Initiative (CMI), under which member nations exchange foreign 
currencies with a country that has fallen into a currency crisis, 
from the current 80 billion dollars to 120 billion dollars or 
approximately 11 trillion yen. Participants have also agreed to set 
up a permanent body to monitor each country's economic conditions. 
 
TOKYO 00000402  009 OF 011 
 
 
The meeting ended, adopting an action program that incorporates 
those decisions. 
 
The aim of expanding the functions of the CMI is to create a 
mechanism of member nations in the region exchanging funds in a 
flexible manner, apart from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), 
which also has a similar program. 
 
During the 1997-1998 currency crisis in Asia, Asian nations were 
pressed to adopt an austere fiscal policy in exchange for assistance 
from the IMF, which is led by Europe and the U.S., generating 
discontent among people. For this reason, Asian countries are still 
allergic to assistance from the IMF. 
 
11) Intergovernmental negotiations start on UNSC reform; A step 
forward for Japan to win permanent seat; Results unclear due to 
possible opposition by Italy and other countries 
 
SANKEI (Page 7) (Abridged slightly) 
February 21, 2009 
 
Masako Nagato, New York 
 
The United Nations General Assembly kicked off on Feb. 19 
intergovernmental talks that will effectively serve as a venue for 
negotiations on reform of the Security Council. UNSC reform has been 
stalled for the last three years. Countries aiming at permanent UNSC 
seats, such as Japan, are welcoming the shift from consultations to 
negotiations, which will lead to a settlement. But the Uniting for 
Consensus Group (UFC), including Italy, which is opposed to 
expanding the UNSC framework is certain to step up its efforts to 
block negotiations. As such, whether specific results can be 
achieved before the UN General Assembly closes in September is 
unknown. 
 
Afghan Ambassador to the UN Zahir Tanin who chairs the negotiations 
said on Feb. 19: "This is a historic day. Things are going to be 
different this time because the assembly is moving from 
consultations to negotiations." 
 
Associated Press has reported: "The General Assembly opened a new 
chapter in the effort to reform the UN Security Council" 
 
The Group of Four composed of Japan, Germany and other countries 
that have an eye on permanent UNSC seats futilely submitted in the 
fall of 2005 a draft resolution incorporating a plan to expand the 
UNSC framework. Since then, talks on UN reform have been conducted 
by a working group under the General Assembly. But because it was 
customary for the working group to make decisions unanimously, "The 
group was not able to decide on anything if even one country raised 
objections, and it was not a venue to reach a conclusion," a UN 
diplomatic source said. 
 
But now, owing to lobbying by Japan and other countries, the venue 
for talks has been shifted from the working group to the General 
Assembly that can settle matters by vote. The stage has now been set 
for formulating concrete plans reflecting what was discussed and for 
conducting negotiations. 
 
A certain diplomatic source explained the difference between the 
year 2005, when the G-4 led the reform debate, and this time: "Back 
then, the G-4 asked the member countries where they stood regarding 
 
TOKYO 00000402  010 OF 011 
 
 
its framework draft resolution, which was a foregone conclusion. 
This time around, there will be a process in which all member 
countries will participate, so there will be more room to find 
flexibility and compromises than the last time." 
 
It is expected that theme-specific discussions will be conducted by 
April on five major points at issue, such as the scale of an 
expansion and the question of veto, and that either the General 
Assembly chair or part of the member countries will present a reform 
plan while watching progress on the discussions. 
 
12) Japan Coast Guard (JCG) to cooperate in training of coast guards 
of countries neighboring Somalia for anti-piracy missions 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Excerpt) 
February 21, 2009 
 
As part of its anti-piracy measures in waters off Somalia in Africa, 
the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is recommending the 
establishment of a regional training center for neighboring 
countries to nurture enforcement officers who would be the 
equivalent of a coast guard. Japan's Coast Guard is expected to be 
asked to assist as well, given its experience in helping various 
Asian countries build up their maritime security. Once the request 
comes, the JCG will cooperate actively in training African coast 
guards. 
 
According to the Foreign Ministry and the National Land and 
Transport Ministry, in order to address the problem of Somali 
pirates, the IMOR late last month held a regional conference in 
Djibouti, a country that neighbors Somalia, and recommended the 
establishment in Djibouti a regional training center. The 
provisional government in Somalia, which signed a set of action 
guidelines to cooperate with other countries in dealing with piracy, 
and eight other countries agreed to specifically look into the 
establishment of a training center. JCG, which has strengthened its 
search and patrol activities in Southeast Asia against pirates, will 
likely be able to apply its measures to Africa, as well. 
 
13) Diet likely to pass FY 2009 budget this fiscal year, with DPJ's 
flexible stance about voting this month 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
February 23, 2009 
 
It is now likely that the fiscal 2009 budget will clear the Diet by 
the end of this fiscal year. The ruling parties plan a vote on the 
budget bill in a House of Representatives plenary session by the 
27th. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has also begun 
to indicate it will support the budget's passage through the Lower 
House this month. 
 
It is stipulated under a constitutional provision that a budget bill 
is automatically enacted 30 days after it is sent to the House of 
Councillors. Given this, if the bill clears the Lower House this 
month, the budget will be enacted by the end of March. 
 
The fiasco over Shoichi Nakagawa's resignation as finance minister 
delayed deliberations on the budget bill at the Lower House Budget 
Committee, but the ruling and opposition camps have agreed to hold 
sessions on Feb. 23-25 to ask questions to such responsible 
officials as Kaoru Yosano, who has assumed the former finance 
 
TOKYO 00000402  011 OF 011 
 
 
minister's roles, in addition to his post of state minister in 
charge of economic and fiscal policy. 
 
DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka said in a press 
conference in Mito City yesterday: "We have no intention to 
deliberately delay discussions, so a vote will be taken in the Lower 
House this week." 
 
14) LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Oshima: Prime Minister Aso 
will be around to attend the April G-20 summit conference 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 22, 2009 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Diet Affairs Committee Chairman 
Tadamori Oshima in a speech in Hachinohe City in Aomori Prefecture 
yesterday stressed this about the timing of Diet dissolution and a 
general election: "It is absolutely impossible until after the 
budget for next fiscal year and the (related) tax bills are passed." 
He also commented on the second G-20 financial summit conference to 
be held in London on April 2: "I think that at present Prime 
Minister Aso will be going, no matter what happens. After that, it 
is completely in the hands of the Prime Minister Aso as to whether 
he (dissolves the Diet) or not." 
 
15) LDP's former Secretary General Takebe: Can't go into the 
election under Prime Minister Aso 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 22, 2009 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) former Secretary General Tsutomu 
Takebe, in a rally in Hokkaido yesterday, indicated his desire to 
see Prime Minister Aso resign his post as soon as possible. He said: 
"It is impossible for the party to hold an election under Prime 
Minister Aso. We won't win the election without the trust of the 
people. He cannot even run his own government." 
 
16) LDP's Hidenao Nakagawa takes view that Prime Minister Aso's 
stepping down is inevitable 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) 
February 21, 2009 
 
Former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Hidenao 
Nakagawa in a recorded TV-Tokyo news program on Feb. 20 commented on 
the current situation in the party. He said that he thought there 
were only a few party members who thought the election should be 
fought under Prime Minister Aso after the Diet is dissolved. He in 
effect predicted that Prime Minister Aso's stepping down was 
inevitable. 
 
He did not deny that he might step forward to declare his candidacy 
in the next LDP presidential race. 
 
ZUMWALT